Chris was surprised to see smoke coming from her chimney when she drove up. She was suddenly nervous, knowing Jessie was inside.
Jessie was standing with her back to the fire, waiting. Their eyes met across the room and identical smiles touched their faces.
"Hey."
"Hi."
"Nice and toasty in here," Chris said as she moved to the fire to join Jessie.
"Yes. I've made Dillon quite happy, I think," Jessie said, motioning to the cat who was curled up contentedly on the sofa. He opened one eye and scowled at Chris before closing it again.
"I see he's still pissed at me."
They were quiet and Chris let her eyes travel around the room, noting that the table set for dinner, wine already opened and ready. She finally let her eyes rest on the anxious ones of Jessie, trying to read them, but they were guarded, probably much like her own.
"Did you have a busy day?" Jessie finally asked.
"Yes. And cold. The snow's coming down pretty good now. Should be great skiing this weekend."
"I guess there will be a lot of people in town, at the lodge," Jessie added.
Chris nodded, wondering why they were having this insane conversation, knowing it wasn't what either of them wanted to talk about. She sighed, not knowing where to start.
"McKenna, why don't you get a shower," Jessie suggested, wrinkling up her nose.
"And what are you saying?" Chris asked with a grin. "I stink?"
But Jessie had moved to the kitchen, making a pretense of checking on dinner. Chris left her without another word, wondering why the conversation seemed so strained between them. If she wasn't so damn hungry, she would drag Jessie into the bedroom and strip her naked. That was really want she wanted to do. But, probably uncivilized, she thought. Then she grinned. Dinner first, then bed.
But she lingered in the shower. The hot water felt too good after being cold all day long. She slipped on baggy sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt, donning only thick socks for her feet. She was too comfortable after her shower to put on jeans and shoes.
Jessie was again waiting by the fire, this time with a glass of wine. She motioned with her head to the table and Chris picked up her own glass before walking over. She stopped just short of Jessie, then took the remaining step to her, slowly bending her head and kissing the lips she had tried not to think about all day.
Jessie closed her eyes and sighed, savoring their first kiss. She wasn't sure how to greet Chris, what Chris expected of her, so she did nothing. She was oddly disappointed when Chris arrived and did nothing as well. She didn't want to take the time for small talk and dinner. She only wanted what they'd shared last night. After a lifetime of one-night stands, she was nearly insatiable for Chris' gentle, tender lovemaking.
"Okay?"
"For now," Jessie nodded. "Are you hungry?"
"Are we talking about food?"
"We're talking about anything you want."
Chris raised an eyebrow.
"Is dinner ready?"
"It can be. Or we can turn the oven off," Jessie suggested.
Chris leaned over and touched her lips, this time lingering, her tongue licking off the trace of wine on Jessie's lips. Jessie's mouth opened, capturing Chris' tongue and sucking it into her mouth. That was all the encouragement Chris needed. She blindly sat her wineglass on the mantel, taking Jessie into her arms and holding her tight against her.
"Chris, please," Jessie whispered into her mouth. Her hands moved under Chris' shirt, touching warm skin before moving to her breasts, lightly raking her fingers over taut nipples.
"I vote we turn the oven off," Chris said, her voice husky with desire. She took Jessie's hand and led her to the bedroom, pausing at the oven on their way.
They stood in the darkness of the bedroom, listening to each other draw breath. Chris reached out slowly and touched Jessie's cheek, lightly running her fingertips across her skin, trying to memorize every line.
"You're so beautiful," Chris whispered. "Before I met you, I used to stare at your picture, wondering what you would feel like, what your lips would taste like," she confessed. "You looked so sad."
"I was. I was dead inside. There was no joy in my life. I never thought I could feel this way. I never thought someone could touch me the way you do," Jessie said quietly. She reached for Chris, pulling her mouth to her own. Their gentle kiss turned hungry and she slipped her tongue into Chris' mouth, swallowing the moan that followed. They broke apart long enough to shed their shirts, then mouths reunited as their breasts pressed together.
Chris pulled her to the bed, not bothering with the covers and Jessie settled her weight between Chris' opened thighs, pressing hard into her.
"This was the longest day of my life," Jessie whispered. Her mouth moved wetly down Chris' throat, stopping only when her lips closed over an erect nipple.
Chris arched into her, her hands cupping Jessie's hips and pulling her more firmly against her. She rolled her head back, eyes closed tightly as Jessie feasted. Crazily, she wondered how she had ever lived without this. A low moan escaped as Jessie moved to her other breast and she moved her hands lightly across Jessie's bare back before clutching her head and holding her closer against her breast. She felt Jessie take more of her breast inside and she moaned again, her hips rising again to meet the thrusts of Jessie as she ground into her.
