EDGE (37 page)

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Come on, Cache. You’re not in your right mind. You’ve been sick.” She took his arm and tugged him toward the bed. He went easy enough.

“I do, you know.” He fell onto the bed, grabbing her and pulling her down with him.

She pushed against him, trying to get up, but for a man completely out of it, he was surprisingly strong.

“No. Stay.” He nuzzled her neck, settling her against him, throwing a leg over hers, anchoring her in place. “I like you here.”

Unfortunately, she liked it too. Too much. What would it hurt? One night. A night Cache probably wouldn’t remember come morning.

All the fight deflated from her, and she relaxed in his arms. Arms that felt so right wrapped protectively around her.

Shadows swayed within the dark branches of the evergreens. An eerie, wily call of a raven echoed through the twilight. Jedidiah’s face revealed itself in the morning mist. He smiled. A serene smile, beckoning her to come to him.

To be saved.

If she would only place her hand in his, all her anguish and fears would be over. She’d ascend and be awarded in heaven for all her pain and suffering.

Mel jerked awake. Her heart beat like the muffled drums of a Tlingit death dance. Sweat cooled on her body, causing her to shiver. Cache lay next to her, his breathing shallow. She checked his pulse, relaxed a bit when she found it strong. He’d slept fitfully through the night, tormented by his own nightmares fueled by the hallucinating effects of the lupine. She tried to wake him, but he gave a moan of distress so she let him sleep.

She went and checked on Linnet and Nicole. They were sleeping the same as Cache. Nicole looked the worst. Mel remembered her saying that she was trying to drop a few pounds, so she’d probably consumed more salad than Linnet.

Mel used the bathroom, freshened up and changed her clothes then headed upstairs to check on everyone else.

It was early yet. Barely morning, but with the disturbing dream she’d had, sleeping any longer would have been impossible. She needed to find a way to contact the officials. Regardless of the price she’d pay for her privacy, she wouldn’t let others suffer because of her.

She climbed the stairs and checked on Sergei. He’d tied himself in his blankets and was breathing heavy, speaking in Russian fast enough that Mel couldn’t make out any of the words. He twisted and turned but when Mel laid her hand on his brow, he calmed. His eyes opened, fear showing until he focused on her.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Fine. How are you feeling?”

“Been better.” His eyes closed as though that was all the energy he had.

“Go back to sleep.”

“
Dah
.”

Mel refilled his water and then left him to rest.

In David’s room she found Jonah sleeping next to his dad, and Quentin curled up on the floor on a bed made of blankets. David’s breathing seemed normal, his pulse strong.

She went to the Whitneys’ room. Emily was sacked out on the loveseat. Mel was proud of her niece. She never would have guessed the kid had the fortitude based on her behavior when she’d arrived on The Edge, but she was showing promise. Mel tucked in the blanket around Emily and checked the Whitneys. Both their breathing was slow, their pulses thready, and the color of their skin deathly pale. This wasn’t good.

“Hey,” Emily whispered from the couch, pushing hair out of her face.

“How’d it go last night?” Mel asked, worried when shaking Mrs. Whitney got no response, not even a groan like with Cache.

“They’ve been like that for awhile. Mr. Whitney complained a few hours ago that he couldn’t feel his hands and feet.”

Dread over their situation solidified her plans. She had to get the Whitneys to a hospital. Her only option was to hike to Ramsey’s cabin and call for help from there.

And avoid getting caught by Jedidiah in the process.

“Will you get Quentin and meet me downstairs?”

Emily frowned. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll explain downstairs.”

Mel loaded the .357 and tucked it into the waistband of her jeans. Nerves skittered like ravenous mosquitoes over fresh-off-the-plane tourists. She had the shotgun cocked and ready, hunting knife and a can of bear spray hooked onto her belt, another knife in her pocket. Extra ammo in her backpack along with a heavier jacket, change of clothes, rope, duct tape, and water, dried meat, fruit, nuts, and M&Ms. She didn’t think there was anything she’d missed.

Damn she wished Rinka was here. Worry over her missing dog had tears tickling the backs of her eyes. She couldn’t think of Rinka and what might have had happened to her right now. She had to stay focused on the goal. Get to Ramsey’s, radio for help, stay out of Jed’s reach, but get him to follow her away from the lodge. It was a tricky game she was headed out to play. One that made her mouth dry and had her heart beating fast with apprehension.

“Where are you going?” Emily asked, looking a lot like her mother, hands on her hips, frown on her face. “You can’t leave the lodge. That man is out there somewhere.”

“I know.” Mel looked to both Emily and Quentin, who stood just behind his sister looking lost and scared. “Listen. I need the two of you to take care of things while I head to Ramsey’s. I’m afraid the Whitneys aren’t going to get better without medical help.”
“Aunt Mel, what if something happens to you?” Quentin’s question seemed to steal the air out of the room.

“I will be fine. This is my mountain, and nobody knows it better than I do. Well, besides Ramsey. Once I get to his place, between the two of us, there isn’t a four-legged or two-legged animal that can hurt us.”

