Page 92 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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35

Aspen

The dust hasn’t even settled before the silence hits.

It’s different now.

Not peaceful.

Not calm.

Empty.

Dylan stands beside me.

Watching the road.

“They’ll come back,” he says.

“I know,” I reply.

“Mom, do you think they’ll win?”

I look at him.

Really look at him.

At the boy who’s already lost too much.

“They will,” I say.

Because I need him to believe that.

I pull him into a quick hug.

And this time—

I don’t let go right away.

Rylie steps onto the porch beside us.

She doesn’t say anything at first.

Just stands there.

Present.

Steady.

“I remember the first time someone left on a mission like that,” she says softly.

I glance at her.

“How did you handle it?”

She smiles a little.

“I didn’t.”

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