Jessie's hand slipped easily inside Chris' sweatpants and she found what she wanted. Hot wetness surrounded her fingers and she drove them deep inside Chris, feeling her tighten around them. Oh, so wet, she thought. She wanted her mouth there but Chris' hips rose again to meet her thrusting fingers. Instead, her mouth found Chris' waiting lips, her tongue mimicking her fingers as she plunged harder and harder inside Chris, riding the wave with Chris as her hips bucked against her hand.
Chris' hips moved frantically as she met each thrust of Jessie's fingers, driving them harder into her until she simply exploded under Jessie's weight. Her scream was primal, long and hard, and she clutched Jessie to her as her tremors subsided.
Jessie felt the perspiration cool on her back as she rested against Chris, her breath still coming hard as the needs of her own body clamored to be heard. She reached down and unbuttoned her own jeans, shoving them haphazardly down her legs as she pulled Chris' sweats completely off. Cotton briefs followed and she pressed her naked body to Chris, hips grinding hard against Chris as she sought her own release.
"Let me, sweetheart," Chris whispered and her hand moved between them. She was nearly overwhelmed by the wetness she found and her fingers moved into hot fire, stroking the swollen center quickly as Jessie's hips moved against her.
It only took one touch and Jessie felt herself slipping, tumbling over the edge quickly. She came hard and fast, her cry loud to her own ears as she lay spent on top of Chris.
"I'm sorry," Jessie whispered when she found her breath. "I couldn't wait."
"Please don't tell me you're sorry. That was beautiful." She kissed Jessie's damp forehead. "We've got all the time in the world."
"There'll never be enough time," Jessie said softly as she curled next to Chris. "I could make love with you every day for the rest of my life . . . and it still wouldn't be enough."
Chris took a sharp breath. Those words, she was not expecting. Unconsciously, she tightened her arms.
"You know, I was a little nervous about tonight," Chris confessed. "I didn't know if last night could be repeated or if you would even want to."
"I wanted you to walk in that door tonight and drag me off to the bedroom without a single word spoken," Jessie said lightly. She stroked the smooth skin on Chris' belly, wondering at her sudden need to talk, to share her feelings . . . and her doubts. "Can I tell you something, Chris?"
"Of course."
"You're the first person that I've ever been with twice." She looked up, just able to see the expression on Chris' face in the darkness. It was one of sadness. "You're also the first person that's ever made love to me because they truly wanted to. It wasn't just sex. And you're the first one I've ever made love to," she finished in a whisper. "What I'm feeling is so completely new to me, I'm not sure what label to put on it." She swallowed hard before continuing. "I don't know what love is, Chris. But what I feel when I'm with you is complete happiness, contentment, joy. And passion. Passion I didn't even know I had. And not just when we're like this, touching. Sometimes I look into your blue eyes and I just want to go there, go inside you, let you surround me and protect me. And I know you would. You've been the one person I could count on, the one person who hasn't let me down."
Chris quietly rubbed Jessie's back while she spoke, her words touching Chris in places no one had been before. Her heart ached for this woman who had so much pain in her life. And so little love.
"Jessie, I'll always be someone you can count on. No matter what happens here or what happens when you leave, if you need me, you just say the word."
"Why, Chris? Why would you do that?" Jessie pulled away, trying so hard to read Chris' eyes.
"Because I . . ." I'm in love with you. Chris' throat closed completely, stifling the words that threatened to spill out. In love? "I care about you, Jessie. What happens to you matters to me."
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The pasta casserole was great for a midnight snack, which was when they finally managed to get out of bed. Chris ate quietly as she watched Jessie moving around her kitchen, refilling her wineglass as she passed by.
"Why are you watching me?" Jessie asked, her back still to Chris.
"Can't I watch you?"
Jessie wanted to tell Chris she could watch her for the rest of her life but she didn't want to scare Chris off. She suspected she had already disrupted Chris' orderly life with her timid declaration earlier. Not a declaration of love, exactly. That was still a foreign concept to her. But she knew what she felt for Chris was not simply sexual attraction. Chris had come into her life and captured her very soul. But was that love? She turned around and found Chris still watching her. She met those blue eyes head on, searching for what, she wasn't sure. Love? Did Chris' feelings for her go deeper than this physical attraction? With Chris, it was hard to tell. She was affectionate in so many ways with so many different people, it was hard for Jessie to tell if her feelings ran deeper. Oh, but when they made love, the way Chris touched her, surely . . ..
"Jessie?"
