Josh had never been this scared in his life, but he didn't want Dani to know.

He had to stay strong for her and for Jacob. His gut hollowed thinking about his boy. He'd been sure Jacob and Mer would be back at camp when he and Dani returned. Meredith was angry with him but she loved Jacob, and he trusted her with his child.

A cold certainty settled in him. If they could get back to camp, they would. So where were they?

Josh trusted the Lord, but...

His heart tripped on that last word--but. He trusted God but he was afraid.

Faith was easy when things were going well. But what if it was God's will to take their child? A knife of pain pierced him, stealing the air from his lungs. Dani would be devastated. What would they do?

He paused, really thing about the question.

If the worst happened, and he lost Jacob or Dani, or any one of the people he loved, what would happen then?

The answer was swift and sure.

Josh would fall on his knees and praise the Lord God Almighty. Whatever happened, he'd lean rely on Jesus to get them through. The certainty of that strengthened him.

They were gathering their backpacks with supplies when Caleb asked, "What do you think happened to them?"

He'd asked himself the question a hundred times, but all he had was guesses and nothing that would help them. "I wish I knew."

Caleb looked uncertain. "You don't think Meredith took him and left?"

His head snapped up. "You mean left the park."

"Yeah." Caleb released a heavy sigh. "If you need me, I'm all in. Whatever it takes and no matter what happens. You know I love Jacob, and Meredith has been a good friend." Caleb's gaze flicked to his. "But is there a chance Mer got upset and ran off with Jacob?"

He'd considered the possibility himself, so he understood Caleb's concern. "I don't think so."

"She loves him," Tanner quietly put in. "Like her own son."

"Mer loves expensive jewelry too, but she doesn't rob a store."

"I had to ask," Caleb said quietly, zipping his backpack.

Josh inhaled a deep breath. "You're the best friends a man could ask for. None of you have to be here. It might be best if you left."

"No," Ty shook his head, dismissing that idea. "We need to stick together."

"Agreed," Tanner seconded. "Together is better."

"We'd never leave you alone when you need us most. It's not how we roll." Caleb tossed a lopsided smile.

"Ok, so it's agreed, we're all in." Ty looked at the guys. "Any ideas where to start?"

Dani walked up to them, her face pale and a strange glint in her eyes. She pointed. "There."

Josh's gaze lifted.

"That's a mountain." Tanner's tone was dry.

Tapping an oval stone with her boot, Dani threw him a small smile. "And that's a rock."

"Cute. Glad you're still able to make jokes."

"Were you joking about climbing that mountain?" Rachel asked staring up the fearsome-looking climb. "It's about to storm."

"Jacob and Meredith are up there. I know it." Dani glanced around, her eyes beseeching them to listen.

Silence and a few disturbed expressions answered her certainty.

Annie nodded, drawing a deep breath. "Ok. I believe you. We should go up the mountain."

"That sounds crazy," Caleb breathed, his gaze sliding up, his jaw dropping.

"We'd never make it." Rachel stared in awe. "There's no way Meredith and Jacob could climb that."

Josh felt Dani's fingers entwined with his and their gazes crashed together. His breath caught. "We'll make it. That's where there are," he said, believing Dani knew what she was talking about.

Caleb watched them for a long moment. "Hikers climb the mountain all the time," he acknowledged. "Experienced hikers, but we'll search for the safest path."

"Sure, we'll look for the sign that says STILL DANGEROUS: BUT MOST LIKELY TO SURVIVE THIS ONE," Tanner drawled.

Josh understood the concern. "You don't have to come with us. I wouldn't blame you if you left now."

"Not happening. I'm just keeping it real."

"He's right. All of the signs say DANGER in big bold letters." Dani studied the paths before them. "How will we know the way?"

Josh looped his arm around Dani's slender shoulders and felt her shaking. "God will show us."

"...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you," Ty finished quoting the gospel and everyone was quiet for several moments.

Annie swallowed hard. "Jesus was speaking to his disciples when he said that."

Caleb's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure he was speaking about a literal mountain. Even so, we don't want to move it, just climb it."

"That's not the point," Josh said, and saw Ty's nod. "If we have faith and trust God, whatever happens, we'll be ok."

Tanner's gaze lifted. "Let's stop talking and start trusting. The bottom's about to fall out."

***

Dani's foot slipped on a rock.

"Give me your hand." Josh reached out when she struggled to make it to the next ledge.

Taking it, he pulled her up easily and turned back to Tanner.  "You good?"

"Don't even think about offering me your hand, dude," Tanner grumbled. "I got this."

Dani and Josh smiled, and Tanner easily hoisted himself up to where they stood with the others.

It seemed like they'd been climbing for hours, but Dani knew it was more like a single hour. They'd decided on the path that looked as if it had the most gradual slope, but that was how it seemed from the ground. In reality, it was a challenging climb probably even for an experienced climber.

"Rach was right." She was exhausted, hurting, and dripping with sweat. "I don't see how Meredith and Jacob could do this."

"We don't know which way they went." Caleb gripped the back of his shoulder. "There's got to be an easier way. Tourists climb this mountain all the time."

Annie's eyes widened. "There were trail maps at the check-in, and Meredith grabbed a few."

"God led us here." Ty's gaze flicked to each of theirs. "This is our wilderness, and I say we keep trusting in Him to provide."

"I lead you here, Ty." Dani's bottom lip quivered, though she didn't think anyone but Josh noticed. "What if I was wrong?"

Josh gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Trust God."

"How will we ever find them? If they're even somewhere on the mountain." Dani's soft voice broke.

"We'll know," Josh said with certainty.

"Hey, at least it's not raining."

A bolt of lightning lit the sky with a thunderous jolt that seemed to shake the entire mountain. They all stood staring upward.

"You spoke too soon, Tanner."

"There's an overhang not too far up. Let's move."

"C'mon, Mighty Seven." Josh motioned for everyone to follow him. "We've got to make it to shelter."

Rachel glanced back at him. "Parker would take exception to our new gang name. Mighty eight."

"Doesn't pack the same punch." Caleb winked at his wife.

"I take exception to the word gang," Tanner complained. "It has such a negative connotation."

"This is a ridiculous conversation."

"Everyone stop!" Annie gasped, her eyes wide. "You're not going to believe this."

"What is it? Is it raining?"

"It's raining. Look at the sky." Ty sounded amazed.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing." Josh stared up, his expression awed. "Does everyone see it too?"

"Yeah, right there with you," Caleb agreed, swallowing hard.

Dani's heart began to race at the incredible sight. Everything inside her went still. The storm is going around the mountain.