What was she thinking? She stumbled again, almost going over this time, only saving herself by grabbing a springy sapling, her toes aching from the impact with the tree root.

"Are you okay?" Devon stopped behind her. She felt like telling him if he'd share the damned flashlight maybe they'd make better time and she wouldn't be bruised from the knees down.

Instead, she said, "Yeah. Let's keep going."

The walk had been silent, punctuated only by her ...