“What about before you reach him?” Emily asked, taking on the voice of reason. She seemed so adult at this moment which reassured Mel that she was doing the right thing in leaving the young woman in charge.

“I’m armed. I’m prepared. I will be fine.” She silently repeated the words to herself, trying to bolster her courage. She would be fine. She was better prepared for what awaited outside than Jed was. She knew this mountain, knew how to protect herself. She could handle whatever Alaska could throw at her.

“What if that crazy guy comes here?” Emily asked. “He made everyone sick so he could get to you. How are we going to keep him out?”

“Don’t worry. He’ll see me leave.” She’d make sure of it. No slinking out undercover. She’d walk away from the lodge in broad daylight, bold as brass. “I’ll make sure he follows me.” Right into a trap. Ramsey’s place was perfect. It butted up against a cliff. There was no way to sneak in other than the front door, and there was Stir Crazy Creek to navigate in order to access Ramsey’s beach. He was protected from the back by an impassable cliff, the front by the ocean, and the side by a beach that couldn’t be reached without crossing the open creek. There was no chance of surprise, making it the perfect place to pick off a parasite like Jed.

“Promise you’ll be careful,” Emily demanded.

“I promise.” She tried not to smile.

“Wait.” Quentin ran from the room, returning a few seconds later. “Take this. You can let us know where you are in case—” he shrugged “—you know, get into trouble or something.” He handed her one of his walkie talkies. “I’ll keep the other one on me at
all
times.”

She gravely took the walkie talkie and didn’t say a word of the improbability that the walkie talkie had enough range to be useful. “Thank you.” She clipped the toy to the back of her belt. “Okay, guys, I’m counting on you. Keep forcing fluids, if anyone says they’re hungry start with toast and crackers first. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She turned to the door then looked back. “Thanks for…holding down the fort.”

Quentin’s lower lip wobbled, and he suddenly launched himself into her arms. “I love you, Aunt Mel.”

Emotion swelled in her throat. She patted his back, uncomfortable with the feelings swamping her. He let go and met her eyes. “You meet up with that guy, you give him hell.”

She choked out a laugh. “Damn right.” She couldn’t resist reaching out and ruffling the kid’s hair. “When I leave, I want both of you to block all the outside doors. Move chairs and furniture in front of them. Got it?”

“Got it.” Quentin answered like a well-trained soldier.

Emily gravely regarded her. “Be careful.”

Mel nodded. Damn but these two rug rats had gotten to her. She walked out of the lodge, paused and hollered for Rinka, hoping with everything she had that she’d come bounding out of the bush a ptarmigan clamped between her teeth. No answer. Mel whistled and hollered again, this time making sure her voice carried to all the places that Jed could be hiding. She needed him to follow her. Needed her family and guests to be safe from whatever threat he posed.

Needed to end this for good.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
F
OUR

By him therefore let us offer up the sacrifice to God,

~HEBREWS 13:15

“She
what
?” Cache bellowed. Fear clutched his heart with a tight fist.

Emily repeated what he’d prayed he hadn’t heard clearly.

“Damn her.” She was going to get herself killed. If Jed was anything like his daddy, he was nuttier than a walnut tree. He threw back the covers and stood, grabbing the bedpost to stay upright. His legs felt like willow branches, his head the size of a hot air balloon. The room swam with vibrant colors, and for a moment, he thought he saw the bear sewn into the pattern of the quilt step out and growl a warning. “How long ago did she leave?” He tried to clear his head and concentrate on Emily.

“About three hours.”

“Shit.” He had to get to her. Keep her safe. His head had other ideas. So did his queasy stomach. “How are the others?”

“Linnet’s in the kitchen cursing up a storm. Sergei’s trying to keep down crackers. Everyone else is still out.” Shadows swept over her eyes. “The Whitneys are in real bad shape. I can’t wake them. Mom’s not much better.”

Now he understood. He didn’t like it one bit, but he got why Mel risked leaving.

Emily handed him a pile of clothes. “Get dressed. Linnet’s got a plan.”

He yanked on his jeans. Emily glanced away, and waited for him to dress. He struggled into his clothes and then stood, swaying again. Emily was there to give him a steadying hand. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

With her help, he made it to the kitchen and found Sergei, his head on the table, a package of Saltines in front of him. Linnet sat across from him, pale and drawn but in charge of her faculties.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Better,” he lied. “What’s your plan?”

“There’s a life raft in the boat. We can use that to get to Ramsey’s place. It isn’t much but the best that I can think of to get off this place.”

A life raft was a last ditch attempt at staying alive on the ocean. It wasn’t meant for navigating. “How far is Ramsey’s if we hike?”

“Three to four hours. It’s nearly five miles by land, but its rough going. By sea, it’s about a mile up the cove and around the bend. The raft isn’t the best choice, but it’s all we’ve got.”

“Why didn’t Mel use it?”