Jessie blinked, focusing again on the blue eyes staring at her. Chris arched an eyebrow.
"Sorry, McKenna. I guess I spaced out."
"Is everything okay? I mean, do you want to talk?"
"No, no, I'm fine. I was just thinking." She grinned as she sat down at the table and resumed her dinner. "I guess I'm tired. We haven't exactly gotten much sleep in the last few days."
"We can sleep in today," Chris offered.
"Well, I promised Annie I would take her to Sacramento. She wants to shop for Thanksgiving. That is, if the roads are clear."
"They should be. It stopped snowing." Chris shoved her plate away and sat with her wineglass in front of her. "You know, Jessie, I'm really glad you and Annie are taking the time to get to know one another again. I was afraid you would come here and talk to her and leave again, and just go on about your life. I'm glad you're letting Annie into your life."
"Maybe that was my intention, originally. I don't know. Honestly, I never really had a plan, McKenna." Then she laughed a little. "I never have a plan when it comes to my life."
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Chris' boots crunched across the snow on the sidewalk and she scraped them off before going into the Ranger Station. The roads were clear and traffic was coming into tiny Sierra City. The weather was perfect for skiing and the lodge had been packed as she drove past earlier. She glanced at her watch. Nearly noon. Jessie and Annie were probably on their way to Sacramento by now. She had talked to Annie on the phone, who sounded as excited as Chris had ever heard her. The meal she was planning for Thanksgiving would feed twenty, Chris was sure.
"I'm going to ask Jessie to take me to dinner at one of those fancy restaurants, Chris. It's been years since I've dined out. Oh, and we're going to the mall, too. I can't remember the last time I shopped for new clothes."
They would be back late, Chris knew. She was disappointed she wouldn't get to spend the evening with Jessie but she was glad Annie was getting to spend this time alone with her.
"Hey, McKenna," Roger greeted her when she stuck her head in his office. "Didn't expect to see you today."
Chris shrugged. Her cabin was lonely.
"Thought I'd help out. I see Hatcher's being tour guide," she said, motioning with her head to the group of skiers Robert Hatcher was talking to.
"You know, McKenna, he probably likes you even less than you like him. What's up with that? I don't think I've ever seen you two even have a conversation before."
"He's useless. He's lazy. And he thinks he's God's gift to women."
Roger smiled. "He hit on you, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did. First time we met. When I turned him down, he called me a fucking dyke. I was forced to agree with him," she said with a grin.
"Hey, McKenna, just the woman I need to see."
Chris turned at Matt's greeting, offering him a smile.
"Hi, Matt. What's up?"
"Can I talk to you a minute?" He glanced at Roger. "Privately?"
"Sure. I'll talk to you later, Roger."
She followed Matt down the short hallway to the makeshift kitchen in the back. Matt glanced back down the hallway before closing the door.
"What the hell's going on?" she asked and she perched on the edge of the table, crossing her feet at the ankles. "Secret?"
"Sort of. I finally invited Donna to dinner. Last night. We had a great time," he said.
"What did you cook?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter, McKenna," he said impatiently. "That's not what I want to talk to you about."
"Well, was it at least nice? It wasn't hamburgers, was it?"
"I got one of those frozen lasagna dinners at Ellen's. Garlic bread and a salad."
"Wine?"
"Beer."
"Beer? Matt, you served beer with lasagna for your romantic dinner? I thought I taught you better," she teased.
"Will you stop with the menu already?"
"Okay, I'm sorry. What's on your mind?"
"I kissed her."
Chris grinned and playfully punched his arm.
"Well, way to go, man. And?"
"And I think it surprised the hell out of her. But, well, it was just the one and it's not like she slapped me or anything. In fact, she invited me over tonight," he said.
"Well that's great. What's the problem?"
"What does it mean?"
"It means she likes you, I guess," Chris said. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"What is she expecting?"
"Well how the hell should I know?"
"You're a woman, McKenna! What does she want?"
"Matt, maybe she just wants to spend the evening with you, have dinner again, talk, get to know you better. Are you afraid?"
"What if she wants sex?"
"Bring condoms," she teased.
"McKenna!"
"Will you lighten up? What if she does?"
"I'm not ready," he said. "I don't want it to be like that."
"You don't want a sexual relationship with her?"
"Yes. Just not on our second date." He looked at the closed door again before continuing. "McKenna, I think I love her. I mean, I think I might want to marry her."
"Good God, Matt. You've had one date. Are you trying to scare her to death?"
"We've had one date, but we've known each other since I came here. We've talked for hours. I feel like she's the one I was meant to be with."
