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I keep putting one foot in front of the other. We’re going to make it. We made it through the last trek; we’ll make it again.
Chapter twenty-four
Noah
My mind races with the need to keep Mia safe. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sets my nerves on edge. The night had been long and treacherous, but now, I feel like there are a million eyes. I keep expecting to hear the crack of a rifle shot followed by blinding pain or seeing Mia drop. The trees are sparse along the stream, not providing much cover.
I glance back at Mia. I know she’s miserable. To think right now that she could be pregnant with my baby has blown my mind. My heart clenches with the weight of the responsibility. I don’t know how I’m going to navigate that situation. First, I have to make sure she’s safe. There is more reason than ever to keep her alive.
“Soon, we’ll see the edge of town,” I tell her, hoping to uplift her spirits.
The stream curves to the left and widens. It is deeper here, with the water bubbling over rocks and fallen branches at the edges.
“How are you holding up?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
She looks up at me, her eyes weary but purposeful. “I’m okay. Just...tired.”
“We’re close,” I reassure her, squeezing her hand. “Just a little further.”
Suddenly, we hear voices and freeze. I drag her down low, pulling her against me in an attempt to shield her. We barely breathe, both of us listening. The voices sound cheerful, like people having a good time. That throws me off. One of the voices is female, and I swear I can hear a dog barking. At first, I wonder if my frozen brain is playing tricks on me.
I look at Mia. She looks just as confused. “Did they have a dog?” she whispers.
I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
My heart races. I don’t think it’s the bad guys, but we can’t be sure. I motion for Mia to stay low. We creep closer, peering through the underbrush. I see a man petting a dog. A woman, probably in her fifties, wearing waders, is standing nearby with a fishing pole in hand. It all looks so ordinary, but I can’t trust anything.
“Stay hidden,” I whisper to Mia. “I’m going to feel out the situation.”
“What if it’s them?”
“I don’t think it is. Can you see the man’s face? Is there any chance it’s your ex?”
She squints and leans forward. “No. It’s not him.”
“Stay here. And again, no matter what happens, don’t come out. Stay hidden.”
She nods, her eyes wide with fear. I crawl away, staying low before I stand up and casually walk toward the couple.
“Hello,” I call out.
The woman nearly drops her fishing pole. “You scared me,” she laughs. “We didn’t know anyone was out here.”
The dog runs toward me. I pray the thing doesn’t want to kill me because I don’t think I can fight him off. Thankfully, he sniffs me and immediately rolls over to give me his belly. I bend forward and give it a good scratch.
“Are you okay?” The man asks, concern evident in his voice. “You don’t look too good.”
“I need to get to McGrath,” I tell him. “I’ve been out all night.”
“Did you get lost?” The woman reels in her line and puts her pole down. “Honey, you look like you’re half-frozen.”
My gut is telling me this is safe. This is the help we need. “I am, but my girlfriend…she needs to get out of the cold.”
They both look around, probably thinking I’m batshit crazy. “Mia, it’s safe,” I call out.
A minute later, she moves to stand beside me. The couple is shocked. The woman immediately goes to the pack on the back of her snowmobile. She pulls out a red thermos and brings it over. “Here, drink this.”
Mia takes the first sip, her hands shaking as she holds the thermos. She hands it to me. “Thank you,” she says with a half-smile.
