Chilled by Death (27 page)

And fell.

Through the snow.

Through the ice.

Through the ground.

She screamed as her world flipped. Cold, sharp shards of ice bit at her and she flailed her arms and legs, trying to stop her fall. Her landing was fast and hard. Stars slammed into her mind.

Dimly in the background, she could hear Royce yelling for her.

She groaned.

“Stacy? Don’t move. I’m coming down.”

She whispered, “Don’t.” Then realizing he couldn’t hear her, she called out, “Don’t, it’s too dangerous.”

“Right,” he called out, humor in his voice. “So I’m supposed to just leave you?”

Of course he wouldn’t. She knew that. Neither did she want him crashing down with her. They hadn’t brought any rescue gear, so he’d need to go back and get some rope. She’d just lie here and rest until he returned.

In the back of her mind, she realized he was talking to someone. Good. Someone else to help. But she also realized that what she really wanted was to roll over and sleep. It would feel sooo good. She shifted, trying to get more comfortable, and moaned when she moved her head.

That shifted the sleepy cobwebs from her mind. She had to move. Had to get up. It was the head injury making her want to lie there. She reached up and checked the sore spot, but her fingers weren’t sticky so the wound hadn’t broken through the skin. Good. It was just a stunner of a crack. She shifted gently onto her hands and knees and managed to sit on her haunches and look around. There was fallen snow and ice everywhere. She glanced up at Royce who was slowly coming down the slide, making a rough set of steps as he came.

“I’m okay,” she said. “I just saw stars for a moment.”

He kept working his way towards her, his gaze intent. “Even small cracks like that can kill you.”

“I do know that,” she said in a conversational tone. All too well. The last case on her table had been a woman who’d fallen while skiing and had refused medical attention. She’d not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and she’d retreated to her hotel room. She was dead the next day from a small bleed in the brain.

“Right.”

She laughed. “I will get checked over. I’m not going to be stupid about this. I’m just telling you that nothing is broken and I’m feeling well. It was just a small tumble.”

“Doesn’t matter how small. In these conditions, it still counts.”

He’d almost reached her by the time she’d decided to try standing up. That worked. She was a little shaky, but being on her feet felt much better. She checked herself over and shook out her arms and legs. “I’m actually quite fine,” she said to him as he reached her.

“Better than fine.” And he reached and gently tugged her into his arms. She relaxed against him, happy to know that she could now. Falling was scary, but knowing she wasn’t alone and had someone responsible enough to help, even better. That it was Royce – perfect!

After a moment she pushed back slightly, looked up in his warm eyes, and saw the relief and care in his gaze. She reached up and kissed him gently. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked, his gaze quizzical.

“For being here.”

A beautiful light flickered to life in those beautiful brown eyes. He tugged her back into his arms and cuddled her close. “Thanks for letting me,” he whispered against her hair.

She smiled. She couldn’t see much of what they were standing on from where she was. She twisted, still in the circle of his arms, and tried to look around. “What is this place?”

“Likely just another trap waiting for an unsuspecting person to find it.” He laughed. “Congratulations for being that lucky person.”

“Ha, I should buy a lottery ticket.” The walls were fallen snow that had tumbled in with her. The snow with the sun shining down into her pit was so blinding she had to use her hands to stop the glare. She slid her boot back and forth and looked down to see that there was a hard sheet of ice under the fallen snow. At least the hollow was big enough to walk a few feet forward and back.

“Do you think you can try getting out,” he asked, “or do you want me to call for help?”

She glanced back the way he’d come down. Coming down had been easy. She wasn’t so sure she’d get up the same way. There were no visible steps as they’d crumbled under his weight. But she might still be able to climb up. Stepping carefully as her balance still wasn’t perfect, she made it to the bottom of where he’d half climbed, half slid down. Standing at the bottom looking up, it appeared much steeper – and much higher than she expected.

“We’ll wait for the crew to come,” Royce said cheerfully. “I’m not up to climbing that sucker.”

“You’d manage that easily,” she said. “I don’t think I can.” She stepped up and tried to grab onto a boulder in front of her. It crumbled under the pressure. “There’s nothing to grasp. Nothing to step on.” As she said that, the snow under her boots sank, giving emphasis to her words.

“Exactly. So we wait.”

“I wonder how far this fault goes.” She took a few steps towards him.

He reached out to steady her, tucking her up closer. “I doubt very far. We could be at ground level where we’re standing and the walls on either side of us are just a big snow dump from the cliff above.” “That’s possible.” She looked up and saw the top of the waterfall and the bare rock. She motioned in the direction where she’d originally fallen. “It looked like an opening down there.”

“Doesn’t matter if there is,” he said. “We’re not exploring.” He gave her a stern look. “We’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

Under a hooded glance, she wondered what the chances were of changing his mind.

