Read Online Denali Dreams by Ronie Kendig, Kimberley Woodhouse - Free Book Online
Authors: Ronie Kendig, Kimberley Woodhouse
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had too much to do. Besides, if he went back to bed, he’d probably dream about Karon again, and he needed to focus. Not that focusing on Karon wasn’t fun. He enjoyed it too much. And he hardly knew her.
And she lived in Louisiana.
He passed a globe on his desk and gave it a spin. Louisiana was a long way from Alaska. A very long way.
Zack ground some beans and made a fresh pot of coffee. He had reports that needed to be written, and the rescue helicopter needed a couple of safety checks today. Might as well hit the ground running.
After a long run on his treadmill and a shower, Zack headed out the door. His cell phone rang. It wouldn’t be anyone from the station; they’d use the radio.
“Hello?”
“Hey, man, it’s David.”
“What’s up?”
“Thought I’d give you a little news.”
Zack’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m listening.”
“Your girl’s on her way to High Camp.” David clicked off before Zack even got to say thanks.
He shook his head. High Camp. That meant that if the weather held, she might get to summit in a couple of days and then she’d be on her way back down.
But not to him.
Chapter 13
O nce they left Basin Camp at 14,200 feet, Karon felt the difference in her bones. She was wearing out. And Lionel didn’t look like he was faring much better. Clint didn’t say much, just kept up his pace behind her. The wind and cold tore through them. And now, clouds shrouded them in the top heights of Denali.
They stopped for a few minutes and Karon eased the heavy pack off her shoulders. Lionel sat very still twenty feet above her. As she approached, he lifted his goggles. “Do my eyes look all right to you?”
She wasn’t sure what to look for, but the glassy appearance of his eyes scared her. “I don’t know, Lionel. I’m not a doctor.”
“Ten years I’ve been leading expeditions and guiding people on this mountain. I haven’t been sick in all that time.”
Wow. Ten years. She chuckled. “I work with five-year-olds. I’m lucky if I avoid their bugs every few weeks.”
“I’m not trying to scare you. I just believe in being totally forthright. And, Karon, I don’t feel well. The only symptom is a sore throat right now, but I don’t feel well. Not at all.” He replaced all his gear. “Let me get you to High Camp and I’ll radio in. There’s usually a doctor there as well.”
Karon nodded. She couldn’t imagine getting sick on the side of a mountain. Sick at home on a comfy couch or in bed was bad enough. Poor Lionel.
She walked over to Clint and told him what was going on. In a matter of minutes, they were back on the trail to High Camp. Hopefully someone there could help their guide feel better.
An hour of torturous climbing passed in the wind and now blowing snow. The weather had changed from bad to worse in an instant. Lionel, Karon, and Clint were all tethered together with rope, and Karon could barely see the next step in front of her, the visibility was so bad.
So this was the horror all the books talked about. A blizzard on the side of the mountain in the middle of a climb. No wonder so many people never saw the summit.
She redirected her thoughts. Maybe singing a song in her head would help. Clint loved to call her
songbird
because he always caught her singing something. But up here? Too cold. And she had a hard time keeping a tune going.
What about her memory verses? She’d challenged the ladies in her Bible study class at church to memorize scripture with her. The thought of everyone arguing over which translation made her laugh. It had been one of the first times after her cancer that she stood up and made an executive decision. No one argued with her choice of the NASB because they were so shocked that Karon was back.
The laughter faded in the cold of her mask, but it felt good to think of something other than the agony of each step.
She started reciting at the beginning of Psalm 23. A perfect passage for the task before her.
The Lord is my
And she lived in Louisiana.
He passed a globe on his desk and gave it a spin. Louisiana was a long way from Alaska. A very long way.
Zack ground some beans and made a fresh pot of coffee. He had reports that needed to be written, and the rescue helicopter needed a couple of safety checks today. Might as well hit the ground running.
After a long run on his treadmill and a shower, Zack headed out the door. His cell phone rang. It wouldn’t be anyone from the station; they’d use the radio.
“Hello?”
“Hey, man, it’s David.”
“What’s up?”
“Thought I’d give you a little news.”
Zack’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m listening.”
“Your girl’s on her way to High Camp.” David clicked off before Zack even got to say thanks.
He shook his head. High Camp. That meant that if the weather held, she might get to summit in a couple of days and then she’d be on her way back down.
But not to him.
Chapter 13
O nce they left Basin Camp at 14,200 feet, Karon felt the difference in her bones. She was wearing out. And Lionel didn’t look like he was faring much better. Clint didn’t say much, just kept up his pace behind her. The wind and cold tore through them. And now, clouds shrouded them in the top heights of Denali.
They stopped for a few minutes and Karon eased the heavy pack off her shoulders. Lionel sat very still twenty feet above her. As she approached, he lifted his goggles. “Do my eyes look all right to you?”
She wasn’t sure what to look for, but the glassy appearance of his eyes scared her. “I don’t know, Lionel. I’m not a doctor.”
“Ten years I’ve been leading expeditions and guiding people on this mountain. I haven’t been sick in all that time.”
Wow. Ten years. She chuckled. “I work with five-year-olds. I’m lucky if I avoid their bugs every few weeks.”
“I’m not trying to scare you. I just believe in being totally forthright. And, Karon, I don’t feel well. The only symptom is a sore throat right now, but I don’t feel well. Not at all.” He replaced all his gear. “Let me get you to High Camp and I’ll radio in. There’s usually a doctor there as well.”
Karon nodded. She couldn’t imagine getting sick on the side of a mountain. Sick at home on a comfy couch or in bed was bad enough. Poor Lionel.
She walked over to Clint and told him what was going on. In a matter of minutes, they were back on the trail to High Camp. Hopefully someone there could help their guide feel better.
An hour of torturous climbing passed in the wind and now blowing snow. The weather had changed from bad to worse in an instant. Lionel, Karon, and Clint were all tethered together with rope, and Karon could barely see the next step in front of her, the visibility was so bad.
So this was the horror all the books talked about. A blizzard on the side of the mountain in the middle of a climb. No wonder so many people never saw the summit.
She redirected her thoughts. Maybe singing a song in her head would help. Clint loved to call her
songbird
because he always caught her singing something. But up here? Too cold. And she had a hard time keeping a tune going.
What about her memory verses? She’d challenged the ladies in her Bible study class at church to memorize scripture with her. The thought of everyone arguing over which translation made her laugh. It had been one of the first times after her cancer that she stood up and made an executive decision. No one argued with her choice of the NASB because they were so shocked that Karon was back.
The laughter faded in the cold of her mask, but it felt good to think of something other than the agony of each step.
She started reciting at the beginning of Psalm 23. A perfect passage for the task before her.
The Lord is my
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