Chilled (Bone Secrets, #2)(13)

They’d been descending for thirty minutes. The trail was slick and covered with broken boughs from the last windstorm. At least there was a trail. Once they crossed the river, they’d leave the trail and head north, breaking their own path.

She just had to get across the river.

Then she’d be fine until the next water crossing.

The snow paused and Brynn pushed off her hood, feeling the icy breeze nip at her neck. The sky was still dark gray. She tipped back her head, inhaled the fresh air, and watched the wind push the layers of multicolored clouds across the bleak sky. They ranged from pure white to slate gray to a deep, dark gray that was heavy with snow. She estimated ten minutes before the next cloud ruptured. For the moment, there were no towering firs blocking the sky, and the forest released its hold on the group for a few seconds.

Kiana shot out of the brush to her right and fell in beside Brynn, matching her quick doggy pace to Brynn’s steps. She whined softly and brushed her muzzle against Brynn’s leg. Surprised, Brynn glanced down and met sympathetic, devoted blue eyes.

Did the dog know?

Throat tightening, she ran a hand over Kiana’s furry ears, tugging at them lightly.

“Good dog,” she whispered.

“Water ahead,” Jim spoke behind her, his voice flat.

She tossed him a nod and smile over her shoulder, rubbing at Kiana’s back.

They entered another large copse of trees, darkening their surroundings, making the time seem later than four o’clock. The sound of fast water grew louder, closer.

They trudged out of the trees into the light and stopped on a ridge, looking down at the river.

Ryan gawked. “Holy crap. I’ve never seen it so high.”

Jim shot him a black look. “It’s not so bad.”

Brynn stared at the rush of muddy-colored water. Jim could play it down all he wanted, but the river was at least six feet higher than it should be. The fallen tree that had been converted into a footbridge was a measly six inches above the swirling, loud water. Green fir branches and thick sticks floated by, some catching on the tree bridge before dislodging and swirling downstream. She eyed the far bank. Half-moon craters bit into the bank where the fast water had washed out the support and giant chunks of land had slid into the river. It looked like a massive monster had taken bites right out of the dirt.

In a way, it had.

“Look at that!” Alex pointed downstream.

Brynn watched three fir trees, still upright, slide down the steep bank and into the stream. The water sucked them away in a whirl of green and brown, leaving a new bite-shaped crater, water dripping down its steep banks.

“What if that’d fallen in upriver from the bridge?” Alex exclaimed. “It’d create a dam. Probably loosen the bridge with the pressure from all the debris it’d trap.”

“Let’s cross. Now.” Thomas spoke as he started down the bank to where the tree bridge bared a big dirty knot of straggly roots. He climbed up the roots and yanked at the ropes the forest service had rigged, testing them for balance. The ropes paralleled the footbridge at waist height. They looped through eyes on metal rods jammed deep into the tree every ten feet. “Seems secure.”

Seems.

Brynn didn’t move.

Jim stopped beside her, studying her face. “I’ll hold on to you,” he said quietly.

She grinned feebly. “So I can pull you into the water with me?” Her gaze went back to Thomas who was halfway across. She gasped as he stopped mid-span and jumped, slamming his weight into the log, checking out the sturdiness of the natural crossing. Something sharp stabbed deep in her gut.

Thomas jogged to the other side and waved at Alex to cross.

Alex’s face was studious as he sought footholds in the roots, climbing to the bridge. He imitated Thomas, tugging on the ropes then stepping carefully onto the big log. The tree had to be three feet in diameter, spanning the thirty-foot-wide crossing that took up two-thirds of the tree’s length. Alex slowed as he stepped around the first metal rod. Brynn watched his foot slide in the thick layer of snow and felt her heart slip into her stomach. Alex grimaced, but kept his balance.

Brynn wanted to vomit.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Brynn saw a girl crossing a shorter tree bridge with no ropes for balance. It was hot and sunny with skies the color of Hawaiian oceans. The girl’s bare foot slipped on a slick section and the child flung out her arms, wavering on one foot.

“He’s over. No problem.” Brynn heard the forced cheeriness in Jim’s tone. Her eyes flew open and the girl in her mind vanished as she watched Ryan scamper up the roots. He paused and looked back to Brynn, his gaze going from her face to Jim’s.

“Go. We’re coming.” Now she sounded as falsely cheery as Jim. Who could guess her feet felt as agile as blocks of ice? “Kiana, go.” She motioned the dog ahead of her and Kiana darted nimbly up the roots and trotted onto the bridge after Ryan. No fear.

Brynn forced her feet to move, climbing slowly up the roots. She reached the top in time to see Ryan leap off the end and hold up his hand for a high five from Alex. Alex gave a rare grin and met his palm. She saw his lips move but couldn’t hear his words over the roar of the water. Jim came up behind her.

“Let’s go, Brynn.” His tone was firm, but kind. “I’ll be right behind you, honey.”

She pulled the gloves off her hands and crammed them in her pockets, eyeing the ropes. The ropes were so narrow, so thin.