Isolated by Melissa F. Miller

Author:Melissa F. Miller [Miller, Melissa F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

8

Jake was checking Vance Asher’s pulse again when he heard Chelsea running back through the tunnel. He re-wet the bandana from Chelsea’s bag with the last of the first bottle of water and draped it over the sleeping man’s forehead, then crept across the cavern to meet her at the entrance.

Her headlamp bobbed in the blackness. Her breath was loud and heavy—labored, almost. He frowned in confusion. Then she came into view, and her exertion made sense. She was weighted down with multiple duffle bags, two sleeping rolls, and a soft-sided cooler.

She staggered into the room and dropped the bags, then leaned forward and pressed her palms against her thighs, panting.

He raced to help her. “What gives? Why’d you bring all this stuff?”

She gulped down air, shaking her head. Rivulets of water poured from her hair, her collar, the hem of her jacket. She shivered.

After she caught her breath, she looked up at him. “Because we need it. It’s wild out there. The storm is parked right over the forest and the rain’s coming down in sheets. The creeks are flooding, there’s a mudslide between the river and glade. Downed trees everywhere. A huge tree limb fell across the Forester. The front windshield is smashed in, and the hood is crumpled. And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s an enormous old-growth oak tree blocking the access road. Long story short, we’re not going anywhere tonight.”

He stared at her. His training took over. He analyzed the information she provided, generated and discarded potential plans of action, and came to the same conclusion she had: they were trapped here.

“Did you broadcast an emergency message?”

“The circuits are all busy, so I couldn’t make any cell phone calls. But I did activate the emergency beacon on the communicator. I left a note in the car in case a first responder unit makes it out here. If anyone responds, they’ll know to look for us here. But, Jake, I’m telling you—nobody’s coming. Not in this storm.”

“I hear you. It was quick thinking to drag all this stuff back here. It must have been one helluva slog.”

“I’ll admit, I’ve had more enjoyable treks.” She cracked a small smile but couldn’t hide the fact that her teeth chattered. “How’s our patient?”

“Resting somewhat comfortably. Why don’t you change into dry clothes, and then you can help me suture that head wound. You’re freezing.”

“Yeah, so, small problem. I had to make some hard choices about what to carry. A change of clothes didn’t make the cut.”

The air temperature of the cave was in the low fifties. She was soaked. Hypothermia wasn’t out of the question. He couldn’t tell in the poor light if he was imagining the blue-gray cast to her skin. He frowned and began to unbutton his shirt.

“What are you—no, I’m not taking your shirt.”

He ignored her, shrugged out of the flannel shirt, and tried to hand it to her. “I’m not offering. I’m insisting.”

“There’s a thermal blanket in the … the … the b-b-bag,” she stammered.

He growled and unzipped her jacket.

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