slowly. And as she leans against me, I feel the pain sear up the length of my arm with radiating pain coming from my hand where the fangs dug into my flesh. I put my own problems out of mind, knowing that if I can get Ella moving than I have a better chance of finding help. I have to keep moving. The thought rallies me into action. It’s both propelling me forward and filling me with a fear that irrational thoughts are striking me just as that snake did. But I want to get Ella out of here so I keep my pain a secret and although I’m hurt, I say nothing.
I don’t know what I was thinking. As if that park ranger is still going to be wandering around. It’s the middle of the night for God’s sake. As much as I want to keep going, I can’t. The trail widens and to my relief, I see rocks that form yet another shelter, this one not nearly as deep or as dark as the last.
“Here, let me help you,” she says noticing that I’m struggling to carry my pack with only one good arm. I hadn’t even bothered to try and wear it on my back.
We get the sleeping bag out of my bag and lay it in close to the rock wall. Already, it feels safer and more protected from the elements.
“Can you help lay it out?”
With the sleeping bag folded out, it looks so inviting in our tired state. Normally, neither one of us would ever be so bold to make the suggestion, but we both take one look at the camping bag with its down interior and know what has to be done. We climb inside and hold each other against the cold.
“You feel so good,” she says against me and I realize that she’s finally safe, her body feeling warm against mine. Although my thoughts naturally go to the fact that I can feel the curve of her body next to mine, her breasts pressed against my own chest. But the over-exposure to the elements, not to mention the hypothermia and dehydration, cause drowsiness to overtake her and she closes her eyes again. She quickly falls asleep, her own way of fighting off the events of the day.
I close my eyes as well and fight the pulsating pain. My imagination may be getting the worst of me, but I feel the pain now moving even higher and not only in my arm, but my shoulder as well. My chest feels tighter and I start to feel nauseous.
“Ella, I need ...”
I try to formulate the words to tell her, but I can only close my eyes.
Chapter 25 - Nate
Not good. My hope for getting Ella off this mountain rested with Ethan. I looked at his hand, which was quickly swelling to the size of his forearm and knew that the poison from the rattlesnake was spreading and would continue to do so until it affected his heart.
Ella needed to get herself together and wake up or Ethan never would. I hated to wake her when she was finally in a state of sleep that wasn’t caused by the hypothermia. She needed to rest to regain her strength because this fight wasn’t even close to being over. Although, I had to admit that seeing her sleep in Ethan’s arms was a bit hard to take even though he was in no condition to play the part of the leading man. I had to help him if it meant helping Ella.
I cupped Ella’s chin in my hand and gently lifted her face, gently kissing the tip of her nose, just as I did when I would wake her in the mornings.
She looked so beautiful in the morning light with the sun drifting in from the bedside window. I could just watch her lying peacefully for hours, but if I did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
I wouldn’t be able to wrap my arms around her waist, move in close so that we spooned and then relish in the way she would wake up by turning to face me and throwing her leg over mine so that we were even closer, our hips pressed against each other.
“Good morning,” she mumbled.
“It is a good one,” I agreed.
“Do you want a coffee? I could go to the kitchen and be back in a jiffy.”
I held onto her firmly. “No way. I’m not letting you get away, even for coffee.”
“Really? On a scale where coffee
I don’t know what I was thinking. As if that park ranger is still going to be wandering around. It’s the middle of the night for God’s sake. As much as I want to keep going, I can’t. The trail widens and to my relief, I see rocks that form yet another shelter, this one not nearly as deep or as dark as the last.
“Here, let me help you,” she says noticing that I’m struggling to carry my pack with only one good arm. I hadn’t even bothered to try and wear it on my back.
We get the sleeping bag out of my bag and lay it in close to the rock wall. Already, it feels safer and more protected from the elements.
“Can you help lay it out?”
With the sleeping bag folded out, it looks so inviting in our tired state. Normally, neither one of us would ever be so bold to make the suggestion, but we both take one look at the camping bag with its down interior and know what has to be done. We climb inside and hold each other against the cold.
“You feel so good,” she says against me and I realize that she’s finally safe, her body feeling warm against mine. Although my thoughts naturally go to the fact that I can feel the curve of her body next to mine, her breasts pressed against my own chest. But the over-exposure to the elements, not to mention the hypothermia and dehydration, cause drowsiness to overtake her and she closes her eyes again. She quickly falls asleep, her own way of fighting off the events of the day.
I close my eyes as well and fight the pulsating pain. My imagination may be getting the worst of me, but I feel the pain now moving even higher and not only in my arm, but my shoulder as well. My chest feels tighter and I start to feel nauseous.
“Ella, I need ...”
I try to formulate the words to tell her, but I can only close my eyes.
Chapter 25 - Nate
Not good. My hope for getting Ella off this mountain rested with Ethan. I looked at his hand, which was quickly swelling to the size of his forearm and knew that the poison from the rattlesnake was spreading and would continue to do so until it affected his heart.
Ella needed to get herself together and wake up or Ethan never would. I hated to wake her when she was finally in a state of sleep that wasn’t caused by the hypothermia. She needed to rest to regain her strength because this fight wasn’t even close to being over. Although, I had to admit that seeing her sleep in Ethan’s arms was a bit hard to take even though he was in no condition to play the part of the leading man. I had to help him if it meant helping Ella.
I cupped Ella’s chin in my hand and gently lifted her face, gently kissing the tip of her nose, just as I did when I would wake her in the mornings.
She looked so beautiful in the morning light with the sun drifting in from the bedside window. I could just watch her lying peacefully for hours, but if I did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
I wouldn’t be able to wrap my arms around her waist, move in close so that we spooned and then relish in the way she would wake up by turning to face me and throwing her leg over mine so that we were even closer, our hips pressed against each other.
“Good morning,” she mumbled.
“It is a good one,” I agreed.
“Do you want a coffee? I could go to the kitchen and be back in a jiffy.”
I held onto her firmly. “No way. I’m not letting you get away, even for coffee.”
“Really? On a scale where coffee
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