“How far was that drop?” Dad asked Cam as we walked to the trailer, the crowd parting as we approached. “The shaft you pushed Willow up?”
“At least fifty feet,” he replied. “I don’t know how she survived it.”
“You did, too,” I told him as he took my hand.
“I had a headlamp and could more or less skid my way to the bottom. It was a miracle that all you did was break your nose.”
We filed into the trailer, and Cam pulled the blueprints of the Rose Rowan onto the drafting table. “We figured the shaft had to be one of these two.” He pointed to the longest ventilation shafts the mine had. They traversed three levels of the mine. “Xander, what do you remember?”
Xander shook his head as he studied the blueprints. “God, it was so long ago.”
“You were fourteen!” Charity cried. “That’s older than the rest of us. You have to remember!”
“I can find her,” Art said as he walked into the trailer with Walt and Nikki at his heels.
“Dad, not now,” Xander said gently.
“Tim, get ten search parties of five together if you can. That’s how many hard hats and lamps we have on hand.” Cam looked at the police captain. “Now, Tim!”
Tim nodded and left.
“I can find her!” Art declared again.
“Dad, what do you mean?” Cam asked, moving Travis out of the way so Art could come closer.
“No one knows that mine like I do. I think I know where she is.” Art looked at the blueprints. “It’s not on the map. Not this one, at least.”
“Dad, we don’t have time for this. Why don’t you go with Nikki?” Xander urged.
Art ignored him and pointed to the blueprints. “It should be right there. I know I’ve seen it there on another set.” His forehead puckered. “It’s where the 1880s meets the 1930s.”
“Dad, those tunnels don’t intersect,” Xander argued.
“Be quiet. You never wanted to listen to me about the mine when you were younger. I don’t know why you’d start now.” He swiveled to look at Cam. “I can find her. Take me.”
“No way!” Xander shouted.
“Take me,” Art demanded, not even bothering to look at Xander.
“You know what putting him under emotional strain does! He’ll lose it down there, and then you’ll both die.” Xander folded his arms across his chest.
“Camden, I’m her best hope. There are only four people who have been there.” His brow wrinkled. “Five, when you count Willow.”
Me. Xander. Charity. Cam. Who was the fifth?
“I’ll go,” I said, already moving to grab my hard hat and Cam’s.
“You’re terrified of the mine,” Charity countered, tears silently running down her face.
“I’m the one who fell down it in the first place,” I told her. “Cam and I are the only ones who have actually been there.”
“I’ve been there, too. That’s what I’m saying,” Art interjected.
“Right. And Art.” Which made sense, seeing as he was the expert on the damned mine. “Charity, you have to stay here in case another party brings her back, in case they find her before we do.”
“Are you sure, Pika?” Cam asked.
“I’m sure.” I handed his hard hat to him, then put mine on the desk and began to braid my hair.
“Take me, Cam. I’m the best chance you have at finding that little girl alive.” Art moved directly in front of Cam.
“You can’t even be sure Rose can find that ventilation shaft! If you couldn’t find it again, then how can she? It was a miracle you stumbled onto Willow back then!” Xander argued.
“I told her how to get there,” Art admitted. “It wasn’t on the map I had, either, but I showed her where it should be.”
“It wasn’t on the map because it’s not there. He’s not going. I forbid it. I’m his guardian.” Xander’s voice rose with each word. “You can’t take him down there!”
Cam locked eyes with his dad for a long minute, then nodded before stepping up to Xander. There was no physical comparison between the two, and Xander knew it, but Cam had never used it to his advantage before. “Stop me.”
…
Ten minutes later, Cam, Art, Gideon, Dad, and I piled into the train. Cam drove us into the mine, speeding faster than we had when Rose had been with us. I kept my eyes peeled for her pale-pink jacket and yellow helmet but came up empty.
We sliced through the stale air of the tunnel, and I gawked at the difference now that it was lit. We passed the first antechamber we’d stopped at, then made our way past two ventilation shafts and several displays Cam had set up with historically accurate mining equipment.
We finally stopped, and I marveled that we’d managed to walk this far in all those years ago, if this was really where I’d fallen.
Cam showed Dad how to work the train so he could take it back for more search parties. “You’re sure about this?” Cam asked me, his hands cupping my face.
“You won’t let anything happen to me,” I answered. “And I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He leaned his hat against mine and took a deep breath. “Just promise me you’ll stay close. I almost lost you once in here, and that’s not going to happen again.”
“I promise.”
He nodded, but I knew he wasn’t happy about me being down here. Well, that made three of us, if the way my dad was staring at me was any indication.
“It’s okay, Dad. Go.”
“I love you. Your coat is too big. Are you going to be warm enough?”
“I love you, too. And I’m fine. It’s Cam’s.” I didn’t bother arguing the logic of his statement.
He turned to look at Camden. “You brought her out of this mine once, and I expect you to do it again. Do you understand me? You bring her and Rose out.”
“What changed your mind?” Cam asked, hefting his pack over his shoulders.
“When did I realize you didn’t break her nose?” Dad asked.
Cam nodded.
“First I pulled her X-rays when you started dating. The break was too symmetrical. Like she’d literally fallen flat on her face or walked into the wall. Then I realized I didn’t need the damned X-rays. Willow is a smart girl, and she would have kicked your ass if you’d hurt her.”