Wyatt gently cleaned her face, unsure if there were more cuts under the mud and blood. It appeared to be only the one nasty cut on her forehead.
“My leg,” she mumbled. “I think my ankle is broken.”
Wyatt quickly stopped cleaning her face and looked at her legs stretched out in front of her. He didn't have to ask which one. He could see the ankle of her left leg was swollen.
Jack looked incredulous, “You were at the bottom and climbed up here?”
She nodded. “More like crawled.”
Wyatt had broken a leg before. He didn't think he would have been able to climb a steep, muddy hillside. The fact that she did said a lot about her determination.
“Wyatt, you have to find her. When we fell, I saw a glimpse of her go by, but—” her voice cracked.
“It's okay, we'll find her. Chase is looking now. We need to get your leg splinted and get you back to the house.”
Jack was already on it. He came back with a couple of branches, about an inch in diameter. Wyatt grabbed the Ace bandage and duct tape he always carried from his bag. The two of them carefully placed the branches against either side of her leg, all the way down to the sole of her boot. Wyatt wrapped the Ace bandage around the leg to hold the branches in place. He then used a few strips of duct tape to secure the bandage.
“This will help keep your leg and ankle braced. The stretcher ride back home may get a little bumpy. We don't want to jostle your leg any more than we have to.”
She nodded. Wyatt could tell she was fading fast.
“Megan, I need you to stay with me, okay?”
She nodded again, but it was very subtle. She was obviously weak.
He grabbed the bottle of water and put it to her lips, making her take a few small sips. Next, he grabbed the bread and fed her a few small bites.
“Concussion,” she mumbled. “My head.” She put her hand to the wound on her head.
Wyatt nodded in understanding. She probably did have a concussion.
He quickly bandaged the gash on her head before asking about any other injuries. Jack was scouting the area for the material needed to make a stretcher. Chase had a tarp in his pack that they would use, but they still needed a couple long branches to secure the tarp.
Jack returned with two more branches about two inches in diameter and eight feet long.
“I'll get the tarp from Chase,” he told Wyatt before rushing off down the hill.
Wyatt sat next to Megan on the muddy ground. Grabbing her hand he rubbed his thumb over her palm.
“You're gonna be okay and so will Caitlin,” he told her in a soft voice.
She squeezed his hand “I can't lose her, Wyatt. I can't believe I was so stupid.”
“Stop. You couldn't have known any of this would happen. I am so glad you had that whistle. That was a very smart move.”
“I was hoping Caitlin would hear it. She didn't come back. I waited. I looked. I don't know where she is.”
Wyatt grew very concerned. She was clearly suffering from a head injury. The leg injury would heal. He prayed it was simply a mild concussion combined with a little hypothermia. The trees provided some shelter from the rain, but it was still wet and the temperature was dropping. With the wind blowing across their wet clothing, it was dropping their body temperature.
She had been out here at least three hours and was at serious risk of her core body temperature lowering to the point where it could threaten her life. Her hands were cold. She wasn't shivering but he knew she was cold. There were too many red flags. They had to get her back now!
Jack came back up the hill carrying the green tarp.
“We need to move now.” Wyatt said forcefully.
Jack looked at Megan and nodded in understanding.
“Take this and I'll get Chase.”
Megan's eyes popped open, “Caitlin?”
Wyatt didn't want to tell her they had to leave without her. As much as he wanted to be with Megan, he knew she would never forgive him if he left her daughter out here all alone.
Jack and Chase rushed back up the hill and took over the stretcher making duties while Wyatt talked to Megan. He was trying to keep her awake and conscious even though passing out would provide her escape from the pain in her leg but she needed to stay alert.
Chase and Jack unfolded the tarp and laid it on the ground. Jack placed a pole in the middle of the tarp folding the tarp over the pole to fold it perfectly in half. Chase grabbed the other pole and placed it a few inches from the edge. He then folded the top layer of the tarp over the second branch and began to roll it in the tarp several times until it was about two feet from the first pole.
Grabbing the bottom layer of the tarp, he placed it over the space, reaching the first branch. He then used paracord to tie the branches together at the top, center and bottom of the tarp. Chase left about a foot of branches exposed at both ends so it would be easy to hold when they carried her or if needed, they could drag her across the muddy terrain.
Jack and Chase tested the stretcher. It would work just fine with Megan's light weight.
Wyatt lifted Megan and placed her on the stretcher, wrapping the blanket around her. She was fading fast. He knew she would be unconscious before Chase and Jack got her back to the cabin. He also knew his mom would know what to do.
“I'll be back by dark,” he said closing his pack and putting it back on.
“Be careful,” Jack cautioned him.
The rain was slowing and he suspected it would clear up by the end of the day but the damage was done. Trees were weakened and the ground was a muddy mess. It wouldn't take more than a small breeze to knock more limbs and trees to the ground.
“I will. Take care of her.” Before Wyatt could head back down the hill, Megan reached her hand out.
“Wyatt. Find my daughter.”
Clutching her hand Wyatt bent down to kiss her forehead. “I promise.”
Wyatt was a man of his word and that wasn’t going to change. Especially, now.