"That's fine, Matt, but slow down. Last night was her first inclination that you wanted more than friendship. Give her a chance to get used to this before you propose, okay? And what the hell is wrong with having sex? Please don't tell me you plan to wait until your wedding night?"
"No, of course not. But I don't want to make it into some cheap affair, either."
"You know, Matt, you are a rare breed." She stepped closer and gave him a hug. "Donna is a lucky woman."
"So, if I don't do anything more than kiss her again, she won't think I'm weird?"
Chris laughed. "She won't think you're weird. She'll think you're a gentleman."
"Thanks, McKenna. And you'll just keep this between us, right?"
"Of course."
Chris watched him nearly skip down the hall and she laughed. Love was in the air for sure.
"What was that all about?" Roger asked when Chris plopped down in the chair across from him.
"Private," she said. "Secret. Can't tell."
"Come on," he coaxed.
"Nope."
"Fine. I don't want to know, anyway. I've got enough to worry about. There's another damn storm out there," he said.
"This one wasn't bad, Roger. Only four or five inches in town."
"Yeah, but the mountain is full of skiers today, tomorrow will probably be worse as people from Sacramento drive up for a Sunday afternoon."
"The weather's fine, Roger. Will you quit worrying?"
"This Spring, McKenna, when we lost those three skiers, that did me in. I mean, you hear about it all the time, but we were so helpless here."
"Sometimes, you can have the best S.A.R. around and still be helpless."
"We didn't know how to respond. It started snowing and didn't stop for three days."
"Roger, if I'd been here, do you think I could have found them? They could have had radio transmitters and we still wouldn't have gotten to them in time. It's not your fault."
"Yeah, but I've been dreading the season all the same. Damn jet stream," he murmured.
"Would you feel better if I went out on the trails?"
He smiled. "Bobby's already out there. He went up Ridge Trail. That's where they were," he said. "It shook Bobby up pretty good."
"Well, I'll take a stroll around Lake Trail, then."
"Ellen and I are having dinner at the Rock tonight, if you want to join us," he called as she walked out.
"Yeah, I might do that."
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Chris stood silently in her kitchen, impatiently watching the coffee drip. She drummed her fingers on the counter while Dillon watched her.
"I know. Should have set the timer," she said.
But after the four beers she shared with Roger and Ellen, she'd gotten home last night and went straight to bed. As Jessie had said, sleep had not been a priority the last few nights. She wondered how the shopping trip had gone. Jessie had not been home yet when Chris went out for dinner and she didn't call her. She didn't want to interrupt her time with Annie.
"Finally," she said when the coffee stopped dripping. She poured a steaming cup, then took it back into the bedroom where the heater was still on. She dressed quickly, noting with some concern that low clouds were already drifting in from the west, obscuring the early morning sunshine. It was supposed to be another sunny day, perfect for skiing, but the clouds made liars out of the forecasters. Again. Maybe Roger's storm was making an early entrance.
She wasn't surprised to find Roger already at the Ranger Station. She met his worried eyes as soon as she walked in.
"What's up?"
"Goddamn storm," he said. "Low pressure in the Pacific moved ashore already. Ten hours early."
"What's the word?"
"Hell, like they know. The lodge is full, that's all I know."
"Roger, we can close the trails fairly quickly. Don't panic on me, okay?"
"We can close Lake Trail and Elk Meadow, sure. I'm worried about the back country."
She wanted to tell him not to worry. She'd worked many winters in Yosemite where storms had come up suddenly. And she could remember only two times where skiers didn't make it back in time and they had to go out and find them. Most skiers were aware of changing weather patterns and didn't take chances. But the type of skiers they had here were recreational, at best. Most of them wouldn't carry backpacks in case of emergencies. Most were families, just out for a quick few miles, then back to the warmth of the lodge or cabin, then maybe back out for another run in the afternoon. Only the most experienced skiers took the South Rim trail. And experienced skiers would watch the weather.
"You think I'm over-reacting?"
"A little. Let's just watch the weather and wait for another update," she suggested.
"At ten," he said.
"Roger, you can't do this every time a storm comes up. You'll drive yourself crazy."
"I know. But it would really make me feel better if you went out and checked on the activity, see what's going on."
"Sure. I'll check the trailheads."
She grabbed a radio off of one of the chargers and left him as he flipped on the TV, searching out the Weather Channel.
She drove to the South Rim trailhead first. Skiers that would use this trail would normally start out early. She was happy to see only six names on the list, although two had listed the Nevada Trail instead of the loop that would take them back around by the Fire Lookout Trail. By the time she got to Ridge Trail, twenty-two skiers had signed in. It was seven miles to the loop and she thought that even if the storm hit early, they would still have enough time to ski down. She drove through town to where the Lake Trail began. She didn't even bother checking the register. The parking lot was nearly full and she could see skiers across the lake as they made their way across the fresh snow. She assumed Elk Meadow would be the same.
