He took Charlie’s feet at the base of the sleeping bag, Nash took the top.

“I was thrown off the sled,” Peyton said. “I hurt my ankle, and the sled was destroyed. I tried to get to the dogs, but the storm was closing in. By the time I got to them, a couple had chewed through their harnesses. I cut the rest free.

“Somehow, I found shelter and hunkered down for a couple days. Maverick kept me warm. Probably saved my life.”

“We’re going to move you now, Dad,” Echo said and kissed his forehead.

“How’d Nash find you?” Dodge asked as they picked him up. They eased him off the bed, then around to the main room.

Peyton moved to the side as they carried Charlie, following the group as she answered. “I saw the cabin when I was mushing, so I must have been way off course. I kept thinking if I could get to it . . .”

“I found her in the yard,” Nash said. “Maverick was standing over her, barking in the middle of the night. Any longer out there, and she would have died.”

Nash cast her a look, something of worry in it.

Oh. And Dodge remembered Spike’s comment about Nash not seeming quite so lonely.

Aha.

By the time they reached the door with Charlie, Dodge’s father had climbed the hill, breathing hard. He met them on the porch.

“How’s he doing?” his father asked as they trundled down the hill, their footing slick.

“Not great,” Dodge said.

Echo hustled behind them, carrying their gear.

The sun hung over the mountains, still bright upon the day. “What are you doing, Dad?” Dodge cut his voice low. “I mean . . . you can’t see—” He looked at him. His dad wore his aviator glasses, his leather jacket, his gimme cap, every inch the pilot he remembered, the Barry Kingston who owned the skies.

“I can see just fine when my son is in trouble,” he said. “You needed help. Of course I showed up.”

Dodge’s throat thickened. They reached the plane, and Dodge saw that his father had removed the middle seats. They settled Charlie inside and he roused, breathing in hard, moaning. Opened his eyes.

“What’s going on?” He looked at Echo, then Dodge. “Oh. Okay.” Then he closed his eyes again.

“Dad?” Echo said.

“Get in, Echo,” Dodge said, then turned to his father. “I got it from here.”

“I know.” He backed away. “I contacted Hank and Deke, by the way. They’re on their way. I think Winter is flying them out.”

“Idaho and another Russian man are somewhere in the woods, so watch your back.” Dodge climbed into the cockpit, reached for the headset, then the door. His father stepped back, but Dodge met his eyes. “Thanks, Dad, for coming for me.”

He lifted a hand, smiled. Nodded. “Fly smart.”