| |
I thought the sounds of a snowmobile woke me, but I listened and heard nothing. "Everly, it's Chance. You OK?"
"Chance, where are you?"
He walked into my camp. "I didn't want to just walk up and have you shoot me or something," he said, as I stood up and ran into his arms nearly knocking him over.
"Are you OK? Are you hurt? Is anyone else around?"
"Just me. I'm OK. I'm tired and hungry and cold. I probably have blisters. I don't know if they hit me in the head or drugged me but the headache's not too bad now."
I dissolved into sobs against his chest. When I had cried myself out, the questions came. "How did you find me? Who kidnapped me? Did you find the guy I hit with the shovel?"
"We'll talk about all of that after we get you somewhere safe and have a doctor check you out. "Mind if I take a picture of your camp?"
"I can build you one of your own, if you don't mind my cannibalizing one of your snowmobiles."
"Thanks. The picture will be good for now. He opened his pack and handed me a bag of granola. “Eat and drink, while I let them know I found you."
I'm not a big fan of granola, but today it tasted better than the best biscuits and gravy I ever had. I drank the whole bottle of water.
"If there's anything here you want, grab it, and let's get you back to civilization. He put out my fire and led me to his snowmobile that was parked down the road. He pulled a fleece shirt out of his pack. "Your shivering. Put this on." He helped me to shed the coat and put the fleece on over the other shirts I was wearing. I put the coat back on, but still felt cold. Chance took me in his arms and kissed me gently. "I'm glad you're OK, Babe. I'm so sorry this happened to you." The concern in his eyes turned my insides gooey.
We drove down FS437, until we reached a larger road. Each time we stopped I ate more granola or a protein bar and drank more water. I assumed we'd drive back to Chance's house. I couldn't wait to get a shower, eat real food, put on some of Chance's sweats and woolly socks, and climb into bed. Right now, that sounded like the best date night ever. Instead, we pulled into a parking area where there were several pickup trucks and people. Laurie ran over to hug me as soon as I climbed off the snowmobile. "Oh. My. God. Everly, how are you? Are you OK? What can I get you?"
"Welcome back, Ms. Mason," Sheriff Roy said, as Chance hustled me, with Laurie in tow, to where Tom was waiting in his SUV. "Hi, Sheriff. Did you find the one I hit with the shovel?"
"Not yet. I'll need a statement after you've been checked out by the doc. This started in Wilkins' Gap, the feds won't be taking over this one. I'll see you at the hospital."
"Chance, I don't need a hospital," I said. "I just want to go home. You can take care of me. I've been dreaming about those woolly socks of yours."
"If I didn't know better, I might think you only love me for my socks."
"I have simple needs," I said.
Without another word, Laurie climbed in the front seat with Tom, and Chance lifted me into the back, closed my door, and got in the other side. He reached behind the seat and pulled over a blanket that he wrapped around me. Laurie handed me a bottle of water. "Thanks, y'all. Hi, Tom. How are you feeling?"
"Like yesterday's news," he said. "Glad you're OK."
"Chance, how did you find me?"
"Shush. Just snuggle in, Babe. We'll talk about all of it after the doctor checks you out."
I tried to argue, but I was happy to be safe and warm. I snuggled into Chance's chest and fell asleep.
XXX
I woke up when Chance was carrying me into the emergency entrance of the hospital. A nurse led us to one of the treatment rooms where Chance sat me on the bed and started peeling off layers. "I took these clothes from my kidnapper. Well, one of them. I don't know if that makes them evidence or not."
"I'll get a bag for them in case Roy needs them." I continued shedding layers, folding each piece and laying it on a chair. I was down to my own clothes when Chance walked back in and looked me over from head to toe.
"It looked better before I unraveled the sweater for the yarn and cut a piece out of the dress to filter water."
"You did great out there, Babe." He hugged me again, then turned me around so he could unzip my dress.
"I can handle this part, Chance. Give me a minute?"
"You sure? I don't mind."
"I'm OK. Just turn around." I took off the dress and put on the hospital gown.
A nurse walked in and got me settled in bed with a pile of warm blankets over me. She checked my vital signs and asked me about a million questions. They drew blood to test to see if I was drugged. It was clear the medical staff knew at least the basics of what happened—I was kidnapped, taken into the wilderness, and found more than thirty hours later. Because I had no memory of what happened between my opening the door to my apartment and waking up in the van, they had to ask a lot of unpleasant personal questions. I could see Chance wasn’t handling this line of questioning well.
"Chance, you don't have to be here for this. You can wait outside."
"No. I'm staying."
"Chance, if she doesn't want you here for this, it might be best if you waited outside," the doctor said.
"I'm staying." He didn't let go of my hand.
"It's OK, Doctor," I said. "He can stay."
They didn't find a head wound and the blood work indicated I'd been drugged. I had some scrapes and bruises, and blisters from hiking in the too-large boots, but physically I was fine. I just couldn't seem to get warm. The doctor talked to Chance outside, before coming in to explain to me that he thought the chills were the result of shock. I had no signs of frostbite. Other than the blisters, I had no injuries that required further care. "Feed her whatever she wants. Make sure she drinks a lot of water, and let her sleep as much as she wants," the doctor told Chance. "Call me if she has any problems."
"Can I put my dress back on?"
"Actually, it's evidence. So is your sweater," Chance said. "I'll be right back."
Chance walked out and returned a couple of minutes later with a bag. "Here, Laurie went and picked up some of your clothes from my place."
"Guess our secret's out then?" I said, unzipping the bag and dumping the contents on the bed.
"What secret's that?"
"That I've been staying at your place?"
"Didn't know it was a secret. I'm pretty sure everyone in Wilkins' Gap knows you've been sleeping in my bed. I suspect they think there's been more going on than just sleepin'"
"And you don't mind that?"
"To be honest, I'm hopin' that changes soon, but I'm OK with it for now."
"Chance, you're doing it again?"
"Doing what, Babe?"
"Talking about me, but I don't understand what you're saying. The innuendo gets so thick I can't tell what you're getting at. Do you not want me to stay at your place?"
"Just the opposite."
"Take pity on me. What are you saying?"
"I'll spell it out for you then," he said, taking my hand. "I'd be happy for you to spend every night in my bed and, I hope someday soon there's a lot more going on in that bed than just sleep." He bent down and gave me a brain-freezing kiss. "Clear enough?"
"Uhm. Yeah. I think I understand, but I reserve the right to ask for clarification later."
"Agreed," he said, holding up his palm for a high five.
"Go get the truck. I'll get dressed, and they'll wheel me out."
It was nice to have some of my own clothes again. Laurie had brought my coat, but even with that over a shirt and sweater, I was still cold.
Laurie was waiting for me when they wheeled me down the hall. "You OK?"
"Yeah. Need food and sleep. Then I'll be ready to find out why someone kidnapped me."
"I'm guessing you'll be staying at Chance's. Call me if I can help with anything."