The wind picked up suddenly, a gust shaking her Jeep as she drove back through town. She slowed, peering out the window at the low clouds, waiting for the first flakes to fall. The ringing of her cell phone startled her.
"McKenna."
"It's me."
"Jessie. Hi," Chris said, her voice softening. She had meant to call her this morning but that was before Roger and his storm worries.
"Bad time?"
"No, sorry. There's a storm coming. I'm just out checking trailheads. How was your trip?"
"It was fun, actually. And I normally hate shopping but Annie was like a kid out there."
"Good. I'm glad you had a good time." She paused, then said what was on her mind. "I missed you. A lot."
"I missed you, too," Jessie said quietly. "I came very close to pounding on your door at midnight."
"That would have been a nice surprise. Much better than the dream I had to settle for."
"Can I see you tonight?"
Chris grinned. She had to ask? Damn, she felt like a teenager, sitting here with a silly grin on her face.
"Want me to cook for you?" Chris offered.
"I'm not really in the mood for cereal, McKenna. How about a pizza?"
"Frozen?"
"No, I'll call the pizza place in Sacramento and see if they'll deliver, smart ass."
Chris laughed. "I love frozen pizza. Where and when?"
"My place. As soon as you can, okay?"
"Can't wait. I'll call you when things settle down around here."
"And McKenna?"
"Yeah?"
"Wear something that comes off easily."
Chris acknowledged the happiness that settled over her. Love? Well, even if it wasn't, it sure felt good. She glanced up and met the sparkling eyes in the mirror. Love.
It was just after ten when she parked the Jeep in front of the Ranger Station. There were skiers coming out with maps and she hoped they were taking one of the short trails.
"McKenna, how was it out there?" Roger asked anxiously as soon as she came in.
"Busy. At least in town. What's new with the storm?"
"A wet one, for sure. They have torrential rains all along the coast. It's picked up speed. Could mean blizzard for us. They haven't posted warnings yet. They're going to let me know at noon."
She met his eyes and saw his concern. It was serious. "Have you checked South Rim? There were only six skiers signed in this morning," she said.
"Thirteen now."
"Lake Trail and Elk Meadow were packed," she said.
"We can get those closed if need be. We can get people out of there within an hour. South Rim though . . .." he shook his head. "Who knows? There are too many side trails from there. Not to mention the Nevada Trail. There were four skiers that listed that as their destination. Hopefully they'll know enough to turn around."
"Shit," she said quietly. "How long do we wait?"
"We'll wait until the next report to decide if we need to close the trails. My gut tells me we should do it now but I don't want to overreact."
"Well, I've got a pack in my Jeep. I think I'll go out and see if I can round up Bobby and Greg. Just in case," she said. Bobby would be busy at the lodge, but she was certain Bill wouldn't mind her taking him for a few hours.
"Fine. Hatcher's on his way in. Matt was at Ridge Trail."
She tried calling Greg as she drove to the lodge. He didn't answer and there was no machine. She drove over to his shop before going to his house, but it was closed up. At his house, Greg's truck was there but his snowmobile was missing. She left him a note to call Roger, then drove to the lodge.
She found Bobby in the rental shop.
"Busy?"
"Yeah, but judging by the weather, they'll be heading back in soon," he said.
"Storm's coming faster than expected. Roger's thinking we might have to close the trails. There are thirteen skiers out on South Rim," she told him.
She saw his eyes widen and knew he was remembering the three skiers they lost last season.
"Do you think it'll be a problem for you to leave if we need you?"
"Of course not. I'll tell Bill. Just let me know."
"Thanks, Bobby. I'll call."
She drove back to the Ranger Station, hearing on the radio that the Winter Storm Watch had just been changed to a Warning.
"Well?" she asked as soon as she walked in.
"Winter Storm Warning but we heard that on the damn radio. The Weather Service hasn't called and I can't get through," Roger said. "The guys?"
"Bobby's a go. Greg's out on his snowmobile, I think. I left a note." She looked into the concerned eyes of Roger and knew they were going to be in for a long day.
Just before noon, the call came from the National Weather Service in Sacramento and both she and Matt waited anxiously as Roger nodded into the phone. He hung up a short time later.
"E.T.A. two o'clock. Blizzard conditions expected. He said we could see the first snow in an hour. They've got sixty mile an hour gusts down there. It doesn't look good."
