Kat Wolfe on Thin Ice Page 3

  “Well, now I do. You shouldn’t have given me chocolate milk.”

  “I was trying to keep you hydrated.”

  The woman seemed taken aback to see Kat sitting on the log. “Oh, hey there.”

  Her gaze darted from Kat to the closed door of the cubicle to Dr. Wolfe, who chose that moment to wave to Kat from the lakeshore. Relaxing, the woman smiled warmly at the girl. “Sweetheart, I need to make a call. I’ll be under that shelter at the trailhead. Holler if you need me.”

  The girl perched on the log beside Kat. She was wearing a cherry-pink baseball cap and a cornflower-blue neckerchief the same color as her eyes. “Always in trouble,” she said with a conspiratorial grin. “Why can’t they understand that when you don’t need it, you don’t need it, and when you gotta go, you gotta go!”

  “Don’t worry, I just had the exact same conversation with my mum,” said Kat.

  The girl’s father materialized near the shelter. He had a buzz cut and arms as thick as maple branches. His aviator glasses glinted briefly in Kat’s direction. As he leaned against a post to talk to the woman, his voice carried clearly through the trees. “Who’s our girl talking to?”

  “Some kid.”

  “Yeah, but what if—?”

  “Quit fussing. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Why’s she chatting? We need to get going.”

  “There’s a line.”

  “A line? Out here—in the middle of nowhere?”

  “I guess there’s a shortage of restrooms in the wilderness.”

  The man snorted with laughter. “Well, there’s no shortage of trees.”

  “Yeah, but every tree trunk might conceal a sleeping bear.”

  “You think there are bears in these woods? Grizzlies?”

  “Black bears. Four thousand of ’em.”

  “You’re kidding? Four thousand? Uh, I think I forgot to lock the vehicle. I’ll go check on it.”

  Kat did her best to pretend that she hadn’t heard, but a giggle escaped as she pictured the man hunkered down in the vehicle, hiding from invisible bears. She clapped a hand to her mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at your dad.”

  The girl laughed. “No offense taken. He’s not my dad anyway; he’s my uncle. Personally, I’d love to see a grizzly or any other bear. I adore animals.”

  “Me too.” Kat smiled. “Especially cats. I have one. A Savannah. He’s quite wild and so enormous that the man who rescued him called him Tiny as a joke. Want to see him?” She slid a photo out of the sleeve of her phone.

  The girl studied the picture with delight. “That’s hilarious. Tiny, your own personal leopard. I’d do anything for a cat like that. At home in New York City, I’m not allowed any pets. My dad claims he’s allergic, but I don’t believe him.”

  A long desolate cry cut through the trees from the lake. Kat jumped up. “What was that?”

  “Only my favorite sound in the world. It’s a male loon’s yodel. They’re divers—aquatic birds—with black-and-white plumage. They always look as if they’re dressed for the Oscars.”

  She cupped her hands and mimicked the loon’s haunting call. To Kat’s astonishment, the unseen loon responded.

  “My nan taught me that,” the girl said proudly. “She’s crazy about birds. Dad thinks she’s crazy in every way, but that’s only because she’s as fierce as a lioness when it comes to righting wrongs.”

  A shadow crossed her face. “Last time I saw her she was, anyway … Uh, do you think we should knock? Whoever’s in the restroom must be taking a nap.”

  Kat was beginning to suspect that the cubicle was empty but was reluctant to say so because she was intrigued by her companion. “Let’s give it another minute. Tell me more about your nan.”

  The girl brightened. “She’s tough and cool and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. It freaks Dad out that she’s dyed her hair every color of the rainbow. A lot of people talk about helping others or saving nature. She goes out and does it. One time she found out that the reason the loons on a lake near her house were being careless parents and forgetting to feed their chicks was because this evil company had leaked toxic metal into the water. They were the sorriest people on earth by the time she got through taking them to court.”

  The woman was calling from the path. “Riley, sweetie! Everything okay?”

  “All good … Aunt Jo. Still waiting.”

  As her aunt moved away, Riley lowered her voice. “Can I let you in on a secret? I don’t actually need the restroom. It was an excuse to be in the woods for a while, breathing in the pines. I used to come here a lot to see my nan, and I miss it. These trees, the loons, they’re like friends to me, and I don’t have many of those. Not real ones.”

