Reed looked at the others. He could pull rank and insist they do it his way, but the two hikers weren’t in immediate danger. Safety of the crew was number one priority right now and he wouldn’t make a decision that could potentially put any of them at risk. “What do you guys think?”

Wade shrugged. “I’m with you. Someone would have to rappel down with the litter and I can’t see more than a few feet away. I don’t like that idea.”

“Tiffany? Riley?”

The newer members seemed torn, but ultimately they sided with his idea.

Reed turned to Tyler. “You good with this?” Tyler’s opinion was actually the most important. The guy would be next in line to become a lead crew member if Reed left. Which he’d been contemplating more and more each day. He hadn’t told anyone yet, but he’d have to soon. Each day he appreciated his job less and less when it meant giving up on any potential relationship with Erika. And he wouldn’t do this job if his heart wasn’t fully in it.

Tyler released a breath. “It’s your call, man.”

Reed hesitated a fraction longer, but realizing Tyler probably had New Year’s Eve plans that he was hoping to get to—that a pretty girl waiting on him might be clouding his judgment—Reed went with his initial gut determination. “Okay.” Calling out over the ridge, he told the hikers to sit tight.

Wade peered over the edge. “Are they playing cards?”

Reed sent him a look.

“They could pack a deck of cards but not a compass?” Disbelief in the guy’s voice made Reed laugh.

“I’ll let you give them an earful as soon as we’re back at the station, okay?” he told him.

“You better believe I will. You should have heard the one I got from Kim this morning...” Wade mumbled, wrapping his thick scarf across his face to block the wind. “I’ll be in the doghouse for a week.”

Reed envied him. What he wouldn’t give for an opportunity to be in the doghouse with Erika. He had to make things right with her first.

As the crew moved along the side trail, the snow picked up and the covering of white, fluffy flakes over the glassy surface below made footing even more dangerous.

“Grab tree branches and really lock in your footing,” he instructed, leading the way down the path.

Visibility sucked in these mountain ranges. This wouldn’t have been his first choice of trails to hike in bad weather.

Keeping a close eye on his crew, Reed didn’t see a large sinkhole in the path ahead of him until his foot fell through it.