Page 48 of Ultimate Freedom

Christ Almighty.So many times, he’d seen the results of accidents that were avoidable. With these thoughts ringing in his head, he still kept working his pole and then brushing away the snow to see if he could get to a window. He had to know if they were alive.

Finally, he was able to find the windshield which now faced in the opposite direction. The vehicle lay partially on its side. He brushed away the heavy snow and peered inside where he saw two men, both appearing to be coming out of their stupor. He drove the end of the pole through the glass nearest the side panel so he could talk to them. “Hey, you guys okay?”

Both were initially bewildered, so he gave them time to figure out what had happened. The driver eventually spoke, “What the fuck! One minute I’m driving along, then all hell broke loose.” He reached over to his buddy who still seemed bewildered. “You okay, Justin?”

Whit saw that both were still in their seatbelts but only the driver’s airbag had popped. Paying close attention to the passenger, he watched as Justin mumbled, “Yeah. Yeah, what happened? You hit the ditch?”

“No. Christ, we got smacked by a landslide. It’s a mess out there. Look.”

Justin lifted his head slowly and Whit saw the blood where he’d bashed his forehead on the dashboard. He reached in and carefully lifted the man’s face to see the wound better. “You okay, buddy? Any other injuries? Anything broken?”

“No. No, I think I’m okay.” Justin looked over at the driver. “Mitch, how about you?”

“Nah. I’m good. My airbag opened. Sorry yours didn’t.”

Whit began working the pole in through the windshield, using it like a lever. Hey dude, you want to help me here. We need to get you boys out of the vehicle. I don’t think any more slides are coming but I can’t be sure your vehicle isn’t on the edge of the ravine. It could shift and go down.”

Mitch seemed to understand the gravity of their situation and undid his seatbelt. Then he used his left leg to brace himself and the other to kick at the window. With his pushing and Whit now grabbing hold with his gloved hands and pulling, they were able to make a sizable hole.

“Justin… you first.” Whit could see the young man still seemed confused. He looked over at Mitch, his blue eyes giving the order he didn’t voice. Mitch nodded and reached around Justin to undo the seatbelt. He searched under the seat and pulled the lever to make the seat back up, giving them more leg room. Then, he forced Justin to swing around so he’d come out head first into Whit’s waiting arms. Between the two of them, they got the man out of the truck and Whit was able to slide him over the mound of snow and onto the side of the road where he knew it was safe.

Returning to the truck, he swore. “What the fuck are you doing? You gotta get out of there.”

“My phone. I can’t find it.”

“Screw the phone, dude. Come on.” He reached in for Mitch’s hand and at that moment, he felt everything shift.

“Fuck, man. Dive and I’ll get you. Hurry. If your truck goes, you don’t want to be inside.”

Covering his head with his arms, Mitch dove. Whit grabbed his shoulders and using pure strength, he began pulling him over the side of the truck. When Mitch’s feet hit the ground,both scurried. But they didn’t get more than a couple of feet and the world shifted.

Thank God, Whit still wore his shovel. It’s what signaled his whereabouts when the snow smothered him.

Chapter Thirty

It was Demi’s voice that came through first. Then her cold hands began to scoop the snow away, until he felt them touch his face and clear his eyes, mouth, and nose. Another pair of hands were helping her.

“Oh God, Whit. Please, God. Let him be alive. Please, Whit. Whit?”

He was choking, yet still tried to give her the assurance she craved. “I-I ok-ay.”

Mitch grabbed at the shovel Whit still wore and wrenched it back and forth to break loose the restricting snow. After that, Whit could move his hands and help in his escape.

Soon, he lay on the edge of the slide where it was safe. He looked up at the serene blue sky, gratitude for being alive swamping his soul. When he saw Demi’s face looming over him, he knew his prayers had been answered and she too was safe.

She held a flask. “Drink some of this, Whit. You need it.” The strong liquor burned a path through to his stomach where it exploded, making him aware that his internal body worked fine. Truthfully, the brandy tasted like nectar from heaven.

He slowly forced himself to sit up and take another sip before passing the container to Mitch who was kneeling beside him. Worry had been splashed all over the younger man’s expression, but Whit also sensed his intense relief.

“Thanks, man.” Whit’s gratitude came from deep in his heart.

“Hey, we’re the ones who owe you. I don’t know what we’d have done if you hadn’t been behind us.” He pointed in the direction where his truck had been, and Whit saw only an open space and a slide path where, in the shifting snow, it had obviously dropped over the edge.

Accepting Demi’s relieved hug, he grinned at Mitch. “Guess it’s not our day to die.”

“Jesus. I sure thought it was. Sorry about my stupidity back there, taking time to find my phone before leaving the truck. It’s what got you in trouble.”

“Yeah, about that. I can’t say it didn’t shock me, but then I haven’t let my phone take over my life. You might want to rethink that choice, my friend.”

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