Ranger

I said, my father died in 2009, Dale.

He did not say anything after that.

We sat with him through the rest of the night.

Trent and I traded off.

One of us stayed on his back.

The other stayed by the stove with the poker.

Elise kept watch on the door, which I was worried about because I did not know for certain that Dale had come up alone, even though it seemed likely.

We did not sleep.

We did not talk much.

The storm kept on until about four in the morning and then began to ease.

By six, the wind had dropped to something manageable, and by seven, there was gray light at the window and the snow had slowed to occasional flakes.

I tried the radio at 7.15.

I got through to dispatch on the third try.

I told them we had an incident and needed law enforcement at the trailhead when the rescue team arrived.

I told them it was not a medical priority for most of our party, but that I had a cut that needed stitches and a prisoner who needed a hospital.

Dispatch did not ask a lot of questions on the radio.

They said they would move.

The rescue team reached us at 1.40 in the afternoon.

They came up on snowshoes.

Two deputies from the county sheriff's office came with them.