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“No!”
I tore off across the plateau at a breakaway pace, Rusty and Ruby with me.
I slung my rifle over my shoulder and pulled up at the fallen tree, gulping air with ragged breaths. “No, no. No. Rosie!”
I immediately began to tear at the branches and limbs of the tree to get closer. I could see the red and navy of her pack peeking out under the trunk.
“Tom!”
I spun around. Rosie.
Shocked, pale, and very much alive.
I headed straight for her and wrapped her in my arms, letting out a sob against her hair. “Jesus Christ, I thought—”
“I’m okay. I’m okay.” She shook against my chest, holding onto me just as fiercely as I was embracing her.
The dogs barked at our ankles.
“I’m okay, really.” Rosie let me go and reluctantly I released her. “Oh Tom, you’re crying.”
“I thought you were dead.” I sucked in several deep breaths.Thought I’d lost you.I held her jaw, inspecting her head, neck, everywhere. “Are you hurt? What happened? Shit, you’re bleeding.”
“It’s just a scratch. A seed pod clipped me after impact.”
“How are you even alive?” I asked in disbelief, plucking two leaves from her hair.She’s here. She’s okay.
“I should have been setting up the tent.” She swallowed hard. “I was scouting some boulder just beyond. Looked like a possible burrow under one. I saw scat.” Rosie swayed on her feet. Shock. “My backpack …”
“Sit.” I helped her lower to the ground. “Get over here, Rusty. Come on, boy.” Both dogs ran over. Ruby bounced onto Rosie’s lap. “Hug the dogs. You’re in shock. They’ll keep you warm while I go into this damn tree and get your backpack.”
I broke off several branches and ducked and weaved through the mess to the backpack. But it was stuck, well and truly under the trunk so big I couldn’t get my arms around it.
I scraped at the earth and rocks under the backpack and got my hand into the top of her pack.
Icy rain stung my face. I gathered up what little I could salvage of Rosie’s belongings and returned to Rosie and the dogs. All three looked cold and miserable.
“Let’s get inside out of the sleet and get you warm.” Rusty whined. “All of you, come on.”
I offered Rosie my arm and she pulled up, stumbling her way back to the hut, clutching at the woman I’d thought I’d lost forever.
24
ROSIE
Ballydoon Community Post:
Cheryl posted 3.43 p.m.:
So good to see so many visitors in town to see the snow. Will bring in tourism dollars for our community. Saw several TV stations here to cover the snow for the news too.
I let my wet coat fall to the floor in the hut and made my way to the fire with a cry.
So warm.
Tom moved around the hut with efficient movements. “I managed to get your kerosene stove and fuel bottle, another beanie, a jumper, and two granola bars. But your sleeping bag and tent were well and truly under the tree.”
I sighed, rubbing my arms, standing as close to the fire as I could. “Thank god I stored the cameras in here. But food—”
