Sarah Varland - Alaskan Ambush

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Micah didn’t know what surprised him more—the fact that he’d been able to catch a short nap while Kate was awake, or that she’d trusted him enough to nod off and sleep for almost two hours. She’d trusted him when they were kids, and there hadn’t been this awkward distance between them, but years had passed. He hadn’t earned her trust yet as an adult, something he felt the truth of deep into his heart.

She’d downplayed her own level of exhaustion on that run, or he just hadn’t picked up on it, because she seemed drained in an extreme way.

“Ready to go?”

But she was in control again this morning, no hint of the shaking she’d experienced when she first realized she couldn’t use her satphone and the reality of someone being after her had sunken in. Micah was pretty sure she’d be mortified if she realized he’d seen that; she appeared that committed to the strong, brave front she liked to put forward.

But she’d let it drop last night, just for a little while, even if it had been unintentional, maybe from exhaustion. There was something in her eyes that hadn’t been there years ago, and it was more than just evidence that she’d grown up. She was different. It was as if she was more cautious inside. Eager to be prepared.

He glanced over at her, where she stood now without a trace of hesitation on her face.

She’d always been one of the strongest people he’d ever known but even she had a breaking point. He just hoped she was aware of that. Wondered if she was trusting God to help her or just powering through alone.

“I’m ready.”

Taking one last look at the cabin that had been shelter when they needed it so badly, he sent up a quick prayer of thanks and then followed Kate back into the outside.

And almost ran into her. She’d stopped right outside the door.

“What—”

“Shh.”

He stopped talking. Listened like she was doing but heard nothing.

“Let’s go.” She started walking and he followed.

The woods were easier to navigate in the daylight, but Micah was still thankful he had Kate with him because she took several turns down trails so narrow he’d never have seen them. Some of them were already packed down by animals, which would keep them from leaving tracks.

“How much longer to town?”

“We’re close.”

They walked for another hour in the woods before they came to a lower spot on the mountain that had more cleared areas. Micah felt his muscles tensing. It was the ideal location for an ambush. Would the Delaneys have realized they’d come this way? Or had Kate managed to lose them last night?

“I don’t like how open this is.”

She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t like a lot of things about it, but if you want to get back to Moose Haven, this is the best way.”

But she was tense too—he could see it in her jawline, in her shoulders. Still, he followed her down the slope, noting the way she kept looking all around them, head tilted slightly to the side like she was listening for something. Expecting something.

“You’re worried about avalanches?” He was guessing but by the way she whirled around, he could tell he’d probably come close.

“I’m not worried about anything except whoever is after us. But there’s nothing wrong with being cautious when conditions are ideal for there to be trouble.”

So that was a yes, then.

With every step they took, she grew more circumspect and while Micah knew he hadn’t been able to see well last night, he felt that the routes she was choosing today were a little safer. A little more careful than last night’s sprint down the mountain at what could have been literal breakneck speed.

Thankfully they made it down without incident and Micah watched Kate relax a little more.

“Almost there.”

“Where will we come out?”

“At the main trailhead.”

Micah nodded. “Okay, that works. You have a car there?”

“Yes. Not much farther.”

They moved into another area thick with trees that Micah recognized from years ago. Another couple hundred yards and they’d be to the trailhead. They just had to navigate this last section, steep with rocks littering the dirt pathway.

Kate slipped at the top of an incline, kicked one of the bigger rocks. Micah caught her, closed his arms around her out of instinct. They were closer than they’d ever been and his heartbeat quickened. Letting her go was the last thing he wanted to do, which was why he removed his arms the second she seemed to catch her balance. He never would have guessed he’d have reacted this way to the feeling of her in his arms, even for a second, even though he’d known his feelings had danced over the line between friendship and attraction. This was part of the reason he’d not returned to Moose Haven, even after he’d graduated high school and had been free to. Because it didn’t matter if he’d had a crush on Kate then or felt a slight attraction to her now. She was one of the Dawsons, a family who knew how to be there for each other, something he knew nothing about. Much as he’d envied their closeness when he was a kid, he knew he’d never be able to duplicate it if he ever had a family one day, and Kate deserved better. She was far out of his league, and he could only think of her like the little sister he’d never had.

They were only ever going to be just friends.

He stayed still for a minute, with Kate, waiting for the rock to finish crashing down the hill, on edge and alert in case someone heard the sound and attacked them.

But the assault didn’t come in the form he was ready for.

Instead a concussive blast shook the mountain beneath them, loosening more rock.

Kate screamed as the puzzle pieces came together in Micah’s mind.

Someone had set a trip wire for them. Someone who could still be here, watching.

Waiting for them.

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