by Jean Joachim
"Carrie! Carrie!"
Grey turned his head to face East and yelled her name, then turned, directing his voice West and yelled again, hoping he'd hear an answering call but nothing came. He was now about four feet out onto the ice. Yelling seemed to push him down harder on the ice, so he stopped, fearful the extra pressure would crack it.
Now five feet out, now six. At seven feet, he stopped and yelled again. This time he heard something. From far away he heard what he swore was his name. But it was coming from behind him. He swiveled around quickly pushing off with his right foot and spied Carrie running down the path toward the lake. Her chest was heaving and she wore a look of panic on her face.
Relief flooded his veins and he smiled broadly to see her safe on the shore. Forgetting where he was, he stepped down hard again with his right foot on the ice to speed his return to her. The deadly crack came to his ears two seconds before he was plunged into the icy water.
Chapter Seven
A few minutes earlier…
Carrie trotted down the stairs. Emma stood in the archway to the living room, wearing a smug smile, her green eyes even greener with envy.
"Where's Grey? I heard his car…" Carrie hoped her face was a mask, her feelings toward Emma well hidden.
"He's not here."
"Where is he?" Carrie repeated, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"I told him you went ice skating…" Emma admitted, her hand on her hip, her eyes narrowed.
"You what?" Carrie froze.
"I told him you went ice skating on the lake," She said, her chin jutting out, her eyes cold.
"You idiot!" Carrie screamed at the girl before grabbing her jacket and running out the back door heading to the lake.
****
Seven minutes later…
A scream escaped her throat the moment Carrie saw Grey fall through the ice. She froze, staring, until she heard him call her name. She ran to the edge.
"Get Colin. My dad. Rope on the deck," He called out as he raised one dripping arm out of the water attempting to support himself on the ice and keep his head above the water.
He spread his fingers and raised the other arm but the ice cracked underneath him, dunking him in further. Again he surfaced and reached out but it was hard to get a grip on the slippery ice. He steadied himself with his head above water using one hand and treading slowly with his legs. Carrie's breathing stopped and her pulse pounded in her ears. She could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Carrie could see his jacket get darker as water soaked through. She knew the water-logged garment was weighing him down.
"Hurry!" Grey called.
In a flash, her mind took over and pushed the panic down. She turned on her heel and ran back toward the house as fast as she could. She focused her mind on each breath and keeping her legs moving as fast as possible but not thinking. When she got within twenty yards of the house, she started screaming.
"Help! Help!"
Running was harder when she was screaming but she forced herself on, trying to pick up speed. Fran came to the back door and looked out.
"Help! Colin! John!" Carrie screamed.
The two men appeared at the door within seconds. Carrie stopped and bent over, pulling air into her lungs.
"Grey…in the lake…rope…on the deck…" she choked out, panting heavily.
The two men were outside in a flash. Colin, looked around the deck until he spied the rope while John took the stairs two at a time. With the coil of rope thrown over his arm, Colin joined his father in a flash.
"Grey fell through the ice?" Colin asked.
Carrie nodded.
"Where Carrie? Show us!"
Gasping for breath, she willed her legs to move. She took gulps of air and started walking toward the lake. Although a minute ago she'd have sworn all her energy was spent, she found a reserve and began to run down the path with the two men right behind her. It didn't take more than three minutes to find Grey.
Colin tossed the rope to him, but it missed. John tied a slip knot and looped the rope. He threw it lasso-style but missed.
"Carrie, you're the lightest of us…you'll have to go out there and slide the rope to Grey."
She nodded, keeping her eye on Grey who was bobbing slightly in the water, moving as little as possible, his head still visible above the ice. Then the section of ice he was holding broke and he scrambled to grab another, thicker piece to hang on to. Carrie cringed as she watched him. Her mouth was too dry to form words. She slipped her arm through the rope and ventured carefully to the edge of the lake.
