Page 61 of Black Ice
“All right.” He curled an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s gear up.”
Evie loved Wyatt for a thousand reasons, big and small. From the innocent rush as kids to growing as husband and wife and building a family. But right now, his faith in her, his unwavering support, topped the list.
Her instincts were buzzing on this. A family needed their help to have a chance to get back on track.
Once the others left, Evie and Wyatt changed clothes and gathered the supplies they expected to need, including their winter-weather tent.
“I know it sounds silly to rush out there only to wait for dawn, but I’ve got a feeling,” she began. “There aren’t a lot of hazards up that way. I think this guy knew where he was headed, at least at the start.”
“Makes sense,” Wyatt agreed. “But it’s not just you and me anymore,” he reminded her.
She looped her arms around his waist. “It never has been.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You’re right about that.” Wyatt turned to the deputy. “But I’m filing a formal protest about sleeping in a cold tent when we could catch a couple of hours in our own bed.”
“Duly noted. I promise to make it up to you.” In her heart, she was thinking ahead to Christmas night, when the house went quiet and the two of them could enjoy a private celebration of their next baby.
CHAPTER 5
To Evie’s shock, she did sleep. Curled up next to Wyatt in their emergency tent, the two hours had left her feeling energized and more refreshed than her recent full nights at home.
Dawn was just a hint of faint light in the sky, rousing her instincts and intuition. Experts that they were, they cleared their camp quickly, stowing the gear on the snowmobile in case they had to shelter overnight again.
She was grateful for the thermos of coffee they’d brought along, and even more thankful for the excuse of the search to explain away her lack of appetite.
In the growing light she was able to pick up what was likely Chris’s trail. Nothing as definitive as footprints, but broken branches and a few places where someone might’ve slipped in the falling snow offered clues.
She hiked ahead and Wyatt followed with the snowmobile and emergency kit. It was slow going, but they’d made good progress when the radio crackled. They both paused to listen as the search and rescue helicopter reported in, joining the search. In another couple of hours, Deputy Clark and the search and rescue unit would have a team ready to walk a grid starting at the car if Evie didn’t have more specific guidance by then.
“Why didn’t he stay on the road?” Wyatt asked the world in general, gazing up at the dove-gray sky.
“Disoriented,” Evie said with conviction. “Upset, car goes off the road, it’s dark and he’s just a mess.”
“For us to clean up.”
She took her eyes off the trail to study her husband. “You’re grumpier than usual.”
“Yeah. Sorry. I was all ready for an easy slide into Christmas.”
“You weren’t alone.”
“Then why are you so giddy while we’re traipsing around out here?”
“Because I’m with you and I know you’re going to love your gifts.” She paused, pulled down her scarf and his to give him a fast kiss. “Let’s find Chris, get him home, and then you and I can have a date next to a cozy fire.”
“Promise?”
“I cross my heart.” She snugged his scarf back into place and resumed the search. It was slow going, mostly uphill, but they made good time. Calling out, looking for the trail, creeping along.
Over the radio, the helicopter team reported they hadn’t found Chris at the hunting cabin. They were expanding the search area. A few minutes later, Evie and Wyatt heard the rotor overhead, but they only caught a glimpse of the helicopter through the trees.
When the noise passed, they shouted Chris’s name again, over and over.
She was feeling lightheaded and paused for water and a protein bar. It was an exercise in sheer willpower keeping the food down.
“You look green around the edges,” Wyatt said. “We need to go back.”
“Just give me a second,” she protested. “It’s not as bad as all that.”
