Chapter 2
2
MERRITT
I should be furious that I'm trekking through almost knee-deep snow to reach my truck, and the absence of my anger is worrying. Because I'm thinking far too much about how nice it is to have her tucked in close to my chest, how soft she feels against me. This should be a hardship, but instead, I'm grateful for the excuse to sweep her off her feet and keep her from the cold.
Until her eyes flutter closed and her head lolls against my chest like she's lost consciousness. All my emergency rescue training tells me this is a bad sign. That she must have had a head injury I hadn't known about or some other hidden injury, and I've just made the most basic of mistakes. Moving a crash victim too quickly.
It doesn't matter that the storm is only supposed to get worse or that it was unlikely one of the ambulances could've made it up here anyway. All that matters is that I'm responsible for whatever is wrong with the woman in my arms.
My heart beats a steady rhythm as I push on up the incline, urging me to move safely and quickly. As the road comes into view, I'm starting to sweat, but I just tighten my hold and cross the final few yards until I can open the door.
Warm air blasts out around me in the night. The foresight I had to keep the truck running is a blessing when I settle her onto the seat and buckle her into place. I take off my coat and tuck it around her, then shut the door, and race around to the other side, jumping in and gunning the motor. My options are limited. There's no way I can get her to the hospital in this storm, and even trying to head back down the road to town is a sketchy proposition. I look over at her, noting the bag she was so intent on pulling out of her car when we left. I ease it from her grasp and set it carefully on the back seat.
Knowing there's only one safe choice to make right now, I point the truck toward the peak and start the slow drive up the mountain. At least I know we can make it to my cabin. There, I'll check her over, make sure she's all right, and then send her on her way once the storm breaks.
Looking over at her sleeping face, though, I begin to wonder if it will be as easy to do as I'm telling myself it will be.