Deep Woods

“It’s okay,” I told her. “They’re all on my side and they can’t get across, now. You’re safe.”

“Cal!” she begged.

“I’ll come back for you, when I’ve dealt with them,” I told her. And then I ran, drawing them away from her. The last thing I saw was her agonized face, mouth open and pleading in a silent no.

I prayed I was doing the right thing.

52

Cal

I DREW THEM UPSTREAM, then found a fallen tree and lay flat on my belly, my rifle resting on the trunk. I went utterly still and waited for the first one to appear.

I knew Bethany would be upset and probably angry. Well, that was fine. There’d be all the time in the world to deal with that, once we were in Canada. Hell, I’d buy her roses and chocolates. Or shoes, that’s what city girls went nuts for, right? She could be as pissed at me as she wanted, as long as she was safe.

The first one showed himself a few seconds later, an easy target. But I waited until the second one was in view, too, so he wouldn’t have time to run. Then I fired two quick shots, hitting one in the shoulder and one in the hip. They fell to the ground screaming in pain and I waited for number three.

And waited.

And waited.

I lay there, adrenaline pumping through my veins, finger on the trigger. Where the hell is the third one?

I slowly rose and advanced, rifle up. I went over to the first hunter, who was rolling and cursing in pain, and kicked his rifle away. Then I approached the second.

Shit. He was carrying a rifle and a shotgun. He must have been taking potshots with both of them. What I thought were three hunters behind us had only been two. But I’d seen three in the group. Where was the third?

A rifle shot echoed through the trees and I spun to face where it came from. A fist clenched tight around my heart. I wanted to be wrong, but I knew I wasn’t.

The shot had come from the far side of the river. One of the hunters must have crossed over before I sent Bethany over there. She was all alone with him. And, now that I’d pushed the log into the river, I couldn’t get to her. Oh Jesus, please no….

I raced to the river and stood there panting, looking up and down its length, praying I’d see something, but it was just as I remembered it: there was no other bridge in sight.

For three beats of my heart, I stood there frozen, staring into the darkness, going sick with fear. She needed me and I couldn’t get to her.

Then I turned and started to run. But the nearest crossing was at least a few miles away.

I wasn’t going to get to her in time.

53

Bethany

I WATCHED CAL turn and sprint away into the trees and it was like having part of me torn away, leaving me raw and exposed. As his footsteps faded, it went eerily quiet. The woods seemed to expand around me and the feeling I’d had when I first arrived, of being tiny and lost in their vastness, came rushing back.

Then I felt guilty for being scared. I was safe, thanks to him. He was the one who’d have to fight the hunters...alone. Icy fear sluiced through me and I stared at the last place I’d seen him, wishing him back. It was three against one. I knew how good Cal was, but what if one of the hunters got off a lucky shot? What if he got shot and I wasn’t there to help him? I wanted to scream at him, pummel him in the chest. Why? Why did you do this?

But I knew why. He’d done it to protect me, just like he’d been doing right from the start. I’d be okay: I just had to do my part by not panicking and we’d be back together soon.

I moved just far enough from the river that a hunter on the far bank wouldn’t see me. Then I found a fallen tree and sat down. After a moment, I thought to look in the backpack Cal had given me: everything had happened so fast at the cabin, I wasn’t sure what he’d put in there.

I found a bottle of water, a flint and steel for starting fires, some energy bars, and a first aid kit. I pressed my lips together tight, my chest dissolving into warmth and then imploding into an aching, tight center. He’d made sure I could survive on my own. Not just the supplies, but what he’d taught me. He’d known there might come a time when we had to separate, when he sacrificed himself and I went on alone—

Don’t think like that. He’d be back. Everything would be fine.