“Shhh it’s okay, Sweetheart. It’s okay. You’re too cold to leave yet, I need to warm you up a little first.” His voice was soothing amongst the sounds of my chattering teeth. I’m not sure how long we sat there for. It felt like hours but was probably only minutes. My body shuddered, my knees were pulled into my chest, his legs wrapped against the sides of mine, his arms wrapped around my body. Gradually the heat of his chest began to warm my back. My shudders slowed to incessant trembling.
“I’m so sorry, forgive me,” he whispered into the damp of my hair. “Please, Amelia, forgive me.”
I didn’t answer, my mind was so numb with cold I was unsure if I could bring the words to my lips, or even if I could what I might say in response. But the simple utterance of that word—sorry—brought a warm glow to my heart. Was it possible the man I knew to be so strong, indestructible, unyielding, may yet hold a similar desperation? A fear for what he’d done, for what he might lose, somewhere in the shadowy fabric of his mind?
“I’m not a possession,” I murmured, “I’m not.”
“I know, I know.” He kissed the side of my head and cradled me tight to his body.
Ethan found us not too long after.
“Jesus, Amy.” He peered down. “In my whole entire long life, I’ve never met a girl with such an uncanny ability to get herself into so much trouble. I swear you’re not leaving home ever again. You hear me?”
“I guess I could stay home and cook for you?” My words came out broken and raw.
“No, on second thought, go out all you like.” He smiled, his white teeth flashing against the darkness of the night.
Then he looked at Karson, and his smile dropped, his words come out like a snarl. “Give her to me. You’ve done enough damage.”
I felt Karson flinch like he’d stabbed him.
I tried to stand but my legs were numb. They staggered and wobbled under my weight. Ethan placed his hands around my waist and lifted me to my feet. He wrapped a silver thermal blanket around my back and in one fluid swoop he had me cradled in his arms.
“Let’s get you home.” His breath warmed my ear. Home had never sounded so good. I leaned into the warmth of his chest and buried my face against his neck. “You scared me,” he whispered.
Ethan carried me down the mountain side at a fast, easy lope, long smooth strides landing with precision in the pitch-black dark of the night.
By the time we reached the bottom the savagery of the storm had given way to a steady pounding. Much to my despair a large team of searchers waited outside. Flashlights shone against my eyes. I held my hand up, blocking their blinding beams, trying to hide my face. Everyone was sheltering under the carport, they wore waterproof raincoats, some had hats, rain streaking off them like decrepit veins.
A couple had hot drinks. Some were drying off with towels. All of them stared in awkward concern. I noticed Matt along with a couple more officers, and BJ, and Sarah. I didn’t scan the rest of the faces, embarrassed I tucked my head back into Ethan’s neck.
“Can you take me straight inside?” I rasped.
Ethan nodded and strode straight through the door. He lowered me to my feet in front of the crackling fire. Streams of rain ran from my hair down my back and across my forehead. Quivering, I clutched the blanket around my half naked body. I didn’t dare move. I could stand but I was unsure if I could walk. Ethan held my arm and wiped a stream of water away from my forehead.
Matt came in, followed by Sarah and BJ.
“I’ll run you a bath,” Karson said, striding up the stairs. We didn’t have a bath.
“We don’t?—”
Ethan interrupted, “It’s in my room.”
“Aims, thank God! I was so worried about you,” BJ said, pulling off his dripping wet jacket and throwing it on the floor by the door. He rushed over and hugged me. “What were you doing up there in the dark?”
“It wasn’t dark when I left,” I spoke so softly I wasn’t sure if he heard me. I hid my face against his chest, holding the blanket tight beneath quivering fingers.
“You probably should sit down, Amy,” Sarah said kindly. Her hair was drenched and clung flat to her face, which was flushed from cold. “I’ll make you a cup of hot chocolate.”
Everyone was being so nice. A swell of emotion choked my throat.
“We’d better take her to the hospital,” Matt spoke from inside the door. He’d removed his oilskin jacket and hat, and underneath he was remarkably dry.
Karson came back down the stairs with a pile of towels in his hand.
“No,” I said abruptly. I knew I’d be alright. I didn’t want the fuss of a hospital or, in truth, to see Tom. “Karson,” I appealed knowing he would be the one with the final say. Because he had the first and final say everywhere he went. “Please, I just want to have a bath and go to bed.”
He nodded. “As you wish, but someone is coming to check on you.”
