Blind Fury (19 page)

She answered his weak grin with one of her own. “The coffee tastes good. But then, so would a boiled sock.” She sighed and sat down on the other side of Greg, leaning back against the wall. Her muscles kept cramping, and her feet inside her boots were damp and cold.

She felt herself dozing and sat up straight. What was she doing? They had to get Greg out of there before it started snowing again. “I've got Dakota, Dad. He can easily carry Greg. You and I can ride double.”

Dad just looked at her, that look of resignation burning in his eyes. “We can't move him, Wakara. He has a head injury. He'd never survive the ride.”

“You're right. They'll have to bring in the chopper.”

Dad shook his head. “They won't. For the same reason I couldn't fire the rifle to attract attention.”

“Avalanche.”

He nodded. “Our only hope is for them to come in with a toboggan, stabilize his head and neck . . .”

Kara was thinking fast. “And get him back to Eagle Lodge. A chopper could land there easily, and with no danger of starting a slide.” Joy surged through her as she scrambled to her feet. “I'm out of here!”

“In your dreams.”

Kara blinked. She had never heard Dad say that before. “What?”

“If you think you are going anywhere, young lady, you are sadly mistaken.” He was sitting up now, looking angrier than she'd ever seen him. “I have one of my children lying here unconscious—I will not risk your life by allowing you to go back out there alone. We stay here, Wakara, and we wait for help.”

Close your mouth, Wakara, you'll catch a fly
. She could hear Mom's voice as if she were standing in the back of the cave. She closed her mouth, then opened it again. “But Dad, I'm not really alone.”

He held up one hand to silence her. “God got you this far, Wakara, but He expects you to use some common sense. If you had thought a little more about your actions in the last day or so, you would have stayed with your little brother and let the sheriff do his job.”

She felt like he had slapped her. “I called him, Dad. He wouldn't do his job!” Her voice squeaked on a sob. “He told me to relax, that you were fine! He was too busy to come out here, then the weather got bad again. Somebody had to do something!”

Dad just sighed and shook his head. “Come here.” He held out his arms, and she let him pull her against his chest.
She wanted to sob for an hour, then crawl into bed and sleep for a week.

But Dad wasn't through. “I know you meant well, but unfortunately your coming here hasn't accomplished anything except to have one more person missing. Not to mention that Anne and Colin must be going out of their minds with worry.”

“Colin!” She pushed back and dried her tears on the sleeve of her jacket. “That's what I meant when I said I wasn't alone. He's probably right behind me.”
If he didn't get lost in last night's blizzard
. She didn't voice that thought. “He told me Anne called the sheriff before he left. They should be on their way, Dad. They should be at the lodge by now!”

Now it was Dad's turn to stare at her with his mouth open. She stifled a giggle. Now was not the time to laugh, either.

“Colin is at the lodge?”

“Uh, I doubt it. He probably followed me as soon as the weather cleared.” Except he had been pretty upset. What if he had decided to just let her be the idiot he thought she was and go home? No, he wouldn't do that with Dad and Greg still missing.

“Can he follow your tracks?”

“Yes. At least the ones I made today.” She rushed on before he could say anything more. “I can follow them too. I can meet him and send him back for the others.”

Dad was already shaking his head, so she hurried on, “It's only a few miles. I'd have been here yesterday if it weren't for the storm. We can get Greg out of here, Dad. We can get him out today!”

Dad's mouth was set in that stubborn line that meant he'd made up his mind and was not about to budge.

Kara sighed. “I know it wasn't very responsible to take off on my own like that. But, no matter what the others said, I knew something was wrong. And look at Greg!”

He laid a hand against her cheek. “And what would have happened if you had waited one more day?”

Her shoulders slumped. “I guess the sheriff would have sent out Search-and-Rescue as soon as the weather cleared. But how long do you think it would have taken them to find you? That other blizzard hit, and you said yourself you couldn't fire the rifle.”

Greg groaned again. Dad knelt down beside him and lay two fingers against the side of his neck. “He's getting weaker.” A tear dripped onto the sleeve of his jacket.

Kara went outside, added wood to the fire, and got a drink from her own canteen. When she came back in, she handed Dad a hunk of jerky. “The sky is clear. You can see forever. Let me go, please. If I don't find help by this afternoon, I'll turn back, I promise.”

“Three hours.” She could hear the pain in his voice. “One cloud in the sky, and you're back here.”

“Got it.” She hugged him hard and hobbled out of the cave. Now if only her muscles would cooperate and let her get back on the horse.

D
AKOTA
WAS
AS
EXHAUSTED
as she was. In spite of the urgency of their mission, Kara let him pick his own pace. “This is the last trip, boy, I promise.” She hoped it was the truth.

Twenty minutes later the horse's ears picked up, and so did his step. Kara felt a thrill of excitement as the lone rider came around the bend. She spurred the gelding on through the churned-up snow, and the two horses nearly collided. In a blur of motion, Colin jumped down and pulled her out of the saddle. She cringed, expecting him to yell at her. Instead he drew her into a tight hug and refused to let her go. With her ear pressed to his chest, she could hear his heartbeat racing along with her own.

Tears of relief flooded her eyes, and she didn't even try to wipe them away. She lifted her head. “Colin, I'm
so
sorry. I'm glad you're okay.”

“Shh.” He hushed her, pulled her even closer for a moment, then abruptly let her go. “Wakara.” His voice was raspy. He pushed away and stepped back, hands dangling by his side. “Don't ever do that again.”

She had expected him to be angry. Instead, he looked scared and hurt and relieved all at the same time. It reminded
her of the stray pup Greg had once brought home; it had that same sad-eyed, wistful stare.

