Page 24 of Backed By You
She peers at me. “Beau?” Confusion colors her voice, quickly followed by renewed panic. “Can you see Hulk? I can’t find him. He fell with me, but when I woke up…I-I can’t—”
“He’s okay,” I say, carefully picking my way down toward her. “He came to find me.”
She stares at me, disbelief battling with hope. “He went for help?”
“Smart dog you’ve got there,” I say as loose rocks cascade down from under my boots. “Fuck.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s waiting at the trailhead. His back leg’s injured, but he managed to make it to me.”
Fresh tears spill over her cheeks. “Is he really okay?”
“He will be. Right now, we need to worry about you.” I reach her side, crouching to examine her injuries. Up close, the gash on her temple has stopped bleeding but looks nasty. She’s going to need stitches. Her ankle is also visibly swollen. “Can you move your toes?”
She nods, demonstrating with a grimace. “Just a sprain, I think. My head hurts worse.”
“You probably have a concussion,” I say, gently examining the wound. “We need to get you to a hospital.”
“Hulk first,” she says stubbornly.
A bark echoes from above us. Somehow, Hulk has managed to follow me. He’s at the top of the slope, pacing anxiously along the edge of the trail, his large frame silhouetted against the darkening sky.
“Hulk,” Callie cries, putting her hand up. “It’s okay, baby, stay there.”
“Goddammit,” I mutter. “I told him to stay.”
Callie lets out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “He doesn’t listen to anyone but me.”
Fair enough. I can’t say I’d stay away if Callie needed me either. “We need to move,” I say. “That slope is too steep for you to climb with your ankle, even with my help. I’m going to have to carry you.”
She looks doubtful. “What about your knee?”
My knee is the last thing I’m worried about.
I grunt. “I’ve carried heavier packs through rougher terrain with worse injury,” I assure her, turning to crouch with my back to her. “Put your arms around my neck.”
With some awkward maneuvering and a few pained gasps from Callie, I get her settled on my back, her legs wrappedaround my waist as best she can manage with her swollen ankle. I adjust my grip under her thighs as I begin the difficult climb. Each step strains my knee, but I focus on placing my feet carefully, following the path I took down.
“Thank you,” she says softly. Her tears dampen my neck as the weight of her trust settles on my shoulders. A fierce protectiveness surges through me, something primal and absolute.
The earth beneath my feet shifts unexpectedly and my training takes over as I bite through the shock in my knee. I lock my jaw and maneuver up the remaining slope. “Almost there,” I grunt as we near the top where Hulk waits, his tail wagging tentatively despite his obvious discomfort. Callie tightens her hold around my neck.
When we reach the cliff’s edge and settle on the other side, Hulk immediately presses his body against Callie, whining softly as he nuzzles her face. She wraps her arms around his neck, burying her tear and blood-streaked face in his fur.
“You brave, brave boy,” she whispers, voice thick with emotion.
I give them a moment, throat tight as I watch their reunion. Then reality reasserts itself. We’re losing daylight fast. “Let’s get going,” I say, eyeing the darkening sky.
Callie nods, wincing as she tries to stand. “I can probably hobble—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I’m going to carry you, but differently this time.”
Her brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“I need you in front of me,” I explain, positioning myself before her. “Arms around my neck, legs around my waist.”
Her cheeks flush slightly. “That’s…”
