Page 104 of One Last Shot

Her eyes burned, wettened.

No, she wouldnotdespair. She rolled over and again found Hannah’s outstretched hand. Took it.

“He’ll be back.”

Hannah turned to her side, her big blue eyes on Boo’s.

They stared at each other until Boo heardthe crunching of Oaken’s boots. She wanted to weep when he appeared out of the night. “I found a cave about fifty yards away. I’m going to carry Hannah. Then you. I promise I’ll be back.”

“I believe you.”

He smiled, then turned to Hannah. “I promise to be careful.”

She put her arms around his neck and he lifted her. And she didn’t make a sound.

He disappeared into the darkness.

And then Boo really wanted to cry. Her knee burned, lava, encasing her leg in fire. She’d really hurt herself. Maybe even broken her kneecap.

Again, London walked into her head.“God very much cares about your soul, your heart, and even how the world looks at you.”

Yeah, but how about how she looked at herself?

And see, that was the problem, wasn’t it?

Oaken returned, his feet crunching on the ice. Above him, the wind had started to howl, tiny fragments of ice casting down into the ravine.

He put the pack on, then knelt beside her. “I’ll try not to hurt you.”

“I know.”

But he did anyway as he lifted her under her legs and shoulders, and she turned her face into his coat and bit back words, a whimper, even as tears scraped her eyes.

He walked down the ravine, picking his way on the slippery path. “Hang in there, Boomer.”

“What is that?” she whispered, more of a groan. “A new nickname?”

“Trying it out.”

Okay, she didn’t hate it.

They reached the cave—more of an overhang in the rocky wall, but big enough for him to crouch and then set herdown. “Let’s get some snow on that knee.” He took off the pack, pulled a knife from the medical kit, then used it to open her pants, tearing at them.

The release of pressure made her bite down on her molars, a groan deep inside forcing its way out.

“Okay, yeah, it’s bad.” He got up and returned in a moment with a handful of ice and snow. “Let’s pack this in.”

The sudden extreme cold doused the fire burning through her knee. She gasped.

“Better?”

“Forget the chocolate milk. I’ll take a whiskey.”

He smiled, kissed her forehead. Then he fitted a gauze bandage around her leg, holding on the ice. Picking her up around the armpits, he helped her scoot into the alcove. Inside, she found an opening big enough to sit up in. He shoved the pack in behind her. She dug out a space blanket.

Hannah lay there, and Boo scooted beside her. Settled the blanket over them.

Oaken crouched just outside the opening. “I’m going to get some firewood.”