"No! No!" Grey called. "Go back, Carrie!"
She shook her head and continued to take small steps along the ice.
"She's the only one light enough!" John called out to his son.
She bent down, gingerly resting first one knee then the other on the ice. Slowly she moved into a prone position, face down on her belly. She crawled and slithered like a lizard along the ice toward Grey, dragging the rope along. When she got as close as she dared, she pushed the rope out in front of her. Inching along, drawing closer to him, listening for cracks in the ice, she held her breath. Hearing nothing, she slid further toward Grey, propelling herself with her feet in a seesaw movement, her grip slipping then reconnecting. Time stood still for Carrie as her progress seemed to take forever.
"Close enough. Close enough," Grey called.
She stopped and awaited his instruction.
"Push the rope in a straight line toward me," he yelled.
Carrie laid the rope on the ice and pushed it little by little. But it bent in the middle. She stopped and straightened it out again. This time she pushed it more slowly, trying to ignore the anxiety building up inside her. She didn't know a ton about the outdoors but she did know that Grey may have only twenty minutes until he succumbed to the cold. Again she shook her head slightly to dislodge the frightening thought from her mind and forced herself to focus on his rescue. Lying flat on the ice, she rested her cheek on the frozen surface so she could extend her arm fully while she inched the rope closer to Grey.
When the rope was within a foot of him, he vaulted out of the water a few inches, propelled by his legs and grabbed at the loop. He closed his freezing fingers around the rope as best he could and dragged it toward him. He put one arm through the loop, then made it bigger and slipped it over his head. While he pulled his other arm through, he steadied himself using his elbow on the ice. He had to keep his head above the water at all costs. Once his second arm was through, he tightened the rope around his chest under his arms and grasped it with both hands. When Carrie saw the thumbs up sign from Grey, she started to slide backward on the ice to shore. Colin pulled the rope tight while John reached out to get a hold of Carrie's foot as she slid toward him. When he reached it he pulled her in to shore quickly.
Colin pulled on the rope with all his strength. Grey came up, but fell back into the water. Grey was at least fifty pounds heavier, since his clothes were totally soaked through. Colin gritted his teeth as he wound the rope around his hands. Uttering a loud grunt, his face turning red, he pulled again on the rope, then again, inching Grey out of the water. John secured the slack rope, winding it around a tree trunk. Carrie stood up and brushed the ice off her chest and thighs which were beginning to grow numb. John joined behind Colin and with one more pull together, Grey lurched out of the water and slid closer to shore along the frozen surface like a sea creature.
Obviously too cold to use his arms or legs much, he lay still as his brother and father pulled him across the ice as fast as they could. Carrie heard the cracks as Grey passed over the weaker sections but he was moving too quickly to fall in again.
"Can you stand?" John asked his son when Colin had him close enough to shore to lift him up.
"Don't know," Grey replied.
"Take his pants and jacket off. He'll be easier to carry fast if he's lighter," Colin ordered.
Carrie unzipped his jacket then attacked his pants. John p
ulled the soaking jacket off while Colin supported Grey. Carrie unzipped his jeans and tugged them down.
"I see she has experience," Colin quipped.
John made a face but Grey smiled while he nudged his shoes off.
"Won't he get frostbite like this?" John asked Colin.
"More likely if we don't undress him. The air isn't that cold. Those clothes will keep the freezing water next to his skin. We can get him inside faster this way. Carrie, run ahead and tell them to get dry clothes and warm blankets ready. Socks, gloves, hat scarf…and hot drink."
"Dry clothes, blankets, socks, gloves, hat, scarf, hot drink," she ticked off the list out loud to herself, holding up a finger for each item.
She nodded but stopped to kiss Grey before she ran ahead. At the top of the hill, she turned around briefly to watch John on one arm and Colin under the other. They left the clothes behind. Grey moved his legs as much as he could. The men half-carried, half-dragged Grey toward the house. She turned and resumed running.