"Let's close the trails right now and get as many people off as we can," Chris said quickly.
"Yes, but what about South Rim, McKenna. What if they reached the Nevada Trail, there's not enough time."
"Matt, call Bobby and try Greg again. Roger, when Hatcher gets here, have him and Matt close Elk Meadow and Lake Trail. If skiers are on Ridge Trail, they'll have enough time to get back down but you need to have someone ski the trail to make sure. I'll take Bobby and we'll head up South Rim," she said.
"Okay. It's a plan, at least. When Bobby gets here, you head out. There's only the four we're really worried about. Right?"
Chris gripped his arm hard and squeezed.
"Right, Roger. It's going to be okay."
"Damn, McKenna, I hate days like this," he said and he ran hands through his already unruly hair.
Bobby arrived with his full pack within fifteen minutes, but there was still no word from Greg. Chris thought how ironic it would be if they ended up searching for Greg as well.
She grabbed a fresh radio, then led Bobby to the back room to add ropes to their packs and get the folding, aluminum rack. Just in case, she told herself.
"Keep in touch, McKenna."
"Don't worry, Roger. We'll be fine. Just take care of things down here."
They left, with Bobby strapping the aluminum rack to his pack and Chris taking the extra rope. Their packs weighed over forty pounds with the added gear; no easy feat on skis. They posted the closed sign at the trailhead and checked the sign-in sheet. Of the thirteen, six had signed out.
They started out, both looking up at the sky, which had already turned into a heavy overcast. The wind was steady, not gusting, but the temperature was barely twenty degrees.
"Man, I'm not looking forward to this," Bobby said as he lowered his eyes from the sky.
"Me either. I'd rather be sitting by the fire with a bottle of rum," she said. "And, you know, maybe some female company." She pushed off with her skis, trying to set a rhythm.
They followed the tracks made by the other skiers and had barely rounded the first hill when two skiers approached. They stopped and waited.
"Looks like a storm coming," one of them said. "Better not head up."
"We're Search and Rescue," Chris said. "Where were you headed when you signed in?"
"Nevada Trail," the other man said. "But there's a skier up there that got separated from his buddy. We were on our way to the Ranger Station."
Chris and Bobby exchanged glances.
"He's up at the split where the trail becomes the Nevada Trail."
"I'll radio it in. Stay off the mountain. It'll be snowing like hell in an hour."
"Yeah. We're done for the day. But that guy, he's plenty scared."
"We're on our way up," Bobby said.
They watched the skiers go down, then Chris radioed Roger with the news.
"Be careful, McKenna. Keep an eye to the sky."
"Ten-four."
"Easy for him to say," Bobby mumbled.
They trudged slowly up the trail until it leveled off, then continued following the tracks. They wove their way in and out of the trees, up and down hills, all the time maintaining a quick pace. They both knew that if they had any hope of finding the skier, they must do it before the snow started. Tracks would be covered up quickly in even a light snowstorm and this promised to be anything but light.
They stopped once to catch their breath and to check their progress. The junction of the South Rim and Nevada Trail was still two miles away. Chris pushed her parka sleeve up and looked at her watch. One-thirty. They had made good time. She looked at the sky, and as if by doing so, the clouds opened up and the first snow flakes fluttered down around them.
"Shit," she said and pulled her gloves on again. "Let's go."
"I don't like this, McKenna," Bobby said as he, too, looked up at the sky. It was a dark gray, with swirling clouds hanging low on the mountain. It looked like it could burst open at any moment and engulf them.
"I know, but we gotta hurry."
They kept up their even pace as the snow fell lightly around them. The wind had not picked up, thankfully, and they covered the next two miles in near silence. Standing alone, waving at them, was the skier. He slid down the trail to them, nearly wiping them out as he tried to stop.
"Are you rangers?" he asked breathlessly.
"Search and Rescue," Chris said.
"Thank God. I didn't know what to do. It looks like a storm."
"No shit," Bobby said. "We can't waste time. Where did you split up?"
"At the trail up there," he said, pointing.
"Why?"
"We weren't sure which one to take. We didn't have a trail map," he said, glancing at them both.
"Jesus," Chris murmured. "What time?"
"About eleven, I think. Maybe a little later."
"You were both going to take a trail and ski back to meet up?"
"Yeah. We wanted to take the Nevada Trail but we didn't know the way."
"Okay," Chris said. "What's his name?"
"Kenny. Kenny Walker. We're staying at the lodge."
"What color is his jacket?"
"It's blue. Bright blue, just a little ski jacket."
Chris nodded. It was warmer this morning and sunny. They would not have thought to wear heavy parkas.
