They reached the far side of the road and got to their feet. Xavier took her hand and led her deeper into the dark, saturated forest. He was taking her east, upslope, into the untamed wilderness. They were beyond trails here. No facilities. Just trees and moss and ferns. Fine with her. She only cared that they got as far from the Jamison cabin as possible.

She followed him, seeing only dark shades of gray to define contours under her feet, holding his hand and trusting he would keep her from stepping into a void as they wove between trees large and small, scrambling over downed trunks and crawling across rocks covered by a thick mossy carpet.

It felt like an hour must have passed by the time he drew her into the hollowed trunk of a giant cedar. “Let’s rest out of the rain for a bit. We need a plan.”

“Wait. Before you sit, I have a waterproof sheet in my pack. The only part of me that’s still dry is my butt because my raincoat has kept it covered. No point in sitting down and soaking my ass now.”

He let out a grim laugh. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a sleeping bag in there.”

“I wish.” She plucked out the meter-square panel that was camouflage on one side and neon orange on the other and spread it out in the arched hollow beneath the large trunk.

“I feel I should say again I regret ever hassling you over grabbing your pack.”

She smiled as she settled on the plastic. “I know. But it doesn’t mean I don’t like hearing the grovel.” The sheet couldn’t stop the cold from seeping through, but her butt remained dry.

Still, she shivered. They couldn’t stop here for long. The cold ground would suck all the warmth from their bodies. He removed his tactical vest and slipped off the coat he wore beneath it. She did the same. He pulled her tight to his side and draped his thick jacket behind them, while she placed hers across their front.

His right arm circled her shoulders, holding her snug to his side. “I owe you so much groveling. And I promise, you’ll get it all as soon as this is over.”

Warmth bloomed from her center, and she realized it was because she was starting to believe him and his apologies. “I’ll enjoy that when the time comes.”

“You’ll get it. I promise,” he repeated. “But right now, we need a plan.”

“Hiking out of here is impossible in these conditions—”

“I know. It’s too far, and we don’t have proper equipment. In these conditions, hypothermia would turn deadly fast, and it’s not a hike anyone can do alone, and I refuse to leave my team.”

“Good, I was afraid you were going to suggest I set out by myself.”