#Vacay

by Cambria Hebert

  I hadn’t met Romeo Anderson yet, but his reputation preceded him. And so did the crowds of people all willing to search in the freezing dark for his wife.

  I already heard he was practically ripping the mountain apart and beside himself with worry. I figured letting the guy know how busted up his wife’s previous ride was probably wasn’t a good call. At least until it became pertinent information.

  Overhead, the copter passed, shining a spotlight into the trees as it searched. I avoided the light and didn’t use its beam to help me search. I didn’t need it. Sometimes you got better results relying on the senses that weren’t your eyes.

  About a quarter of a mile later, and with the helicopter in the distance, I found my first set of tracks.

  One went one way, and the same exact kind also went off in the other.

  She was definitely confused and turned around. And pretty deep out here in the woods. No wonder she couldn’t find her way back.

  I was going to have to make sure some kind of guardrails or fencing was set up so this kind of thing didn’t happen again.

  Bending down to the tracks, I noticed how close together they were, and my heart squeezed a little. Clearly, Rimmel Anderson was as small as everyone said. A twinge of worry hit me, but I shook it off. Emotion like that wasn’t good in this situation.

  Straightening, I noted the way the one side of her tracks was a bit more... dragged.

  She was hurt.

  Glancing down at my phone, I wondered if I should call it in. Get more people in this direction since most of them were farther down.

  I decided against it. I’d give myself a few more minutes to see if I could track her before I called in a crew who might accidentally destroy or tamper with any kind of clues she left behind.

  I followed the set that looked the newest and moved lithely through the night. I walked for a while, noting with grim reality the way the tracks got closer together and how they would often pause near trees before continuing on.

  The farther I went, the more minutes that passed, the more I began to feel like a giant asshole for withholding potential information on her whereabouts.

  Just as I was about to pull out my cell and get Romeo on the line, the sound of a snarling wolf brought my head up.

  And then a woman screamed.

  Forgetting all about my phone, I started to run.

  Rimmel

  I waited for the attack to come. For the searing pain of razor teeth to cut through delicate skin.

  When I felt nothing, slowly I pried one eye open at a time and lowered my arm to peer across the snow.

  The wolf had indeed leapt closer to me, but not to eat me.

  To protect me.

  Astonished, I stared at the backside of the wolf, which was now planted in front of me, snarling. Another wolf, much darker in color and slightly larger than the first, stood challenging it, fangs on full display.

  The two animals were having their own kind of argument, snapping and snarling back and forth in the most menacing way. Unable to keep still, I scooted back across the snow, pushing my butt along and dragging my hurt foot. I moved until my back hit a tree and I couldn’t go any farther.

  The dark wolf lunged forward, and the light wolf lunged in turn. It snapped at the dark wolf’s leg, making it fall back with a growl.

  That’s when I noticed.

  The light-colored wolf was injured. Its back leg was unable to support much weight, and the harder I stared, the easier it was to see the dark stain on the otherwise light fur.

  Blood.

  The dark wolf lunged again, snapping. Its teeth must have met some kind of mark, because the one guarding me yelped.

  I pushed up to my knees and clapped my hands. “Get away!” I yelled. “Go!”

  I couldn’t just lie here in the snow and watch this animal who was trying to help me get attacked. The light-colored wolf glanced at me when I yelled, and for the first time, I allowed myself to glance into its eyes.

  We were suddenly kindred. Out here alone in the woods, injured, and clearly vulnerable prey. It was a very unlikely alliance, but it was one I would take.

  Another lunge brought the dark wolf closer, and the light wolf drew closer to me. Soon, we would both be pinned against the tree, and the dark wolf would have clear advantage.

  Thinking fast, I grabbed the broken cellphone out of my jacket and gripped it hard. The light wolf widened its stance and let out a low, menacing howl that raised the hair on the back of my neck.

  The dark wolf answered with a howl of its own, and my stomach sank. It started forward, not afraid in the least.

