Blizzard Refuge by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-14T19:02:10+00:00

* * *

Kiera didn’t understand how it was possible, but Heather slept while she searched the bunker. Of course, her little baby didn’t understand the gravity of their situation. Thank God. At least she’d be spared the horror of their potential impending demises.

Exhaustion also accounted for her ability to nap. Kiera herself was too agitated to think about sleeping. Even if the three of them survived this ordeal—no, when they survived this ordeal—she’d probably never enjoy a good night’s slumber for the rest of her life. Every time she closed her eyes, she would remember this day, and the paralyzing fear.

Nash alone was responsible for her being able to function. His support and her determination to save her daughter.

Kiera had begun her search with the floor-to-ceiling cabinets. From there, she inspected an old footlocker and the vanity in the tumbledown bathroom with its faded paint, dingy fixtures and sagging ceiling.

Needing freedom of movement, and restricted by Heather snuggled against her, Kiera had eventually shrugged off her outer coat, wrapped the baby inside it and nestled her in the now-empty footlocker for the remainder of her nap. Every five minutes, less sometimes, she’d stop what she was doing and check on Heather, who was always dozing peacefully. Amazing. Really.

Kiera had found a handful of loose change, a moth-eaten skein of yarn, a grungy pair of old slippers, some paperclips, a button, three Lego pieces and enough rat droppings and dead bugs to turn her stomach. The only item of any use was a five-inch screwdriver she’d discovered in a corner behind the table.

Nash had struggled to pry open the three-by-three-foot panel in the bathroom linen closet that hid the tunnel. Lying on his side, he’d pushed steadily with the soles of his feet until his knees shook violently from the strain. Kiera had been little help. He’d tried using the knives, only to quit before bending the blades.

When she’d showed him the screwdriver, he grunted his approval. Using the pointed end, he’d dug around the edges of the panel, not stopping even when his palms started to bleed. Eventually, he’d been able to loosen whatever gummy substance had caused the panel to stick like glue. The next time he’d pushed at the panel with his feet, it gave with a crack and fell into the tunnel opening.

Air colder than that in the bunker had blasted them in the face and triggered a wave of excitement followed by apprehension. Air meant the tunnel hadn’t collapsed. It also meant that Kiera would have to crawl fifty yards through a dark narrow, filthy and icy cold passage filled with small animals and insects and reptiles lying dormant for the winter.

But it was their only way out, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for Heather. God would be there beside them, guiding their way.

Currently, Nash was on all fours, the top half of his body inside the tunnel. He’d explained that the tunnel ran eight to ten feet below ground level, the same depth as the bunker floor.

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