"Whoa there," I said, steadying him. "You okay?"
He shook his head slightly, then grimaced like even that small movement hurt. "I'm... I'm not going to be much help," he admitted, voice tight with pain or maybe embarrassment. "Everything's spinning."
I didn't hesitate. "I can do it," I said, and before he could argue, I scooped him up into my arms like he weighed no more than one of the barn kittens.
Deputy Dan made a surprised sound, something between a gasp and a laugh. His body went stiff for a moment, then relaxed against my chest when he realized I wasn't going to drop him. I adjusted my hold, one arm under his knees and the other supporting his back, cradling him against me like something precious.
And he was precious.
At least to me.
My heart was racing so fast I worried he might hear it or feel it hammering against his side where he pressed against me. I tried to steady my breathing, to focus on the practical task of carrying him through the woods, but all I could think about was how perfectly he fit against me.
How right it felt to hold him.
Rain continued to pour down, plastering his dark hair to his forehead. Up this close, I could see his eyelashes clumped together in little spikes, like tiny wet stars against his skin. A drop of water hung on the tip of his nose before falling away. His eyes, when they managed to focus on my face, were wide with something that might have been surprise or maybe gratitude.
"You're strong," he murmured, the words barely audible over the storm.
I felt my face flush hot despite the cold rain. "Comes in handy sometimes," I said, starting to walk carefully back toward the path I'd made through the woods.
Each step had to be deliberate. The ground was slippery with mud and fallen leaves, and I couldn't risk stumbling with Deputy Dan in my arms. The rain made it hard to see too far ahead, but I knew these woods better than the rooms of our house. My feet remembered the way even when my eyes couldn't guide them.
Deputy Dan's head rested against my shoulder, his breath warm through my soggy shirt. That warmth seemed to spread through my whole body, making me forget about the cold rain soaking us both. I could smell that pine soap again, and underneath it something that was just him—something I couldn't name but would recognize anywhere.
"How far?" he asked after we'd been walking for a few minutes.
"Not too far now," I reassured him. "Just through these trees and across the back field. You doing okay?"
He nodded slightly, his eyes drifting closed then snapping open again like he was fighting to stay awake. That worried me. Ma always said not to let someone with a head injury fall asleep too soon.
"Hey," I said gently. "Keep those eyes open, okay? Tell me about... tell me about hydroplaning. What does that mean?"
He seemed to focus a bit more at the question. "When your tires... lose contact with the road because of water," he explained, each word careful and measured. "Car starts to... slide. No control."
"Like ice skating," I suggested, jumping over a fallen branch and adjusting my grip to keep him steady.
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah, like that. But not as fun."
I smiled back, relieved to see him a little more alert. "Definitely not as fun."
We lapsed into silence again as I concentrated on the tricky part of the path where it dipped down toward the creek. Normally I'd hop across the stones, but with Deputy Dan in my arms, I had to wade through the shallow water. It was higher than usual from all the rain, reaching halfway up my boots and tugging at my legs like it wanted to pull us both down.
Deputy Dan's hand suddenly gripped my shoulder, his fingers digging in as the water splashed around us. "Careful," he murmured, but I just nodded, my eyes fixed on the opposite bank.
"I got you," I said again, the words becoming a kind of promise between us.
As we emerged from the woods and started across the back field toward the farmhouse, I suddenly remembered that Ma had asked me to collect eggs before the storm got worse. Now I was bringing home a deputy instead of the eggs she'd asked for. The thought made a bubble of nervous laughter rise in my throat.
Deputy Dan looked up at me questioningly.
"Ma's gonna be surprised," I explained. "Sent me out for eggs and I'm coming back with you instead."
His lips quirked up at one corner. "Sorry about that."
"Don't be," I said quickly. "This is more important."
The farmhouse came into view, yellow light spilling from the windows and cutting through the gray curtain of rain. Smoke curled from the chimney, promising warmth and dry clothes and Ma's herbal tea that fixed just about everything. I could make out a figure at the kitchen window—probably Ma watching for me to return.
