Page 21 of My Mountain Man Boss
The rain’s coming down heavier, and I weigh up my options.
Going further along the trail isn’t an option. It’s too risky with the weak phone light that’s likely to go out if it gets any wetter. Then we could be dealing with two missing people instead of one.
Likewise heading back isn’t an option. It’s impossible to keep my phone dry in this weather, and it will cut out before I get far.
The best option is to find somewhere to shelter, keep as dry and warm as possible, and wait for the rain to ease.
I move my phone around the surrounding area, and it illuminates a craggy rock face further up the trail. This is the trail that rock climbers take, and I’m getting close to the good climbing areas.
Keeping my phone tucked into my sleeve so there’s some light while keeping it dry, I carefully make my way over to the rocks. The crag slopes outward, and if I tuck myself into the rock face, there’s a spot that’s out of the rain.
I try my phone again, but there’s still no signal.
I get the emergency blanket out of the backpack and wrap it around myself. Now that I’ve stopped moving, the cold is seeping into my skin.
I blow on my fingers to keep them warm and scarf one of the protein bars in the recovery pack. Then I turn my attention to the radio. The casing is smashed, and it seems like it landed right on the transmitter. I’m no electronics expert, but even I can see there’s no fixing it.
I’m just going to have to wait here until the rain eases or Suzie gets my text.
I pull the blanket around me and look out at the rain teeming down.
The sounds of the night are drowned out by the steady downpour. Which is just as well, otherwise I might think I’m hearing wild cats and bears. I take comfort in the fact that no other animal would be stupid enough to be out on a night like this.
While I was searching for the missing hiker, my mind was occupied. Now, as I stare out at the relentless rain, my thoughts turn to Landon. I wish he was here so badly it hurts. I long tobe pressed against him. To bury my head in his chest, to feel his sturdy body against mine.
I pull out my phone to check the signal again. There’s still nothing, and this time I message Landon, telling him where I am and asking him to come and get me.
The message doesn’t go through, but there’s something comforting in the gesture. Maybe the clouds will clear and my phone will pick up a weak signal, and he’ll get the message. Or maybe he won’t.
I also send a message to Izzie and my mom, telling them where I am. Maybe it will get through to someone.
To conserve battery power, I tuck my phone away in my pocket and pull the blanket around me.
The rain doesn’t look like it’s easing up anytime soon.
Cold bites at my body, making me shiver. I grit my teeth and pull my body into a tighter ball with my knees up by my chest. But I can’t stop the shivering. A few minutes later, and my body is shaking from cold.
I can’t risk walking in the dark and the light on my phone going out. But I’m not sure how much longer I can stay here.
I wrap the blanket tighter around me, and as I stare at the rain, only one thing fills my mind. Landon, Landon, Landon.
11
LANDON
The rain hasn’t let up in the hour I’ve been walking up to Wildman’s Gully. Despite the cold night, I’m sweating under my rain jacket. Amy is out here alone, and I need to get to her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out carefully, trying not to get it wet.
It’s a message from Amy.
As I read it, my heart pounds. She’s stuck up here with no light and all on her own. I pick up my pace, cursing the rain that has made the trail turn to mud.
I’m risking my life jogging in the dark on a slippery trail. But I don’t care. I have to make it to Amy.
Twenty minutes later, I reach the crags where she said she was sheltering.
“Amy!” I call into the darkness, but my voice is lost in the pounding rain. I sweep my flashlight around the rocks.
