Nothing But Trouble (19 page)

But now it had been a full 24 hours since her last insulin shot.  She'd never allowed herself to go this long before.  Fear flew through her at an alarming speed.  Would she make it to the clinic in time?  Would she lose everything and Stoney, too?  She didn't want to think about it.

She lifted up, leaning on her elbow, feeling the weight of Stoney’s strong arms holding her and keeping her body warm.  She was drawn not only to the erotic scent of the man who’d brought her to the pinnacle of passion, but to the scent of clean mountain air.  The kind of fresh morning air you only breathe in after a new snow fall.

She quickly threw on the clothes she'd worn the night before and climbed out of the tent.  Her heart nearly buried in the frozen ground when she saw the blanket of white covering the ground around them.  It would make it almost impossible to find her saddlebag now.

Already her mouth was parched.  She needed water fast. And she had to find that saddlebag. 

It was only a short walk to the tree where Dolly had tangled herself the previous night.  Maybe if the trees had sheltered the ground around the area from snow, she still had a chance of finding the saddlebag...and her insulin.

Disappointment hit her hard in the chest.  The snow covered her boots past her ankle.  Each and every small bump in the snow looked like it may be her saddlebag.  She quickly brushed away the snow on a few mounds she found on the ground only to have a boulder or clump of sticks reveal itself.  They'd waste a lot of time looking for her saddlebag.  Their best bet was to head back.

She wrapped herself in her fleece lined jacket in an effort to keep herself warm, feeling the crisp air singe her nose and her lungs.  As she made her way back to the tent, she heard Stoney stir.  A minute later he pulled down the flap of the tent and stepped out into the morning sunshine.  He shielded his eyes until they adjusted to the glare of the sun on the snow.

Beneath his jacket she saw a blue thermal cotton shirt he hadn’t bothered to tuck it into the waistband of his jeans.  He rubbed his hands as he walked over to her, kicking up light snow as he stepped.  His face was void of the serene look he'd had yesterday morning.  Of course, they'd made love the night before.  She'd wanted to believe she had a hand at making his step a little lighter then.  She was sure the drawn look he gave her now was her doing.

Reaching out, he scooped her up from the boulder she'd been leaning against and kissed her soundly on the lips.  She wanted to melt into him.  She wanted him to make her feel warm and protected like he had last night and the night before when they'd made love.  Cupping her cheek, he kissed her lightly now and then pulled back to look at her face.

“I'd say it's a beautiful morning, but this does present a big problem,” he said.

She looked away toward the trees.  “I've already been out there searching.”

He looked at her at arms length.  “Without me?”

“I didn't go far.  Just to where we found Dolly.  It'll take a miracle to find that saddlebag, Stoney.”

His sighed and looked toward the snow covered aspen pines.  “Then we'll head back to the Ranger Station and hope for a miracle there.”

Melanie drew in a deep breath of cold morning air, getting no relief from it, thinking about the long trek ahead.  Little did Stoney know, it was going to take a miracle.

* * *

Stoney held Melanie tight against his chest as they rode.  Holding on to all three horses and Melanie was more difficult that he’d anticipated.  They were moving too slow.  He could leave Dolly and Chester behind, and just take Thunder and they’d get there a lot faster, he suspected.  But they still needed to cross the river.  Would Melanie be strong enough to handle that? 

“How are you doing, Sunshine?” he asked.

“Tired,” she muttered, slumping back against his chest.

“It’s okay.  Just lean back against me for a while.  We’re just going to go a little bit more.”

“I need to walk again.  I need to burn off some of the sugar in my system.”

She’d been walking on and off all day instead of riding in the saddle.  For the last half hour he rode with her on Thunder.  He felt safer with her next to him. 

“You’re too weak.”

“It doesn’t matter.  I have to do it,” she insisted, pulling on Thunder's reins signaling all three horses to stop.

In the end he conceded, letting her walk alongside Dolly as he walked aside Thunder and Chester.

Thank goodness for the full moon, Stoney thought as they made their way through a grassy pasture.  It wasn’t a good idea for them to be trailing at night.  It made it difficult to judge the terrain.  The last thing he needed was for one of the horses to lose their footing.  At least the moon cast enough light while they were out in the open to make it easier to see.  When they reached the thick stand of pines, visibility would be gone and they’d have no choice but to stop for the night.

Stoney had never known fear like this before.  He felt so helpless knowing there wasn’t a damned thing he could do to help Melanie.  Nothing but stay with her and push on.

When they finally decided to stop, Melanie persisted in setting up the tent and the sleeping bags while he took care of the horses.  He found her curled up on top of her bedroll inside the tent.

“Here, drink some water.”

She took the canteen and kept drinking.  “It’s empty,” she said weakly.

“I’ll get more.  Are you hungry?”

She shook her head.  “I’m so tired, Stoney.”

“Okay, you rest.”