  “No!” I screamed and threw the phone as hard as I could at the attacking beast.

  It hit his head, and the wolf yelped and drew back. The phone fell into the snow, and it was as though the wolf knew that was my only defense.

  Both wolves lunged at each other. Snapping jaws and snarling made me want to slap my hands over my ears and scream.

  The distinct loud thunder of a gunshot overruled everything else.

  I screamed, falling back against the tree. The dark wolf ran off into the trees, disappearing instantly. The light wolf fell into the snow with a whimper, ears drawn back as it stared around.

  “Oh no...” I gasped. “It’s okay,” I said, struggling to stand up. I rushed toward the wolf but fell just a couple steps in.

  My ankle was pretty much completely useless, and I coughed in pain.

  “Are you crazy?” An unfamiliar voice cut through the night. I glanced up to see a man I didn’t know step out of the trees.

  Moonlight glinted off the gun at his side, and anger filled me.

  “You shot her!” I accused. “How could you?”

  The man’s footsteps faltered, and he looked at me with an incredulous expression. “Huh?”

  “You’re a terrible person!” I raged and started to crawl toward the wolf.

  The animal growled in warning.

  “Stop!” he said, rushing around the wounded wolf to circle behind the tree I’d been leaning against. “You’ve gotta be out of your mind, trying to go toward that wild animal!”

  “You shot it. She needs help!”

  “I didn’t shoot her!”

  I paused. “You didn’t?”

  “No. I shot into the air. I thought they would both run.”

  “Oh,” I said, glancing back at the wolf. Then I gasped. She was already injured. Maybe protecting me hurt her worse.

  “Rimmel Anderson?” the man asked.

  “How do you know who I am?” I asked. Then another terrible thought occurred to me. “You’re not the paparazzi, are you?”

  He laughed low but covered it with a cough. “No. I’m not the press.”

  I scowled. “Then how do you know me?”

  “Because half this resort is out searching for you.”

  I gasped. “Do you have a phone? My husband must be so worried!”

  The man nodded. A dark beard shaded the lower half of his face, and his shoulders were fairly broad. “We’ll give him a call. First, how badly are you hurt?”

  When he came forward, the wolf lunged, making me fall back into the show with a screech.

  He raised the gun instantly.

  “No!” I cried.

  The wolf stopped just over my body, standing on three legs, holding the hurt one in the air. Its golden eyes stayed intently focused on the man.

  “Holy shit,” he mused. “It’s protecting you.”

  “Well, of course!” I declared. “So you don’t need that gun.”

  “I think I’ll keep it out just in case,” he deadpanned.

  I glanced at the wolf. “It’s okay. I won’t let him shoot you.”

  The wolf lowered its nose to sniff at my hurt foot, then glanced up at me.

  I nodded. “We both need a doctor, huh?”

  “I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life,” the man commented. “But this... this might take the cake.”

  I didn’t know what that mean
t. I mean, really, was it so hard to believe that two weak, injured creatures could find common ground?

  Stretching my arm out, I reached up so the wolf could smell my hand. At first, I didn’t think it would because I held myself still for so long my arm began to ache. But then something amazing happened. The wolf nudged my fingers with the end of its cold nose.

  “Good girl,” I whispered. “We won’t hurt you.”

  “Ma’am, I really need to get you back. You have a lot of people really worried.”

  “Rimmel.” I corrected. “What’s your name?”

  “Daniel,” he replied. “Sabrina is my sister.”

  I brightened. “Oh! Yes, she told me about you. My goodness, you came to help look for me. Thank you.”

  I half smiled. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “Do you think I could call Romeo now?” I asked, pushing myself up.

  Daniel came closer, which made the wolf growl and skitter back. She yelped from the movement of her back leg.

  “She’s hurt,” I explained. “She must sense I’m injured as well. I think that’s why she protected me.”

  He made a sound. “Smart wolf.”

  “She’s brilliant,” I declared.

  Keeping careful watch on the wolf, Daniel came closer to me.

