Page 63 of Seeds of Christmas
“Rhi, have you hurt anything else?”
“I—I don’t think so? My ribs hurt. And my ankle. But I don’t think anything else is hurt.”
“She doesn’t think so,” I say. “Okay, so what do I do?”
“How far is the nearest town?”
“Maybe an hour’s drive, two in the snow.”
“Alright, then calling for help might take time. Let’s see if you can get her out first, safely. You’ve got rope? Straps? Anything that can take her weight?”
I look at my pack. “We’ve got the cargo tie-down straps from the truck. Paracord. A towing cable.”
“That’ll do. You’re going to make a makeshift harness and haul line. Nothing fancy—just strong knots, slow movements. Anchor to a tree or rock that won’t move an inch.”
When I don’t reply, he says, “All will be well, Carter. You have what you need.”
Do I? Because I don’t feel like I have what I need. I feel like I’m eighteen years old and Dominic’s dead and everyone’s looking at me to be the strong one, the capable one, and I’m not. I’m not him. I’ll never be him.
“Carter? Are you there?” Rhi’s voice drifts up, thin and scared. “Carter, please?—”
“It’s okay, Rhi!” I call down, moving back to the edge so she can see me. “I’m going to get you out!”
Her face crumples. She trusts me. She’s down there, hurt and terrified, and she’s trusting me to save her.
I can’t let her down.
I won’t.
If anything happens to her… I didn’t even tell her.
Didn’t tell her she makes me want to beawakefor the first time in a long time. I’ve been sleepwalking. Using grief as an excuse. As a shield.
Dom wouldn’t want this.
Dom would tell me to get my shit together andlive.
I’m not losing her. Not today.
“She’s conscious, she can help you by pushing off the wall a little when you lift. If you feel the ground shift, you stop immediately. Understand?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I understand.”
“Good man.” His voice softens. “And if that doesn’t work, or the terrain starts giving way, you back off and call 911. Even if you lose signal, stay put—dispatch can triangulate the last ping. You hear me?”
“I hear you.”
There’s a pause. “You’ve got this, Carter. I’m proud of you, son.”
My eyes burn. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Now go save that girl. I’ll get off the line to save your battery. Call me back if you need me. I’m right here, ok?”
“Ok.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at the phone for a second, then shove it into my pocket and move.
