Page 7 of One Last Promise

Just like that, the weight lifted from his shoulders.

Moose stepped back, and Ridge jumped from his perch. Moose steadied himself on the wall and spotted London, looking down at them. Her lip bled, red dripping down her chin. But she grinned, her teeth reddened, and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Hang tight! We’ll be back.”

He found himself braced against the wall, then sliding down to his knees.

Ridge sat beside him, pulling Rome into his lap. Aspen joined them.

“Think they’ll get here before we all freeze to death?”

Moose looked at him. “Could be worse.”

“You’re right.” Ridge ran his fingers through Rome’s fur. “We could be claustrophobic.” He smiled at Moose.

Moose found a smile. Held up his fist. Ridge bumped it.

“You do this a lot?” Ridge ran his hand down the dog’s back. The animal put his head on Moose’s knee.

Moose rubbed the dog’s ear. “No. I run an SAR outfit. I just needed the extra cash. Probably the last time I do this.”

Ridge looked at him. “So it’s just fate that I happen to be trapped with an SAR professional?”

“I don’t believe in fate.”

“Then what is this?”

Moose leaned his head back against the rock. “Ever hear the story of Jonah?”

“From the Bible? The guy in the fish?”

“Mm-hmm.” He closed his eyes. “This, my friend, is a warning. Welcome to the whale.”

Silence, then laughter next to him. “It can’tpossibly be that bad.”

Moose looked away. “It’s not. I know God is in control. It just feels?—”

“If I remember my Bible stories right, Jonah was running from God. You running, Moose?”

“No. I learned long ago that running wasn’t the answer.” He looked at Ridge. “I made a promise, a long time ago, to a dying man. And I didn’t keep it.”

“And now you think God is punishing you?”

“No. Not punishing. But maybe reminding.”

“Thanks a lot. Now I feel like one of those poor fishermen on the boat with Jonah.”

He liked this guy. “Sorry.”

The sunlight had started to dim, the cave turning clammy.

“What was the promise?”

Moose closed his eyes. “It’s a long story. Let’s focus on getting out of here.”

“We’re not going anywhere, so—” Ridge glanced at him. “Rome is a good dog to tell your problems to. We won’t listen.”

Moose gave a wry smile.Yeah, no. The last thing he needed was to start unpacking his regrets.

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