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AFTER WILLOW TOOK HER sweater off and wrapped it around Brandy’s shoulders, the rescued girl returned to her spot against the wall where she drew her legs up toward her pregnant belly and cowered. Willow led Kennedy to the opposite side of the cabin so they could talk about what they should do.
“I don’t see how those two drunk buffoons could have survived the cabin crashing in on them, but we can’t be too careful either. I’m not sure any of us are in a position to walk back to the highway in this cold, and we have to be prepared for aftershocks. It’s a miracle this little shack is still standing. I wouldn’t want to assume we’ll be so lucky next time.”
Next time? Kennedy wondered why she’d ever come to Alaska. Why hadn’t she listened to her dad? “What about the radio?” she asked. “Maybe we could try to signal for help.”
Willow paused. “It’s not a bad idea unless either Roger or his fat, smelly partner are awake and feeling vengeful.”
Kennedy thought back to the way the cabin had toppled in on itself when the tree fell on the roof. Had either Roger or Buster survived? Did they dare find out? “It may be worth trying.”
“You’re probably right. That radio might be our best shot. Even if we get to the highway, it’s not like there’s going to be a ton of traffic going in or out at this time of night. And if there were rock slides or anything along the Glenn, we could be totally cut off for weeks.”
Kennedy wouldn’t think about that right now. The biggest priority was to stay warm for the night.
And keep from starving.
“We can get some of the canned food, too,” she suggested.
Willow nodded then looked back at Brandy in her corner. “I don’t think she’s fit to go anywhere. Not right now. When the aftershocks come, we’ll have to get her out of the cabin though. At least in the open we’ll have a chance to dodge the trees if they fall. But if the cabin goes down ...” She left the thought unfinished.
Kennedy took in a deep breath. “You stay here. I’ll go back to see if I can dig out the radio and get some food. Anything else we might need?”
“Our coats, and blankets if you can find them. And batteries and flashlights. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck here?”
Kennedy knew the answer to that at least. One night. Exactly one night. A night that was nearly over. All they had to do was survive the cold for a few more hours, and then when the sun came up, they’d make their way with Brandy back to the Glenn Highway and find the help they needed.
One night. That’s all this nightmare was allowed to turn into. Just one night.
Willow took off her heeled boot. “You can’t go out in nothing but a sock.”
Kennedy had been so terrified during her run through the woods she hadn’t even noticed the way her toes were burning with cold. She slipped on Willow’s boot. There was something she still didn’t understand. “How did you know about this cabin back here anyway?”
“I noticed it in the moonlight when I stepped outside with Buster. That’s where Roger was coming from after he left the house. I’d already seen Brandy’s pictures in that box and figured that if she were still alive, this is where he’d be keeping her. And I knew Buster was a phony with that message about my goat. He’d never called my family. All right. Do you still have my phone? You can use it as a flashlight.” Willow frowned. “Or maybe we should go together.”
Kennedy glanced at Brandy. “I don’t think we better leave her alone. This is no big deal. I’ll just get a few things and come right back.” She forced confidence into her voice even though she felt none.
Willow reached out and wrapped her in a hug. “You be careful now, you hear? And if either of those men are still alive ...” Her voice trailed off.
As Kennedy stepped out again into the now silent moonlight, she tried not to ask herself what it was that Willow had been about to say.