Creed punched the air with his fist, laughing. “Leave it to Taylor. Who the fuck becomes hypothermic in a wildfire?”
“Oh, I think I know this one—a guy who jumps into a lake to avoid burning to death, maybe?” Megs rolled her eyes.
Lexi wanted to jump for joy, but she couldn’t. The rescue helicopter hadn’t found bodies at Camp Mato Sapa, but it hadn’t found survivors either. Chaska, Grandpa Belcourt, Gabe, those poor camp counselors, and that little boy were still missing.
And no one had heard from Eric or Brandon or the photojournalist, either.
Vicki, Naomi, Winona—they were still trapped in the hell of not knowing. How could she celebrate when so many people were still missing … or dead?
The door opened and a deputy Lexi didn’t know stepped inside. “I’m here on behalf of Sheriff Pella to make sure everyone who isn’t on duty as a Team member evacuates to safety now. That fire is burning up the back of Dead Man’s Hill. It’s going to be in town before you know it. I don’t see how they’re going to stop it now.”
His words sucked the light out of the room like someone blowing out a candle.
Lexi’s father stood, Kendra beside him. “That’s it. Come on, Lexi-girl. You, too, Vicki and Libby. Time to go.”
Libby got to her feet, shook her head. “I’m staying. Brandon is out there, and I want to be where I can get the news.”
Vicki wiped the tears from her cheeks and handed the keys to Lexi. “I’m staying, too.”
The deputy stood a little taller. “I’m afraid I can’t let you—”
Megs cut him off. “I’m in charge here, and I’ll handle it. Thanks.”
Muttering something to himself, the deputy turned and left the building.
“Promise me you’ll let me know as soon as you hear anything,” Lexi said. “Waiting like this … not knowing … I know how hard it is.”
Vicki hugged her. “Thanks. Now, go be with Austin.”
Chaska stood with Rossiter,hoping the helicopter would come back. The two of them had waved and shouted, but the pilot hadn’t seen them. It would have helped if they’d thought to bring the rope into the cave with them. They’d have been down on the ground by now. As it was, they’d forgotten about the rope, and fire had torched it.
“Why didn’t they see us?” Dean asked.
Chaska turned to him, tousled his hair. “They were looking at the ground. They didn’t think to look for us up here.”
Rossiter looked down at the wall of rock below them. “I should have downclimbed.”
Chaska shook his head. “Not worth the risk, man.”
Chaska knew that Rossiter was thinking of Kat and what she must be going through, believing him injured or dead. Chaska knew Naomi must be suffering, too. But it was one thing to risk a crazy-ass free solo when your other option was burning to death. It was another thing altogether when the only consequence ofnotclimbing was hanging out in a cave for a while.
Rossiter looked over at Chaska. “They’ll send a rescue party to do a ground search.”
Both men knew it, but they didn’t say it. Next time, rescuers would come prepared to search for bodies amid the debris.
Old Man picked up the drum again from its place on the singed remains of the blanket. “Our ancestors sometimes took shelter in caves in the Black Hills. When they had to wait, they would pass the time by sharing stories.”
Chaska pretended to be annoyed for Dean’s sake, rolling his eyes. “Here we go.”
Dean laughed.
But in truth Chaska never tired of Old Man’s stories or the sound of his voice or the beat of the drum. He knew he didn’t have much time left with his grandfather. Sooner rather than later, Old Man would be making the journey, and the stories would be Chaska’s to tell.
But for today, they were still alive, still together. Today was a good day.
Chaska sat down beside Dean to listen.
Chapter 16