Page 21 of One Last Run

Before Pete knew it, they had loaded Maggie onto the rescue toboggan, ignoring her complaints and insistence that she’d be fine just walking miles down to the Meadows first aid station. Pete snapped a few pictures of her, secured to the toboggan with an excessive number of straps and then ski patrol was off, dragging Maggie behind them like a freshly killed deer.

“That is so embarrassing,” Pete said with a small laugh as they watched Maggie descend the slope.

Danica was holding a hand to her mouth to hide her smile. “Poor thing.”

“We’re never going to let her live this down, are we?” Pete asked.

Danica stifled a laugh, coughing into her hand instead. “Be nice. She’s hurt.”

“Oh, please. I’m sure Maggie has already made best friends with the patrollers, and the entire medical unit is going to be out at karaoke with us tonight,” Pete said, rolling her eyes.

Danica smiled, shaking her head. “I hope you’re right.”

“You went into like, full doctor mode there,” Pete said, turning to Danica.

Two wide blue eyes looked back at her. “It’s been a while since I’ve worked with a patient who could talk back to me, but I tried my best.”

“You were brilliant,” Pete said, unable to contain a smile and the awe in her voice.

Danica blushed, a small, self-conscious smile playing on her lips. She sniffled, looking around. “We should text Kiera and Izzy and let them know.”

Pete glanced back up the run to where her snowboard still lay discarded near the tree line. “How about we have one last run before we do that?” Her heart pounded in anticipation. Why did suggesting that somehow feel like she was in high school and asking out her crush?

Danica glanced down the run. “I mean, we do have to get down to the medical unit, so we might as well,” she said, as if she was weighing the pros and cons of something extremely neutral, like whether or not to mop the kitchen floor today or tomorrow.

Pete didn’t know why that made her feel so disappointed. Sure, it had been fifteen years since Danica had been excited to be on an adventure with her, but a small part of her hoped that Danica still enjoyed her presence, at least.

“Think you can make it the whole way without falling?” Pete said, forcing her voice to stay light.

“Well, I do have new motivation now,” Danica said, grabbing her board from where it lay discarded beside them. As Pete angled her head in confusion, Danica clarified, “You know, the whole not breaking my wrist thing.”

“Not breaking a boneisthe real goal,” Pete agreed. “I have to go grab my board up there, so I’ll be right back. Think you can get your bindings on by yourself and stand up alone?”

Danica nodded, sitting down to strap into her bindings, and Pete jogged back up the hill. Well, jog was a strong word for any level of activity nearly 11,000 feet above sea level. Trudge was a better description. By the time she reached her board, her heart was racing as she clipped in and started the gentle descent down. Danica was standing on her own and had her arms out wide like an adorable amateur as she began a slow falling leaf pattern down the run.

“You’ve got this!” Pete called out enthusiastically, and Danica gave her a wide smile. Pete saw the way she bit her lip in concentration as she leaned into a turn. Pete continued to coach her down the run, and to her surprise and delight, Danica opted to take the harder of the two runs at the fork.

Danica was wobbly and slow, but she made it. By the end of the run, down toward the bunny hill and the medical unit where Maggie was, Danica seemed to be getting the hang of it. She teetered to a stop at the bottom of the run, her arms flying out to catch her balance and steady herself.

“You did it!” Pete yelled, cheering in excitement as she skidded to a stop beside Danica.

“I did it,” Danica said, breathless. She put her hands in the air triumphantly, but wobbled on her board and reached to brace herself by hanging onto Pete’s jacket again.

Pete laughed, pulling her into a hug before she could think better of it. Danica’s arms wrapped around her without hesitation, and the tension in Pete’s chest began to loosen. Though several layers separated them, their waterproof exteriors scratching together as they held one another, she still believed that she could feel Danica’s warmth. To her surprise, holding Danica again was very comforting. Thrilling and yet familiar at the same time. Danica had always grounded her, and Pete wanted to hold onto the moment just a little longer. She let her eyes close, taking a deep breath in the chilly, winter air.

Someone cleared their throat from nearby and Pete and Danica jerked apart to see Kiera and Izzy standing beside them.

“Maggie texted us that she got hurt,” Kiera explained. She glanced from Pete to Danica with a questioning look on her face. “Are you guys okay?”

Danica’s cheeks were flushed as she moved her goggles to her helmet. “Yeah, we’re fine. Only Maggie fell,” she said in astrained voice, not looking at Pete. Awkwardness radiated in the air between them.

Meanwhile, Izzy was staring at Pete without saying anything, and Pete turned, unclipping from her own bindings with a smile on her face. “Y’all get some good runs in?”

“Wait, what happened to Maggie?” Kiera interrupted, watching Danica unsnap her bindings on the ground. “She says they’re going to have to amputate.”

Pete gasped, turning to Kiera. “Amputate?”

Danica laughed. “She has a sprained wrist. I think her arm will make it through.”

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