him!â Jake yelled, plunging the broomstick into the snow.
âHey!â the girl said, narrowing her eyes. âKeep it together and carry on searching, okay? If heâs got an air pocket to breathe in, heâll be fine.â
If, Jake thought. He drove the broom handle into the snow again and again. But what if he doesnât? Hi, Mom, glad youâre still alive, but unfortunately I got Taylor killed.
Suddenly Cody began barking thirty feet up the slope.
âOver there!â Jake shouted.
They scrambled up to find the terrier digging into a deep snowdrift. Jake and the girl dove in to help. Jake plunged his hand into the snow and felt somethingâ a leg!
âWe got him!â Jake shouted. Together they dug down to Taylorâs waist and grabbed a leg each.
âOn three,â the girl ordered. âOne, two . . .â
With a heave they dragged Taylor out. He wasnât moving. Jake fell to his knees next to him.
âTaylor, come on, itâs going to be okay. We got you. Taylor, wake up, please !â
But Taylor didnât reply. His skin had turned waxen and his eyes were closed.
The girl leaned over Taylor. âLetâs get him back to the house, now !â
Jake put Taylor over his shoulder, fireman style, took a few steps, and collapsed under the weight.
âLet me help,â the girl said. They each took one of Taylorâs arms and tried dragging him, but it was slow going as his body sank into the snow. If only they had a sled . . .
Jake suddenly had an idea. He pulled out the poncho from Taylorâs pack and spread it on the snow.
âCan you help me get him onto that?â Jake asked. Working together, he and the girl maneuvered Taylor onto the poncho. Then, each taking hold of the poncho, they pulled. Jake held his breathâwould it work?
It did! The poncho glided easily over the snow, and in no time they slid Taylor down the slope, all the way to the front door.
They carried him inside and lay him down next to a woodstove in the living room. The girl knelt down and felt for Taylorâs pulse.
âHeâs still breathing,â she said. âAnd his pulse is pretty good.â
âTaylor, can you hear me?â
Nothing happened at first. They were the longest minutes of Jakeâs life, as he gnawed his lip and prayed that his brother would wake up. Then, just when Jake had begun to give up hope, Taylorâs green eyes fluttered open, and a loud hacking cough rumbled from his chest.
âTaylor, are you all right?â Jake shouted, feeling the relief course through him.
Taylor swallowed and muttered, âWh-why are you yelling? Iâm right here, you idiot.â
The girl laughed and looked across to Jake. âHe sounds all right to me!â
A half hour later Taylor sat in a chair next to the woodstove, two blankets wrapped around him, a cup of hot cocoa in his hands. Jake perched in a chair next to him, only taking his eyes off his brother to glance at the room around them.
The house was about twice the size of Abeâs cabin, and much more modern. It also had more conveniences, including running water, a refrigerator, and electric lightsâpowered by a gas generator, Jake guessed. The whole setup seemed luxurious compared to what the boys were used to.
âHere you go.â The girl handed Jake his own cup of cocoa and pulled up a chair next to Taylor. She wore a T-shirt and jeans embellished with sequins. âHowâre you feeling, Taylor?â
âBetter.â Taylor smiled through a cocoa mustache. âIâm finally getting warm.â
âThatâs good. It might take a while. Iâm Kim, by the way.â
âYou live here by yourself?â Taylor asked.
Kim shook her head and laughed. âMomâs out visiting the cousins. She wonât be back till later. So, Taylor, Cody, and . . .â
âJake,â said Jake.
âYou two are
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