Dix

 

Leona pulled back on the throttle to get through the heavy snow accumulation as they climbed the mountain. The thick snowfall came directly toward them when a slight north wind began to blow. Lord, help us find him, please.

They stopped halfway up the trail.

Cameron flipped his helmet's visor up, and his shining blue eyes belied his concern when they called for Max and got no response. "Dad has a small hunter's cabin not far from here. We can stop there."

Leona nodded and continued up the trail. As they climbed, visibility decreased, and the wind battered against them. She kept plowing forward. A tight band twisted in her gut. Would they ever find Max in this? She could barely see the front of the snowmobile.

Cameron tapped on her shoulder and pointed to the right.

Movement under the base of a huge fir captured her attention. She pulled alongside the tree.

Cameron hopped off as soon as she stopped.

She opened her visor and was battered by the snow and wind causing her to close it again. When she reached Cameron the band twisting in her stomach tightened.

Max lay under the tree tangled in barbed wire. Blood dripped from his legs and his neck where the wire had cut through. Seeing Cameron sent him into a frenzy trying to get free.

The large tree blocked some of the wind offering a small amount of protection.

She lifted her visor as Cameron lifted his. "Can we get him out of this?"

"We need wire cutters. He's tangled in the tree branches. There should be a pair at the cabin."

"We can't leave him here. He'll go nuts if he thinks we're leaving him. How far is the cabin?"

"Not far, but it's hard to say. Maybe three hundred or so yards. I think I can get there and back pretty quickly."

"Not with that bum hand."

"I can't let you go in this weather."

She took a deep breath. "I can get there faster. You can't maintain pressure on the throttle. Tell me where the wire cutters would be?"

He let out a long exhale. "I don't know about this. You going alone."

"I'm going. Now let's quit wasting time."

Finally, he shook his head. "This is against my better judgment."

"It's my decision. Now, where would those cutters be?"

He gave her directions on how to enter the cabin and where to look for the tool. She trudged back through the snow and climbed aboard the snowmobile.

She pushed the starter button, nothing. Oh no, please no. She pushed again and a sputter came through. C'mon. C'mon. The third time the engine came to life. Thank You.

The wind's intensity and heavy snowfall battered her body as she headed back up the trail. She struggled to see through the visor and had to keep wiping off the snow. After what seemed like forever, a small clearing emerged with a cabin sitting off to the side. She left the engine running and hopped off the machine. She needed to hurry or the air-cooled engine would be in trouble. She hoped the blowing wind would be enough to keep it cooled.

Leona hurried up the porch steps to the front door. She pulled off her glove. On tiptoes, she barely reached above the doorframe. When she felt the cold metal of the key Cameron said would be there, she let out the breath she'd been holding. She fumbled with the lock and entered the cabin. The flashlight. Rats, she dashed back out, retrieved the duffel bag from behind the snowmobile, and darted back into the cabin.

A quick scramble through the bag produced both flashlights. One doubled as a lantern so she turned it on. The bright LED light cast a creepy glow throughout the one-room cabin. A double bed covered with a patchwork quilt sat nestled in the corner along the front wall next to a window. On the opposite wall near a two-chair table was a stone fireplace.

She placed the lantern on the table and used the flashlight to search for the bathroom Cameron described. A door past the kitchen came into view as she scanned the other corner of the cabin. She opened it and found the small bathroom with open shelves in the corner. As she looked through the surplus of tools, she realized she didn't really know what wire cutters looked like, but she kept an eye out for anything that looked like scissors. Once she found what she thought to be wire cutters, she slipped them into her jacket along with the flashlight and ran back out.

She closed the cabin door and flipped her visor down while she raced to the snowmobile. A quick turn around, and she was barreling down the trail. The snow had piled higher and the machine worked harder to get through, but she pushed forward. When she came to the spot where she thought Cameron and Max waited, she slowed and pulled the flashlight from her jacket. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins. Her breathing, rapid and heavy, echoed in her helmet. Be there.

As she scanned the side of the trail with the flashlight, the reflection of the blustery snow filled the lighted path. She inched forward and scanned again. Nothing. Surely, this was where she'd left them.

 

****

 

The more time passed before Leona's return, the tighter Cameron's chest constricted. He never should have let her go off alone in this weather. It was too dangerous, and she didn't know where she was going. How could he? God, please keep her safe.

The prayer surprised him. It was like he'd bounced back to sixth grade when God was a big part of his life. A time when he'd had friends in Louisiana who believed and encouraged him to believe, too. He'd been in sixth grade and his mom and dad were not getting along. His friends offered support and prayed with him.

Julian had played a key role in keeping his parents together by praying with them and introducing them to a pastor who showed them another way. Why had they all strayed? Had money replaced God in their lives?

"It's OK, boy she'll be back soon." He patted a whimpering Max and hoped by saying the words out loud he'd believe them as well.

He listened closely hoping to hear the whine of the snowmobile engine. She couldn’t be too much longer.

After a few minutes, the drone of the engine cut through the blistery howling of the wind through the trees. Cameron plodded through the accumulated snow and stood on the path. The lights of the snowmobile shone through the heavy snow. Relief flooded his heart when he saw Leona on the trail. Thank You, God, for keeping her safe.

As she inched closer, he waved his arms overhead hoping she'd see him. When she reached him, she turned the snowmobile around so it faced up the mountain and then hopped off. She left the engine running. When she handed him the wire cutters, he wrapped his arm around her neck. "I'm glad you made it back. I was getting a little worried."

She returned the hug. "I'm glad I made it back. How's Max?"

"Ready to be free."

They crouched behind the large tree while she held the flashlight so he could untangle Max.