Chocolate Kisses and Love Filled Wishes: Kissing Bridge Mountain - Book 3 by Linda West Page A

managed to bring down the swelling on the unhealed disc that had been pinching her nerve. The pressure from the disc on the spine had caused the initial loss of movement in her legs. Luckily, the pressure had come down, and now all she needed was to stay off her feet for a while until her hip healed.
     
    Her disc was another story.  It looked like she had successfully screwed up her career for the rest of the year.
     
    Justine folded up the wheelchair and put it in the back of the van. “Just a couple more days in that and we’ll switch you out for some crutches!”
     
    “Thanks for everything, Justine! You’re a star.”
     
    “I’ll bring by some crutches when the blizzard lets up. Best of luck with Brad!”
     
    Kacey was confused, but waved at her as they drove away.
     
    The snow was continuing to fall in crazy sheets of white, making it almost impossible to see. The entire town was snuggled in their homes keeping warm as the town was blanketed in snow. Little lights twinkled from inside windows and smoke billowed out with the smell of fireplaces burning fresh logs.
     
    Theirs was the only car on the road, save for random emergency vehicle or large steel belted trucks trudging by on their way up the mountain.
     
    “Lots of action going on up the hill for blizzard conditions,” Kacey said. “That’s odd. Hey, Dodie, we missed our turn off.”
     
    Dodie bit her lip and focused on the road.
     
    Dodie wondered how best to tell her about Brad.
     
    Kacey had been through a lot, poor kid, but she was going to have to broach the subject sooner than later, especially since she wasn’t taking her back to the lodge.
     
    Dodie drove past the turnout to go up the mountain and pulled into the small town village, eventually stopping in front of Landers Home Baking.
     
    Kacey smiled. “Need some sweets before we make the hike up the mountain?” She looked around at the busy store with lots of people and big trucks, and her face clouded with confusion. “Looks like the whole town is here…”
     
    Dodie turned to Kacey and took her hands in hers.
     
    “Kacey, I’m sorry but I can’t take you back up the mountain to the lodge right now. It’s dangerous and it’s closed. I’ve been spending the nights at the Landers in between shifts here…”
     
    Kacey didn’t understand why Dodie looked so distraught. “You’re working long nights?”
     
    Dodie shook her head. “It’s your brother, Brad. His plane went down and he’s lost in the mountains up there by Eagle’s Peak, we think. We’ve set up a command post here.  They’re trying to get the National Guard in tomorrow, but the weather is inhibiting everyone.”
     
    Kacey swallowed, trying to digest the horrible news. “How long has he been missing?”
     
    “Three days.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     

     
    Chapter 22
     
     
    D odie and Kacey entered the bakery and the place was in a controlled chaos. Ethel and Carol Landers were busy baking and serving coffee, sweetbreads and sandwiches to the volunteers.
     
    Many of the girls from the cooking classes—including Stephanie, Tassy and Carina—were also there, helping keep people fed and warm.  In a corner, were blankets, cots and pillows that had been donated so people could sleep when needed. It was a 24-hour look-out post.  Ham radio operators were in one corner. A big screen TV had been brought in to monitor the news and weather.
     
    “I hope Earl is okay,” Ethel said to Carol. Earl had the mountain command post up at the lodge where most of the men were gathered for warmth and sustenance between searching.
     
    “Just keep praying,” Aunt Carol said back, thrusting a pan of uncooked loaves into the oven.
     
    Kacey watched them for a moment, but then the TV caught her attention. The news cut in showing footage of the blizzard conditions in the northeast, and then switched back to the normal programming. Suddenly a familiar face came onto the screen.
     
    It was