Page 5 of Loud Unspoken Memories

“I have a truck. I have cell service. I can either give you a ride or we can call someone.”

“Or…” I put my hand on the roof of my mangled car. “I just stay in my car, and you go back to where you have cell service and call me a tow truck.”

He eyes me up and down. I shiver from his appraisal, then take a deep breath to calm my nerves, but the shaking doesn’t abate. I hadn’t even realized how cold I was until just now. I’m wearing yoga pants, a T-shirt, a light jacket, and ballet slippers.

“You’ll freeze in an hour.”

“Anhour?You think it’ll take that long?”

“Longer.” He points to his left. “I’m still five miles from home. Add in the time it will take to summon a tow truck and you’ll be a popsicle for sure. Assuming you can walk and have something better to walk in than those flimsy shoes, coming with me is the best option. My cabin is warm. I have food, water, and cell service.”

I lean against the car, weighing my choices.

Stay here and freeze. Or put faith in a complete stranger.

I am so screwed.

Chapter Three

Dallas

She leans against her car, sizing me up. One of her shoes—that obviously has zero tread—slips out from under her and when she grips onto the side mirror to keep from falling, she winces in pain.

“It’s my wrist,” she says, gingerly holding it against her.

She’s hesitating, probably trying to decide if she wants to take her chances out here in the cold, or with a stranger who may or may not kill her for sport. I hold out the knife, sheathed in its leather casing. “Here. If it’ll make you feel better, take this.”

She ignores it and glances up and down the road. Surely she can see hers are the only tire tracks. Nobody travels this road unless they’re camping or fishing—neither of which will be happening tonight, or anytime soon based on that sky.

I put my knife away and extend my arms out to my sides, palms facing up. “Okay, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll call for help when I make it home. But no promises. This snow is getting worse by the minute. The closest tow truck belongs to Luther O’Reilly in a town about thirty miles from here. And that assumes he’s reachable and isn’t pulling another half-dozen cars out of ditches. But whatever. Good luck.”

With that, I put my beanie on, then my hoodie and jacket, and I start walking away.

I’m not going to just leave her here. Therearebears and other scary shit out in the woods, especially after dark. But she doesn’t know I’ll walk out of sight and give her the opportunity to either call out after me or follow.

After only a few steps, I hear a deep sigh that’s more like a frustrated huff. I get the idea Marti Carver does not like to give in easily.

“Fine,” she says, walking up behind me. Then she grabs my elbow to steady herself when she slips on the ice once more. “Shit.” She releases me when she finds her footing, her hands covering her face. “I didnotplan for this.”

“Yeah, well, shit happens. Plans get ruined. Life throws curveballs.”

She studies me. “You say that like it’s from experience.”

I motion to her shoes. “Please tell me you have boots, or you’re going to lose some toes to frostbite.”

She shakes her head. “No boots. I’m from Florida, remember? But I have tennis shoes.”

“They’ll have to do. I’d suggest doubling or tripling up on socks. And if you don’t have gloves, bring an extra pair for your hands.” I take in her light jacket that can’t possibly be keeping the cold away. “And layers. Florida folks still wear hoodies, don’t they?”

She nods to the car. “I have a hoodie in my suitcase. Can we bring it?”

“The hoodie, yes. I’m not dragging a suitcase for five miles across snow-covered forest.”

I crawl through her passenger side and pop the trunk.

She opens her suitcase and rummages through it, getting everything she can find to keep her warm. She takes off the jacket, revealing a plain pink T-shirt that shows just how cold she is based on the stiffness of her nipples. I turn away. I shouldn’t be looking, for so many reasons.

When I turn back around, she’s traded her yoga pants for a pair of jeans and is wearing an FSU hoodie, the hood covering her long brown hair, the string pulled tight so only her face remains visible.

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