On this black mountainside, it was just him, doing a lousy job of keeping alive the person he cared about most in the world. He’d never been so alone. Never been so aware that he was not enough.

“God,” he whispered raggedly.

It seemed as if the wind answered, blowing not just through the trees but through him, too.

I know I screwed up, but I need you now. Forgive me. Don’t let her die. Don’t. Please. Forgive me.

He carefully rocked her back and forth. Frantic. Praying.

Please. Please, God.

From a long way off, the wail of sirens drifted to him. His warning to the men about the park rangers had been accurate. They were coming to investigate the gunshots. If they saw his truck parked on the road, they might use that as a starting point.

It had taken him and Finley thirty minutes to walk here. If the rangers ran, it would take maybe half as long. Except it was dark now. Plus, the rangers didn’t have GPS to guide them.

The men shut off the ATV’s lightbar. A lesser light source remained. The ATV’s headlights?

“Finley, wake up. Please, wake up. Are you okay?”

Nothing.

Why wouldn’t she wake up? Did she have internal injuries in addition to the head injury? She needed medical treatment. Should he pick her up and take her toward the road? He didn’t have his phone or a flashlight. He might injure her worse. He might miss the rangers in the woods and end up costing her even more time.

He’d stay here.

God, don’t let her die.

Ken and the others had come for the gold. But not just the gold. They’d known who Finley was, and Ken had pushed her off the cliff because he’d wanted to hurt her. Why? Revenge? Revenge for his sister’s death?

Eventually, Luke heard new voices approaching. Rangers.

The ATV growled as it raced away, taking the last of the light. Luke could see nothing but black tree branches and gray sky.

He needed to signal the rangers. He rested Finley on the earth, then felt his way back to the site. He lost his footing, slammed his injured shoulder, then scrambled the rest of the way. He switched on the flashlights they’d brought, pointing one in the direction of the rangers and one toward Finley’s position.

He returned to her. “You awake? Finley?”

Still no answer.

He lifted her and climbed the embankment until he could lay her on the flat surface of the ledge. Then he hauled his arm back and threw his handgun as far as he could down the mountain. If he was caught with a weapon, he’d go to prison for five more years.

He picked up both flashlights and made Xs in the air in the direction of the rangers.