“No.” he said sternly. “We’re not looking.”

Just then they heard shouts from the rescue team. Stevie’s voice was the loudest as he called out to them.

“See?” Royce smiled. “For once, he has perfect timing.”

*

Royce let out
a sigh of relief when he and Stacy were back on top of the pit. He wasn’t exactly sure what kind of fault had created that trap, but he was so glad Stacy hadn’t been alone. Maybe that was what had happened to Yvonne. Except where would she have gotten the coat?

Stacy said. “A heartfelt thank you to everyone.”

“Let’s go,” Royce said. “Hot rum toddies sound like the perfect end to a very rough day.”

The group slowly started down the hillside, Stacy and Royce safely ensconced in the middle. Royce carried one of the ropes that had been used to help them climb back up as the sides continuously caved in on them, hampering their efforts. Now all he wanted was to be home. Not back in the cabin, although that would be a good place to start, but home in Seattle and his cozy apartment – in Stacy’s cedar-and-glass converted loft would be much better. And her bed.

He wouldn’t push her, but once alone, the air sparked and fired between them with no help from him. They’d be tearing up the sheets in no time. He doubted she was ready for that at the cabin due to a lack of privacy.

But after all the accidents and weird events, he wasn’t going to let her sleep alone. Good thing he’d moved his stuff up there last night. They were supposed to stay a few more days, but he could see this curtailing the festivities. Personally he’d go home tomorrow if he could get Stacy to go, too.

Then again, if they could get a fun day out of this, it would end the holiday on a much better note even if they did cut it short by a day.

Stacy’s cheeks were bright red by the time they made it to the cabin. Kathleen had stayed behind and made coffee and had a thick beef stew simmering. Just the smell was heavenly. After standing in the cold as long as they had, he was chilled and starving. He doubted Stacy was feeling any different.

She was likely worse. He could see the fatigue in her eyes again. Damn it, she was supposed to rest while here. Regain her strength.

“I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

“Not going to happen,” he muttered. “This holiday has been nothing but hell.”

There was an odd silence beside him. He turned to look at her, wondering what he’d said or didn’t say. “What?”

“It certainly has had some low points, but there have also been a few highlights.” She squeezed his hand.

Damn. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “That there has been,” he whispered, hoping it was only loud enough for her to hear.

It wasn’t.

“That’s enough mushy stuff you two. Keep walking.”

Geoffrey and Stevie gave the two of them a gentle push toward the living room. Stacy rubbed her hands together, appreciating the warmth of being in out of the elements. Standing in front of the fire was heavenly. Royce headed for the kitchen and got two big mugs. He made hot mochas and laced them with rum before taking them back to Stacy. She sat on the couch, her feet in front of the fire.

He knew that with a hot meal, a hot drink, and a hot fire, she’d be asleep in no time. He envied her.

She was talking to Stevie in a low voice as he approached. “I know I saw something. I’ll go back up there tomorrow.”

He stopped in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere back there.” His voice was hard, cold. Damn it. When would she quit?

She smiled sweetly and said nothing.

He didn’t trust her. Taking the spot next to her, he leaned his head back and waited. But she surprised him by letting the subject drop.

She sipped her hot drink, stopped, and sipped again. “This is really good.”

That was an understatement. But he sipped his, just glad to be under cover and safe. The wind was picking up and sure enough, there’d be a snowstorm again tonight. Then again, that’s partly why they came here. Winter playtime.

Only so far there hadn’t been much fun.

*

Unbelievable. He couldn’t
understand how he’d gotten so lucky. Unlucky to begin with then lucky. And he’d stick with the lucky part. It was crazy good, but at the same time he couldn’t hold his hot rum toddy in his hands as they trembled so badly it would be noticeable. And this wasn’t the time for a show of nerves.

Unless they were nerves of steel. Odd that he was reacting to today’s close call so badly. Why this time?

Because it was the closest anyone had come to his space.
His
private space. He never shared that part of the mountain. Well, except for one other. That person understood a part of him. He loved to snowboard down that strip, climb the frozen waterfall, and enjoy his surroundings.

He never intended to share that pristine wilderness.

If Stacy went back up…oh yeah, he’d heard her talking about it…well, she may have gotten off lucky today, but if she went back there, she’d not have the same luck the second time.

He’d make sure of it.

S
tacy took her
bowl back to the kitchen and filled the sink with hot water. She’d do the dishes now in case she crashed early. She could feel her energy disappearing with the tick of the clock. Too many shocks and adrenaline rushes today. Her system was on overload and would shut down soon.

She could feel it draining with each dish she washed. Finally, she was done. She needed to talk to Royce about what she’d seen and what she’d thought she’d opened up there, but she knew he wasn’t going to be receptive and she wasn’t up for the fight.