Page 4 of Finally Home

She searched his eyes, trying to determine what the best course of action was. Risk physical injury or bury him so deep in a flashback he couldn’t climb back out.

“Fine.” She sighed in defeat. “Carefully scoot out of the truck and sit on the tailgate of mine so I can call EMS.”

He looked her dead in the eye. “Thank you.” When he didn’t add her nickname to the end of that statement, she knew he was close to losing it.

Cami reached for the stack of blankets in the back of the truck, knowing they’d be there. His mom had lectured West many times about traveling with them. She would say, “You never know when you’re going to need a blanket to lie under the stars or to keep someone you love warm.” They’d used them many times when they’d been together as kids, and Cami was thankful for them now.

She climbed out of the truck and watched like a hawk as West followed her. His feet hit the pavement, and he tested his weight. While he was able to walk on his own, his muscles were stiff, and he winced with each step.

Bear followed them, careful to stay out of the way, but still a constant presence checking on both of them. Halfway to her truck, West stopped, and the pace of his breathing picked up. She rushed over and wrapped an arm around him as she spoke words of encouragement. His gaze met hers, and he inhaled deeply. His eyes widened, searching hers as if they were the only thing holding him there. When he finally exhaled, a whispered thanks fell from his lips. Breathing at a normal pace once more, he walked with Cami toward her truck.

After depositing West on the tailgate and wrapping him in a blanket, Cami pulled her phone from her pocket to dial emergency services. She had dialed the first digit when West jerked forward and pulled her to his chest, cocooning her in the blanket with him.

“Just let me hold you for a minute, Red.”

“I don’t think—”

“Don’t think then,” West said, shushing her.

Cami kept her body rigid, refusing to lean into him. This didn’t feel the same as helping him to the truck. She tried to ignore that he felt the same as she remembered—and yet different. He was more. Less scrawny country boy and more muscular military man. Rough around the edges, but still his arms held a safety she’d lacked all these years. She refused to admit she was happy to be in his arms, because that scared the shit out of her. He wasn’t hers to feel safe with. She repeated that mantra over and over, ignoring his delicious arms around her. He belonged to another woman.

That thought shocked her like a bucket of ice water. She tried to push away from him but West only held her tighter. She craned her neck upward, trying to get a look at his face to gauge where his head was. To make sure he was still with her there.

West stared out at the dusk-lit forest surrounding them. It was that beautiful time of day she knew he loved. The blissful moment where the sun had dipped behind the trees but light still filtered between the lower branches. It was the moment between day and night when magic filled the air. But his expression remained solemn, as if his world had lost all the magic it once held. What had happened to him in the past fifteen years that left his mind fractured?

“I need to call EMS, West,” she said, trying to reason with him.

His chest rose against her cheek, and he released a heavy sigh. His arms loosened, but he still kept her pressed against him.

“Are you okay?”

“No.” He leaned his head against her forehead.

Screw it.She silently wrapped her arms tightly around his broad frame and leaned into him, letting him take whatever comfort he needed from holding her in that moment. As long as she remembered her place, they’d be fine.

At least that was what she told herself.

After a time—she didn’t know how long—his grip loosened, and he allowed her to step away. “Thank you, Red.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“If I say no, will you leave it alone?”

“Probably not.”

“Maybe later. For now, let’s call EMS and get the slide reported.”

By the time Cami got off the phone with EMS personnel, the sun had set and darkness surrounded them. About halfway through the litany of questions needed to ascertain West’s condition, she’d moved him to the cab of the truck to keep him warm. He nodded off, and Bear rested his head on the center console, keeping watch over him while she talked on the phone.

After EMS felt sure West wasn’t seriously injured, Cami was given the all clear to take him back to the cabin so he could take it easy, with strict instructions to call if he showed any other signs or symptoms.

West was not thrilled about being fussed over, but he’d have to get over himself. She was responsible for his well-being, since getting him off the mountain was going to be next to impossible, and she took that responsibility seriously. No way she was going to have his mother after her if something happened to him.

Quiet seeped through the cab on the way back to the cabin. West was still asleep, and she was thankful for the moment to think. When they got back to the cabin, she’d need to make a few calls, to each of their families, to let them know what had happened. It was three days before Christmas, and EMS crews didn’t think they would be able to have anyone out to clear the roads until after the holiday. Even then, it could be upward of a week.

Lucky her.

Panic gripped her as she came to terms with the fact that not only would she be missing Christmas with her family, but she would be spending it with West.

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