Her request can’t be refused, not after what she sacrificed for us. The question is how best to move her. Mia suggests we find broken branches and make some sort of stretcher. But are we strong enough to lift her? Can we keep it up for miles?

“Stretcher won’t work,” Deke announces. “Too awkward on these paths.”

“Got a better idea?”

“I’ll carry her,” he says. “We stay together and we keep moving.”

40. Not a Good Sign

It’s amazing how useful a piece of blue tarp can be. Imani and Mia rig it into a carrier for Cindi. Like an adult version of a baby carrier that Deke can slip over his shoulders. At Cindi’s suggestion, they tie her legs together so they won’t flop around.

Tiny Dancer makes sense as a nickname. I doubt she weighs a hundred pounds. Even so, Deke is the only one big enough and strong enough to carry her.

“Once we start, I’m going to let myself pass out,” she says in her whispery weak voice. “Please don’t worry. I’m not dying. It’s my way of coping with the pain.”

Poor Cindi. I feel so bad for her it makes me want to cry. But I don’t, because that would make things worse. We’re trying to be cheerful and hopeful for her sake. No idea how long it will take to finish the hike, find the pickup location, and get her the help she needs. But we’ll do our best.

Our mission has expanded. We not only strive to save ourselves, we do whatever it takes to save Cindi Beacon. She’s our hero. That terrible night is burned into my brain. I can still see it, feel it, taste the fear. And I’ll never forget the look on Cindi’s face as she pushed Imani up onto the cliff. She assumed she was about to die, and the last thing she did was save a child rather than herself. She was terrified, but she did the right thing anyway.

That has to be the true definition of courage.

“Ready?” Mia asks. “I’ll go first and make sure the path is clear. Daniel and Imani, you follow Deke and help him if he loses balance.”

Deke takes a deep breath, braces himself. “Let’s do it.”

True to her word, Cindi passes out before he’s taken three steps. Best thing, I guess. Not that I can imagine how much it must hurt.

“You okay, Deke?”

His expression is grim and determined. “Got it. No worries, I can do this all day.”

If I had to carry a hundred pounds on my back, I’d keel over for sure. But Deacon Bailey keeps pace with Mia as if it really isn’t a problem.