chapter 49

IT didn’t take Lauren any time at all to discover that running in snowshoes sucked. They caught in the rocks, they caught in the brush, they brought her to her knees twice, and only Toby’s hand on her elbow kept her from falling all the way down the mountainside. Jumping downed trees was . . . interestingly difficult. However, Toby, without snowshoes, was sinking up to his knees and deeper with each step—so she was properly grateful for hers. That’s not to say they were slow. It amazed Lauren what terror could do for her speed. After the first, terrifying sprint-slide down the steep slope they’d spent hours climbing, she lost track of time and direction. She kept her eyes on Toby’s red coat and stayed with him. When Toby slowed down at last, they were all alone in the forest. Still they didn’t stop. He kept her going at a fast jog for an hour or more, but he chose their path more carefully, staying up where the snow was shallower and his lack of snowshoes didn’t hamper them. He hadn’t