Ice (17 page)

Sleep was creeping up on her fast. She could feel oblivion, welcome, certain. But she wasn’t ready to fall just yet.

“I’ll probably be back in Wilson Creek a time or two in the next few months,” she said softly. “Even if I hire someone to pack up the house, there will be papers to sign to put it on the market, and then when it sells I’ll have to come here to see to the legalities.” She was almost positive she could handle the details long distance, but … maybe she didn’t want to.

“I try to get back at least every other month,” Gabriel said casually. “Sometimes it’s just for a couple of days, but I have to see Sam whenever I get the chance.”

Duh. All his talk of a date was just a way to kill time, maybe an attempt to make her forget what had happened tonight. When Gabriel came back to Wilson Creek he wanted to be with his family, most particularly his son, not a girl he barely remembered from high school.

And then he added, “You should meet Sam. When it warms up we can go fishing.” She didn’t immediately respond, so he added, “You don’t fish, do you?”

“I’m world-class at reaching into the freezer and pulling out some filets,” she said, smiling. “I could probably learn. From what I’ve seen it doesn’t appear to be too demanding.” She tried to picture a warm summer day, the lake, the three of them fishing and maybe picnicking on a large, checkered blanket … and she couldn’t do it. The picture she tried to create in her mind didn’t quite come together.

She didn’t belong. Lolly realized she wasn’t a part
of the picture and never would be. Still, it was a nice illusion, a pleasant way to push aside reality for a while. “I make great chocolate chip cookies and a killer pasta salad. We could have a picnic, too.” She closed her eyes, and for a moment she was there, she belonged in that picture. Maybe it wasn’t real, maybe it would never be real, but as she drifted toward sleep she got caught up in the fantasy, then sleep overtook her and she went under fast and deep.

The sunlight sparkled like diamonds on the ice-coated trees; overhead, the sky was a pure, crisp blue. It would be a breathtaking scene, Lolly thought, if she was looking at it through a window with a blazing fire behind her, or maybe standing on a beach in Florida looking at a postcard. Instead she was part of the picture, which included cold air, a slick surface beneath her feet, and the occasional obstacle of a fallen limb or tree, for good measure—in case walking downhill on a sheet of ice wasn’t challenge enough.

Not knowing when she’d be able to make it back, Lolly had stuffed what she needed in her pockets. Keys, driver’s license, cash, credit cards, cell phone, which would be useless until they reached the highway. Everything else had been left behind. There was no telling when she’d be able to collect her Mercedes. She might have to arrange alternate transportation to Portland and come back for her vehicle once the
roads were clear. That all depended on how bad things were in town, and how badly blocked the roads up the mountain were.

At least her clothing today was better suited to the weather. She had on her own thick, hooded coat, her boots, her gloves. At least the sun was shining, and they could see where they were going. At least they weren’t being chased by homicidal drug addicts. All in all, today was much better than last night, even though the air was so cold she could barely breathe it and had to keep her nose and mouth covered with a scarf. The sunlight on the ice was almost blinding, and both she and Gabriel wore shades. Compared to last night, though, this was a walk in the park. It was cold, sure, but there was no cutting wind, no rain. All that was left were the remnants of the storm—the fallen trees, the icy ground, the crisp, cold air.

The weight of the ice was still a burden for the trees, and that would be their greatest obstacle as they made their way down the mountain. Not long after leaving the house they heard the now-familiar crack, followed by a crash. Gabriel’s head had snapped around at the sound and he’d stopped, listening hard as if he might be able to tell where that tree was, how close it might be. The fall was in the distance, in the woods that surrounded Lolly’s childhood home, but it was telling—a warning, of sorts. They couldn’t get off the mountain without walking beneath trees. None of the ice was melting, the air was still too cold, so any of the trees could go at any time. They would have
to be on constant guard against the weighted, weakened limbs overhead.

This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

Gabriel stayed close, either right beside her or directly ahead of her, depending on the width of the grassy strip and the thickness of the vegetation, as they walked along the side of the driveway. Though he hadn’t said much, he had to be as worried about the treefall as she was. That was why he often glanced overhead and, when possible, followed a path that didn’t take them directly beneath the overhanging limbs.

