Page 15 of Snowbound Hearts
“I tried and he jumped at me. Get out of here, Mason. Go before he gets us both.”
“Baby, he’s not getting either one of us. I’m holding a twelve-gauge shotgun on him. Now, do as I tell you and take two steps back straight towards my voice.” Mason racks a round into the chamber of the shotgun almost as proof that he really did have a gun aimed at my predator.
I slowly take one and then another step backwards.
“That’s it, baby. Two more.” Mason’s voice is closer as if he’s walking towards me.
Again, I take first one and then a second step back as I stare at the mountain lion. He doesn’t seem to be following me this time. Do mountain lions know what shotguns are or is he weighing his options on eating at least one or both of us?
I can feel the heat coming off Mason before I can even see him. “Get behind me.” He says right next to my ear. Slowly, I maneuver behind him. “Good. Put your hand on my shoulder and guide us backwards towards the ATV.”
I glance behind me and see the vehicle a few yards away. I called it a toy earlier, but right now it’s our saving grace. Mason has his gun aimed at the mountain lion that hasn’t moved sinceMason showed up. We both move back a few steps at a time until we’re standing next to the ATV.
“Baby, I need you to climb on, start it, and then drive away.”
“What? No. I’m not leaving you,” I argue.
“I’m climbing on with you, but I need to keep this gun on him in case he decides to give chase.”
Making it to the ATV felt like a victory, but if this thing can chase us down on it, it feels like a hollow one. “Okay. You should know I’ve never driven one of these.”
“It’s just like driving a car. Get on, Syd.”
I climb on by throwing one leg over the seat and get myself settled as Mason climbs on backwards so that he’s facing the danger behind us. “Which way?”
“Just get us out of here, first. Then I’ll get us home.”
I start the engine and aim us in the opposite direction from the mountain lion as fast as I can get this thing to go. As I keep steering in the same direction, I can see the outline of the lodge in the distance. I was definitely walking in the wrong direction.
“I’ve got her. She’s safe. Thanks everyone.” I hear Mason say behind me into a radio.
“Oh, thank god.” I hear Emily’s voice come over the radio speaker.
“10-4” Comes Franco’s voice.
As we approach the lodge, I glance behind us to make sure the mountain lion wasn’t following us and am relieved to find nothing back there.
“Pull into the garage over there.” Mason points to the left.
As we both climb off the ATV, my adrenaline starts to crash and the reality of what just happened and what could have happened hits me as my knees give out.
“Whoa, baby. I’ve got you.” Mason catches me before I fall to the floor of the garage. “Come on. Let’s get you inside before you freeze to death out here. You’ve been gone for hours.” Masonpicks me up and carries me to the back entrance of the lodge, through the kitchen, and down a hallway I’ve not been through before.
The entire time he’s carrying me, I’ve got a death grip around his neck and my head buried into his neck as the tears pour out of me. I can feel Mason open a door and then close it behind us, but I don’t look up to see where we are, but thankfully it’s warm. I can hear a fire crackling and it’s a welcome feeling. I had no idea how cold I was out there.
What the hell would have happened to me if Mason hadn’t shown up? Would I even still be alive right now? Would that mountain lion play with me first and then attack me or would it be one swift slice of its claws across my neck and instant death?
I’m shivering and I don’t know if it’s because of being out in the cold for so long or because of my fear. Or finally being in Mason’s arms again after all these years.
Chapter 10
Mason
I’ve got to get her warm, but I don’t want to let her go. It feels right having her in my arms again. Like I’ve been missing her all these years.
Shithead. You have been missing her for all these years.
I strip her of her clothing and wrap her in warm blankets as I sit on my bed with Sydney still in my arms. I just hold her as she warms up and cries. Her adrenaline has dumped into her system and the realization of what could have happened has probably finally sunk in.
