Chapter 37
Mina
This return hike had officially cured me of ever wanting a dog.
Pebbles had decided she was done and refused to walk any further.
But she didn’t want to be carried, either.
She simply wanted to lie down on the forest floor and become one with the ground.
Every time I picked her up, she growled and barked, wanting down.
We even tried putting her into Luke’s pack, but the little stinker wiggled her way out.
If it hadn’t been for Walter’s quick reaction, she would have tumbled almost six feet to the ground.
I did not want to explain to Claire why her dog had a head injury or a broken bone.
After the backpack incident, Luke plucked her from my arms and tucked her under one of his, like a football, and handed me Betty’s leash.
Betty was more than happy to stay on the ground, but she didn’t know how to walk a straight line. After nearly tripping over her for the fourth time in as many minutes, I let out a frustrated screech.
“Do you want me to take her?” Walter asked.
“No.” As much as I would like a break, I wasn’t about to hand my best friend’s puppy over to a wanted fugitive. Walter was cooperating, but that didn’t mean I trusted him.
“Let’s all take a break,” Luke offered. Through the growing darkness, he gestured to the fallen tree about thirty feet away.
Happy to sit for a few minutes, I guided Betty to the tree and plopped down.
Except she wasn’t ready to just hang out for a bit. Her nose had caught wind of something, and she wanted to follow it.
“Betty, no.” I tugged on her lead, trying to bring her closer.
The little dog wasn’t having any of it, though. She turned, whipped her head as she pulled, and slid her pudgy body free of her harness.
“Crap!” Rocketing to my feet, I lunged, but Betty was on the scent of God only knew what and headed deeper into the forest. I missed getting a hand on her and plummeted to the ground.
Fire, hotter than a thousand suns, raced through my left side, the intensity nearly making me sick.
I’d landed on my chest on a basketball-sized rock.
Grimacing, I wedged a hand under me to lift my face off the ground. My lungs were frozen, refusing to move oxygen, both from the impact and from the shards of pain flowing through my chest.
Male shouts echoed around me, but through the fog of pain in my brain, none of what they said registered. A moment later, feet pounded past me after the dog. Luke’s feet.
A second set approached, then pant legs came into view. “You all right?”
With a moan, I rolled, letting the pack still strapped to my back prop me up.
Holy hell. Oh, that hurt. I wanted to nod and reassure Walter I was okay, but I couldn’t. All I could do was bare my teeth and moan.
“Just breathe. Let the pain pass.”
That was easier said than done. Eyes closed, I focused on drawing air in and out.
In the distance, I heard Luke yell Betty’s name and for her to stop.
Gentle pressure on my arm was soon accompanied by something tickling my face.
I opened my eyes and looked over to see Pebbles with her feet on my bicep, staring at me.
Her ears twitched and her tail wagged when we made eye contact.
With a yip, she leaned in and licked my face.
I wanted to laugh at the absurdity, but I didn’t dare. It still hurt too much to breathe.
“You just sit there. Let the pain subside while Luke catches that little terror.” Walter patted my knee.
“Yeah,” I managed. Sagging into my backpack, I let it take my weight and did my best not to tense too much. Something was definitely broken. I hoped I could still hike out of here.
Closing my eyes, I focused on taking slow, steady breaths. The pain faded to a dull roar—so long as I didn’t move. Every muscle twitch, every small shift to get more comfortable, sent the fire racing through my side and chest once more.
Several minutes passed before the soft thump of feet and the crunch of pine needles announced Luke’s return.
“Mina?”
My eyes snapped open.
His footsteps grew faster, then stopped as he reached my side to crouch beside me. Pebbles barked and stood on his knee. Walter picked her up, so she was out of the way.
“What happened?” Luke brushed my hair back from my face.
“Betty happened. When I dove to catch her, I landed on that rock, there.” I nodded toward the rock embedded in the ground at my side. “I think I broke a rib or two.”
He drew in a breath, then let it out slowly. “Fantastic. Okay.” He rocked up on his heels. “Um, have you tried to get up yet?”
“No. It was bad enough rolling over to this position.”
“Okay, hang on a second. Let me secure Betty.” Luke stood, then walked away. It took him several minutes, but he got Betty back into her harness—secured a little tighter than previously—then knelt at my side again.
“This probably will not feel good, but we need to get you up and see if you can walk. But first, we need to take your backpack off. It’ll just pull on your ribcage once gravity takes over.”
“Yep.” Keeping my left arm tucked close to my side, I lifted my right hand and threaded it under the strap over my shoulder.
“Okay, stop there.” Luke wedged his left hand under my right side, then took my right hand with his free one. “I’m going to help you up. Let your left arm slide out of the strap as you stand.”
I nodded, bending my knees with a wince as I prepared to put my feet under me.
“On the count of three, all right?” Luke adjusted his grip.
“Just do it,” I grumbled. It was going to hurt whether he counted or not. I just wanted it over with.
He chuckled. “Okay, then.” His grip tightened. “Up we go.”