They were halfway down the driveway when they came to a splintered, icy tree that had fallen crookedly across their path. Gabriel straddled the tree, offered Lolly a hand, and helped her up and over. Walking on an icy surface was tough enough, but maneuvering over obstacles only made things harder. If they’d had enough food and propane they would’ve been better off staying at the house until help arrived … at least in her opinion. Gabriel might’ve had other ideas, since he’d left his son behind to rescue her and was anxious to get home.

Hiking wasn’t her thing. She wasn’t into athletics at all, other than admiring the great physical condition of professional athletes; she was definitely a woman who admired a great tight end when she saw one. Her layers of clothing made her feel awkward and unwieldy, while Gabriel managed to remain his usual capable, annoyingly perfect self. He’d always been
athletic, and, yes, he had a great tight end. If he hadn’t been wearing his own heavy coat, she’d at least have been able to admire his personal scenery. Thank goodness he didn’t know she was imagining his butt; he continued on, steadfast and skillful, leading the way with aplomb.

She didn’t do anything with aplomb, even when she wasn’t hampered by layer upon layer of clothing. At least if she fell she’d be well cushioned when she hit the ground.

Gabriel looked great. Good-looking, muscled … really great eyes, a blue-green hazel ringed by inky lashes. He was bigger than he’d been in high school, definitely older, but those eyes hadn’t changed at all. Lolly had to forcibly stop herself from getting carried away. She tried to call upon reason, to think clearly. He’d saved her life, so there was probably some instinctive attraction going on that had absolutely nothing to do with who he was. Add the fact that they’d been skin to skin, that he’d been inside her, and she shouldn’t expect anything less than total infatuation.

Oh, who was she kidding? She’d always had the hots for him—not to the point that she’d spent the last fifteen years pining over him, but enough so that when she saw him again that old interest immediately flared to life again.

When she was safely over the log that blocked her driveway, Gabriel held on to her for a moment longer than was necessary, making sure her footing was solid—not that she was in any hurry to move away.

“I have soup and coffee in the truck,” he said. “We’ll take a short break there, and if a tree hasn’t fallen on it, we can get in the truck and get warm.”

After the hours the truck had been sitting, she had no hope at all that either soup or coffee would be warm, but it was food and she’d take it. The breakfast bars weren’t going to last nearly long enough. “Good idea.” It was a long way to Wilson Creek, and the trip was best faced in small chunks. To the end of the driveway. To the curve where the old Morrison house used to be. To the hill where there was a break in the tree line, where the sun would surely shine. To the highway … and from there they’d start all over again, as they walked to the McQueen house.

Where she’d be a literal fifth wheel.

After taking several steps without any problem, without warning, Lolly’s right foot flew out from under her. She instinctively flailed for a low lying limb, but as she grabbed it the thin, frozen twig snapped. Gabriel grabbed her, making sure she didn’t land on her ass. He held her close, secure, and she took a moment to wallow in his body heat and solid build. Gabriel McQueen was like a rock. Without him, where would she be right now? She couldn’t let her mind go there.

Lolly’s heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath. She knew what a disaster a bad fall would be. She was already sore, bruised, and shaken. All she needed was to break a bone or sprain an ankle. If she thought she was a burden to Gabriel now …

“You okay?” he asked.

When she nodded her head he released her, and she moved forward.

One step at a time.

Gabriel had known the trek down the mountain would be a tough one, hour upon hour of watching every step and being alert to the dangers all around.

After stopping at the truck to get warm—no trees having fallen on the truck—to drink some lukewarm coffee and soup, and to retrieve his weatherproof hat, he and Lolly resumed their trek. Lolly didn’t grumble, hadn’t uttered a word of complaint, but she’d already started breathing harder and favoring her bruised right side.

He took her hand as they met a hill, knowing that on the other side of that rise was a sharp dip in the earth that would not be easy to take. They leaned into the climb, watching each step, breathing hard, not wasting precious energy by speaking.

