Page 15 of Chasing the Wild
The image sent heat through me despite the chaos. "I'll be careful."
"I know you will." His thumb traced my cheekbone. "Because you're mine, and I take care of what's mine. Which means you take care of yourself for me. Deal?"
"Deal," I said.
We assembled quickly, everyone groggy and disoriented but motivated by the promise of getting back to civilization. Kevin took point, with Neil and Shane managing the middle of the pack. Sam brought up the rear, his eyes constantly scanning the group, counting heads.
I saw him count once, twice, his expression focused. Making sure everyone was accounted for before we moved.
The sky was lightening, and the storm had calmed to occasional flurries. We started down the trail in a ragged line, moving as quickly as the terrain and our exhaustion allowed.
I stayed near the middle of the pack, Kevin's broad shoulders visible ahead, the sound of Sam's voice behind me directing the stragglers. The air was crisp and cold, but the wind had died down enough that visibility was decent.
I'd been hiking for about an hour when I heard someone behind me.
"Wait," Amanda said, panting. "I forgot something."
I turned to see her face pale with panic. "What?"
"My inhaler. I left it at the lodge. I need it. My asthma gets worse in cold weather, and I can already feel my chest getting tight."
I looked ahead. The group was pulling away from us, focused on keeping pace with Kevin's lead. Looked back. Sam was with a couple of stragglers at the very rear, too far to hear us over the wind and the crunch of boots on snow.
"Tell Sam," I said immediately, remembering his words:don't do anything heroic.
"He'll make the whole group stop and wait. It'll take hours to go back." Amanda's breathing was getting more labored. "I’ll be okay."
"No." I caught her arm. "We’ll tell Sam."
But even as I said it, I saw the main group pulling further ahead. Saw the window of clear weather that might close atany moment. Heard Belinda's voice carrying back, complaining about the pace.
"Please," Amanda wheezed as she limped along. "If we slow the group down, Belinda will make both our lives hell. You know she will."
She was right about that. But I also knew what Sam would say. Knew what he'd want me to do.
"Come on," I said, keeping hold of her arm and steering her forward. "We're going to walk faster and catch up to Sam. Tell him what happened. Let him decide."
"But—"
"No buts. Sam's the expert. Sam makes the call." I raised my voice, calling ahead: "Sam! We need you!"
It took him a minute to work his way through the stragglers, but when he reached us, his eyes immediately went to Amanda's labored breathing.
"What's wrong?"
"Inhaler," Amanda gasped. "Left it at the lodge."
Sam's jaw clenched as he looked back the way we'd come, then ahead at the group pulling away. I could see him calculating distances, weather conditions, and assessing the risk.
"How bad?" he asked Amanda.
"Getting worse. Cold air—triggers it."
He pulled out his radio, calling to Kevin: "Hold up. Got a situation. Need a few minutes."
"Amanda, I'm going back for your inhaler. You're going to continue with the group, slow and steady. Jess—"
"I'll come with you," I said.
