Chapter 12 #2
“Anyway,” Spence went on, trying to shake it all off, “that’s it. The press never quit on it, harassing the family, even showing up at Eli’s school, so they finally packed it in and moved here.”
“I’m glad about that part.”
Hetty hadn’t sounded like herself when she’d said it. In fact, she’d sounded almost shy. He wanted to interpret her words as she was glad he was there. But big as his ego was, he couldn’t quite do it. And she went on so quickly, changing the subject, he was sure he was right.
“I wonder…do you think that woman out there might be someone authorities were looking for and never found?”
“Could be. That’s what I was thinking, so I took some pictures.” Her eyes widened and he hastened to explain. “Something I picked up from Kansas. They need a record of the scene.”
She nodded in understanding and gave him a small smile. “Kansas taught you well.”
“She’s just always talked about not disturbing the scene if they find…someone dead.”
That Hetty could have also died, had the assailant been a better shot, was something he didn’t want to dwell on.
He went over to where he’d dropped his backpack and dug for a couple of the emergency ration bars he always carried.
There was a pack of twelve inside, which was enough to get them both through until somebody from RTA got to the site.
At least you didn’t leave the pack in the shed, idiot. Spence sighed in frustration.
“What’s wrong?” Hetty asked.
His anger at himself must have showed on his face.
“Nothing,” he said sourly. “Other than the fact that I could have taken that guy out by now if I hadn’t left the damned rifle in the shed.” He doubted he’d ever forgive himself for that.
“There was no reason to expect…this.”
He grimaced. “And what’s that saying that’s practically the state motto? Expect the unexpected?”
“‘North to the Future’ isn’t doing it for you, huh?”
The grimace became a tight, wry half smile. “Not at the moment, no.”
“We’ll be fine,” she said quietly. “RTA will be here in the morning, and we’ll be back home by noon, I bet.”
“Maybe.”
“We’ll probably hear them when they arrive. You know how sound carries up the hill out here.”
“Yeah.”
“Spence, stop blaming yourself. Frankly, I’m much happier waiting it out here than having you out there hunting something that can shoot back.”
There was no doubting the genuine concern in her voice. He knew what he wanted to think, but quickly quashed it, telling himself it wasn’t that she’d be worried about him, she just didn’t like the idea of being left here alone, injured and pretty much immobilized. And who would?
He dug back into the pack and pulled out the emergency blanket.
If it was just him, he wouldn’t worry about it this time of year, in the shelter of the cave.
But Hetty was hurt, and she’d lost enough blood she could get colder than normal, and faster.
He also dug out the small pack of candles.
It might not get dark outside this time of year, but it was pretty dim in this protected corner of the cave.
“That’s my boy,” she said. He turned back sharply. “Always prepared.”
As she echoed his earlier sentiment, his rattled brain rocketed to other circumstances where that might be an appropriate statement. Circumstances he’d never be in with Hetty, no matter how much he might want to be.
He managed a rather tight smile. Then he studied her for a moment. She looked a little better, the furrow on her forehead had smoothed out a bit. “Feeling better?”
She nodded. “Those pills did take the edge off.” She looked at the things he’d brought over to where she was propped against one wall of the cave niche. “You’re going to have to restock when we get back.”
“Yeah.” He always made sure the backpack was ready to go, and he personally tested everything in it himself, so he’d know exactly what he had to draw upon.
“When was the last time you did one of your survival jaunts?”
He didn’t like her using the word survival at the moment, but answered simply. “Spring. But early, when it was still cold enough to really test things.”
“You mean when it only gets down into the twenties instead of the teens?”
“Or negative numbers. I’m careful, not crazy.”
She laughed then winced as if it had hurt, and all his amusement vanished. He was down on his knees beside her in an instant. “Hetty?”
“I’m all right,” she said, although she sounded a tiny bit breathless. “I just…jostled it, I think.” She glanced at the blanket. “I do think we may need that later, though.”
We? He’d planned on putting it just over her tonight, but now that she’d said that—and once he got the delicious idea of snuggling with her under one blanket out of his head—he knew she had a point.
The reflective blanket did reflect body heat, after all.
That was the whole point of it, and so he should add his own heat, for her sake.
So he would find himself in the position he’d always longed for but never expected to have. Snuggled up to Hetty Amos, under a single blanket, in what dark there was, with practically zero chance of interruption. And imagining what might be happening if she wasn’t hurt.
It was going to be a hell of a night.