Chapter 18

When they reached Powell Point, they had been climbing for nearly three hours. The stars shone brightly in the sky. It was the closest Kendal had ever been to the stars. She imagined that if she was standing on the mountain peak, she’d be able to touch one of them.

Her father put his arm around her and kissed the top of her knit hat.

“We’re halfway there,” he said.

“I’m glad I’m doing this,” she said. “It’s really beautiful up here.”

Jeremy adjusted his backpack and looked at his watch.

“The rest of the climb is a bit more treacherous, so I say we take a break and wait for more light.”

Jeremy had a camp stove in his backpack, and he boiled some snow and made them hot tea and oatmeal. They ate and watched the sky turn from indigo to a periwinkle blue.