The sight and sound gave the only indication he’d left the snow. His feet tingled with numbness part-way up the trail. The tingles turned to shards of glass slicing his soles with each step for the next half. He pushed through the discomfort. Sophie’s eyelids drooped lower and lower, despite the jostling from his awkward strides. Her exhaustion from the ordeal was plain. Hell knew he could sleep for days. But first, he needed her warm and alert before he’d allow her to doze. “Hey,” he said with a shake, “is that an icicle or a booger hanging from your nose?” Her lashes fluttered then popped open. She struggled for the briefest of moments to free her hands from her jacket pockets where he had Carmen shove them before they left the lake. Unsuccessful in that venture, the girl used other resources. She turned into his chest and nuzzled her nose against his wet T-shirt. “Eew,” he croaked. “Good thing I was just kidding.”
