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“Okay, Ellie,” he murmured, taking her hand.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped up to the window and stared into the car…then gasped.
“Noah! The driver! He’s alive! I’m sure I just saw him move!”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Before Noah could stop her, Ellie was racing around to the opposite side of the car.
“What’s goin’ on?” Matt called urgently, hastily leading Stetson forward.
“She thinks the driver’s still alive, and apparently Shelby agrees. She just ran around to join her.”
“Dammit, here,” Matt grunted, handing Noah the reins.
Striding around the Tesla, Matt reached Ellie just as she began trying to bang out the shattered window with a heavy stick.
“Ellie, wait, it’s special glass. It won’t break.”
“What?”
“You won’t be able to break that window,” he repeated, taking off his backpack. “Help me snap off these small branches. I might be able to get the door open.”
“Why can’t Noah tie up Stetson?”
“Even the best trained stallions can be unpredictable, especially in a new environment, and before you ask, no, you can’t hold him.”
After clearing what they could by hand, Matt retrieved a small axe and quickly chopped away the rest, then pulled out a spray can.
“What’s that?”
“A de-icer,” he replied, expertly spraying around the car door. “That should do it. Step back.” As Ellie moved away, Matt took hold of the door handle, and praying it wasn’t locked, he pulled. To his relief it opened. Leaning inside, he placed his fingers against the young man’s neck. “I don’t believe it, you were right, he’s alive,” Matt exclaimed, then a thought came to mind. Unbuttoning the top of the young man’s overcoat, he realized why. Returning to his backpack, he pulled out a specialty blanket and swiftly laid it over the young driver, then snatched his phone from his pocket and told the sheriff he’d found a survivor.
“I’m approaching the turnoff to the trail now,” the sheriff declared. “I have two ATV’s with me and a couple of ambulances are on the way. They won’t be able to go up that trail, but by the time we the get victim down to the road they’ll be here.”
“See you soon, Sheriff, and I can confirm two dead.”
“How the hell did the third one make it? Do you know?”
“He’s wearin’ a down parka under his coat, and he had the hood up over his head. But his pulse is weak. I’ve placed a warmin’ blanket around him. I hope it’s enough.”
“We’ll be there shortly. Good work, Matt.”
“Actually, you can thank Eleanor Thompson,” he said, glancing at her. “I’ll explain later,” then ending the call, he stepped up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “Ellie, you may have saved this kid’s life,” he said solemnly. “I thought they were all dead. How did you know?”
“I saw him move, I’m sure I did.”
“His hand? His head? What?”
“Uh, his body, he sort of shifted.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Matt muttered. “Maybe he had a muscle spasm.”
“Is there anything more we can do for him?”
“Yes, I was just about to give you these,” he said, lifting three hand warmers from his backpack and breaking open the packets. “Place one in each of his hands, he’s wearing gloves, it will warm them, and keep them warm. Move the other one over his face and neck for a few seconds, take it away, then do it again. I don’t think he’ll wake up, but if he does, call me, and you, Shelby,” he continued, stepping over to his dog, “what a good girl you are. You tried to tell me.” As Shelby barked and jumped up, he leaned over and hugged her.
“Matt, what’s goin’ on?” Noah called, leading Stetson a few steps forward.
