Trust (Chasing Shadows) by Mia Fox

Author:Mia Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Evatopia Press
Published: 2014-07-19T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 - Ethan

The lessons of my scouting were luckily not forgotten. Coupled with my medical training, I knew I could stitch up the significant cut on Ella’s forehead using a plant that grew in abundance nearby called the Yucca Whipplei. The Chumash had used this plant when they needed cording or a tie of some sort. The dried leaves that were falling off the plant easily pulled apart into long and sturdy strands whereas the sections that were still green were sharp enough to actually be used like a needle.

It took a few tries before I could thread the strand around the needle portion, but eventually I was successful. No part of this plant would be wasted. The dried leaves, the green ones, and now the stem where I would squeeze some of the valuable moisture out that would serve both to sanitize the area as well as to slightly anesthetize it before proceeding with stitching her up. I was thankful that Ella was too out of it to know what was about to happen.

In fact, she was hallucinating. The night was growing colder by the minute and signs of hypothermia were setting in. If that were to occur, her systems would start to shut down.

“Ella? Ella can you hear me?” I spoke as I wove my handmade needle through her skin. A low moan escaped her mouth, but her attempt at words were merely muffled and slurred. Fortunately, she would only need about three stitches. One more and I would tie the end and do my best to tackle the next issue.

“I’m here. It’s Ethan. There we go,” I said as much to reassure myself as Ella. “It’s done. Now, let’s get you warmed up.”

When she tried to speak again, the words were nonsensical as if she were talking to someone else...someone who she thought of as a lover. It occurred to me that whoever she was talking to was the reason she couldn’t respond to my words. It didn’t matter. Leftover emotions from Nate and the trauma of the last month were not going to stop me from taking care of her.

Her appearance was disheveled with the straps from her dress hanging off her shoulders, exposing her upper body. I saw her hoodie had been discarded in a heap just a few yards away.

I carried Ella toward the edge of a rock formation where the large stones formed a wall. A large crevice between three big boulders formed a shelter with ample room for us to crawl inside. I set her down at the mouth of the opening and peered inside, ensuring that no animals were camped out there before us. It was big enough for us to sleep. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but at least it would provide protection where we could wait out the cold and wind until morning, or at least until that ranger came back and offered us help.

“Ella, I’m going to leave you for just a minute.”

“Don’t go,” she cried out. Thus far, it was the only decipherable words to come out of her.

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