I almost miss my turnoff and have to force myself to stay focused.
Why am I daydreaming about things that will never, ever, take place?What the fuck is wrong with me?
CHAPTER 11
Phoebe
This is not good.
And now, I have a decision to make.
Do I keep going?Or do I turn back?
Either way, it’s going to hurt my pride.I can already hear it.‘I told you so’will be followed by ‘You should have let me go’or ‘You should have let Ryder go’or ‘You should have let Kyle or Bo or Mason or anyone else on the planet go in your place.’
That’s gonna sting.And the last thing I want is to get rescued twice in one day.
That realization is what tips the scale in my mind.
I decide to keep going.I’ll figure it out on my own.Yes, the wind is really whipping now, and the temperature has suddenly dropped another ten degrees, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
I’ve lived here my entire life.I was speaking the truth when I told Jake that I know what I’m doing.So I’ll get it done, do whatever I need to.And later this evening, when I’m back home and warm in front of the fire with my family, I’ll look back on my adventure and be proud that I persevered.
Proud that I didn’t have to ask anyone to come get me.To rescue me.
The way Evander did this morning.
Ugh.
A gust of wind slams into the side of the ATV with such force that I’m nearly knocked off the trail.I slow down, shift into low gear, and take a quick peek at the sky overhead.
Okay.That happened fast.Not ten minutes ago, I saw a few gray clouds in what was a mostly blue sky, and now it’s like I’ve entered into a different reality.
An intimidating one.
I continue on, in search of a rock outcropping that might provide a windbreak against the westerly gusts.It’s slow going, and I’m getting tossed around pretty badly, but I finally locate a place.I pull over and put the ATV in park.I unzip the breast pocket of my coveralls, use my teeth to pull off a glove, and grab my phone.
My hand is shaking, which surprises me.I’m not sure if it’s the cold or adrenaline.Maybe I should just call Jeb and Louise, since I’m closer to them now than I am to home.
We can meet up on the trail.I can stay with them until this blows over.
What?
I don’t have a signal?How can I not have a signal?
I slide my goggles up on my forehead so I can scan my surroundings.Am I down in a canyon that’s blocking my reception?I’m not.I’ve got a clear view all around me.
Maybe it’s the big, jagged rock I’m hiding behind.I straighten my arm and hold the phone away from the slab of sandstone.A wind gust knocks it from my hand.It goes flying from my grip and lands in a prickly pear cactus on the opposite side of the trail.
Just great.
I climb down, replace my glove, and grab my phone.As I head back to the ATV I decide to look overhead again.
My heart sinks.
A wall of storm clouds is rushing this way, whirls of black and gray tumbling and spinning across the sky toward the east.This can’t be right.The forecast didn’t call for snow!
With my head tipped back and my mouth open in surprise, the first snowflakes smack my face.They’re heavy and large.One clings to my eyelashes.Another goes right into my throat.And within seconds, a blurry white curtain has dropped all around me.
