Page 21 of High Note

“Alive and on the ground. She’s heading to the hospital. June says it looks like a break at the wrist and arm. She’s awake. Your drummer’s going with her. Looks like she passed out.”

“Oh god. Thank goodness Greggo was on the same lift with her.” She looked at Mich.

“Should we go to the hospital?”

“There are a lot of folks out there with their phone cameras out. You might want to wait half an hour or so.” That was Kirsten.

“Good point. Can you go?” She wasn’t afraid of using Kirsten to get information.

Kirsten nodded. “Sure. I can go for it.”

“No, I’ll go,” Mich said. “Andi and I can take the car, and then you can come with, uh, Kirsten is it?”

“Yes, ma’am. Kirsten Langdon. Pleased.”

“Nice to meet you. Sorry it sucks given the circumstances.” Mich grinned. “I’m going out. I’ll send more refreshments.”

“Do you want me to take you somewhere now?” Kirsten was a little wide-eyed. “Or I can hang with you right here.”

“We’ll stay here for a bit, huh? Until the crowd is less nuts?” She shivered. “That was awful, honey. I could see her dangling.”

“It must have been scary as fuck, but they’re pros up here.”

“They are.” She went to Kirsten, standing in front of her, and when Kirsten opened her arms, Skyla dove into them.

“Oh, honey. I have you. It’s okay.” Kirsten was solid as a rock, arms holding her up.

“Sorry. I’m being a ninny. I just—that was so scary. What if she’d been there by herself?”

“She wasn’t. That’s the point, but she wasn’t.”

“You’re right.” She gulped a deep breath but didn’t let go. “Okay. Yes.”

“She’s going to be fine. I’m not sure I’d let her on a ski lift again without a safety net or something, but she’s okay.”

“Nope. No skiing for her unless it’s on a tow line thing.” She’d seen those, where you never went up in the air.

“There you go. We’ll see if Evie can pull her behind a horse.”

“Oh, I like it.” Skyla had no idea who Evie was, but she was pretty sure horse meant cowgirl. At least it did down where she was from.

“I’ve ridden a sled like that. It’s fun.”

“I’ve ridden a piece of leather. Does that count?”

“Totally. Riding counts, all the way.”

Skyla snorted. “I’ve also ridden a piece of cardboard. When I was a kid.”

“I remember that. I felt so cool. Now we have plastic sleds. Fancy.”

“High tech.” Kirsten felt warm. Strong. Comforting. Her cheeks heated. “I probably ought to let go.”

“No one can see. You don’t have to.” Kirsten kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you. It’s nice not to have to go deal with everything right away.”

“Yeah, I hear you. You can just breathe a second.”

---