Read Online Shades of Deception by Amanda Meadows - Free Book Online

something like a tarp sit on. She looked around, finally thinking of the plastic bags holding the potting soil. As she pushed the box of canning jars out of the way, she considered the cardboard box. Cardboard was a good insulator as well.
    When she flattened the box out, she was thrilled to see that she could curl up on it. It wasn't much. But at this point she would try anything to avoid freezing to death. She crawled over to the bags of potting soil, dragging the clippers behind her. Her blood sugar was dropping. If only she had some of those stupid glucose pills, she thought. And then she stopped, feeling along her back waistband. Shit! They were gone!
    Starting in one corner, she searched the cold, packed ground. She crawled a few inches at a times, making large sweeping motions with her hands and arms. Finally, right by the door, she saw that the precious vial had rolled off to the side. With shaking hands, she fumbled with the cap. The pills spilled on the floor and she fought to pick them back up with the thick gloves.
    Finally, she got one of the large, orange tablets into her mouth. As the glucose melted on her tongue, she groaned with relief. If she ever saw Hunter again, she was going to tell him that he was the most brilliant person in the history of the world. She ate two more before carefully scooping the rest back into the container.
    Energized, she sliced the end of the potting soil bag and quickly scooped out huge piles of dirt. Finally, she was able to drag the partially empty bag off the wheelbarrow and dump out the remaining soil. Clutching her prize in one hand, she slowly crawled back to the cardboard mat as she shoved the clippers ahead of her. She sat on the cardboard and rested.
    After some consideration, she shook out another glucose pill onto her dirty gloves. She popped it into her mouth, not caring that she got some potting soil in her mouth in the process. She closed her eyes, willing more strength to return. Using the clippers, she cut out a coarse plastic dress. When she was finished, she slipped the bag over her head. She smoothed the plastic dress over her body, getting to her knees so that her thighs were covered as well.
    She wanted to curl up on the mat and simply sleep. Her ridiculous hat had shifted and she reached up to straighten it. The edge of the gardening glove was uncomfortable against her cheek and the fishing line bit into her neck. But that was a small price to pay if it helped keep her from freezing to death. She forced herself to crawl back for the second plastic bag.
    After emptying the second bag, she noticed how much warmer the soil was than the frozen ground. She shoved a thick layer in a pile and then put her flattened cardboard on top. She then stepped into the second empty potting soil bag. This was one time it paid to be short, she thought, as the bag reached her waist. Finally, leaning forward, she scooped piles of soil on top of the plastic to increase insulation. As she worked, her breath steamed in front of her face.
    Finally, her energy flagging, she rested on the cardboard mat. With the second bag now covering her legs, she could allow herself the luxury of shifting the bag on her upper torso a bit higher. She adjusted the bag so that only her eyes, nose, and mouth remained uncovered. The top of her head and ears were now shielded in plastic. Her only fear was smothering. At the moment, however, that seemed like the least of her worries.
    She tried to close her eyes and sleep. But the lumpy dirt beneath her hadn't made the earthen floor any more comfortable. She ached all over. For the first time, her mind was somewhat clear. She thought of Hunter and his amazing emerald eyes. Had she ever told him how incredible he was? He called her gorgeous and baby all the time. But she had felt uncomfortable giving him affectionate nicknames. Why? Had she always just assumed that this relationship was temporary?
    Was she keeping an invisible wall between herself and Hunter?