Page 35 of Your Fan Forever
I turned around and spotted what caused Preston to say my name. Nip's leash and collar were tied to the deck, but no sign ofNip.
“Callie.” Iyelled.
“Callie.” Preston yelled afterme.
I looked over the edge, but couldn’t see anything. I shined the flashlight, but it only picked up gravel anddirt.
“Callie.” I yelled. I got an answer this time, but it wasn’t fromCallie.
“Yip. Yip.” Nip barked as he came tearing towards us from the woods to our left. I squatted and he leaped in my arms. He wiggled in my hands and it was hard not to drop him. He keep barking andmoaning.
“Where’s you mommy, Nip?” I asked. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he answered me. He was trying to saysomething.
Leaves and dirt matted to hisbody.
Preston walked around the side of the deck and held on with one hand while training the flashlight down the side of themountain.
I sat Nip down and he walked up to the edge of the deck, laid down and barked down themountain.
“Go back.” I saw a flash of something as the flashlight passed overit.
Preston scanned back and about ten feet down the mountain laid my Callie. She laid flat on her stomach and her head tilted to the side. Blood was matted to one side of her head and she wasn’tmoving.
I couldn’t tell from up here if she was even breathing. I laid down flat on the deck trying to catchmovement.
“Callie.” I yelled. “Baby, answerme.”
Preston attempted to move further towards her, but the ground gave way and he scrambled to prevent himself falling and joiningCallie.
“We’ve got some ropes and stuff at the cabin.” The house manager said. “And, I’ll call forhelp.
He pressed the flashlight in my hand and scooped Nipup.
“What are youdoing?”
“Better get this little guy out of the way when the cavalry comes.” The man turned and sprinted down the trail, yelling into his phone on the way. “We have a woman who fell from Timberland lookout. She’s unconsciousand…”
Nip barked in protest at being carriedaway.
“Pres-”
“She’s fine,” he said. He trained the flashlight on her back. “She’sbreathing.”
I looked where he had the light. I added my light. I couldn’t see it. He always had better eyes thanme.
“I’ve got to get down there.” I pushed up and got to myfeet.
I circled around the side of the deck and dropped underneath, my arms stretched out. I swung on the edge and pushed myself to the left onto a pile of gravel aboveCallie.
I turned and slid down a few more feet. I was close. I dug into the dirt to get a grip and lower myself downfurther.
“Fuck.” A rock sliced myhand.
“Noah man, becareful.”
I made it half way down to her, but the rest of the way either would have me landing on her and landing over her and falling fifty feet to my owndeath.
“Hey.” Preston moved the light over a branch protruding out of the ground near my feet. “See if you can grab that and lower yourselfdown.”