"Okay. We're going to look for him. You've got to get off the mountain. There's a hell of a storm coming. You've maybe only got a half-hour before it hits full force. Is it your car parked down there or his?"
"It's his."
"Great. And I don't suppose you have keys to it?"
He shook his head.
She pulled a glove off and dug in her pockets, fishing out the keys to her Jeep.
"Take my Jeep. Drive it to the Ranger Station. I'll radio in and tell them you're coming down."
"Don't you think I should go with you and look for him?"
"No. Now get down as fast as you can."
"But Kenny, I can't just leave him."
"We'll find him. We don't have time to look out for you, too. Now, get your ass down the mountain."
He looked at Bobby, as if for help, but Bobby motioned for him to go. They watched him ski off and Chris unhooked her radio and called to the station.
"This is Kay, McKenna. Everyone's out."
"Ten-four. Listen, we're at the junction to Nevada Trail. We sent a skier down. His partner is not accounted for. He was last seen heading east on Nevada Trail. Kay, he'll be driving my Jeep. I told him to go there so you'll know he made it down safely."
"Ten-four."
She hooked her radio back on her belt, then with a glance at Bobby, headed out. The Nevada Trail started out going downhill, which could fool you if you didn't have a map. She could see how the skiers thought this trail might take them down the mountain. Actually, it went downhill until it crossed a small stream, then went abruptly back uphill into the forest and beyond. If you stayed on it long enough, you'd end up at Lake Tahoe.
They were still following tracks, the light snow not enough to cover them yet, but they had no way of knowing if these were from their skier or the two that had already made it down. Most likely, they were from all three. The trail was marked, but some of the triangle markers were covered with snow, or the branches of the trees, now heavy with snow, were covering them. Without a map and compass, it would just be guesswork.
They crossed the stream and headed slowly up the hill. They were both tired and they stopped to catch their breath. Chris pulled off her wool cap and dusted the snow off, then put it back on and pulled it over her ears. She watched their frosty breath and wondered how cold it was. She had a small thermometer tied to her pack and she turned around, her back to Bobby.
"What's the temp?" she asked.
"Shit, it's already down to fifteen, McKenna."
Their eyes met, both worried. They started on up the trail again, their thighs aching. When they reached the top, they were able to see to the west and they stared out over the mountains. Dark, dark clouds, swollen with snow, hung heavily over the trees and as they watched, the wind increased, swirling around them, flinging icy snowflakes onto their faces.
Chris shook her head, her eyes never leaving his. She was putting their own lives in danger by staying out here, but out here they were. Even if they started back now, they would never make it down the mountain before the heart of the storm hit. They would have to find shelter somewhere, but she would worry about that later. Right now, they had to find the skier and hope that hypothermia had not taken him already.
"Let's hurry, Bobby. You check to the left, I'll take the right."
He nodded and they set out, both keeping their eyes on the side of the trail, looking for any sign of their skier. Another half-hour and the tracks they were following would be covered. Then, it would be only sheer luck if they found him.
They moved quickly over the snow, their skis sliding easily over the fresh powder. The trail was level here as it headed into the forest again. Chris' radio crackled seconds before Roger's voice called for her. They stopped and she quickly unhooked her radio and answered.
"We've got everything closed down here, McKenna. What's your 10-20?" he asked.
"We're probably three miles into the Nevada Trail. Maybe more." She looked at Bobby with raised eyebrows. It was hard to tell how far they were. Their usual landmarks were now buried in snow.
"I don't like it, McKenna. It's getting nasty down here."
"Yeah, the same here."
"Fifteen more minutes, then I want you turning back. How the hell are you going to get down?"
"I haven't thought about it," she lied.
"Fifteen, McKenna."
"Ten-four." She snapped the radio back on and started out again without looking at her watch. She didn't know what good it would do to head back in fifteen minutes. The storm would still catch them. She closed her eyes against the onslaught of wind and snow and headed out again.
A short while later, Bobby's voice stopped her.
"McKenna, look here. Could be skis," he said, pointing.
Two uneven tracks led off the trail, now all but covered up by the snow. She looked into the woods and saw a clearing.
"Could be. He might have seen that clearing and went to take a look, get his bearings. Let's follow it," she said. "It's all we've got."
They hurried off, leaving the relative safety of the trail behind, to follow the fading tracks. Roger's voice broke the silence and she ignored it, instead concentrating on the path ahead of them.
"Goddamn it, McKenna!" he bellowed through the radio.
She impatiently snatched it off. "We've got a trail, for God's sake, Roger!"
