Cold Pursuit - Carla Neggers [103]
“No. I…” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “I couldn’t.”
“I understand,” Jo said. “Did Nora go into the cabin?”
“Yeah. I think so. We were going to look around for a little while, then meet up and hike back down to the lodge and find you. The storm, though…” He looked at Elijah, then Jo, his fear and regret palpable now. “I have to find her. I have to help her.”
Jo shook her head. “Elijah will go,” she said firmly. “He knows these woods better than either of us. You and I will do what we can.”
They would be taking a risk by splitting up, but Elijah knew—as Jo obviously did, too—that it was the only way they stood a chance of finding Nora before either Rigby or the conditions got to her.
Elijah rose, adjusted his pack. “You know what to do, Jo?” he asked, only half-serious, because, of course, she did. “Stay in the cover of the trees. Don’t expose—”
“Yeah.” There was just a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Go. I’ll get Devin to the cabin and meet you there.”
Elijah blew her a kiss and winked at her. “See you soon, sweet pea.”
Color rose in her cheeks, and Devin managed a weak smile at her. “Sweet pea?”
A gust of wind rattled through the trees, and Elijah pushed off in the direction Devin had indicated. He thought of the countless times he’d been up here as a kid with his father, searching for that damn cellar hole.
Twenty-Eight
Nora huddled against her boulder. She didn’t know how long she’d been there. She was still in a tight ball, but she was shivering uncontrollably, her teeth chattering as she tried to stay quiet and out of sight. She needed to go to Devin, help him. Something terrible had happened to him. She just knew it. He’d sacrificed himself for her, but she felt paralyzed—what could she do to help him? She didn’t want to make his situation worse, and she didn’t want to get killed.
Help me, someone. Please, help me.
She didn’t dare speak the words out loud. She wasn’t sure she could, anyway, but she didn’t want to make a sound.
I’m so cold.
She heard the crack of a branch somewhere behind her, maybe above her, and felt a painful surge of adrenaline. Tears poured down her raw cheeks and into her mouth. Her nose ran. She stiffened, trying to keep her teeth from chattering, in case whoever was out there could hear her.
Mom…Dad…I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…
“Nora. It’s Elijah.”
She sniffled, thinking she’d imagined his voice.
“I’m here to help you, okay?”
His voice was so gentle, yet strong, confident. She pictured him in front of the class and remembered his so-blue eyes when he’d looked at her and asked her why she’d wanted to go winter camping. She’d given him some dumb answer. The truth was that she’d wanted Alex and her parents not to think of her as a wimp anymore. She’d wanted them to be proud of her.
I am a wimp.
“Call to me, Nora. Throw some snow up into the air. Anything.”
Elijah sounded close. Her tears were flooding down her face now, snot running, her entire body shaking with relief and self-disgust and terror.
“Devin’s okay. He’s with Jo Harper. I’ll keep you safe, Nora. Trust me.”
Devin, Devin—oh, God! Thank you! Thank you, thank you!
Nora tried to speak, but she started to cry, and her body convulsed into shivers. She was so tired and tensed up, she couldn’t even pry her arms apart to grab snow. Instead, she sat back hard against the boulder and managed to kick a foot out, causing snow to drop off the lower branches of the tree in front of her. A clump of it fell onto her nose. She couldn’t even feel the cold.
She kicked again, and more snow fell, and then she couldn’t do anything but shiver and cry and pray.
“Hey, kid.”
Elijah eased in close to her. He was covered in snow but so strong and warm, and she suddenly imagined him bleeding in combat and felt horrible for how condescending she’d been about his military service.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
He got down low in front of her. His hat was covered in snow. His shoulders. Nora squinted, trying to focus. How much snow had fallen? She didn’t even know.
“Nora. Look at me.” His voice was quiet