Read Online Denali Dreams by Ronie Kendig, Kimberley Woodhouse - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ronie Kendig, Kimberley Woodhouse
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about this decision. I see it on your face—I know you’re feeling desperate. You should be thankful I’m even letting you go out, but with weather as bad as this, I need another pilot in case Kyle has trouble. Besides, you can’t fly the helo
and
go down to rescue her at the same time.” The older man laid a hand on Zack’s shoulder.
The heat fizzled out of his anger. John was right. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get some rest. We don’t know how long this will take. There are several other groups that haven’t made it to their next camp. This storm could have stranded or injured a lot of climbers.”
Zack nodded and watched his boss walk out of the conference room. What would happen to Karon up there without a guide?
A hand on his shoulder made him jump. Kyle stood there with a stupid grin on his face.
“What?”
“You let go of the rope again?” His friend gave him a pat and left without waiting for him to answer.
As he walked to the window, Zack realized Kyle had been correct. Again. But how could he share all this with God? He’d always shouldered his own problems. He was the ranger. He was the rescuer. And even though she’d turned him down, he’d been hoping he could persuade her otherwise.
Then the words he’d spoken to Karon during their briefing came back to haunt him. He’d grilled her about being self-reliant and being able to self-rescue. Seriously? Was this how God was getting his attention?
In all his life, Zack realized how far self had gotten him. Nowhere.
Yep. He’d let go of the rope again. But he could rectify that problem.
Lord, You alone know what’s really going on up there. Please protect all the climbers. And guide those of us who need to help them.
With that simple prayer, Zack grabbed hold of the rope.
Chapter 14
T hirty grueling minutes had passed since Karon and Clint loaded Lionel onto a sled and began dragging him up to High Camp.
She was out of energy and out of memory verses. Whatever possessed her to climb this stupid mountain in the first place? Had she totally lost her mind?
Images of a roaring fire and hot chocolate with marsh-mallows floated through her mind. She felt like one of the little puppies trudging through the snow in
101 Dalmatians.
Her nose was frozen. Her toes were frozen. And yes, even her tail was frozen.
Next time she watched that movie with one of the neighbor kids, she’d have a new appreciation for the little puppy’s feelings.
She heard little B’s voice in her head.
“You can’t quit, Miss Karon. You gotta keep going.”
She’d never forget those words. He’d whispered them to her in the hospital. Then the children’s choir she’d directed for umpteen years came and sang a song from an old Christmas musical.
“Take a step of faith. Take a step of faith. When you can’t see your hand in front of your face, take a step of faith….”
A smile split her chapped lips with the memories. And even with ice and snow covering her from head to toe, she knew she had to keep going. A resurgence of energy came from a well deep within. God was with her. He knew what was going on. He knew exactly where her little speck was on the side of this great big mountain.
And He was in control. No matter what.
A hard jerk on the rope brought her attention back to the task at hand.
Another long, hard jerk. And then she was sliding—no, being dragged—
up
the mountain. What on earth?
She grabbed her ice axe and tried to slow her ascent. Karon sat down hard, dug her boots in, and slammed the axe into the ground. A momentary halt and then another long jerk on the rope. What had happened to Clint? How could he be dragging her up the slope? Or had he found the camp and the other climbers were pulling? But that made no sense—she was out of control and the sleds were tumbling.
Her oxygen-deprived mind searched for answers as she slowed to a stop. “Clint!” The wind overpowered her voice. “Clint! Where are you?”
Nothing. Just the
and
go down to rescue her at the same time.” The older man laid a hand on Zack’s shoulder.
The heat fizzled out of his anger. John was right. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now get some rest. We don’t know how long this will take. There are several other groups that haven’t made it to their next camp. This storm could have stranded or injured a lot of climbers.”
Zack nodded and watched his boss walk out of the conference room. What would happen to Karon up there without a guide?
A hand on his shoulder made him jump. Kyle stood there with a stupid grin on his face.
“What?”
“You let go of the rope again?” His friend gave him a pat and left without waiting for him to answer.
As he walked to the window, Zack realized Kyle had been correct. Again. But how could he share all this with God? He’d always shouldered his own problems. He was the ranger. He was the rescuer. And even though she’d turned him down, he’d been hoping he could persuade her otherwise.
Then the words he’d spoken to Karon during their briefing came back to haunt him. He’d grilled her about being self-reliant and being able to self-rescue. Seriously? Was this how God was getting his attention?
In all his life, Zack realized how far self had gotten him. Nowhere.
Yep. He’d let go of the rope again. But he could rectify that problem.
Lord, You alone know what’s really going on up there. Please protect all the climbers. And guide those of us who need to help them.
With that simple prayer, Zack grabbed hold of the rope.
Chapter 14
T hirty grueling minutes had passed since Karon and Clint loaded Lionel onto a sled and began dragging him up to High Camp.
She was out of energy and out of memory verses. Whatever possessed her to climb this stupid mountain in the first place? Had she totally lost her mind?
Images of a roaring fire and hot chocolate with marsh-mallows floated through her mind. She felt like one of the little puppies trudging through the snow in
101 Dalmatians.
Her nose was frozen. Her toes were frozen. And yes, even her tail was frozen.
Next time she watched that movie with one of the neighbor kids, she’d have a new appreciation for the little puppy’s feelings.
She heard little B’s voice in her head.
“You can’t quit, Miss Karon. You gotta keep going.”
She’d never forget those words. He’d whispered them to her in the hospital. Then the children’s choir she’d directed for umpteen years came and sang a song from an old Christmas musical.
“Take a step of faith. Take a step of faith. When you can’t see your hand in front of your face, take a step of faith….”
A smile split her chapped lips with the memories. And even with ice and snow covering her from head to toe, she knew she had to keep going. A resurgence of energy came from a well deep within. God was with her. He knew what was going on. He knew exactly where her little speck was on the side of this great big mountain.
And He was in control. No matter what.
A hard jerk on the rope brought her attention back to the task at hand.
Another long, hard jerk. And then she was sliding—no, being dragged—
up
the mountain. What on earth?
She grabbed her ice axe and tried to slow her ascent. Karon sat down hard, dug her boots in, and slammed the axe into the ground. A momentary halt and then another long jerk on the rope. What had happened to Clint? How could he be dragging her up the slope? Or had he found the camp and the other climbers were pulling? But that made no sense—she was out of control and the sleds were tumbling.
Her oxygen-deprived mind searched for answers as she slowed to a stop. “Clint!” The wind overpowered her voice. “Clint! Where are you?”
Nothing. Just the
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