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As Earl and Deuce picked through the rest of the supplies spilled on the ground, Zane stood slowly, only a couple feet fro his eyes on him the whole time He took a step closer and reached out to untwist one of the straps and tie it o," he ht about a similar action Zane had taken in a New York hotel rooo Now, just as then, his heart beat a little faster because of it But he nodded in thanks and sht back the hint of warht, alar’s screaered where Ty’s T-shirt ainst the warer than necessary "Co," he said

"Can’t wait," Ty muttered He reached out and socked Zane in the stomach as soon as the other two men had turned away and started off down the trail

"Ow!" Zane huffed, rubbing the spot as he hefted the rean laughing softly "You’re carrying my shit over mountain trails You’re officially a jackass"

Zane skipped a step to catch up as they started walking "I vaguely re me around What does that make you?"

"A hero," Ty countered with a s after the other twoto ad runted, suddenly uncomfortable with the discussion

"Humility doesn’t suit you, Grady Now step it up," Zane said as he stepped over a log fallen across the narrow trail

Ty muttered to hirily with every beat of his heart, and the punctures burned under theto the others, though; he just tried to keep pace with theot to civilization, the better off they were And they had a long way to go

"MRS Grady, I understand that you’re worried," the ranger was saying patiently as Mara and Chester stood together in front of hireen eyes flashed as Chester stood beside her, leaning on his shovel "But they’re not even a day late," the ranger continued, looking askance at the shovel "Earl’s missed his schedule by a lot more than this before"

"This time’s different, Dale," Mara insisted stubbornly She had awakened thatin the pit of her stomach, and she couldn’t seee to her routine that was causing it, or the fact that Chester had been awake and dressed, ready to ride with her to the ranger station But deep down, she knew she’d never convince herself So on theyet," Dale tried to reason with her, putting his hands out almost defensively

"Twenty-four hours could kill a rily

"Been awful cold up there," Chester infor themselves on the one to school with Ty and Deuce; he knew the I can do until we get some kind of word that there’s trouble," Dale told the with her to understand "We’re short-handed as it is in the offseason"

Mara lifted her chin and glared at hiers who stood in the office, trying desperately not to get in the line of fire "You’re not gonna go search for ?" Mara questioned in a calonna need to borroo guns, some britches, and a daypack," she interrupted as she looked back at Dale

He stared at her with his htly open "What?" he asked dumbly

"You heard the woht the shovel up and slaers Dale jumped and flinched away from the sharp tip

"Yes, sir, but--"

"Well, I certainly can’t go up there in nothing but o driving all the way back hoet Earl’s rifle"

He continued to stare at the his head helplessly

Chester hefted the shovel and rested it on his shoulder, narrowing his clear blue eyes Mara crossed her arms stubbornly "And sohed and slu at a spot of tension on his forehead He looked back up at her as she stood there waiting, his eyes flickering to Chester and his shovel warily as he cleared his throat

"Jerry, call down and have them start up the search-and-rescue teaers in the office The et the local volunteer search and rescue squad on the horn

Mara nodded at the young ranger "Thank you, Dale You’re a good boy," she told him

"Thank you, ma’am," he said in defeat as she and Chester turned and made their way out of the office

ZANE paused next to Ty for a couple deep breaths at the top of another hill on the grassy path When he stopped, Ty glanced at hiood look at his partner His face was flushed, but other than that, he looked like he was taking a walk in the park It made Zane worry that the flush was from fever and not exertion

"Okay?" Ty asked hihtly winded "You?"

"Hurts," Ty responded as he lowered his head again