Backfire. Elizabeth Goddard

Tracy hated her paranoia, but she had good reason.

      Tracy looked behind her again, watching her surroundings to reassure herself no one was there. Normally she had the comfort of knowing that Solomon could protect her if there was anything to worry about. But how to get the dog back from where he’d traveled down the ledge? She called him, using the command he should quickly respond to, but he wouldn’t move from his perch. She had no idea if he simply wasn’t able to make the climb—though she hadn’t seen him try—or if he was committed to the fall victim.

      There was nothing for it. Tracy would have to climb down to him. She was an experienced climber herself and had paid attention to David’s path down, but she couldn’t see herself going all the way to the fallen jogger without climbing gear. Again she searched for the path Solomon had taken, but saw nothing, at least from this angle.

      She eased herself down and, her feet and hands gripping the rock face, pressed herself into the granite, taking in quick breaths. She hadn’t ever done this solo—without the ropes in case she fell. But it wasn’t that difficult. Solomon had picked his way down without climbing somehow, so she knew she could, too.

      She sent up a quick prayer and continued to make her way until Solomon was only a few yards below her. When fear crept in, she imagined she had the necessary ropes and gear to keep from falling and continued on.

      The next thing she knew, hands gripped her waist. “You’re almost there,” David said. Relief flooded her as David assisted her the rest of the way. She could have done it without him, but it was a comfort to know he was—literally—watching her back. But why had he felt it necessary to leave the fallen runner?

      When she turned her back to the rock face she’d just scaled, David stood mere inches from her.

      Much too close.

      “What...what are you doing? Why did you leave him down there alone?”

      “I needed to check on you, too.”

      “I’m a big girl. I know how to take care of myself.” His nearness and concern confused her. Putting space between them, Tracy knelt next to Solomon and hugged him to her. “Good boy.”

      “The man’s name is Jay Woodall, by the way.”

      David studied the ledge above as if looking for that same bogeyman she had feared moments before. Or maybe more help.

      “Oh, now I can see how Solomon found his way, David.” Tracy pointed to a place a few yards to the right that connected with the trail farther down. There were enough rocks and outcroppings for the dog to stair-step his way. “Solomon and I could go back up and wait for the SAR team coming on foot. We can show them the easier way down, while you wait with Jay for the helicopter.”

      “No. You and Solomon should stay here, where I can see you.”

      “David.” Tracy stood as he turned to face her. “What’s going on?”

      “Somebody pushed Jay over.”

      The news punched her gut. Tracy gasped and cupped her mouth, stepping back.

      “Watch it.” David caught her and pulled her away from the ledge. He gripped her arms. “I don’t know why someone would do that, but we can’t know if they’re still lurking in the woods somewhere and waiting for their chance to finish the job.”

      “You have a gun, right?” Tracy expected he carried some form of protection with him when in the woods in Alaska, as did most people. Bears were the main threat. Tracy had her bear spray, but somehow it didn’t make her feel secure if she had to face off with a killer of the human variety.

      His features twisted into a half frown, half smile. “Yeah, even when I’m jogging. But don’t worry. I can’t believe anyone would do something like this and hang around for long. We’d see him for sure.”

      Tracy nodded. Solomon could warn them, as well. Jay was fortunate that she and Solomon had been on the trail when they were. People often told her Solomon’s breed didn’t make for a good guard dog, but he’d saved her life once. She’d trust him again.

      “I want you to go down and wait with Jay,” David said a moment later. “I’m going to check the trail and make sure it’s safe for the incoming SAR team.”

      “I’m not as good a climber as you. I don’t think I could make that.”

      “It’s not that far. I’ll go down first and if you can ease down a few inches I can almost reach you.”

      When David moved to scale the cliff the rest of the way to Jay, Tracy grabbed his arm. “David.”

      “Yeah?”

      “Thanks for coming back to check on me.”

      “Of course.”

      His gaze lingered on hers longer than necessary. She wasn’t sure why, but unfortunately, she liked it. What was it about him?

      Then he turned his attention to the climb down. She couldn’t have known when she woke up this morning that the day would end with her taking refuge on a small terrace in a cliff face with Solomon, a fallen jogger and David Warren, hiding from a would-be killer.

      * * *

      Tracy waited with Jay while David climbed up to make sure it was safe by the trail for the incoming SAR team. The guy had courage and was all about protecting others.

      He leaned over the ledge and looked down at her now to let her know he had finally returned. The clouds chose to release their burden at that moment, lashing them with a relentless fury and forcing her to drag her eyes away from the ledge.

      At least the rain woud keep her from looking up every other minute, terrified that the next person she saw would be the man who’d shoved Jay over the ledge.

      How was it that she had to face off with a killer twice in her life? She wanted to question God about the insanity in this world. Wanted to condemn David for leaving her. Solomon, too.

      As it was, she feared Jay was quickly losing his battle with death. But she was thankful David had returned. She never thought she’d ever be so glad to see him—a man she’d avoided.

      She looked up again and saw David. His gaze held hers as the rain pounded all of them and he shouted, “I’m coming down.”

      “What about the rocks? Won’t it be too slippery? Maybe you should wait,” she called up.

      “I have gear this time. SAR is here.” He shot her a smile and gestured with the climbing ropes before he started setting an anchor. But then he frowned. Called down to her. “How’s Jay?”

      Tracy’s heart lurched. “Not doing very well, I’m afraid.”

      He made it about halfway then called down to her again. “You pray, Tracy?”

      She’d prefer he paid more attention to rappelling in the rain than trying to reassure her.

      She wished she had a hood. Something. Rain splattered her face when she called up. “Yes, of course.”

      “Well, good, then. Because we have that, if we have nothing else. And it’s what truly matters.”

      Tracy had seen the Warren family in church; heard they were heroes and Christians. But she hadn’t known the depth of that conviction until now, when David gave her a glimpse of the man he really was on the inside.

      And then he was right next to her, holding her steady in the pouring rain.

      He pulled the pack from his back and took out a big sheet of plastic. “Here, take this for a minute. I’m going to hold this over you and Jay to cover you.”

      He also tugged out a thermal blanket. “Now, cover Jay. At least we can keep him from getting any wetter. Keep him warm.”

      Tracy nodded and did as David asked.

      Jay’s eyes blinked open. “Why did this happen?”