Page 42 of Tempting Promises
Rowan rolls his eyes. “You’re not going to stay out here and die from the cold and rain. We need to get to shelter.”
“That’s great, but I’m not really able to walk fast and we’re miles away from anything.”
I’m only going to slow him down and make this worse.
“We’re going to try for the hunting cabin about a mile away. If we can’t get there for whatever reason, we’ll set up camp and wait for the storm to pass.”
The sound of the rain hitting the trees is enough to make us both look up. It doesn’t sound like normal rain, it’s more like ice.
“We can’t camp in an ice storm,” I say what I’m sure he’s thinking.
“No, we can’t, so let’s go before it covers the ground.”
Rowan doesn’t give me a chance to say anything, his arm hooks under mine and he pulls me up. I lean against him, hand on his chest, trying to steady myself. “I don’t know how fast I can go,” I admit.
“We’ll go at the fastest pace that’s safe. Do you have another jacket?”
I nod. “In my pack.”
Thank God I was at least smart enough to pack that. Rowan fishes it out and helps me get it on, lifts the hood, and pulls the straps so I look like a freaking orange condom. “Really?”
“You need to stay dry, not cute.”
He then goes into his own bag and does the same to himself before pulling out two ponchos—one for him and one for me.
“I didn’t even think to grab those,” I admit.
“I worried I’d need it for shelter, but this is more important. We have to get down to the cabin and the hill is steep. Use that branch as a crutch and hold on to me.”
This really couldn’t get any worse, but at the same time, I’m eternally grateful he found me. “How did you know where I was?”
“I didn’t.” Then he goes in his pocket and grabs a walkie-talkie. “Come in Moist Beard.”
My brows scrunch. “Who the hell are you talking to?”
Then I hear Sawyer come through the line. “Skittle Titties, this is Moist Beard. Come in.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“I have Angry Elf and we’re heading to the hunting cabin we found earlier to wait out the storm and deal with her injury. Copy?”
“You’re kidding me, right?” I say to him as he grins.
“I copy. Is she okay?”
“Angry Elf sprained her ankle. We’ll need assistance getting herback to the house. We’ll check in once we arrive at the cabin.”
Sawyer responds. “Ten-four, little buddy. Moist Beard out.”
I don’t care that the freezing rain is coming down a little harder, I look at him as though he’s a freaking oddity, which he is. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”
“Not now, you can be your normal prickly self once we’re in a dry location.” He grabs my pack, helping me secure it to my front instead of my back. “This way I can hold on to you easier. Lean on the tree while I get my stuff.”
“Why don’t we leave my pack since it’s so damn heavy?”
“Because we have no idea what this storm is going to dump, and we may need everything we both brought. Come on, hold on to me.”
I loop my arm around his middle and he holds me to his side. Together, we walk slowly in zig-zag patterns. My legs are throbbing from only really having use of the one side. I want to curl into a hot bath and cry, but neither of those will happen.