Panting and unable to speak when she pushed through the back screen door, Carrie bent over trying to force air into her lungs and going over the list again and again in her mind. Jenna, Barbara and Fran bombarded her with questions. Emma stood by the front door, poised for a quick getaway.
When Carrie could breathe, she uttered directions. "Warm blankets, dry clothes. Towel. Hat, scarf, gloves, socks, hot drink."
Barbara and Jenna scattered while Fran attended to Carrie, warming the young woman's hands with her own and watching out the back door for the men.
"Here they come," she called out. Carrie stood up and looked out.
The men were halfway up the hill. Carrie turned as she saw a large towel and blankets being tossed over the railing from the floor above. Barbara shoved a hat, scarf and gloves into Carrie's hands.
"You'll have to get the socks," she said.
Carrie nodded again. Her breathing had almost returned to normal. She hurried down the hall from the backdoor to the stairs. Emma approached Carrie. She looked scared, her hand was shaking.
Carrie stepped up to her and slapped her hard across the face.
Turning away from the tearful Emma, Carrie climbed the stairs quickly in search of socks for Grey. Once in their room, she yanked open the dresser and grabbed the first pair of Grey's socks she could find. Then she grabbed dry underwear, his new flannel shirt, sweatpants and tucked them under her arm. When she got into the hall, the men had Grey inside and they laid him on the floor on top of a blanket. He was shivering. Carrie raced down the stairs and picked up the towel.
"Privacy, please," Carrie said as she began to dry him with the towel and help him off with his boxers.
"Warm his trunk first. He could go into shock if you do the hands and feet first."
"Why?" Carrie asked.
"The trunk is where all the vital organs are. They need to be warmed first.
"Don't rub his skin, Carrie. I don't know if he has frostbite yet."
"How do you know all this?"
"First aid training."
"I think I can manage with Carrie's help. Done that before. Thanks for everything," Grey said.
"I can take it from here, guys," Carrie said, her fingers in the waistband of his boxers.
Colin's expression looked doubtful as he slipped the hat over Grey's head and wrapped a wool scarf around his neck.
"It's okay. You can go. I'm in good hands," Grey gave his brother a sly grin.
"I don't know…that's some vampire bite she gave you last night," Colin snickered, eying the red mark on Grey's neck.
Carrie felt heat rise into her face as she returned to wrapping blankets around Grey's trunk and thighs.
"Leave it to you, Colin…I suppose you want details..."
"Grey!" John said, color forming in his cheeks.
"Sorry dad. Forgot you were here. Thanks. Thanks, guys."
"Mom, warm drink!" Colin called into the kitchen.
Colin took his father's elbow to usher him into the living room. Fran, who had been hovering in the kitchen doorway, went to make a hot drink. Emma slipped silently into the kitchen behind Fran. Carrie tugged his wet boxers off and tossed him the towel. After he dried himself, she wrapped two blankets around his thighs and calves. Then she slipped socks over his icy feet. He tried to put gloves on himself but needed help.
"Is he decent?" Fran called.
"All clear," Grey called.
Fran appeared in the hall with a mug of hot chocolate.
"Here, son," she said, handing him the warm drink.
He grasped it awkwardly, fumbling with gloves on. Carrie steadied the mug while he took a sip.
"Great, Mom,"
Fran leaned down, kissed his head, smiled and returned to the kitchen.
"Hell, I'm okay now. A simple case of hypothermia," he said to Carrie.
"Another five or ten minutes and you would have died."
"There are other ways to warm me up," he said, shooting her a sly look.
"Grey!"
"Actually, I'm a bit tired."
"Finish the hot chocolate and I'll help you upstairs," she said.
"Oh? Am I getting lucky?"
Carrie chuckled. "Let's get you into bed and see how you feel."
He finished his hot chocolate and handed her the mug. She returned it to the kitchen then helped him up. "Can you walk?"
