He was in front of her with the rock-climbing pick in hand. “Once we get across the rest will be a walk in the park.”
She responded with a doubtful grunt.
“Just take your time and we’ll go slow.”
She nodded, ignoring the shakes in her body and trying to concentrate on her balance and where she was placing her feet. She dragged her hook down the cascade of rope that was attached through the anchor points. Walker explained he was using the pickaxe as insurance in case one of the anchors might come unattached.
Halfway across, her foot slipped and her stomach lurched to her throat. Walker grabbed her shirt, stopping her from plunging into the abyss. Her racing heart threatened to beat out of her chest as he pulled her against his body. A look of panic laced his baby-blue eyes.
“That was close,” he said before he began moving again, not even letting her catch her breath. Her entire body shook as she stuck close to him. After a lifetime, she made it across and planted her feet on solid ground.
“I’m not doing that again. I’ll take the long way back,” she said.
“We won’t be coming back this way. The ledge will be too icy.” Walker helped her into the backpack before grabbing the other things. “We need to move. We have to make it to camp by nightfall. Even I don’t want to be in these woods after dark.”
“What happens at dark?”
“Nothing good,” he answered.