6
Megan tried her best to keep her eyes open. When it became evident that wasn't going to be an option, she conceded and closed her eyes, but vowed to stay awake. The bouncing of the stretcher jostled her leg to the point she wanted to scream in pain.
The splint minimized some of the movement, but it was still pure agony. She couldn't tell if it was her ankle or lower leg or both that was injured. The pain radiated up and down, masking the true source. A sudden urge to vomit came over her.
“Stop!” she croaked.
Chase and Jack came to an instant halt to see what was wrong.
Megan leaned over the side of the stretcher and vomited. Since she hadn't had breakfast, there was very little to throw up. Dry heaves, shook her whole body, jerking her leg. The wave of pain with each jerk made her vomit more.
Setting her gently down, Jack bent down to soothe Megan.
“I know, sweetie, I know. Try to take deep breathes through your nose. We will go slower, okay? Shh, shh.”
Megan squeezed her eyes shut and embraced the pain. She had to get through this. She could do it.
Jack stayed next to her for a couple minutes as she gained control of her revolting stomach.
“I'm good,” she whispered.
Jack resumed his position and nodded to Chase, “We better slow it down.”
Chase agreed. No matter how slow and careful they were, the stretcher bounced with every step forward.
Megan moaned. The need to give in was too much. She finally quit trying and let the blissfulness of unconsciousness take her.
When Megan awoke next, she was lying in the bed she shared with Wyatt. It took her a few seconds to remember what had happened. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked around the room. It was dark.
How long had she been out?
“Take it easy,” Rosie's soothing voice came out of the corner.
She was sitting in the same chair Megan had sat in so often when Caitlin had been ill and confined t
o bed.
“Caitlin?”
“Wyatt is still out looking. He'll be home soon.”
Megan's head was pounding and a wave of nausea swept over her as she groaned and collapsed back on the bed.
“That's probably going to happen a few more times. You have a concussion. Try to relax and let your body heal,” Rosie said getting up to grab another pillow. “I'll put this behind you so you can sit up a bit more.”
Megan blinked several times. There was a blanket over her. She wanted to see her leg. She hadn't let herself look when she had been out in the forest.
“My leg?”
She looked down to see she had been put into a pair of shorts. Her leg was wrapped from toe to mid-thigh and propped up on a few pillows.
Rosie winced, “Your ankle is three times the size of the other but I don't think it’s broken. Probably badly sprained. Did you hit it against something? There is a nasty bruise on your shin.”
Megan nodded, “I think I hit a few rocks but it was my landing that probably did it. At least that is when it really started to hurt.”
“Your leg is wrapped, but I didn't splint it, yet. We need to leave it elevated and wait for the swelling to go down a bit. I also want to keep a close watch on your circulation to make sure there is no trouble. That means I need to be able to see your toes to make sure they stay a nice, pretty pink,” she winked.
Megan reached up and felt her forehead. There was a bandage on it. She remembered Wyatt carefully cleaning and bandaging the area.
“I put in a couple of stitches to get it to heal quicker and hopefully with less scarring. You got a pretty good knock there.”
Megan leaned back against the pillow and sighed.
Willow came in and smiled when she saw Megan was awake.
“Hey! How’re you feeling? You gave us all a good scare!”
Willow sat at the foot of the bed, being very careful not to jostle Megan's leg.
“I'm okay,” Megan replied, feeling uncomfortable with all the attention.
“Well, you just sit back and relax. I made some homemade soup stock with the leftover rabbit Ryland managed to catch. Rosie says you can start with broth and we will see how you hold it down.”
Megan wasn't hungry. How could she eat when her daughter was out in the woods starving, freezing, and possibly injured?
“No, thank you, maybe later.”
Rosie shook her head, “Megan, you need to get some broth down. I have some lovely nettle tea waiting for you as well. It is rich in calcium and iron, which your body needs. I also added some pine needles to give you a healthy dose of vitamin C as well. Unfortunately, we don’t have any Echinacea available, as it’s already late in the season, so I had to make do. I would love to find some Goldenseal seeds to try to grow in the greenhouse because it will definitely come in handy.”
Megan knew Rosie was right. She wasn't going to be of any use if she was laid up in bed and she certainly didn't want her ankle to take its sweet time healing.
“I also put together an herbal mix that we will make into a poultice to put on your leg. It is a combination of peppermint leaves and plantain. Comfrey would be my first choice, but we don't have it around here. The peppermint will help soothe the leg and the plantain has its own magical healing properties,” Rosie explained.
“I'll take your word for it. Whatever it takes to get me out of this bed,” Megan grumbled.
Rosie gave her a knowing smile. “I'll get the tea. You rest.”
Willow tried to make small talk by talking about the weather but Megan was far too worried to think about small talk. She had been in the weather. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about.
Rosie brought her the tea and she gulped it down. It didn't taste very good but Megan had witnessed Rosie's healing teas work in the past. She would do whatever it took to get better.
Rosie laughed, “That's one way to get it down I guess.”
Megan gave a sheepish smile, “Sorry, but I really want to heal quick. I will take double doses or whatever it takes.”
