Page 37 of Cole

Janice looked like she might argue, but something in his expression must have convinced her. She approached the creek and repeated the same careful steps she'd used on the way over, testing each rock, balancing, moving with deliberate precision.

But she was cold and tired now. When she almost reached the final rock, it shifted slightly, and her boot slipped off the wet edge.

Cole watched in horror as she wobbled, arms windmilling as she fought for balance. For one terrible moment, she was almost across, so close to safety. Then she slipped, and her feet plunged into the freezing water.

She managed to stay upright, but the water flooded over the tops of her boots, soaking her feet and lower legs with icy creek water. She cried out, whether from the shock of the cold, or fear of falling completely in, or pain… Cole couldn't tell. She managed to remain upright, but he didn’t hesitate.

He rushed across the rocks, somehow not slipping as he reached her. His hands grabbed her arms, steadying her, half-dragging and half-carrying her the rest of the way across. He got her back onto the last rock, then practically lifted her the final distance to the far bank.

The moment they were both on solid ground, he immediately lifted one of her legs and pulled off her boot. Icy water poured out, soaking into the snow at their feet. He repeated the process with the other boot, working with urgent efficiency.

She was shivering violently now, her teeth chattering so hard he could hear it. The temperature was well below freezing, and wet feet in this cold could lead to frostbite in minutes. They needed to get her warm, and fast.

"We need to get back to the cabin," he said, sliding her boots back on over her soaked socks. "Can you walk?"

"Y-yes," she managed through chattering teeth. "I'm f-fine."

She wasn't fine. She was hypothermic and getting worse by the second. But they didn't have time to deal with it here, not with that gunshot still echoing in Cole's mind and the very real possibility that someone was out there who shouldn't be.

In the distance, he heard another shot, but this time he didn't worry as much. If the Keepers monitoring the situation said it wasn't near them, he'd trust their assessment. Still, he wanted Janice somewhere safe and warm as quickly as possible.

He lifted her onto the snowmobile, then settled in front of her and started the engine. "Hold on, Janice."

Her arms came around his waist, but he could feel her shaking through all their layers of clothing. The tremors ran through her entire body, violent shivers that told him she was losing the battle against the cold.

Cole gunned the snowmobile, pushing it faster than was probably safe given the conditions. But safety was relative right now. The immediate danger of someone potentially following them was balanced against the very real danger of Janice developing hypothermia before he could get her somewhere warm.

He chose speed.

The forest blurred past as they flew over the snow-covered trail. Branches whipped by, close enough that Cole had to duck a few times to avoid being struck. Snow kicked up from the treads. The engine roared as he pushed it to its limits.

And through it all, he could feel Janice pressed against his back, her arms locked around his waist, her body shaking with cold.

Hold on, he thought fiercely. Just hold on. I'll get you home. I'll get you warm. Just hold on.

The cabin appeared through the trees, and Cole had never been so relieved to see a building in his life. He passed the front door and glided around to the side shed where the snowmobile was out of sight and safe from the storm. Killing the engine, he shoved his body off and turned to help Janice.

Her movements were sluggish, with the cold affecting her coordination. She stumbled when her feet hit the ground, and Cole caught her, swept her up into his arms, and headed to the side door. Managing to unlock the door with her still cradled bridal style, he rushed her through, kicking the door shut behind them.

Setting her down gently, he kept his arms around her. He knew he needed to let her go so that he could get her warm. But for a few seconds, he just wanted to feel that she was safe in his embrace.

17

Inside, the warmth hit them like a physical wall. The wood stove had only been smoldering since that morning, but it still filled the small space with a little heat that felt like heaven after being in the bitter cold outside.

But Janice was still shivering. Cole's singular focus was getting Janice out of her wet clothes and warm. Every second counted when dealing with potential hypothermia, and her violent shivering told him they were already pushing the limits.

He immediately moved to the wood stove, throwing in several logs with more force than necessary. The fire caught quickly, flames licking at the new fuel, and heat beginning to radiate through the small space.

Cole grabbed the kitchen chair and dragged it close to the stove, positioning it where Janice would get maximum warmth. When she just stood there shivering, he gently pushed her down into it.

"Sit," he ordered, his voice rougher than he intended. Fear did that to him, making him sound harsh when what he really felt was terror.

He knelt in front of her and pulled off her boots, wincing at the sight. Her socks were soaked through, practically frozen to her feet. He peeled them off carefully, revealing skin that was pale and cold to the touch.

Her feet were too cold. If he didn't warm them properly, frostnip could progress to frostbite.

Cole jerked off his outer coat and then hers, tossing them aside without care for where they landed. He grabbed the kettle from the counter, filled it with water from the hand pump, and set it on the stove. Not boiling—he needed it warm, not hot. Too much heat applied too quickly to cold extremities could cause tissue damage.