He made a light dinner.  There wasn’t much that Melanie could have that wouldn’t elevate her blood sugar even more.  She picked at what little she could.  He filled both canteens with water, just in case she needed them during the night, and readied a spot near camp in case she had to go to the bathroom.  She kept having to pee.  She said that was normal.  Although he’d wanted to help her in her weakened state, indignation rose up and she insisted on doing for herself.

After he’d packed away the last of dinner supplies, he slipped in beside her, fearing the night and what may come.  How would she be when they woke up in the morning?  She’d be worse, no doubt.  He didn’t want to think about whether or not they’d make it to the clinic in time.

“Stoney?”

Her voice was clearer and stronger than it had been, giving him a momentary feeling of relief.  Maybe all she’d need is a little sleep.

He stroked his fingers along her temples.  “You feeling better?”

“A little.”  She was quiet for a moment, but he thought her heard her sniff back a sob.  “I’m sorry, Stoney.  I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.  With Melanie safe in his arms, he felt more secure, like all the awful things he feared wouldn’t touch them.  He wanted to believe they’d wake up in the morning and she’d be feeling like her old self again, kicking up a fit because he was coddling her.  But he knew it was a lie.  He’d seen how fast she’d faded on him today.  And from what she’d told him, tomorrow would only be worse.

“Ssh.”

“You must hate me for this.”

He closed his eyes.  No, hate had nothing to do with the way he felt.  It was then that he knew for sure that he loved her.  Somehow, despite all their differences and dreams, he’d fallen in love with Melanie.  He couldn’t think about what would happen if they didn’t make it to the reservation in time.  He didn’t want to think about tomorrow and how much weaker Melanie would be, how much more she’d rely on him.  He only wanted to think about how she felt in his arms at that moment.  How making love with her had been everything and nothing he’d ever felt before.

He buried his face in her hair and kissed her, letting his lips linger against her silky strands, breathing in the fragrance that was uniquely Melanie. 

“Try to get some sleep.”

She murmured and he listened to her breathing until it was steady.  He continued listening until his own body gave up to fatigue and joined her in sleep.

# # #

Chapter Ten

Dawn didn’t come soon enough.  Melanie had never felt so retched in all her life.  Her body shook and her mouth was filled with the foul taste of bile.  Damn, she’d always been careful.  She’d always made sure she put her health first.  How could she have been so stupid? 

She rushed out of the tent and found the place she’d visited at least twice during the night to relieve herself.  She kept waking up, her throat as dry as a cotton field, and drinking water from the canteens Stoney had left by her sleeping bag. 

The sun was just peaking over the mountains now.  They should get going soon.  Although the lower elevations were warmer and it looked as if the day was starting out to be beautiful, Melanie knew that weather could change at any moment.  If they hit a thunderstorm, it would slow them down enough to keep them from getting to the reservation.

She hated waking Stoney.  He’d been so restless during the night.  It was early morning when he’d finally fallen into a deep sleep and surely hadn’t gotten enough to keep up his strength.

Melanie climbed into the tent and plopped down onto the sleeping bag beside Stoney.  He was already stirring as she brushed her fingers across his temples. 

“We’re moving too slow.  I’m not sure we’re going to make it to the reservation by nightfall,” was the first thing out of his mouth when his eyelids drifted open.  Clearly, this was what had taken hold of him all night.

Stoney watched the lines around Melanie’s cinnamon eyes deepen with fear, wishing he had the power to smooth them and make her smile again.  Still, he didn’t speak out loud the words he feared the most.

He lifted himself up from the ground and leaned on his elbow, nuzzling her shoulder, kissing her and trying to bring himself some comfort. 

“I’m going to head out alone today,” Stoney said delicately. 

Melanie stiffened and drew away slightly, piercing him with a shocked look.  And he knew what she was thinking.  She thought he was abandoning her.  Though he knew that going out on his own he’d be able to get help faster, that was exactly how he felt. 

“I can move faster on Thunder if I-”

“If you don’t have me holding you back?”

“If I can get in range, I can radio the Park Services.  The Ranger may be able to get a helicopter to meet us.”  He reached over and took Melanie in his arms.  He didn’t want to let go.  To his great relief, instead of pulling away, she sank against him.  He wasn’t there for his father when the barn collapsed, and now he was leaving Melanie.  God, he didn’t want to let her go.  “You’re not going to be able to handle crossing the river,” he said, hoping she’d understand.

She straightened her spine, about to give him hell like she’d done so many times over the past week.  Abruptly, her tension was gone as quickly as it came.  “You’re right,” she said softly.  “I’m not strong enough, and I’m slowing us down.” 

Her eyes filled with unspilled tears and were so sad it made his heart ache.  He pushed back the strands of hair from her face and brushed her cheek with his thumb.  “I’m coming back as soon as I can radio help.  I know you’re afraid, but I’m going to be back...”  He swallowed the lump in his throat.  “I promise you, I’m coming back for you.”