Page 22 of Saddles

I know I need to dosomething.But she won’t wake up.

That’s when I notice the green light on the satellite phone.

Fully charged.

Mason might. Or he can get a hold of Dixon.

“Hello?” Sawyer answers on the second ring.

“Sawyer, I need to get a hold of Dixon. It’s an emergency.” I watch her, but she’s still out cold.

Even her damn lips are blue.

“Oh, yea. He’s here.” Sawyer makes a shuffling sound, and I can hear muffled voices.

“Ford? What’s wrong?” Dixon’s firm tone cuts through the static clearly.

“I found a girl, but she’s about half froze. I don’t know what to do.” I watch her helplessly.

She’s like a pale doll, lying there stiffly.

“You what? Okay. Is she awake? Breathing? Injured?” He rattles off the questions so fast I can barely keep up.

“Slow down, man. I think she wrecked a snow machine, but she looks like she got beat up. She’s out, I can’t wake her up. Her lips are blue.” I think she’s breathing.

I hold my finger under her nose until I feel the tiny breeze.

Whew.

“You need to make sure she’s not bleeding out. Then you need to get her warm, pronto.” The background noise behind him fades.

I think he went to a different part of the house.

Damn, I’m messing up his Thanksgiving.

“She’s in a snowsuit, shouldn’t that work?” I’m hesitant to just start stripping her down. Poor girl looks like she’s already got enough on her plate.

“No, Ford. That suit works both ways for insulation. If her core temp drops and stays down too long, she could die. Open it up. Best thing you can do is run a hot bath.” He sounds like he’s reading off a checklist.

Being an emergency room doctor, I suppose he’s used to staying level under pressure.

He’s a lot better at it than I am. My heart is pounding in my ears.

“Dix, I can’t run a damn bath. Don’t you remember where I am?” I’m in the middle of nowhere in a tiny ass cabin with no running water. I can haul it, but it’d take me hours to haul it in and heat it up.

“Shit. Yea, sorry. Next best option is skin to skin.” He takes a deep breath. “You have to get her warm. Just wrapping her up won’t cut it.”

“I don’t fucking know her,” I hiss into the phone. “How in the hell can I do that?”

What will she think?

“If you don’t, she’s going to die.” He pauses, and his voice softens. “I know this is a huge ask for you. Whatever choice you make, Ford, I know you’ll be making the best one.”

“Can’t you send a chopper? Call Wade. He can send out search and rescue.” I can’t do what he’s asking.

Not without her knowing.

This is so fucked up.

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