Gabriel kept telling himself it could be worse. As far as mountains in this part of the country went, this was a small one, not high enough for good skiing. Some might even call it a big hill, instead of a mountain. Walking down was doable, and they should be thankful for that. The storm had stopped. If they’d had to walk out in the wind and falling rain, the walk would take twice as long and be ten times as dangerous. If either he or Lolly had been hurt last night,
shot or slashed with a knife, then they’d be separated, the mobile one hiking alone to town for help, the other left behind. And if they’d both been hurt …

Would his dad figure that he’d been stranded by the storm and that all was well, or would he be worried and doing what he could to get up this road? Lolly had said that when Darwin and Niki broke in, she was on her way out to stay with the Richards. Would Mrs. Richard be worried enough to call the sheriff’s office and report that Lolly hadn’t arrived? Or would she just assume that Lolly had wasted time and let the storm catch her on the mountain? Lots of possibilities, and he had no way of knowing what to expect. He might as well proceed as if he and Lolly were entirely on their own. For now, they were.

Halfway up the hill a patch of sun warmed the ground. That heat and light was a welcome relief—though he knew it wouldn’t last. Where the sunshine touched the ground, the going was easier. They could even take a few steps on the roadway, when the shoulder was narrow and too close to a drop-off for comfort. He didn’t bother to drop Lolly’s hand, even when the walking was less slippery for a few precious steps.

“Not so bad, huh?” he asked.

Lolly was breathless when she answered, “Speak for yourself, McQueen.”

He would’ve turned to give her an encouraging smile, to tell her that they were making great time, but then he reached the top of the hill and got a good look at what lay ahead.

There weren’t just one or two fallen trees across the road, there was one right after another for as far as he could see. Some lay there alone, with stretches of blessedly untouched roadway on either side. Others crisscrossed, one trunk and another … and another … blocking their way. Some they could go over, as they’d gone over the one on the driveway. Others were too big, or the limbs were too tangled. They were going to have to go around some of the blockage, detouring into the woods, wasting precious minutes.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Right now?” Lolly joked, but out of the corner of his eye he saw her straighten her spine and lift her chin. She looked a little ridiculous, the way she was bundled up, but she also looked strong. And kind of amazing. She pulled in a deep breath.

“I am
not
going to get away from Niki and Darwin and survive a cat-and-mouse chase through the icy rain and in my own kitchen just to give up now,” she said. Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit down and cry, even if that’s the first impulse that comes to mind.” She looked at him, and he saw the shine of tears in her eyes. “It’s going to be a long day. Distract me.” She moved to the side of the road and started her descent. “You must have hundreds of cute and funny stories about Sam. Tell me a few. Make me laugh.”

Gabriel didn’t feel much like laughing at the moment, but thinking about Sam waiting for his dad to come home drove him forward.

There were moments when Lolly didn’t think she could take another step. Her feet hurt. Everything hurt. For a while Gabriel and his stories kept her moving, but now it was the sound of chain saws that kept her motivated. It was impossible to tell exactly where the sounds were coming from. Crews might be working in town, and the noise just carried. Then again, maybe the workers were on this very road. Maybe just over the next hill … or the next.

“When I buy a house in Portland, it’s going to be on completely flat land. With close neighbors. And constant five-bar cell service.”

Gabriel looked over his shoulder. “You’re planning on buying a house?”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she said. “I have a
nice apartment, but rent is just money down the drain. They keep saying it’s a good time to buy.”

He made a sound, like a soft grunt from deep in his throat. “I didn’t know you planned to put down roots in Portland.”

“I have a good job there. Friends. I’m … comfortable.”

Again he made that grunting noise.

At the moment
comfortable
seemed like a decidedly good thing to Lolly. She liked comfortable. She enjoyed a life where there were no surprises.

And then she got a surprise.

“Before you buy a house, you should come visit me in North Carolina. Maybe you’d like it better there.”

The comment left her dumbfounded, but she didn’t have time to read too much into the invitation, because Gabriel crested the hill they were climbing, and stopped. She was directly behind him, so close she almost crashed into his back. Instead she moved to stand beside him. There, in the distance—but blessedly not
too
far away—sat a massive truck with a crane built into the bed. A four-man crew was cutting limbs and tree trunks and moving them off the roadway with the crane. They’d already cut a swath from the highway.