My butt barely left the ground when the searing pain returned. Gritting my teeth, a low moan escaped, but I planted my feet, let my bag fall off my arm, and stood up.
Luke kept an arm tucked tightly around my waist while I let the waves of pain and nausea pass. After thirty seconds or so, I was able to take several normal breaths.
“I’m okay.” I patted his chest.
He loosened his grip but didn’t let go. “Take a few steps.”
Slowly, I walked forward. Sweat popped out on my brow, but my pain level stayed low.
But we were on level ground. What happened when we reached an outcropping or a small gully I had to climb over?
“How does it feel?”
“It’s okay, but I’m not going to be able to climb over stuff. Not with any swiftness, anyway.”
“What if Luke went on his own?” Walter walked closer, hesitation on his face.
“You mean, leave the two of you here?” Luke frowned.
Walter nodded. “I can keep an eye on her and watch the dogs. You can move faster than either of us on a good day. Ellis’s life is in danger. Speed is important.”
“He’s right, Luke.” I took Luke’s hand. “My injuries will double the time it takes me to make the trek.” As much as I hated the idea of staying out here to await rescue, there was more at play than just returning to town. “Go,” I urged.
Luke held my gaze for several seconds. I could see him working through reservations as his expression went from thoughtful to resigned.
He turned to Walter. “How do I know I can trust you not to run off?”
“Because I’m done running. I’ve carried the burden of what Sarah did for decades.
Knowing now Moira was pregnant—” He broke off and shook his head, sadness shining from the depths of his eyes.
“I wish I would have owned up to all my mistakes back then. Maybe she’d still be alive and raising that baby and a passel more.
It’s time for all of us involved in Moira’s death to pay.
” His chest heaved with emotion, and a sheen of tears shimmered in his eyes.
Luke clasped a hand over Walter’s shoulder, then gave it a couple of quick pats. “All right. I guess I’ll have to take you at your word.”
“I won’t break it. I mean it, I’m done running.” Walter switched both leashes to one hand, then shrugged out of his backpack. “Here. Put some water in this and the GPS. Leave that big pack. It’ll just weigh you down and make you more top-heavy.”
“That’s a good idea.” Luke took off his pack.
“Help me sit again,” I said. “Then give me the dogs. Then Walter can help you transfer things.”
“How about I help you sit, and we tie the dogs up?” Luke slid a hand around my waist and guided me to the fallen log, propping me up against it on the forest floor.
“I guess that works,” I muttered through clenched teeth. Right there and then, I vowed not to move again unless my bladder was about to burst or rescue showed up.
While I sat there, staring off into space, trying to get control of the pain again, Luke and Walter switched bags. Pebbles and Betty settled down beside me. I knew it wouldn’t last. They’d get a nap in and be ready to cause trouble again soon.
I blinked, bringing the world back into focus when Luke dropped into a crouch directly in front of me.
“For the record,” he began, “I don’t like leaving you here.
” He glanced over his shoulder at Walter, who was twenty feet away, bent over Luke’s old backpack, stuffing clothing and other items into it.
“I don’t completely trust him, but I’m going to have a little faith he means what he says, because, frankly, we don’t have another option. ”
My gaze traveled past him to the old man. A small frown formed on my face. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. Fate’s having a good laugh at us.” He raised a finger. “But she won’t have the last laugh. Not if I can help it.”
His eager confidence brought a smile to my face. I lifted a hand to touch his cheek. “I have no doubt you’ll show her who’s boss.”
He chuckled and covered my hand. A moment later, his expression sobered.
Those beautiful pewter eyes held mine hostage.
“I know we only touched on the subject, but you should know”—he held up a hand—“just in case something goes wrong and I never get to tell you this—but seeing you lying there, obviously hurt, and knowing the severity of our situation, that emotion we danced around? The one that starts with L and ends in O-V-E?” He raised an eyebrow. “Well, it smacked me hard.”
Something warm and gloriously light unfurled in my chest. Recognition of the same emotion spreading through my veins temporarily pushed away the pain pulsing in my ribs.
A slow, happy smile spread over my face. “I love you too. Make sure you remember that and use it to get yourself back to me.”
He took my chin in his hand. “I will. Don’t trip over any more rocks while I’m gone, yeah?”
I chuckled, then immediately regretted it. Moaning, I grasped my side.
Luke’s face contorted into a look of contrition. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I just need to remember I can’t laugh.”
Leaning in, he kissed my forehead. “I will send help back as fast as possible. Try to get some rest.” Rising, he stepped back.
“Walter,” he said as he turned.
The old man, who’d finished packing his bag and had moved away to give us some privacy, looked at Luke.
“Take care of her. I’m trusting you.”
“I won’t let you down. Go save your friend.”
Luke looked at me again.
I raised my right hand and made a shooing motion. “Go.”
His jaw worked. A moment later, he nodded and backed away. “Watch yourselves.”
With a final look, he spun on his heel and loped away.