Page 67 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“Quiet now. Save your strength.”

Her nod was slight, almost imperceptible, but I felt it.

And in that moment, it was enough.

“Need to get back to the house before the snowstorm,” I said. “Get you safe.”

I lifted Kat against me, her body shivering, and I put her on the horse before I mounted Shadow in one fluid motion. I could feel her trying to hold on, the fight still in her despite the cold that was trying to claim her. Sundance fell into step beside us without a nudge, her instincts kicking in.

“Stay awake,” I told Kat, low and urgent. Time was running out before nightfall, the world painted in shades of gray. “Talk to me.”

“Trying,” she whispered, voice barely there.

“Good.”

Simple praise, but it was all we had time for.

TWENTY-FIVE

Gabe

She was alive…but she was so, so cold.

Snow bit at my skin as I stepped through the threshold, Kat cradled in my arms. The first flakes dusted her hair, not even melting—that’s how cold she was. I kicked the door shut with the heel of my boot, grateful for once that Livy wasn't here to witness this—Kat broken and shivering.

“Stay put,” I grunted, lowering her gently onto the floor in front of the fireplace. Bandit paced beside us, his whines cutting through the silence.

Firewood snapped under the pressure of my grip, then I tossed it into the fireplace to get a fire going. Flames licked the kindling, eager to devour. Heat punched back against the cold, filling the room.

I glanced over at Kat, Bandit already a warm, protective bulk against her side.

Good…he would watch her while I tended to the horses.

“I'll be back soon,” I said.

Kat nodded, teeth chattering.

Fuck.

I bolted outside, my steps crunching against the growing blanket of snow. The horses were restless, eager to get into the warmth of the barn. I took their reins and strode in that direction, snowflakes melting on my flushed cheeks. My boots sunk into the fresh powder, every step heavier than the last.

“Easy,” I muttered, sliding open the barn door. They needed calm, and I had to give it to them, despite the chaos clawing at me.

I led Sundance and Shadow into their stalls, secured them, made sure they had enough feed. The whole time, my thoughts were with Kat in the house, alone, except for Bandit. Every second felt like a lifetime—every minute could be her last breath.

“Stay warm, guys,” I said as I finished up, patting Shadow’s neck. I made sure the heater was running safely…then I was out again.

I headed back toward the house, muscles tight and coiled. The snow was falling harder now, a veil of white between me and the cabin. Every step was a fight against the storm, a race against time.

I had to get back to her.

The door slammed shut behind me, a barrier against the biting cold. Kat was where I’d left her, shivering by the fire with an anxious Bandit at her side, still wrapped in Shadow's blanket. She was shaking worse than before, uncontrollable tremors racking her frame.

“Kat, stay with me,” I said, my voice low and urgent. My hands were steady as I helped her out of the wet clothes, even though fear gripped my heart like a vise. Her skin was cold, unnaturally so, beneath my fingers.

I grabbed the warmest gear I had from my bedroom—a thick fleece and heavy sweatpants—and dressed her with careful haste. Then I piled on blankets, every one I could find until she was buried in a mountain of warmth. Bandit nestled into the cocoon beside her, his body heat an added barrier against the chill.

“Good boy,” I whispered to him, then wedged myself close, curling my body around hers, sharing what little warmth I had left. The fire crackled in the hearth, its glow battling the shadows creeping around us.

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