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I walked further than I realized. I kept looking ahead anxious to get back within sight of Chance and my pink shirt marker. When I rounded the bend near our potential campsite, I saw Chance lying on the ground. I broke into a run. "Thank God, you're OK. Sorry I left you alone. I went to find stuff to make a stretcher to carry you." I dropped to my knees beside him and realized he was still unconscious. I checked his pulse again and took a deep breath when I felt it pounding steadily in his neck.
He must have come to and got himself out of the water. He probably followed my footprints. I looked down the length of his leg and saw that the splint was still in place. I didn't see anything lying nearby that he could have used for a crutch. I couldn't see how he could have hopped on one foot without anything to help him balance, but then he was clearly in better shape physically than anyone I had ever known. Perhaps the effort he exerted caused him to drop back into unconsciousness. I noticed he didn't have his backpack or mine. "Fudge. I'm going to have to leave you again. I need to go back up the stream to get our packs. My nerves were dancing like grease on the grill at Hairy's. I was anxious to get my PLB and turn it on, but I was hesitant to leave Chance again. What if he wandered off and I couldn't find him?
After sitting with him a while, hypnotized by the rise and fall of his chest, I rushed back to where I'd found him and hauled both our packs and the rain gear back to the clearing. I noticed that there weren't any prints along the muddy bank. Chance had to have walked this way. There was no other way to get from point A to point B. The ground was muddy, and prints should have been obvious, but they weren't. I noticed, but I didn't care. I had a million thoughts flitting around my brain like fruit flies on water melon rind.
Setting the packs on the edge of the clearing furthest from the stream, I opened mine and pulled out my PLB. I activated it. I really had no idea how it worked, but I felt better knowing that someone might know we need help and where to find us.
Every few minutes, I checked on Chance, but nothing changed. I didn't know what time it was, but it was late morning when Chance fell. By now, it must be at least mid-afternoon. I needed to get my butt in gear if we were going to have shelter for the night. It wasn't easy, and I'm sure I made lots of mistakes, but I managed to get the tarp on the ground and set the tent up on top of it. I rolled out the sleeping pads and opened out our sleeping bags.
It felt like I was crossing some imaginary line, but I went through Chance's pack. I pulled out the first aid kit. It was well stocked, but I wasn't sure how useful any of it was going to be. I decided to clean Chance's head wound and bandage it, if I could. I laid out the things I thought I might need and filled a plastic bag with water from the stream. After sending up another prayer that I wouldn't do more harm, I turned Chance's head toward the stream and cleaned the wound as gently as I could.
There were scissors in the first aid kit that I could use to cut the hair around the cut. I picked up some of his hair in one hand, trying not to tug on his scalp. I had the scissors in my other hand, but I just couldn't do it. Would he ever forgive me for all the damage I'd already done? If I cut his hair, would that be the thing that he held against me forever. It was hair. It would grow back. I snipped only what I had to so I could see the extent of the wound. There was a large gash, but it looked as though the bleeding had stopped. That was good. I cleaned it and bandaged it as best I could. When I was finished, I sat just breathing. I brushed my hand over his jaw. His skin felt warm but not feverish. "I'm so sorry, Chance. This is all my fault. I'm doing the best I can."
I was an emotional mess. I'm not sure what possessed me, but I leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. As I pulled away, Chance's arms came around my neck. "Not so fast, City Girl."
I looked into his eyes and burst into tears.