On one hand, his wife was right. He couldn’t leave a child behind to die. On the other hand, why hadn’t she at least talked to him? Why hadn’t she asked his opinion? One more decision about his life that was made for him without his consent.
Worse, Emma Jane had to have known that he wouldn’t have said no to rescuing the baby, even if it did make escaping more difficult. Which meant he shouldn’t be mad, except he felt as though she was taking advantage of his good nature and making assumptions about what he wanted without discussing it first.
And yet...how could he resist the warmth of the woman pressed against him, who would stand up to anyone who would harm an innocent child? He was mad, yes, but how could he stay mad knowing that Emma Jane was only acting in accordance with her good nature?
The snow started falling harder. No, falling wasn’t the right word. It was as though the snow was coming at them like a train barreling down the mountain with no brakes. Faster, faster and still faster, with no end in sight.
He could feel Emma Jane shiver against him.
“We’ve got to be close,” he shouted back at her. A half truth, because he really didn’t know how close they were, and traveling against the wind, he’d had to slow the horse’s pace to a walk.
The truth was, they could be miles from town yet. Worse, with the whiteout conditions, they could have veered far off course.
Why had he been such a fool as to think he could outrun both a gang of bandits and a storm?
“I hope so,” Emma Jane shouted back. “I can’t feel my legs.”
A quick glance behind him reminded Jasper that, riding astride, Emma Jane’s legs were partially exposed. Her thin stockings would yield little protection against the cold.
He gritted his teeth. Why hadn’t he thought this plan through? He’d thought he had, and yet, the farther they went, the more he realized that Emma Jane might have been right to be more cautious.
“Let’s pray we find shelter soon.”
God had never bothered with such trivialities in Jasper’s life. Why would He? After all, he had pretty much everything a body could want. Then again, Jasper had never asked.
But it seemed like Emma Jane’s faith was different. She talked to God about these things and seemed to believe that God was real in His actions toward her.
He couldn’t hear her words, but the soft murmur of her words echoed against his back. It was like all the time she’d spent reading her Bible to Daisy in the cabin. Emma Jane had spoken quietly enough that Jasper couldn’t hear the words, and yet he’d felt a greater peace than he imagined would be possible given the circumstances.
Even now, Emma Jane’s hands around his waist felt warmer, even though he was pretty sure she was in danger of frostbite.
Frostbite.
One more thing he hadn’t thought of in planning their escape. He could only hope that they’d both survive long enough for Emma Jane to forgive him for being so...
Wait. Were those lights in the distance?
At first it was hard to tell with the snow swirling around them, but then Emma Jane spoke.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Jasper nudged the horse to go faster. The animal also seemed to sense they were close to civilization as it lifted its head. Soon, he could smell smoke on the air, and the horse picked up its pace.
The lights weren’t bright enough to be Leadville, or even one of the small neighboring towns. More than likely, they’d come upon a ranch or some other outpost.
“What if we’ve just gone in a circle and returned to the bandits?” Emma Jane’s query chilled him far more than the swirling ice and snow.
Had they come all this way for nothing?
“We’d have seen the rock formations.” But as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he knew that with such low visibility, they could have easily missed them.
Surely the answer to Emma Jane’s prayer wasn’t to return them to the bandits?
But even so, at least they’d be warm.
A gust of wind sent the snow swirling past them, revealing a sign up ahead. There were no signs in front of the gang’s cabin. Which meant they were safe.
As long as the owners of the building ahead were friendly.
They got closer to the sign.
“I know where we are,” Emma Jane shouted just as Jasper was able to read what it said.
Spruce Lakes Resort.
If there was a place worse than arriving back at the bandits’ hideout, this would be it. Not because it wasn’t a nice place, or the owners weren’t welcoming and friendly, but because he wasn’t ready to deal with the memories associated with the place.
After he and Emma Jane had been trapped in the mine together, they’d been brought here. The resort was closer to the mine than town and had the advantage of having a doctor there, who could tend their injuries. Emma Jane had been unconscious, and Jasper had feared for her life.
At the time, Jasper had said that he’d be willing to do anything, if only Emma Jane would survive. He’d made that promise before he knew that getting compromised by him had been Emma Jane’s plan all along.
“It will be so good to see the Lewises again,” Emma Jane said, her teeth chattering. “They were so helpful the last time we were here. I can’t think of a better place to wait out a storm. I have so many pleasant memories of our time here.”
Jasper swallowed the bile that rose up in his throat. He, too, had pleasant memories of their time here. At least until they’d been tainted by overhearing Emma Jane’s mother congratulate her on finding such a masterful way of compromising herself.
Jasper snorted, then choked on the snow. Just how much of the friendship they’d developed while at the resort had been real?
He’d like to
