Free Denali Dreams by Ronie Kendig, Kimberley Woodhouse Page B

beginning to hurt. Do you think you could get my boots unwedged so I could get up? I’m worried about that big lump that I just dragged up out of that hole.”
    Clint groaned. “I heard that.”
    Zack helped her sit upright, went to her feet, and kicked her boots out of their shackles.
    Karon didn’t miss a beat and shouted back to Clint, “I know you heard that, you lazy bum. I had to haul your sorry self up while you pretended to be unconscious—”
    “I wasn’t pretending to be unconscious—”
    “Oh good. So in other words, I just saved your life.”
    “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but did I hear you threaten me with no more cookies? Not even your special cookies?”
    Zack shook his head. His radio crackled. The doctor and another ranger, Dawson, from High Camp were coming to help.
    Within the hour, Zack helped set Clint’s broken leg and strap him to a sled, while the doctor attended to Lionel.
    The doctor headed over to check out Clint’s splint as Dawson explained to Zack and Karon, “Apparently, good ol’ Lionel has broken his streak of not being sick for over a decade. He has a virus, a sinus infection, and acute bronchitis all at the same time. It’s amazing he lasted this long at this elevation.”
    Karon piped in. “But he didn’t even have any symptoms until earlier today.”
    “Well, it must have hit him really fast. Poor guy. I wouldn’t want to have that at home, much less up here.” Dawson patted Zack. “Want to introduce us?”
    “Karon Granger, I’d like you to meet Ranger Dawson.”
    “Nice to meet you, Ranger.” Karon shook the outstretched hand.
    “That was quite a piece of work, lady. You pulling your brother up all by yourself.” Dawson nodded.
    Karon turned to Zack but spoke to Dawson. “Yeah, well, I had quite a lecture from another ranger about holding on to a rope. And that helped. A lot.”

    Karon packed up her gear and her brother’s in the snow while she waited for Zack. He stood quite a ways away with the other ranger and doctor talking on the radio. Her brother would be picked up by helicopter with Lionel and the other injured climbers. There wasn’t room for her, so she assumed she would just trek down the mountain with another group.
    She wasn’t sure how she would haul all their gear down herself, but after their adventure, she knew she’d find a way. Somehow.
    Zack walked closer to her. A few words of his conversation floated over. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
    He approached and squatted next to her. “So, Karon.”
    “Zack.” Her heart fluttered. Good grief, she wasn’t a kid anymore. But this sure was fun.
    “I just got clearance from my boss to be your guide the rest of the way.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, you’re only a few hundred yards from High Camp. You can set up your tent there, I can stay with the rangers, and then hopefully the next day, I can take you to the summit.”
    She blinked. Did he really just say what she thought he said?
    “Karon?”
    “Don’t you need to acclimate?”
    “I just spent some time on a rescue at higher altitudes, and I’ve been at Kahiltna for over a week. If I hydrate well tonight and tomorrow, I should be okay.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “The outlook looks good for tomorrow, and if we head straight down, it should be okay.” He reached out for her hand. “Besides, I’d like to be there when you get your wish.”
    Her heart thundered. Was it selfish to finish without Clint? Without Lionel? Or was God granting her wish in more ways than one?
    “Well? John and all the rangers want you to be able to do this, Karon. Everyone is behind you.”
    She smiled up into his goggles, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it through her mask. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter 16
    T he sea of clouds below separated Karon from the rest of the mountain. Sultana stood to the southwest, her peak appearing like a lonely island amidst the fluffy white swirls. It wouldn’t be long now before they