  “It’s okay,” I crooned.

  Daniel lifted me off the ground, and I balanced on one leg. “My God, you are small,” he murmured.

  “Little but fierce!” I informed him.

  He chuckled. “I’d have to agree. You did just tame a wolf and get it to protect you.”

  “That wolf is an animal. All animals can sense sincerity. I sincerely wish it no harm,” I explained.

  He didn’t seem very impressed with my logic. “Your husband let you out on the mountain alone?”

  I smacked him and nearly fell over. He caught me around the waist to keep me upright. “Careful,” he warned.

  “Romeo knows better than to tell me what to do. Besides, I wasn’t alone...”

  Daniel sighed. “Is it broken?”

  “Hm? Oh, my ankle? I’m not sure, but I can’t walk on it anymore.”

  Still holding my hand, he moved around so he was in front of me and bent low. “Come on.”

  I stared at him dubiously.

  When I didn’t do anything, he glanced over his shoulder. “You can’t walk, so I’m carrying you. Let’s go.”

  When I was firmly on his back, he pulled his phone out and hit the screen. “I found her,” he said the second someone answered.

  A moment later, he started talking again. “Yeah. Broken foot. Can’t walk. I’m gonna carry her out.”

  “Who is that?” I asked, leaning over his shoulder. “Is that Romeo?”

  He glanced around at me and shook his head, then muttered some kind of coordinates I didn’t understand. “Yeah. Send some sleds.”

  He disconnected the call and glanced behind him. “What’s Romeo’s number?”

  I told him, and he dialed it, then handed it over his shoulder to me. Romeo answered before I even had the phone to my ear.

  “Rimmel?” he asked when all his previous attempts at hello went unreturned.

  “Romeo!” I said, finally getting the phone to my ear.

  “Holy. Mary. Mother of God, Rimmel!” he yelled. I pulled the phone from my ear. “Baby! My God, you damn near killed me! Where are you?”

  “I’m in the woods,” I answered. Just the sound of his voice made me tremble in relief. “I’m with Daniel, Sabrina’s brother. He found me.”

  “How are you? Are you hurt? Scared?”

  “I’m okay.” I assured him. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”

  “Don’t worry about that right now,” he said, yelling something to someone.

  “Is that Braeden?”

  “Yeah, we’re all out here searching. Everyone is worried sick.”

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated.

  “Baby, stop apologizing. I know this isn’t your fault.”

  My chin wobbled, but I managed to stop it and find my strength.

  “Where are you? We’re coming right now.”

  “I don’t know where we are,” I said, glancing around.

  Daniel held up his hand for the phone. Reluctantly, I handed it over.

  “This is Daniel. We’re...” And then he started with the coordinates and giving directions stuff again. I didn’t know how anyone was supposed to know what he was saying.

  “I’m on my way,” Romeo practically yelled into the line, and then the engine of a snowmobile cut through.

  Daniel cut off the call and put the phone back in his pocket.

  After making sure I was securely on his back and he had both arms hooked under my knees, he started walking.

  “I hope I don’t hurt your back.” I worried.

  He laughed. “I carried packs heavier than you in the army.”

  “Oh, you’re in the army?”

  “Used to be,” he said, walking forward like I actually didn’t weigh anything at all. “How cold are you?”

  “I’ve been warmer,” I replied, then noticed he was passing by my friend. “Wait!” I yelled, smacking him on the shoulder.

  “Now what?” he asked.

  “We can’t just leave her behind.”

  “Who?”

  I made a sound and pointed to the wolf.

  “You can’t be serious,” he deadpanned.

  “Why wouldn’t I be? That wolf risked her life to protect me. And she’s hurt! I won’t leave her here.”

  “You want me to bring a wild wolf out of the woods... and then what?”

  “Don’t you have a veterinarian around here?”

  Daniel laughed. He sure did laugh at me a lot. I really didn’t know what was so funny. “What makes you think any vet around here will look at a rabid wolf?”