"Listen to me, McKenna. They've got whiteout conditions only fifteen miles from here. You've got to find shelter now!"
She looked at Bobby, just now noticing how thick the snow was falling. She looked at their trail, disappearing quickly. "Just a little longer, Roger."
"No! Goddamn it, McKenna, you damn fool. Let it go!"
"Ten-four."
"I mean it!"
"Ten-four." She switched off the radio and met Bobby's eyes. "What do you think?"
He shrugged. "We're this far. Where the hell are we going to find shelter anyway?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
They continued into the forest, hurrying now as the wind whistled around them, blowing snow into their faces. It was another ten minutes before they saw the blue jacket, barely visible through the snow.
He was laying face down and Chris was sure he would be dead. It doesn't take long for hypothermia to kill and they had no idea how long he had been here. Long enough to nearly cover him in snow, though. They turned him over quickly and Chris bent to his chest, clearly surprised to find his heart beating.
"Alive," she said and they both threw off their packs. Bobby quickly assembled the aluminum rack they would use to carry him and Chris took out the blanket from her pack and two chemical hand warmers, which she placed inside his jacket. They dusted off as much snow as they could, then lifted him onto the rack and covered him with the blanket.
"Hook the ropes, Bobby. I'll radio Roger."
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jessie paced nervously in the Ranger Station, finally stopping to meet Roger's eyes.
"You know she didn't turn around, don't you?" she asked Roger.
"Yes, the damn fool," he said. He had known all along that there wouldn't be enough time for them to get up the mountain and back down before the storm hit. Chris had known it, too.
Jessie had heard the updated forecast on the radio and had tried to call Chris. When she couldn't find her, she had even called Annie to see if she'd heard from her. She finally drove into town, relieved to find Chris' Jeep at the Ranger Station. Only Chris wasn't there. Roger told her that Chris and Bobby were out on the mountain looking for a skier.
Roger paced, too. He would wait a few minutes, then contact her again. God, she could be so stubborn sometimes. He looked around the room, seeing the worried look on Matt's face and the near frantic look in Jessie Stone's eyes. Only Hatcher remained impassive. When he met Jessie's eyes, he gave her a reassuring smile, then turned away. He didn't want her to see the worry in his own eyes. Blizzard conditions, whiteout, temperatures near zero. How would they survive the night?
"Roger, come in," McKenna's voice called urgently and he quickly snatched up the radio.
"Here."
"We found him. Unconscious but alive. Hypothermia for sure, maybe a concussion. He's got a pretty nice gash on his forehead. Probably hit a rock when he fell."
"Where are you?" he asked, not bothering with the radio code.
"We're still in the forest, about a half-mile off the trail," she said.
"Shit." He shook his head and met Matt's eyes. "Now what?"
"I don't know, Roger. We're going back to the trail and see how it is. We need to get down a little lower, the wind is hell up . . .." The radio crackled static over her voice.
"You're breaking up, McKenna. Ten-nine," he said, asking her to repeat her previous transmission.
"I'll check back after . . .."
"I'm not picking you up, McKenna. Ten-nine," he said again.
"Later. I'm out, Roger."
The static ended and silence hung between them in the room. Roger looked at the others and shrugged.
"I guess we wait."
"Man, I'm glad it's not me out there," Robert said.
"You know what, Hatcher? We're all glad it's not you out there. Because if it were up to you, you'd be sitting at a nice fire right now not giving a damn about anyone."
Matt stared at Roger then turned to Robert.
"Why don't you get out of here, man? We can handle it."
"Hey, I didn't mean anything," he said.
"Go home, Hatcher," Roger said. "The roads are getting bad. I'd hate for you to be stuck here with us."
"Fine with me."
After he left, Matt turned to Roger.
"Just once, I'd like to deck the guy. No wonder McKenna can't stand him."
"Yeah, he's a piece of work."
Jessie watched the exchange in silence, just barely able to hold her own tongue.
"Can they make it, Roger?"
"I don't know, Jessie. They'll be carrying an extra man," he said, letting his voice trail off. He didn't know how they could make the night. They were probably damn near exhausted as it was. Put up a tent and tie it down? Maybe, but neither of them carried a tent big enough for three. He shook his head. It was damn foolish to have sent them up there to begin with. The desperate feelings he'd felt last Spring settled over him and he prayed the outcome would not be the same.
"I want to stay here," Jessie said.
"No. There's nothing you can do here. Go to Annie's while the roads are still passable. Sit by the fire. I promise I'll call the minute I hear something. Promise."
"She means a lot to me, Roger. An awful lot," Jessie confessed.
"She means a lot to me, too. But there's nothing we can do now. They're on their own."