Page 224 of Wild Embers
I can't stop staring at Javier. His face has gone almost as white as the snow beneath him.
“Javi.”
He doesn’t stir.
I squeeze harder against the wound. “Come on,viejo.”
His eyelids flutter. “Santi...”
“I'm here,” I assure him.
His gaze drifts past me, searching the darkness. “Blake?”
The question punches the air from my lungs. “We're going to find her.”
His lips part again. “I—it was...”
The words come out no louder than a breath, then his eyes slip closed.
“No.” Panic surges through me. “Javi.”
Levi catches my wrist. “Don't shake him.”
“I can't lose him.” My words catch in my throat.
“You haven't.” Levi's voice remains unnervingly calm. “He's unconscious.”
Buck, Javier’s horse, grazes several yards away, reins dragging through untouched snow. Shadow moves along beside him.
No Blake.
My father's voice breaks the silence. “They fought.”
We all turn toward him as he points to the snow a few feet away. A splintered baseball bat lies half buried beneath fresh powder. Nearby, Bear's paw prints overlap with deep boot tracks.
Blood stains both.
Walker crouches, studying the ground. “Bear went after him.”
“He tried to protect her,” Dad says softly.
My chest tightens.
Walker slowly stands. “The cameras.”
Levi looks up from where he's bandaging Bear's head. “What cameras?”
“The trail cameras we installed after someone followed Blake.”
Hope flares inside me for the first time since Dad called.
Maybe whoever did this made a mistake.
“Ángel.” Walker looks at my dad. “Stay with Javier until EMS gets here.”
“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” Dad gives one firm nod. “Javier took care of us for most of his life. This is the least I can do.”
Walker looks to Levi and me. “Come on.”
