Page 90 of The More the Merrier

“Atticus, come in… do you read me?”

The walkie-talkie screeched to life with Gregor James’ voice.

Ati placed Claire on the couch and went over to grab the walkie from his coat pocket.

“I’m here. What do you want? Over.”

“Where are you?” The demand in Gregor’s voice was evident.

“You’re not jealous are you, that I swept the fair Maid Marian from your grasp?”

“Don’t be an asshat, of course not. But you’re not at the lake and I’m worried. The weather is unpredictable today, and I don’t want you two getting stuck.”

“We’re fine and will join the group shortly. Later.” Ati turned off the walkie and returned to the couch. “Now where were we? Ah, yes, you were about to tell me about the othermen.”

“There are no other men, just you, and well, Gregor, but I’m sure you knew that already. Now answer my question. Who else are you seeing?”

“Only you, fair maiden,” Atticus answered. “But there have been many sexual partners. I make friends easily and have had many women. As far as the chalet goes, I don’t ski so I rarely come here. This is more Gregor’s thing, and he comes here to be alone.”

Her avoidance ploy had not only worked, but Claire learned something about Atticus and tucked that knowledge away.

“I think we should go. As much as I would love to have you here all to myself, the master beckons.”

Chapter 16

Atticus didn’t seemthe least perturbed by Gregor’s interruption, and in fact, by the glittering mirth in his eyes, she’d say he seemed amused more than anything.

Snuggled back into their outdoor wear and mounting the snowmobile once again, Claire pressed against Atticus’ back, tucking her face down to keep the lashing wind and snow at a minimum. Since they’d arrived at the chalet, the snow had gone from a light dusting of large intermittent flakes to a virtual snowstorm.

They headed west and as they sped over the distance, the sheets of falling snow were so thick that when Claire snuck a look over his shoulder, she couldn’t see more than a foot in front of them. She didn’t know snow, but this seemed extreme to her, and was about to ask Atticus if they should stop somewhere until the way ahead was clearer when they hit something.

Claire flew through the air, tumbling to earth to land in a snow drift. She gazed up to the sky, shocked by what had just happened. The snowfall was still heavy and the light in the forest was dark as dusk and unusual for being so early in the day. She stood to her feet, happy that she seemed to be in one piece.

Atticus had landed by a tree and lay still. Panic seized her; what if he was dead? Claire tried not to hyperventilate as she made her way over to his still form. Ripping off one of her gloves, Claire’s chilled fingers pressed against his throat where she found a strong pulse.

“Thank goodness,” she said aloud to the stillness.

The snowmobile was idling about twenty feet away. She could ride away after sending Gregor a message of where Atticus was. He’d be so busy saving his friend, she would be long gone by the time he thought to wonder where she had gone.

But could she be so selfish? Atticus was lying in the freezing snow; he could die of hyperthermia before Gregor got here. The snowmobile and Atticus’s still body vied for her attention. She needed to make a choice, and soon. In the meantime, Claire reached into his pocket to get the walkie-talkie, but it wasn’t there.

“Crab snacks! Where is it?”

Searching the snow, Claire couldn’t find it and that finalized her plan. She needed to get Atticus out of here by herself. Try as she might, Claire wasn’t strong enough to pull him from the snow and onto the mobile sled. Crap, now what was she supposed to do?

She could go and find help but had no idea where she was going. She grabbed her phone but of course, there was no service where they were. “Shit! Shit! Shit! Think, Claire.”

She was entertaining taking the snowmobile to get help when she smelled gas.

Are you friggin’ kidding me with this crap?

Not knowing how far an exploding snowmobile could reach, Claire jumped on top of Atticus and worked quickly to bury them in the snow. A few minutes later came the loud boom which she prayed wouldn’t cause an avalanche. Claire held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the rumbling sounds that signaling the beginning of a landslide.

The minutes ticked by, and she dozed in and out of consciousness as the snow pressed from above like a heavy blanket. Sometime later, she felt a rumble getting closer and braced herself for the end. When the rumble suddenly ended, she was cognizant enough to question the source.

“Claire! Atticus! Where are you?”

“Gregor,” she squeaked. Crying tears, she tried again. “Help!” The snow muffled her voice, and she began to squirm with what little strength she had left as she called out louder this time. “Help!”

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