  “I know rabid, and that wolf is not. Any vet who is worth anything would come treat it because it’s an animal and deserves to be cared for. Wild or not.”

  Daniel glanced around at me. “What are you, some kind of animal whisperer?”

  “I’m a human being with feelings.”

  He sighed loudly.

  “Just put me down. When Romeo gets here, he’ll help me and the wolf. Thank you for coming to find me and giving those confusing directions on where I am. I surely would have frozen or been eaten if you hadn’t come along.”

  “This is why I’m single,” Daniel swore toward the sky.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing,” he said quick. “I’m not putting you down, and I’m not going to leave you here for your husband to find. If I did that, he’d never let me live ‘til morning.”

  “Well, I won’t disagree. I also have three very large brothers. They can be mean, too.”

  Daniel laughed. “You don’t say.”

  “They call Braeden the Hulk on the football field because he has a foul temper.” I paused for effect, then leaned in to whisper by Daniel’s ear. “I wouldn’t mess with them.”

  He made a choked sound. “Okay then, what is it you want me to do?”

  “Do you have any beef jerky or something in your pocket?”

  Daniel craned his neck again to look at me. “What makes you think I have beef jerky in my pocket?”

  “You live on a mountain and you know coordinates and stuff. Don’t manly men like you carry around beef jerky?”

  “That’s quite a generalization.”

  “Well, do you?” I asked.

  “Well, yeah,” he muttered.

  I patted his shoulder. “Put me down.”

  “I just picked you up.”

  “Down,” I said patiently. Good Lord, was he disobedient.

  He put me down but slipped an arm around my waist to support most of my weight. After digging out the jerky, he held it up for me to see. I took it and unwrapped it, then handed it back.

  Already, the wolf’s nose was sniffing in our direction.

  “What do you want me to do with tha
t?”

  “Give it to her,” I said, gesturing to the hurt animal. “Maybe then she will trust you a little more.”

  “You—”

  “Just do it.” I interrupted. “My foot hurts, and I want my husband.”

  He sighed like he was pained but approached the wolf carefully and slowly. She gave a warning growl and tried to move back, but I could tell the leg was hurting worse.

  Daniel stayed back but held the jerky out, making the wolf sniff the air.

  “Toss it to her.” I encouraged.

  He did, and the wolf snatched it out of the air, eating it in one gulp.

  Daniel glanced back at me.

  “Now tell her you mean her no harm. But say it nicely.”

  “No.”

  My mouth fell open. Then I put my hands on my hips, nearly toppling over with the action.

  Daniel cursed and started toward me.

  I held my hand out. “Say it.”

  He turned back to the wolf. Then surprising me, he crouched low so he didn’t tower over the animal, held out his fingers, and spoke so low I could barely hear him.

  When he was done, the wolf was no longer glaring at him, but watching him with interest.

  “What?” He paused on his way back to me.

  “You have a lot of gentleness underneath all that,” I said, pointing to him.

  He made a rude sound, dropped back in front of me, and patted his shoulder. I climbed on again, and he started forward.

  “C’mon,” I called to the wolf.

  She watched us go, and I called out to her again.

  “Oh, she isn’t coming.” I worried.

  Daniel whistled, and the wolf struggled to her feet and limped pathetically forward.

  “You should carry her,” I said, sad.

  “I’m carrying you.”

  “I can walk.”

  “You’ve nearly fallen over like three times since I met you ten minutes ago. No.”

  “Then at least walk slower so she can keep up. She’ll think we’re abandoning her.” I rested my chin on his shoulder. “What if that dark wolf comes back and tries to attack her?”

  “I’ll shoot him,” Daniel replied, matter-of-fact.

  “Oh my.”

  “Circle of life, sweetheart.”

  “You better not call me that again. Romeo won’t have it.”

  Daniel made a choked sound.

  The wolf followed slowly along behind us, but I could tell it was difficult and that it was seriously injured. I worried the whole time we went through the forest.