“Sorry, Mom,” she whispered. “I’ll try again next year.”
Chapter Two
ASH
Ash was getting a guest settled into their room at the Emerald House, his bed-and-breakfast, when he got a text from Sofia. The words on the screen had him quickly bidding the guests farewell.
SOS. Found an unconscious man on Lupin Trail.
He replied quickly.
I’ll be there in twenty.
Another text came through just as he was starting up his truck.
He’s up and walking. We’re heading to the trailhead.
Meet you there.
He fired up the heater in his truck and made a call to the hospital, letting them know to expect a patient soon. Sofia hadn’t provided a lot of information, but if the man had beenunconscious in the snow when she found him, he at least needed to be checked by a doctor.
His mind snagged on something in her text.Lupin Trail…
Suddenly, it clicked. It was New Year’s Eve. Sofia always hiked to Eagle’s Peak to continue a tradition she’d shared with her mom. His heart ached, and he wondered whether she had encountered the man on the way up or down. She only pushed through that hike each year in honor of her mother, and adding a stressful event on top of it was likely to throw her off-kilter.
He cruised carefully along the highway, snow falling relentlessly and adding to the white mountains that already lined both sides of the road. He remembered a conversation with Holly, who thought that all the snow was probably her fault.
Thinking of Holly, he relaxed a little. She’d had business at the North Pole—or “Canada,” as they referred to it to their friends in Emerald Hollow—the last few days, but she was coming back that afternoon. She’d said she couldn’t miss decorating for her first Emerald Hollow New Year’s Eve bash.
The smile that had unconsciously lit his face slipped away when he turned in to the dirt parking lot. Sofia and a tall man in a blue hiking jacket were making their way down the last stretch of the trail. Ash pulled his truck in next to Sofia’s Subaru and left the engine running.
“Hey, Ash,” Sofia called as they approached. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course. Is everything all right here?” He studied the man as he walked toward him and noted that there were no obvious signs of injury and he didn’t appear to be carrying anything.
“Ash, this is Isaiah. He doesn’t remember how he got onto the trail today. I think he needs to be checked out.”
“I called the hospital, so they’re expecting us.” Ash stuck out a hand, and Isaiah took it and gave a firm shake, their eyes meeting. “I’m Ash.”
“Isaiah. Thanks for meeting us. This kind of thing doesn’t usually happen to me, I don’t think.”
Ash could hear the confusion in his voice.Where did this man come from?He wasn’t local. Ash knew everyone in their small town.Is he visiting Emerald Hollow?Ash’s eyes met Sofia’s, and he could see from her expression that she had many of the same questions.
“Let’s get you in the warm vehicle.” Ash indicated his truck, and the three of them settled inside, with Sofia in the back seat.
Ash tried asking a few more questions on the way to the hospital, but the man, though he seemed friendly, couldn’t answer much.
That has to be some nasty concussion.Ash peeked at Sofia in the rearview mirror and saw her clicking away on her phone.
They pulled into the small hospital, and an EMT Ash was friendly with met them at the door. He immediately escorted Isaiah into the building.
“I’m gonna go in,” Sofia said suddenly, opening her door. “The doctor might have questions about what he was like when I found him.”
Her voice quavered slightly.Is this about the last time she was at the hospital? Or has the whole incident distressed her?
“Do you want me to come with you?” Ash began to turn toward the hospital door.
But Sofia touched his arm. “No, it’s fine. I’ll see you at the party tonight. Thanks for picking us up.” Her eyebrows suddenly rose, and she exclaimed, “Oh no! My car!”
