“No one lives within miles except those folks who moved into the monastery.”
“We’ll get no help from there!” Penny said bitterly.
“I’ll call Riverview for men!”
“We don’t dare wait, Mrs. Eckenrod. Your husband is half frozen now. We’ll have to get him out ourselves somehow.”
“If we must, we can,” replied the woman quietly. “I’ll telephone the doctor and be with you in a moment.”
On her way to the shed, Penny looked hopefully across the darkening hills for a glimpse of the lone skier she had seen earlier in the afternoon. He was nowhere visible.
By the time Penny had found a rope and the sled, Mrs. Eckenrod joined her. The woman had put on a heavy coat, galoshes, and carried woolen blankets.
“How did the accident happen?” she asked, as they plodded through the drifts together.
Penny related the unfortunate argument involving the theft of firewood.
“Oh, dear! It’s Vernon’s dreadful temper again!” Mrs. Eckenrod exclaimed. “He is a wonderful man, but ready to quarrel if anyone crosses him!”