Chapter 7
Seven
JOEL GRIPPED his shovel as tight as his half-numb hands would allow. Brady followed him. The black wolf stood near, watching their every move no matter how slight, his sideways swath cutting an invisible line between them and the den.
“Everyone move to the right—to the backside of the lodge.”
Cries, huffs, and comments flew among the remaining stragglers, but they did as instructed.
“Jayce, Devon, hold your ground. As soon as they see we’re in the lodge, staying away from their den, they’ll leave.”
Devon stood sentry, his shovel out at a diagonal angle. “I sure hope you’re right. These guys got some teeth.”
“Keep them back long enough to get everyone inside,” Joel said, thankful Cassie was already there.
Jayce shifted his legs apart, his position very much like a cop on the riot line. His recent police academy training had kicked in.
Joel assessed the group. “The ladies are too spread out.”
Mia hurried, increasing her pace.
“Don’t run,” he warned, moving to escort her and Nat. He kept his steps as calm as possible while plowing his way through a snowbank.
Mia’s pace increased more, bordering on a run.
“Mia, no. Slow down.”
She shook her head and, screaming, she broke into a run.
The large black wolf bolted after her, its strong legs doubling the ground she made.
“Stop!” In her panicked state, Joel doubted she even heard him. Another three yards and the wolf was nearly upon her.
“Stay upright!” he warned.
She flailed forward, and the wolf lunged on top of her, baring its teeth.
Jayce raced over, swinging his shovel in the air. “Get off!”
Brady shifted into Jayce’s place at their three, providing coverage of the howling white wolf almost blending in with the snow.
The black wolf pawed Mia’s back. Nail marks ripped through her snow pants, tearing the thick fabric like butter.
Jayce moved to swing again, and the wolf raced off, then circled back around.
“Inside!” Joel hollered as the remaining members of their group stopped to watch. “Go!”
“I got her,” Jayce said, lifting Mia up and moving for the lodge.
Howls rent the air, echoing in the canyon as the group reached the lodge and safety.
My body frozen, I rubbed my arms, trying to ease blood back into them, then stomped my feet to do the same. They all thought they were so safe in the decrepit lodge, but they don’t know I’m here—yet.
Once his racing heart subsided, Joel surveyed his surroundings. Heath carried an old kerosene lantern, walking down the hall toward them—his shadow looming large on the floral wallpaper, which was unchanged since the last time Joel and his family stayed there years ago.
“No electricity?” Joel frowned.
“Nope.” Heath shook his head.
“I thought I saw some light when I was racing back out but must have just been your flashlights.” Joel narrowed his eyes. “Speaking of flashlights, why the lantern instead?”
“The lights did come on. Well, they flickered but then went out. Just cut off. Then my flashlight died, and I couldn’t find any batteries in this place, but I found a pack of matches with one match left and this”—he held up the lantern—“in one of the bedrooms. Kind of creepy how everything looks frozen in time. But on the plus side, this thing kicks out some serious light for an antique.”
And smelled like paint thinner. Joel breathed through his mouth, trying to limit the overbearing odor entering his nostrils. “Where is everyone?”
“In the big room down the hall.” Heath gestured in that direction, the light again bouncing shadows off the walls.
Jayce looked at Joel. “The parlor.”
They headed for it.
The last time Joel had been here was a half dozen years back, right before they started construction on the new lodge. But as often as he, Jayce, and their cousin Scott had visited over the years, finding his way around was like second nature.
Heath slid the doors to the parlor open, and Joel gazed at the ragtag group, blankets wrapped around the majority of them. Cassie sat in a chair with a blanket draped across her shoulders.
“I should take a better look at your leg.” And speaking of legs. “How’s Mia doing?”
She laid facedown on the damask sofa that his parents had often chided him to sit still on.
Devon knelt by Mia’s side. “I carry a first-aid kit with me. I can handle a few stiches, but as an autopsy assistant, Cassie is better equipped for the sutures, if she’s up for it.”
“Agreed.” Cassie got to her feet and wobbled.
“Whoa!” Joel said, bracing his hands on her hips to steady her. She smiled.
He longed for nothing more than to fully pull her into his arms. He’d so missed the feel of her in them. “I think you best sit back down.”
“I’m fine.”
“Of course you are.” He shook his head. “I don’t think you should put any weight on your leg until I’ve had a chance to check out your injury.”
“Mia’s bleeding, I’m not.”
“Okay, but at least sit while you do it. Don’t try kneeling on it for goodness’ sake.”
“Fair enough.” She nodded.
He helped Cassie to the couch, and she took a seat on the edge beside Mia. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.” She lifted her chin at Devon. “The first-aid kit?”
“Got it.” He handed it to her with a smile and a nod.
“Thanks.” She smiled back. “Okay . . .” She directed her attention to Mia. “I’m going to pull your pant leg up and get a good look, okay?”
Mia half nodded, half whimpered.
“We will be rescued, won’t we?” Penelope asked in that high-brow inflection of hers.
“Yes. I’m sure our mom and dad have already reported us missing,” Izzy assured Talbot’s cousin.
“So they’ll come soon?” Nat asked.
“Not until the blizzard clears up at least,” Joel said.
“At least?” Penelope’s brows hiked up.
“He means it depends on how many are missing, where, who needs the most urgent help, how long it takes ski patrol to get in or a rescue copter to fly . . .” Nat rambled on.
Penelope rubbed her arms. “So we could be stuck . . .” She looked around, distaste evident on her brow. “Here for an extended time?”
Nat rested her hands on her hips. “Just be happy we’re inside and warm.”
Penelope shivered. “This place gives me the creeps. It’s like some old house in the middle of nowhere where a slasher movie would happen.”
“Aww, come on,” Brady said, “it’s fun.”
“How is this fun?” She pinned her disapproving gaze on Talbot. “I’ll never understand your friends,” she said in her quintessential tone.
“I’d watch out,” Heath said. “You know who always goes first in the horror movies—the blond.”
Penelope swallowed. “I’m not the only blond,” she spluttered. “Mia and Iz are too.”
“Still it’s a one-in-three-chance.” Brady chuckled.
“You two,” Cassie said, “knock it off.” She looked to Penelope. “Don’t let them get to you.”
“They aren’t. This place is. It’s been empty for a while, right?”
“Right.” Jayce gave a nod.
“Vagrants stay in abandoned places.” She rubbed her arms, her brow indenting into a frown. “How do you know that we are the only ones here?”