Page 91 of Shadowing You

They cut left, off the trail, working through the underbrush at an angle. The ground rose before it dropped. Branches dragged at his jacket, but he held them back for her where he could. A pine bough whipped his cheek, the pain sharp in the frozen morning.

If they didn’t find the road, they’d wander these woods until they froze or starved. These mountains were vast, and winter was coming.

Had he misjudged? Were they even more lost now?

Then the trees opened, and there it was, hardly more than a rutted track, gray and empty in the early light.

He was about to step out onto it when the engine noise—now above them—cut off.

The world was all birdsong and whispered breezes again.

They ducked into the trees and listened.

Whoever had been on that vehicle had parked. They must be inside the cabin now, finding the disturbed dust and the warm coal.

Ethan took her hand. “Come on.”

They stepped onto the road and hurried downward. Their feet were quiet on the packed dirt.

“Ethan.”

“Mm.”

“You know where we’re going?”

“Yup.”

She made a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “What is the plan?”

He didn’t want to tell her. She’d try to talk him out of it, but he couldn’t see a better way off this mountain. First, he needed a landmark, something he’d be able to find again.

They were rounding a wide corner when he stopped. A boulder rested off the dirt road, taller than he was and almost as wide.

“This way.” He pulled her behind it.

“What are we doing?”

When she was hidden, he said, “You need to stay here.”

“Why?” She looked around as if she might find a clue to his unusual behavior.

“I’ll be right back.”

She grabbed his sleeve. “Ethan, don’t leave.”

“Mei Lin.” He cupped her face and rested his forehead against hers. “I will never leave you. I’ll be back in five minutes, maybe ten. Stay low, stay quiet, stay hidden. If you hear anything strange, anything at all, go deeper into the trees and wait for me. I will come back.”

“Where are you going?”

He kissed her forehead. “I love you. Trust me.”

He could see her wanting to argue. Instead, she said, “Five minutes.”

“Give me ten before you start to worry, thirty before you panic, okay?”

“Do not be gone thirty minutes!”

He grinned. “I’m aiming for five.” He left her crouched behind the rock and started back up the road, keeping close to the edge where he could hide if he heard anyone coming.