  Impulsively, Kat said, “This is my first time in the Adirondacks, and I don’t know where anything is, but if you’re staying anywhere near us, maybe we could hang out sometime this week. I mean—if you wanted. Sounds as if you love animals and nature as much as me and my best friend, Harper, do. We’ll be your friends in a heartbeat. I’m Kat with a K, and that girl taking photos of the leaves is Harper.”

  The girl gave her a strange look. “I wish…”

  Out of nowhere came a furious, icy whirlwind. It tore through the high branches and churned up old leaves and twigs, sending gold leaves cascading over their boots. Whitecaps stampeded across the lake. Then, just as abruptly, the wind was gone.

  In the silence that followed, scarlet maple leaves floated down. Kat fancied she could hear their jewel-like tinkle. They landed soft as velvet on her upturned cheeks.

  “Ruby rain,” she breathed.

  Riley gave a joyous shout. “Yes, ruby rain!” She twirled around like a ballerina en pointe.

  Kat blinked. Riley’s uncle was crunching at speed through the debris, as inscrutable as a commando in his aviator shades. He smiled at them in a way that made Kat think he was not in the habit of smiling.

  “Apologies for interrupting, ladies, but time is marching on. Riley, have you forgotten your cousins are preparing a meal for us? It might be speedier for you to use the restroom there. Say goodbye and let’s go.”

  He strode off up the path, clearly expecting her to follow.

  Riley’s smile was gone. “Bye, Kat with a K,” she said politely. “Good to meet you. Hope you have a good vacation.” She hurried after her uncle.

  “Wait!” Kat ran after her and pressed the photo of Tiny into her hand. “I want you to have this. He looks scary, but he’s the best friend anyone could ever have. He’s my protector, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being yours.”

  The girl was momentarily speechless. “B-but I don’t have anything to offer you in return. No, hold on, I do. Have my BUFF neckerchief. It’ll keep you warm. Winter weather’s moving in. That whirlwind was a warning.”

  “Then you’ll need it,” protested Kat, but Riley rushed away and didn’t look back.

  “Kat, Kat, check out these photos,” cried Harper. “The shafts of light turn the forest into a cathedral.”

  As Kat admired the images on Harper’s camera, she sneaked a glance at the tree-lined parking lot. It was empty apart from their car. Faster than seemed possible, the family in the SUV had gone.

  Now you see them; now you don’t.

  CAR TROUBLE

  “Kat, would you mind taking another look at the map?” said Dr. Wolfe. “If I’d known the phone signal in these parts was so nonexistent, I’d have brought the GPS from my own car. It would have been comforting to have it, especially with night closing in.”

  Harper fervently agreed. The sky had turned the color of a bruised plum. The clouds were swollen with dark intent. Crosswinds played tug-of-war with the car. The chef at the Full-Belly Deli had been right. A nor’easter was moving in.

  Kat wrestled once more with a map that took up the whole of the back seat. “Got it! We’re on Mohawk Road heading west.”

  Harper twisted around. “That can’t be right or we’d be halfway up a mountain. Also, w
e’re heading north. Let me have a go at finding it.”

  “I’ll pull over,” said Dr. Wolfe, trying to ignore the orange warning light that kept flickering on the dashboard. “We’ll search for it together.”’

  She parked on the shoulder and switched off the engine. “Harper, pass me Ross Ryan’s directions to the cabin. Hmm, they seem straightforward enough: ‘Take the second left after mile marker twelve on the A road to Blue Mountain Lake. Proceed slowly along Otter Creek Road to Mirror Lake. After you cross Deadwood Bridge, the road forks. You can’t miss the sign for Nightingale Lodge. There are no near neighbors. True isolation! Happy holidays!’”

  Kat’s phone suddenly blinked into life. So, for a minute, did Google Maps. “Good news! We’re on the A road to Blue Mountain Lake.”

  “And there’s mile marker nine right there.” Harper lowered the window to point. Icy air gusted in with enough force to shake the car. Hastily, she shut it out. “Only five miles to our cabin.”

  Dr. Wolfe laughed with relief. “Oh, thank goodness. For a moment, I was a little worried.”

