me.”
“What? We can’t. We’re a team, remember?”
“Actually . . . you can. Don’t you remember the rules? If one team member is injured during the race, the rest of the team can finish as individuals.” Eva bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. “So I want you guys to go. If you leave now, you should make it to the final checkpoint in time.” Even though the idea burned, it was worse to consider none of them completing the race.
But instead of filling with hope, Angela’s eyes narrowed. “We aren’t leaving you.”
“I can stay with her, Angela.” Marc squeezed Eva with his knees. “You go on. Finish this thing for all of us.”
Angela looked between them, indecision warring in her features. Then she shook her head, tight. “We all finish, or none of us do.”
“Ang . . .”
“We wouldn’t be here without you, Eva. Without your dream for us.” Hands moved to Angela’s hips. “And I am not leaving you behind.”
“But I don’t know if I can put any pressure on my foot.”
“Then we will carry you.”
She couldn’t let her sister-in-law sacrifice her chance to finish. “I—”
“Nope. No arguments allowed. You in?”
Eva studied Angela and knew her odds of winning. “Fine. Let’s do this.”
37
They were going to get across that finish line on time. Angela wasn’t taking no for an answer.
She repositioned Eva’s arm across her shoulders, supporting her weight. Eva hopped on her left foot, a renewed sense of vigor and determination infused in her. Over the last two miles, Marc had carried her on his back and Angela lugged her own pack plus Eva’s—an awkward feat, to say the least.
Marc would have continued carrying her except his back had started to hurt. Unfortunately, they only had twenty minutes left until their time would run out for the day.
The rain had alternately spit and poured buckets on them, making every step a slick one despite the trekking pole Eva used with her free hand.
Angela focused on watching the path, keeping Eva supported by holding her around the waist with one arm and grasping the hand thrown over her shoulders with the other. They hadn’t done much talking, saving their breaths for the grunts that expelled from their lungs with every jerk of their steps.
She tried desperately to ignore the way every joint felt taut and achy, especially her hips and bothersome knee. And then there was the burning where her toenail used to be . . .
Marc glanced down at his watch, his lips drawn into a straight line.
Eva hopped over a small rock, nearly tripping Angela in the process. “How are we doing on time?”
“Twelve minutes left. Maybe a quarter mile.”
“Let’s pick up the pace.” Eva inclined her head toward Angela, a question in her bloodshot eyes.
Was the strain too much for her? The mother in Angela wanted to make Eva stop and rest—but the newly awakened competitor knew they’d all regret it if they didn’t give every last ounce of sweat and pain to the effort. “Okay.” Angela increased their speed, and it worked for a minute or two, but Eva soon stumbled, and they both ended up on the ground.
Eva pushed the heels of her hands against her forehead. “We tried. Now you guys run. Finish.”
Hadn’t Eva heard Angela the first time? “Marc, I need your help.” She maneuvered so Eva was behind her. “Put her onto my back, will you?”
“You can put her on mine again.”
“Yeah, I’m too big for you.”
“Are you kidding?” Angela huffed. “You’re a tiny twig of a woman and I’m . . . well, not. Marc’s back is shot, and we don’t have time to argue. Get on my back so we can finish.”
Despite her grumbling, Eva got onto Angela’s back with Marc’s assistance. Then Marc helped Angela stand and gathered all three rucksacks. They set off at a jog, Eva’s knees tucked against Angela’s waist and under her arms.
Every step felt like running on a trampoline, sinking and then springing from the soil, but thankfully the trail was more imbedded gravel and less dirt and mud.
Angela’s lungs heaved air, and Eva’s prayers and encouragements bounced in and out of her ear. Lightning bolts of pain shot through every muscle in her straining body.
“Three minutes,” Marc yelled just as the bright white of the final checkpoint came into view.
“Oh, thank goodness.” This dream wasn’t over after all. She’d finally get to see one through to the end. Well, there was still tomorrow—but if they could make twenty-five miles