ChapterTwenty-Nine
“We won’t leave without Odent, Mueller, and Hobbs,” Flyte said. Audrey assumed he’d named the three missing SEALs.
Xavier nodded. “We’ll send a Fire Team to make the call. NSWC will send reinforcements.”
Flyte shook his head. “We need every man here—to protect the lodge and to search for the missing team members.”
Audrey cleared her throat and made her terrifying offer. “I’ll go.”
“You can’t do that,” one of the SEALs said. “You’re pregnant.”
She turned to glare at the man. “I’ve been hiking these woods for over twenty-five years. And I was pregnant last night when Xavier and I hiked all over the damn forest in pouring rain.”
The man looked a bit sheepish. “I just meant…you said it would be steep.”
“I’ll go. Alone,” George said.
“You aren’t hiking on that leg,” the medic who’d just stitched him up said.
“I’ve survived worse.”
“I know, George,” she responded. “And if we were choosing teams and you weren’t injured, you’d be my first choice for this. You know this forest better than anyone alive. But you haven’t slept in two days, and that cut looks like it went deep.”
The medic nodded. “It is deep. You lost a lot of blood, and your leg could give out in a tight spot. You’ve saved all our asses, and we’re grateful. It’s time for you to rest and let the team do what we’re trained for.”
“They invaded my land,” George said. She could see the fire in his eyes. “Killed my friend. I can do this.”
“So can I,” Audrey said.
“You can barely stand,” George said. “Don’t think I didn’t see your face turn white as you tried not to puke the minute you walked in here, and your hands have been trembling for the last twenty minutes.”
She’d thought she’d hidden her stress pretty well, but nothing slipped by George. “The nausea is from stress, and I need to eat. Some protein and a few hours of sleep and I’ll be fine. I can do this, George. And don’t forget, after you, I know these woods better than anyone else here. Plus, I’ve learned a lot from Xavier about how to move quietly through the forest. I can do this.”
“I’ll go with her,” Xavier said.
She didn’t know if she was irked or not that his words weren’t addressed to her, but then, this was a military operation and he was a SEAL and not exactly in command of the op.
Sure enough, his gaze wasn’t on her or even George. He addressed Lieutenant Flyte, his former teammate and close friend. “I’m useless here with my shoulder, but my legs work, and I can protect Audrey and make the call to NSWC. They’ll listen to me.”
All at once, she remembered that there was a chance NSWC might try to disregard a call from her. They’d listen, surely, but it would take more convincing than if it was one of their own.
Finally, Xavier faced her. “I hate the idea of you leaving the safety of this lodge.” His gaze flicked to her belly, and she knew he wanted to mention Fig, but he wouldn’t do that now, not in front of his team. “But you’re right about being the best choice for this, and I know you’ve got the grit and stamina for it. I will have your back every step of the way.”
She nodded. “We should go now, then, while it’s still dark. We could probably be halfway there before dawn.”
“No way. As you said, you need to eat and sleep first. You’re running on fumes. We’ll head out an hour before dawn and get well away from the lodge complex before daylight.”
She nodded. It was a reasonable plan.
She resumed her seat on the stone hearth next to George and listened as the men made a plan for searching for the missing SEALs and protecting the lodge while she and Xavier hiked up Mount Olympus.
Given the conditions, she figured the five- or six-mile hike would take at least six hours. Possibly longer as they would have to avoid areas that were too steep to traverse without ropes. This wasn’t a good time to attempt rock climbing an unexplored cliff face. Audrey was already mentally preparing her route when George nodded toward one of the large topo maps hanging on the far wall. “You’ll want to take a Thunderbird trail.”
“Thunderbird?” Cohen said. “There aren’t any trails by that name around here.”
“They’re traditional trails,” Audrey said. “Used by tribes since the beginning of time. Hidden routes through the Olympics that connected the coastal groups with the Puget Sound tribes.”
“My people would meet in the mountains to conduct trade,” George said. “The mountains were neutral ground, allowing for commerce. Bypassing the range and crossing the lowlands to the sound could be considered an act of aggression and war.”