  She turned the key in the ignition. Nothing happened.

  She tried again.

  And again.

  “Why won’t it start?” Harper asked anxiously.

  Dr. Wolfe dug out the manual for the Chevrolet and started paging through it. “Could be the alternator … or the battery … or the starter. Whichever, we need a mechanic. Unhelpfully, my phone hasn’t worked since I dropped it at the hotel this morning. Kat, do you still have a signal?”

  Kat did. What she couldn’t do was reach the operator at All-Star Roadside Assistance, the company used by Ross Ryan.

  “You are … eleventh … in line,” said the recorded message. “Due to a high volume of callouts, our valued customers may have to wait longer for help. Thank you for your patience and understanding … You are … eleventh … in line … Due to a high volume…”

  While Kat held on for a human, her mum used Harper’s phone to dial the caretaker at Nightingale Lodge.

  Annette Brody answered on the first ring. The signal was weak and intermittent. Dr. Wolfe put the call on speakerphone as they all strained to hear.

  “You poor, poor things,” said Mrs. Brody when she learned they might be hours late. “What a welcome to the Adirondacks, and what a shame to arrive just as we belatedly learn that a winter storm is on the way … Tell you what, why don’t you send … food … warmth … fire…”

  “Excuse me?” puzzled Dr. Wolfe.

  “My … jet will be coming your way … thirty minutes … toddler twins…”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Did you say your jet is on its way?”

  Gales of distorted laughter issued from the speaker. “If only! I said my nephew Jet will be driving your way in about thirty minutes … Twin girls … Truck with a tow bar. Give you a ride to the local gas station … Wait for help in safety and warmth.”

  “Bless you,” said Dr. Wolfe. “However, I’m not sure what time the roadside assistance people will show up…”

  “That’s why I’m suggesting you send the girls on ahead to Nightingale Lodge. Jet can drop them off. Give him the directions … Never been here … I’ll be at the cabin till…”

  The connection went down, redialing several times.

  When it reconnected, Mrs. Brody was in full flow. “Refrigerator full of food, a crackling fire, books, and games … join them as soon as your vehicle’s fixed.”

  “You’re too kind,” said Dr. Wolfe. “If you’re sure we won’t be imposing on Jet, that would be tremendous, especially if nasty weather is moving in. Knowing that the girls are safely in the cabin while I deal with the car would be a huge weight off my mind.”

  A NARROW ESCAPE

  Kat watched the gas station’s neon sign recede into the twilight. It felt wrong, leaving her mum behind. Not because Dr. Wolfe wasn’t in good hands or because Jet and his three-year-old twins weren’t lovely, but because in less than forty-eight hours their party of four had halved.

  “Go ahead and eat dinner when you get to the cabin,” her mum had instructed the girls. She’d kept Kat’s phone in case of emergencies and would contact Harper with any updates. “Hopefully, the car will be easy to repair and I’ll join you for dessert.”

  Jet slowed the truck and swung onto Otter Creek Road. “Harper, from here on, I’ll need Ross Ryan’s directions.”

  For the first time since entering the Adirondacks, Kat felt a strong sense of unease. The forests they’d driven through earlier had been peaceful sanctuaries of glorious color. Now they were in true wilderness: secretive and fraught with peril. Black treetops thrashed overhead, straining in the wind. The steep and rocky road was littered with pine cones and twigs.

  Night bore down on them like a juggernaut.

  “I’m hungry,” Avery said sorrowfully.

  “I want to go home,” demanded her twin, Olivia.

  “Soon as we’ve taken Ms. Wolfe and Ms. Lamb to their house, we’ll go to ours,” their dad said soothingly.

  “Are you a wolf?” Olivia asked Kat.

  “You don’t look like a wolf,” accused Avery, tugging at Kat’s tangled red-brown hair.

  “It’s not what’s on the outside that counts, it’s what’s in your heart,” said Harper, who was sandwiched in the back between their luggage and the twins. “Kat’s as brave as a tiger and as loyal as a wolf.”

  Kat grinned. “Right back at ya, Harper Lamb.”

  “If you’re a lamb, why are you friends with a wolf?” Olivia asked Harper.

  “Because she’s the nicest wolf anywhere,” Harper assured her.

