This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Forty-Seven

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Snow fell softly, swirling all around them as they trekked through what seemed like a forest. It blanketed everything in pure white, which would have been beautiful, if it weren't for the fact that not only was McKenna freezing, but she was unsettled about finally coming face to face with Ward again.

She couldn't say anything, of course. Loki was just looking for an excuse, for a reason, to have her stay behind and she wasn't about to do anything of the sort. She wanted revenge just as much as he did.

The snow was almost knee-deep, as they'd long left the road behind. And although she wore snowshoes-which took some getting used to, as she'd never snowshoed before-and at least three pairs of socks, her feet were cold. Her hands were cold despite the thick gloves. Her face was cold, even though she was wrapped up tighter than that kid from A Christmas Story.

They all moved silently through the evergreens and aspen trees. Loki was ahead of her, in his element in such cold, snowy weather, but to McKenna, it felt like they'd reached the end of the world and it was a snowy hell. Without any sign of life.

Of course, she'd probably find the scenery absolutely gorgeous, if they weren't tracking Ward. Maybe once he was out of their lives forever she'd appreciate the Alaskan wilderness. But for now, she just wanted to be warm.

Loki glanced over his shoulder. "Are we losing you, Midgardian?"

She shook her head, her breath a frosty cloud as she huffed to catch up with him. "No. But my legs are killing me."

"It's only a little bit more," Coulson offered over his shoulder. Like the rest of them, he was bundled up in a thick down coat, muffler, gloves, hat and snowshoes. She recognized him only by his voice, since she couldn't see much of the rest of him. From a distance, he could be Mac or Hunter.

Only Loki wasn't all bundled up. He had no reason to do so. And although he wore snowshoes, he wasn't the slightest bit out of breath. He probably wasn't sweating, either, she thought with a scowl. Despite the workout clothes she wore to wick away any sweat, she knew she had to be covered in it.

Loki paused. "We'll catch up."

"I'd rather we stay together," Coulson began, but Loki cut him off.

"She needs a few minutes. We will catch up."

"I'm fine," McKenna insisted, waving him off.

But Loki walked back to her, catching her around the waist with one arm. "You should rest a minute, love. You look ready to collapse."

"I'm fine, Loki. Please..." She didn't want to stop, but her legs weren't about to obey her. Her knees buckled, but he caught her easily.

"You're resting. They won't get too far ahead of us."

She dragged air into her lungs and swiped at her damp forehead with her gloved hand. "I want to go home."

"Say the word, darling girl, and Heimdall will open the Bifrost for you."

"I'm not going alone."

"McKenna," he curved his hand against her cheek, "if you need to go home, go home."

"I don't need to go home."

"Do you want me to carry you?"

"Oh, God, no!" She could just imagine everyone's reaction if she took him up on his offer. "I'm just not used to wading through all this snow."

As she spoke, she lifted one foot. They all wore the traditional snowshoes-made of white ash and tied with leather thong laces. Although it was easy enough to do, her ankles and her knees ached from the exertion when she forgot to slide the shoes' inner edges over one another with each step. But, they did work well and as Coulson explained, the old-fashioned type of snowshoe would be far quieter than the modern versions. Better for getting the drop on Ward.