Wyatt's mother reached out and patted her on the shoulder, “I know, dear. I know. But, time is really the only cure. Well that and rest.”
Duke barked, signaling someone was coming.
Wyatt felt horrible. As he approached the cabin, he tried to think of what he would say to Megan. He wasn't even sure she would be conscious. The whole time he searched for Caitlin, he worried about Megan. She had been in bad shape when they found her. His initial reaction was to go with her and stick by her side but he remembered his promise.
He walked through the door, not sure what to expect. The house was silent. Duke barked, which brought Albert out of his room. Jack, Chase and Ryland appeared at the top of the stairs. Each had a questioning look on their face.
Wyatt's breath hitched as he saw the look of concern and hope. He gave a quick jerk of his head, indicating he hadn't found her. The looks of shock and grief nearly killed him. Everyone had been counting on him and he had failed.
Willow had popped her head out of his bedroom and saw him silently tell the group he hadn't found Caitlin. Her mouth fell open.
She went to Wyatt, wrapped her arms around him and reassured him it wasn't his fault and they would find her.
“You need to go talk to her,” she encouraged him.
His voice was barely a whisper, “How? How do I tell her?”
Willow didn't offer any words of advice. Instead, she walked him to the room, gave him a quick hug and walked away. Everyone else headed upstairs to give Wyatt and Megan the privacy they needed. This was probably going to be the most difficult conversation they ever had.
Megan held her breath, waiting to hear Caitlin's voice. Instead, there was silence. She heard the door close. No excited chatter. Her heart started to race as she realized what the lack of celebration meant. If Wyatt had found Caitlin, she would have been talking a mile a minute. Unless she was unconscious!
“I have to see!” Megan pleaded with Rosie who gently pushed her back down on the pillow.
“He'll be right in. Just sit tight. I'll go check.”
Megan waited what felt like hours. She knew it had probably been less than thirty seconds, but every second stretched on.
Wyatt came through the door. He wouldn't look at her.
“Where is she, Wyatt?”
The panic in her voice was obvious.
Wyatt shook his head. Clearly, he didn't know what to say.
“Wyatt! Dammit, what happened? Where is she?”
Megan was quickly moving past scared and worried right into anger.
He finally looked at her, “I don't know.”
Megan was incredulous.
“You don't know! Seriously? How hard is it to find one little girl? She couldn't have gone far!”
Wyatt moved to sit beside her on the bed but she tried to scoot away.
“Megan, I searched. I did. You know I would never give up.”
“Why did you come back then?”
She was angry. Angry at him for not finding her daughter. Angry at herself for not paying better attention to the weather. Angry at Caitlin for not being where she was supposed to be.
She knew she was hurting him by putting so much pressure on him but she was stuck in bed and feeling completely helpless. Megan needed Wyatt to find her daughter.
“It's getting dark, Megan. It isn't smart for anyone to be out there in the dark, especially alone.”
She knew he was right, but it only drove home the point that Caitlin was alone, in the dark. She was a little girl, how would she ever survive?
7
Wyatt wanted to stay with Megan and offer comfort but she was clearly angry.
“I'm gonna talk with the guys and plan our search for tomorrow. We will head out at first light and we’ll cover more ground with more of us looking. We need a plan and not just random searching.”
Megan stared at him, “You shouldn't have come back without her. If I could, I would be out
there right now. I don't care if it is dark!” she shouted.
Wyatt felt as if he had been slapped. He took a deep breath, not wanting to make the situation worse by yelling back at her.
“Megan, she is a smart kid. She would have taken shelter. We could search all night and not even see her. You taught her well.”
She glared at him, not pacified by his words. He moved to kiss her but she turned her head. She was lashing out. He got it. He had considered staying out looking until he found her but it was too risky.
Wyatt had to weigh the needs of the group as well. If he were injured, or worse, they would have to waste more time and resources tracking him down. They couldn't afford to have two of them laid up going into winter. He was confident Caitlin would know what to do. The temperature at night this time of year was well above freezing, which was still cold, but not life threatening if she found shelter.
Over the summer, Caitlin had surprised everyone at how quickly she took to navigating in the woods. She definitely did not inherit her mom’s navigational challenges. On some of the warmer evenings, Ryland and Caitlin had asked to camp outside and the little girl was far more proficient at putting together a shelter and building a fire than Willow and his mom. The kid was a natural in the woods.
“I'll let you rest. If you need anything, just holler.”
Silence.
Wyatt walked out of the room and took a seat on one of the barstools. He needed to compose himself after that episode.
He heard his mom coming down the stairs. She didn't try talking to him. His mom knew him all too well.
The rest of the group trickled down the stairs. Each passed by and patted his shoulder or offered some words of encouragement. It didn't help. The woman he loved hated him right now.
Chase dropped several maps on the counter and pulled up a stool to sit next to Wyatt.
“We start with this. We make a grid and do it the right way.” Chase was all business. This is an area in which he excelled.
Wyatt nodded. The idea of actually doing something instead of sitting and waiting, doing nothing, made him feel useful.
The EMP Lodge Series: Books One to Three Page 24