  Everyone laughed. Kat was glad of the distraction. Through the trees, she’d glimpsed a silver Airstream trailer, its ramshackle yard walled with NO TRESPASSING and THESE DOGS BITE FIRST & ASK QUESTIONS LATER signs.

  Above the trailer door was a further warning, framed by two painted guns: IF YOU’RE FOUND HERE TONIGHT, YOU’LL BE FOUND HERE IN THE MORNING.

  Kat shivered. Who else and what else lived in these woods?

  “If there are thousands of bears, how come we haven’t seen any?” she asked Jet.

  “They’re out there—you can count on it. Thing about wild animals, they always appear when you’re least expecting it.”

  “Hope so!”

  “Don’t be fooled into thinking that black bears are cute and cuddly,” cautioned Jet. “Never, ever go for a walk without bear spray.”

  “Bear spray?”

  “There’ll be some in your cabin. Used wisely, it’ll save you. Don’t go using it till the bear is within twenty-five feet, else you’ll really make it mad.”

  They rattled across Deadwood Bridge. A creek hissed below.

  “When a bear’s on the a-t-t-a-c-k,” Jet said, spelling out the word so as not to scare the twins, “every instinct will s-c-r-e-a-m at you to sprint for your life. Resist it. Your life depends on you doing the opposite. Stand tall, cling together, and make plenty of noise. Back away very, very slowly.”

  “Look! Nightingale Lodge!” Harper broke in excitedly.

  They’d reached the fork in the road. A signpost was twisting in the wind. It was, as Ross Ryan had told them, unmissable. A cartoon nightingale pointed the way.

  “Nearly there,” Jet said with relief.

  They crested a rise and had a split-second vista of Mirror Lake before the road dipped and the forest screened it out. Jet bumped downhill for another five minutes before braking at a gate signposted: PRIVATE. KEEP OUT.

  “I don’t see my aunt’s vehicle in the driveway. Let me check if she’s messaged me.” Frowning, he fished his phone out of his pocket.

  “Oh, that makes sense. She’s prepped the property and headed home to miss the worst of the storm. We must have just missed her when we turned off the main road. Says here she’s sent a text to your mom, Kat. Will you girls be okay for an hour or two till Dr. Wolfe gets here? I should really get the twins home.”

  Harper glanced surrepti
tiously at her phone. Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Brody’s text had gone to her by mistake. The caretaker had assumed that Dr. Wolfe had used her own phone when she’d rung earlier. She’d simply hit redial.

  The girls’ eyes met in silent agreement.

  “We’ll be absolutely fine,” Harper told Jet.

  “Totally,” seconded Kat.

  “Awesome. I’ll get this gate open and settle you into your cabin before I leave.”

  As he climbed out, the wind seized the door and almost wrenched it from its hinges. Freezing air blasted into the truck, drawing shrieks from the twins.

  With difficulty, Jet wrestled aside the gate. He clambered back behind the wheel and slammed the door. “Hope your mom gets here soon, Kat. It’s shaping up to be a wild night.”

  He put the truck into gear and was rolling forward when there was a crack like a rifle shot somewhere above them. Jet jumped on the brake. An oak branch crashed down, missing the truck by millimeters. A split second later and it would have smashed through their windshield.

  The twins burst into wails of terror. Jet leaned over the seat to soothe them, reaching for their small hands. “All right, all right, Daddy’s got you. The big, bad wind huffed and puffed and blew the tree down, but don’t be scared. Nothing’s gonna hurt you in my truck.”

  “Jet, you should just go ahead and take Avery and Olivia home,” said Harper, pretending a confidence she didn’t feel. “We can let ourselves in, no problem.”

  “Thanks, Harper, but I promised Dr. Wolfe I’d see you safely to the door.”

  The branch was blocking the driveway. It was immovable, so Jet jumped out of the truck to help carry the girls’ bags to the cabin.

  “Daddy, don’t leave us!” Olivia sobbed hysterically.

  “Where’s Mommy?” screamed Avery.

  “Honestly, Jet, we can manage,” said Kat. “Why don’t you wait here with Avery and Oliva until you see us go inside? That way, you’ll know we’re safe before you leave.”

  Jet didn’t have much choice. The twins were inconsolable.