Mitzi made a small sound. “Sweet, sure. Also terrifying.”
“Tell me about it.” A trace of humor slipped into Rachel’s tone. “Our first. We probably should have stayed home, but I really wanted to see my mom before . . .” She stopped herself, her hand absently rubbing her belly.
Tevin offered a small smile. “Well, you picked the right lodge. This place is practically a fortress.”
Olive exchanged a quick glance with Jason. Maybe it was a fortress, but one already under siege.
Still, no one could bring themselves to be anything but kind. Even Trick, whose usual sarcasm had cooled, stood near the mantel with his hands shoved into his pockets, watching quietly.
Rex’s tone stayed even as he said, “You’re safe here until the storm clears. We’ll get you fed and settled.”
Bradford nodded, gratitude showing in his gaze. “Thank you.”
For a few minutes, conversation turned to lighter things—how bad the roads had been, where everyone was from. But beneath it all, tension hummed like a low current.
Olive felt it pressing in, tightening the air. She couldn’t stop thinking about the flash drive. About Project Frostbite.
About the danger surrounding them.
Her gaze shifted to the newcomers.
Were these two really just lost travelers?
Or had the storm brought something else to their door?
Rachel suddenly stiffened, one hand gripping the arm of the chair. Her breath hitched.
“Rachel?” Bradford was instantly at her side. “What is it?”
She grimaced, one hand pressed low against her stomach. “Just . . . give me a second.”
But Olive knew the truth: Rachel was having a contraction.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Mara knelt beside Rachel.“Sweetie, are you going into labor?”
Rachel shook her head quickly, wincing. “No, I don’t think so. It’s—ow—just . . . just pressure. It’s happened a few times lately. The doctor said they were Braxton Hicks.”
Bradford looked both relieved and terrified. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” She managed a weak smile. “But maybe sitting by the fire isn’t helping. Heat makes them worse.”
Mara helped her adjust, scooting the chair away from the flames. “Deep breaths, sweetheart. You’ll be fine.”
The group hovered, watching.
No one said it aloud, but they were all thinking the same thing.
This night had already been complicated enough.
Now it was officially a disaster waiting to happen.
Olive folded her arms, eyes on the fire. Somewhere outside, the wind howled, and snow battered the walls like impatient fists.
And inside, the walls seemed to close in a little tighter.