Dad and Greg
! “I found them, Colin. Greg's hurt really bad.”

She explained the situation while Colin cupped his hands and gave her a leg up into the saddle, then mounted his own horse.

“I called Search-and-Rescue. They should be at the lodge by now. Just tell them to follow our tracks in.” He spun the horse around to face her. “Go back to Eagle Lodge and stay there, Wakara, please. Dakota needs rest, and someone needs to call Anne.”

This time she didn't argue. “I'll build up the fire. Everyone will need coffee and food.”

His smile warmed her all over. “Thanks, Wakara. Your dad and Greg will be out of there in no time.”

“Please God, let that be true,” she whispered as she spurred the reluctant Dakota toward Eagle Lodge.

The sheriff and his men were just coming down the hill. Wakara gave them directions, then led Dakota to his stall. After filling the water bucket and giving him a double portion of fresh hay, she hurried up the hill.

The next four hours were the longest of her life.

Twice she started to saddle Dakota and go after the men. Both times she got down on her knees and prayed instead. Finally, she fell asleep, and the next thing she heard was the clatter of helicopter blades as the huge machine settled easily on the landing strip down by the river.

She set the coffeepot aside and stirred powdered soup into the kettle of hot water, grabbed her coat, and rushed outside in time to see two men on skis guiding a travois with Greg strapped inside. Dad and Colin rode slowly behind.

Dad went with Greg in the chopper. Colin slipped one arm around her shoulder. “Greg woke up for a few minutes and knew who we were. That's a good sign.”

Colin helped her pass around mugs of hot coffee and soup to Sheriff Lassen and his men, then went into the radio room. When he came out, he told her, “Bud Davis is bringing a trailer up to Pinewood Meadow.”

Kara sighed. “Whew. That's a relief. I've had enough of that saddle to last a lifetime.”

Colin laughed. “Sure. I'll give you forty-eight hours and you'll be on Lily's back. Bet?”

She grinned and stuck her tongue out at him. “No bets, Mister Smarty, you're probably right.” She yawned. “But right now I think I could sleep for a week.”

When they got home, she finished off two helpings of vegetable beef stew, crawled into bed, and slept for twenty-four hours. Even then, when the phone on her bed table jangled her awake, she wanted to throw it across the room. “Hello?”

“Wakara? You sound like a sick frog. What's up? Pops said your brother's in the hospital, and he wouldn't let me call until now.”

Kara grinned. “Sorry, Tia. I'm still kind of out of it. Can I call you back?”

“I guess.”

Her friend sounded so disappointed, Kara rushed on, “Ten minutes, I promise.”

Tia's voice brightened. “Okay. Talk to you in ten.”

The click in her ear told her Tia had hung up. Wakara plopped back down on the pillow. She still felt sleepy and a little disoriented. Then it hit her.
Greg
!

She jumped up, pulled on a pair of sweats, and dashed downstairs. “Dad? Anne? Where is everyone?”

“In here.”

She hurried into the kitchen. Anne was standing at the stove, and for the first time Kara noticed the enticing aroma of bacon and eggs.

“Food!”

Anne nodded. “You will be hungry now. I have made enough for two.”

“Thanks.” Kara wasn't sure what else to say. She knew she had worried Anne by leaving in the night. After that, the fire, and the episode with Ryan, she was surprised the woman was still around.

She took a plate from the cupboard and held it out for the cook to fill. “Anne? I just want to say I'm sorry for scaring you. I shouldn't have left that way.”

“You are forgiven.” Anne smiled and heaped scrambled eggs onto Wakara's plate. “Now eat. You must stay strong.”

Kara carried her plate to the table, filled a mug with coffee, and sat down. She was hungrier than she'd ever been in her life, but there was so much she needed to know. “I can't believe I slept that long! Where is everybody? Have you heard a report on Greg?”

Anne sat a plate of toast next to Kara's coffee cup and pulled out a chair. “Greg is awake, but he is still very sick. Your father is with him. Colin cares for the stock, and Ryan stays with Timmy's family.”

The back door squeaked open, and Colin stepped in, followed by a rush of cold air. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, you're awake.”

Kara grinned. “The prince has been here and gone.” She chewed another bite of egg, then set down her fork. “How's Dakota? He's not lame or anything, is he?”

“Dakota's just fine, Miss Kara, ma'am. So am I, now that you ask.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “That's only obvious. Want some breakfast? Anne made enough for six men.”

She spread jam on a second piece of toast and handed it to him. He wolfed it down in three bites.

“I've eaten, but thanks.” He grinned and wiped crumbs from his mouth. “I have to wash up. If you want a ride to the hospital, the bus leaves in twenty minutes.”

She gulped down her coffee and ran upstairs to shower and wash her hair. She had just pulled on a sweater and a clean pair of jeans when it hit her.

“Oh, my gosh, I forgot to call Tia.”

The first time, she got a busy signal. Five minutes later, the phone rang and rang as if no one was home. She hung up just as Colin's pickup rattled over the gravel and into the drive.

Great
, she thought,
now Tia will be mad at me
. It seemed like all she'd done lately was upset everyone, even when she tried to do the right thing. Why did life have to be so complicated?

She raced out the door and jumped into the passenger seat. Colin turned on the radio. The truck seemed to bounce in rhythm with a country song, and Wakara cringed as Colin sang along in a voice that would make a dog howl. When he motioned her to join in on a duet, she shook her head and turned the radio off.

“You didn't come after me that night, did you?” The words slipped out without warning, but he didn't seem at all surprised. She watched the pain rush across his face, then settle into an awkward smile.

“No,” he said quietly, then paused and turned to look at her. “I started to, you know. But the storm was on us before I could get the Appaloosa saddled.”