Page 48 of Fire Peak

He looked at Elias. “Is Fire Peak Lodge the closest place to find people and a phone connection?”

The boy nodded, then glanced at the sky. Nick followed his gaze and saw clouds gathering overhead. He’d been so caught up with Charlie that he hadn’t noticed. Their dark gray underbellies threatened downpours at any moment, and he’d been here long enough to know that Alaska rain was damn cold.

“Old Solomon has a trailer near here. He wouldn’t mind if you take shelter in it.”

“Solomon.” Hadn’t he wanted Nick to check out his mining claim for the two campers who’d gone missing? Was that near here? He really needed to get out a map of this area and pinpoint every odd thing that had happened lately. “How close is it? Can we carry her there?”

“I don’t know.” Elias looked at her doubtfully. “She’s pretty big.”

“Hey,” came Charlie’s voice, weak and scratchy, but filled with humor. “I prefer ‘giraffe.’ Or skyscraper. I’ve heard both.”

“Charlie.” Nick swung all his focus back to her. “How do you feel?”

“Like I have a fucking arrow in the back of my leg.” She reached back and before anyone could stop her, she yanked it out. “That’s better. Also, ow.”

Nick flipped her onto her stomach so he could examine the wound under the bloody hole in her pants. More blood pulsed from it. He yanked off the bandanna he’d been using to keep the trail dust out of his face and tied it tightly around her thigh. “That was incredibly reckless,” he told her sternly. “You could have lost a lot of blood.”

“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking, just reacting. My body wanted it out.”

She gingerly brought herself onto all fours, after which Nick helped her to her feet. He held his breath, ready to pull her back to the ground, but no more arrows came.

Swaying, she held onto his arm. “I don’t think I can walk all the way back.”

Nick glanced at Elias. “How far to the camper?”

“About half a mile,” the boy answered. “We can all help.”

“No. We need you guys to get a helicopter out here, or whatever’s the fastest and least painful way to pick her up. I’ll get her to the camper. Just tell me where.”

As he supported Charlie, who was starting to sag again, he listened closely to Elias’ instructions. The kid’s knowledge of this area was truly impressive. Another glance at the sky told him they should really get a move on.

“You guys better get going,” he told the kids. “Promise you’ll be careful.”

Hailey surprised him by lunging forward with a sudden hug that included half of Charlie as well. “You too, Daddy. Promise.”

He was almost too touched to answer, so he just gave her a smile.

“Can someone hand me that arrow?” Charlie asked. “That thing was in me, so it’s mine now. Souvenir.”

Hailey picked it up and handed it to her. “You’re pretty badass, you know that?”

The kids disappeared back toward the trail, while Charlie and Nick went the opposite direction, forging through the tall meadow grasses until they reached the welcome shadow of the forest. The canopy was so thick here that not much grew underneath the majestic spruces, which made walking much easier for both of them. Being less exposed helped too, and he felt his worry ease just a bit.

Charlie was walking and no arrows were flying; maybe they’d get through this just fine. Charlie must have relaxed too, because she started talking, although in a low murmur.

“All things considered, I think it was worth it, getting shot by an arrow so a teenage girl could call me a badass.”

He picked up on her need to keep things light, to be as normal as possible. “And I got a hug out of it, and a ‘Daddy.’ So thanks for that.”

“You should probably thank whatever asshole brought bows and arrows out here. Any ideas about that?”

“Trying to scare us away from those birds? That meadow? Or something else we hadn’t yet noticed?”

“You’re really smart, aren’t you?”

She nearly buckled as her foot hit a low spot in the trail. He caught her, and they continued on, with him carrying more of her weight. “It’s just a theory at this point.”

“It’s a good one. Either that or they were trying to end my hurdling career. I used to be great at the hurdles. They bring out the best in me. Obstacles, roadblocks, hurdles. It’s because I’m stubborn and I have long legs.”

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