Ox got out of the cockpit and Dodge got in, checked the magneto, the lights. Then he idled the engine back and adjusted the fuel air mixture.

It purred.

“We’re going for it, Ox.”

Jude got in beside him, in the passenger seat. He had donned insulated pants, a hat, mittens, and a ski jacket. “I’m assuming Echo has a snowmobile too?”

Dodge nodded.

“I’ll bring it in, so she can go with you.”

Because that’s what people did up here.

Ox had hooked up the plane to a four-wheeler. “I’ll get you out to the runway. I cleared it yesterday, in hopes you’d be bringing your chopper in.”

Right. “I’ll be back tomorrow for that load.”

Ox gave him a thumbs-up, then stood on the running boards of the four-wheeler, and the plane rolled forward.

He motored them out of the shed, into the sunlight.

I’m coming, Echo. Hang on.

They reached the end of the runway, and Ox unhooked him.

Dodge opened the door and called out to Ox. “I’m bringing her right to Anchorage. Call and tell them to send an ambulance to the airport. I’ll radio in when I get close.”

But first, he had to land on the lake and get Echo.

Dodge fell in love with the Beaver at first rumble, the solid feel of her, the way she lifted off as if she’d been itching for air. He settled in, and it reminded him of the Otter his father had crashed. Same maker, different model. The Otter was a granddaughter of the Beaver. A bigger short-takeoff-and-landing plane, it could hold up to nineteen passengers.

He liked the solid power of the Beaver better.

The prop hummed as the ground dropped away. He banked and headed for the cabin.

This was why he loved flying. The trip that had taken him two hours was reduced to a mere ten minutes as he flew over the ridge that separated them from the cabin.

He spotted Peters Lake and the small ranger cabin, smoke spiraling up into the blue. Echo came out as he landed on the pristine white surface of the lake. By the time he’d motored the plane around to the trail, she’d brought down the snowmobile.

“How you doing?” he asked as he jumped down into the deep snow. She rode close to pick him up.

“She’s still breathing, but barely.” He noticed she had been crying, probably for Peyton, but also for the girl. He put his arms around her, pulled her close. “Told you I’d be back. It’ll be okay, Echo.”

Because he had a plan. They just had to get through this, and everything would be fine.

Jude got out the other side, and they picked him up, too, and all three rode up to the cabin.