Cynthia was loaded on the stretcher after a neck and back brace were strapped to her limp form. That she was still conscious and not crying out in pain suggested she might only be in shock, but shock killed if not treated right away.

Cal saw his daughter through every step of the process, moving only to stay out of the way of the paramedics. As she was lifted to the back of an ATV, Cynthia took hold of her father’s hand and squeezed. Cal could have shouted for joy with the slight movement, then realized Cynthia was attempting to talk. Bending close to her as the men tied the stretcher to the ATV, he cocked his head so his ear was next to Cynthia’s mouth.

She whispered one word so softly he had to think about the sound. He looked at Cynthia and saw tears on her face trailing down past her ears, and he understood.

Cal remembered what he had forgotten and felt a surge of shame. How could he have forgotten Bob? The man was missing when they should all be getting to hell out of the valley.

“I’ll find him,” he whispered in Cynthia’s ear, and received a grateful smile.

One man climbed aboard the ATV and started the engine while the other paramedic collected two of the boxes they had carried into the valley and strapped them on the second ATV. He motioned to Bryon to climb on and take a place in front of the boxes.

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Looking at his father, Bryon saw something he did not understand, a look of weary acceptance. Cal waved Bryon to the ATV as the noise of the second vehicle added to the first.

With a look of uncertainty Bryon climbed aboard the ATV and the small procession made a wide turn, then headed for the mouth of the draw.

Cal watched them leave while the noise receded until he could hear himself think. Maybe this was his punishment for the desire he felt while on the road. Maybe the ghosts had judged his hatred of his wife as deserving death.

Looking up at the bridge, he felt pain at the idea his daughter had almost died. He should have stood his ground with Marilyn and said they would never set foot in the valley. He should have divorced the woman a long time ago when the possibility of her destroying the family was remote.

If he distilled all the anger and actions to one theme, Cal knew it would simply be Marilyn finding every way possible to drive him from the family; he should have taken the hint. If he had left the family months ago, they would not be here and in danger.

His gaze passed above the bridge and settled on the pyrotechnic display nature was exhibiting above the valley. The cloud was flashing almost constantly now, the colors of the lightning varying with their depth in the massive cloud. An emerald flash verified his surmise.

It would not be long now. Cal considered the last words he remembered Bob saying over the radio. Hopefully, his son-in-law was nearby; Cal knew with an unknown certainty that it was too late to get out of the valley, but they might find a place to hide out the storm.

Cal faced west and searched for Bob.