"I think so."
"I'll run ahead then and turn on the electric mattress pad, but not too high."
He nodded and moved slowly toward the stairs. When Carrie came out of their room, he only had a few more steps to go. She took the blankets from him, opened the door wide then went to the bed and ripped down the covers. He sat on the edge of the bed.
"Leave your socks and gloves on."
"Aren't you getting in with me?"
"If you want."
"How can I touch you with gloves on?"
"Grey…this is about getting your body temperature up."
"No one raises my body temperature like you do."
Carrie couldn't stifle a chuckle. "Get in, funny man."
"I'm going. Boy saving people's lives makes you real pushy."
Her breath caught in her throat. She turned her back to him while he slid into the pre-heated bed and pulled the covers over his body.
"Feels weird to be dressed and in bed…and alone."
Carrie blinked back tears, then went to her side of the bed and pulled back the covers. She sat down then moved in and pulled the covers up. "It does feel weird to be in bed and fully dressed."
"Come here. If we can't make love, we can huddle together for warmth."
Carrie moved over to him. Lying on his side, he put his arm around her, sliding her right up against him. The feel of his flannel shirt against her face and his masculine scent mixed with remnants of his piney aftershave soothed her. She folded her arm around his chest. Peace, a sense of calm, washed over her, starting at her head and moving slowly down her body until even her toes were relaxed. His arm held her close and warm. It was only natural when she let her guard down, tears would flow.
A tidal wave of emotion, stuffed away while she tended to Grey, hit her. Like a fist around her heart, the sensation rose to her throat, choking her. She sobbed into his chest, gasping for air, shuddering against him while tears streamed down her cheeks. He tightened his grip.
"Delayed reaction?"
She nodded, trying to catch her breath.
"I'm not leaving you now…not ever," he whispered, his lips against her hair.
She struggled to regain control while he held her silently. Every shudder that wracked her body reverberated through his, too. In a few minutes, the wave passed through her and calm was restored. She wiped her face with her hand while reaching for a tissue on the nightstand.
"I love you so much," her voice caught, "I couldn't stand to lose you."
"I love you, too, honey. I was scared when you were lying down on the ice."
"You? I was so afraid. I
don't remember ever being as scared as I was today. When you fell through that ice, I thought…I thought…oh, God, it was horrible." She closed her eyes and put her hand over her face.
He reached down gently and removed her hand.
"But it's over and I'm still here…and I'm okay and you're okay. You were so brave. I'm proud...you didn't fall apart. You saved me."
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She looked up and noticed his eyes were fluttering then they closed. Her hand on his chest rose and fell with his even breathing. He was asleep.
****
Slowly she peeled back the covers and eased out of bed. She replaced the blanket, snugging it up around his chest. Carrie tiptoed out of the room, closing the door most of the way before she headed downstairs. After two steps, the sound of two voices stopped her in her tracks. At first she couldn't make out Fran's low tone but she identified Emma's higher pitched voice right away.
"I'm so sorry, Fran. You know I'd never do anything to hurt Grey."
"But you did, didn't you?" Fran insisted.
"I didn't mean to. I…I…wasn't thinking. I love him, you know I do."
"Emma, this time you went too far. Dear, you must accept that Grey has made his choice of a wife…he loves her and only her. Please, Emma."
"I love Matt but I can still love Grey, too."
"You can't. Grey has made a commitment. He's picked a woman to be his partner…his wife. He's made an excellent choice. He's happy, dear. Why can't you turn your attention to Matt and let Grey lead his life?"
"He loves me, I know he does."
"If he had much feeling for you before…which I'm sure was more brotherly than anything else…I doubt he even has that now. Can't you see how much he loves Carrie? And she loves him the same."
"Do you think he's mad at me?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Accept him…and her. We have taken her as family already. We like her Emma and will support her at every turn."
A smile stretched across Carrie's face and she hugged herself.