Chapter 23
Dawn followed the sun as its rays spread from behind the mountains. Frost coated the ground, making the burned landscape look ghostly with a soft fuzz of glittery white atop the charred surface. Steam rose in the air as the sun crested the mountains and hit the frost, quickly melting it. A mist floated as far as the eye could see as the sun rose further in the sky. Darren had never managed to fall asleep and stood to stretch and look around. When Travis had woken for his round of watch, Darren had shaken his head and told him it was no bother. He’d known he wouldn’t be able to sleep—not with his mind circling on Risa and those long moments when he’d raced back into the house for the little girl. He was chilly and stiff from the night. Sleeping bags had been dropped with their s
