Page 9 of Chasing the Wild
Terror and something else—pride, maybe, or determination—warred in my chest.
"Okay," I heard myself say. "Okay, I'll do it."
"That's my girl," Sam said, and then he was lifting Amanda in a piggy back. “Let’s go.”
I turned to face the trail. The orange blazes were barely visible through the driving snow, but they were there. I could do this. I could lead us to safety.
I had to.
We started moving again, faster now. I kept my eyes locked on the trail markers, counting trees, memorizing landmarks when I could see them. Behind me, I could hear the crunch of boots on snow and my own pulse thundering in my ears.
The world had narrowed to white chaos and the next orange blaze and the desperate need to not fail. To not let Sam down. To not be the reason people got lost in a snowstorm.
And then, suddenly, I couldn't see the next marker.
I stopped, panic clawing at my throat. The snow was so thick now I could barely see ten feet ahead. The wind was howling, disorienting, making every direction look the same.
"Sam?" My voice came out higher than I wanted.
"Right here." His voice was steady, grounding. "What's wrong?"
"I can't see the next blaze. I don't know which way to go."
I felt rather than saw him move up beside me, Amanda still on his back. His free hand found my shoulder, squeezed.
"Look down," he said. "See the depression in the snow? That's the trail. Even covered, you can see where people have walked. Follow that."
I looked down and saw what he meant—a subtle difference in the snow depth that marked where the trail continued. Relief flooded through me.
"I see it," I said.
"Good. Keep going. You're doing great, Jess. We’re almost there."
The pride in his voice gave me strength. I started moving again, following the subtle trail markers through the white chaos. My world had narrowed to the next step, the next landmark, the desperate need to get everyone to the lodge before things got worse out here.
I lost track of time. It could have been minutes or hours. All I knew was snow and cold and the relentless need to keep moving. My legs burned. My lungs ached. But I kept going because Sam believed I could, and I'd be damned if I'd prove him wrong.
And then, finally—blessedly—I saw it. A dark shape through the swirling snow. The outline of a building.
"You did it," he said. "You got us here. I knew you could."
The next few minutes were chaos as everyone broke ranks and ran to get inside and get warm. Sam laid Amanda on a bunk to check her ankle properly. Luckily, it was just a bad twist. He elevated it and put an ice pack on it. It should be all right by morning. Meanwhile, Richard started a fire in the massive stone fireplace. Belinda checked to make sure everyone else was okay. A few went to the large kitchen to see about making hot food and beverages. I collapsed on a bench, my whole body shaking with exhaustion and adrenaline crash.
Team work.
"Everyone settle in," Sam announced, finally releasing me to address the group. "We're stuck here until the storm passes. Could be a few hours, could be overnight. Make yourselves comfortable. There's bunks in the back rooms."
The group dispersed, some heading for food, others claiming bunks. The adrenaline was wearing off now, leaving everyone exhausted and a little shocky.
Sam turned back to me, his hand coming up to cup my face. "You need to eat something. And get into dry clothes. You're shaking."
I was shaking, I realized. With cold and exhaustion and the crash after all that fear.
"Come on," he said gently, taking my hand. "Let me take care of you."
And for the first time in my adult life, I let someone else take control. Let Sam guide me to a quiet room in the corner. He helped me out of my wet jacket and wrapped me in a warm blanket. I let him bring me food and hot tea. He sat beside me while I tried to process everything that had just happened.
"You did good today," he said quietly, his arm around my shoulders. "Really good, Jess. You should be proud."
