The men finished retrieving their traps, but Bridget’s feet hurt too bad to follow the sled the long trek back through the trees. She worked her way, climbing up toward the road through thick snowy brush. Several times a foot sank into a hole and needed pulling out. Reaching the road, her knees nearly buckled with defeat. She had well over a mile to home.
She fought against simply sitting down and giving up, but Jake was bleeding and he needed her. Limping and struggling to hold back tears, she started off. She took one step and then another, watching only the road crawling under her.
“Can’t you hear?” Pete stopped in front of her, riding the horse he’d ridden when he came with news of the rocker. The snow was letting up, yet flakes settled over his cap and shoulders. “You okay? Why you
