Page 13 of Mountain Summons

“Nothing,” he said, his jaw clenched tight.

“Please don’t lie to me,” she said. “Come on, I’m a big girl. You can tell me.”

Finally, he huffed out a sigh. “Fine. The sound of the river has changed. I don’t like it. And it’s still raining. I think we need to go higher. We’ll be safer there.”

“Oh.” Lena didn’t think she could stand, let alone climb anywhere higher. “I see.” If she were braver, she’d tell him to go ahead without her. But the thought of being alone again filled her with unspeakable dread. Her hand tightened on his, claw-like.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” he said, crouching beside her. He pulled out a radio, making her wonder how he still had use of his hands in this weather, and pressed the call button.

“Fontaine,” a voice spoke. The name was familiar. Her father had always striven to keep work and family separate, but she’d heard of Commandant Beau Fontaine. “Talk to me, Tristan. How’s Madeleine?”

Tristan gave her an encouraging smile. Not that she believed it for an instant. “She’s okay. But I think we’re too close to the river. It’s risky to stay here.”

“Can you get her back up?”

“Not up the way I came,” Tristan said. “But we can go up, parallel to the river. I’ll get her to the caves. We can wait there until the storm passes.”

There was silence for a long instant, making Lena wonder what was wrong with these caves.

“Understood. Colonel Pelegrin had a message for his daughter. He wants her to hold on so they can watch that movie together tomorrow.” Tears—and this time she couldn’t blame it on her ankle—welled in her eyes.

She nodded cautiously. “Please tell him I’d like that.”

Beau’s gruff voice softened as he spoke to her. “Will do.”

“I’m getting her out of here now. Call when you’re ready.”

Silence. Then, Beau’s sigh, the kind that said he already knew Tristan wasn’t going to listen to him no matter what he said.

“Be careful.”

Moments later, Tristan put the phone back in his pocket.

“You can’t carry me,” she whispered.

“You’re going to hurt my self-esteem if you’re not careful,” he shot back.

“I dare say your self-esteem is just fine,” she laughed. A tremor shook her body, spoiling the effect of her words. “I’m serious, Tristan.”

“So am I,” he said, shifting closer to her. “So. What’s the movie?”

“Compartment No. 6. It’s an independent Finnish movie set on a train traveling through the Arctic from Russia to Finland.” She paused. “I suggested it weeks ago, and my father looked at me like I was crazy.”

“I wonder why. It sounds like a fascinating plot,” Tristan drawled. A small smile lit his face. Then his expression grew serious again.

“What do you need me to do?” Lena asked, pretending more bravery than she was really feeling.

Tristan slipped an arm beneath her knees. His other arm went around her back. “Absolutely nothing. Just hold on and enjoy the ride.” Then he stood up easily, pulling her tight against his chest as he did so.

“Tristan, you—” Pain shot up her leg, a strangled cry escaping her lips before she could stop it. Tristan sucked in a sharp breath, like the sound hurt him, too.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice strained. “I know. Just—breathe through it. Trust me.”

Sweetheart.

The word almost—but not quite—distracted her from the pain in her ankle. She liked it. She liked it too much.

She bit down on her lip, nodding weakly. She did trust him.

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