The Mountain Man's Baby Read online

  Holding my palms out before me, I stared into the abyss before me before the trees and rocks became clear again. My mind frantically tried to catch up with what I’d just experienced; there was no other way to describe it but out of body. Blinking hard, I held my breath in quivering lungs before Kiki’s concerned whining broke through the wall surrounding my scope of comprehension.

  “Shit-“ The slur was slow to roll off my heavy, dry tongue, and a shiver lodged between my shoulder blades. Kiki’s wet, cold nose nudged my belly and side, and I turned my dazed gaze to her to reach with trembling fingers for her scruff. “I’m okay, Kiki. I got this.”

  Pulling my legs up one at a time, I ran my palms down my thighs and over my knees experimentally. In the dark, I couldn’t see if I was bruising, but the throbbing pain against my outer thigh promised of the marks to come. Hissing at my own painful prodding, I squeezed my eyes shut to take a deep, haggard breath. Sweat gathered on my upper lip, and I moved to my lower legs with clammy palms.

  “Ow-w! Fuck! Ow!” My shrill cry echoed around me, and I winced at the sound even as sharp pain shot up my legs and spine. Carefully poking around my lower shin and ankle, I bit down hard on my bottom lip while tears welled in my eyes. My left ankle was definitely broken; I could feel the bones shifting and moving under my skin. Shuffling to my right leg, I sniffled hard at that same, harsh, stabbing pain that pierced up to the base of my neck.

  “K- Kiki… go- search.” Bringing my shaking thumbs up to my lips, I let out a low whistle even while my mind worked overtime. I couldn’t move; the ankle I’d fallen on was broken and the one I’d used to stabilize myself was sprained- at least. Hugging myself tightly, I stared at my feet through wide eyes before realizing cold water was seeping into my boots.

  Scooting a few inches forward, I gasped as the trickle sloshed over my swelling, aching ankles. My socks were instantly soaked, but the relief was almost immediate. Closing my eyes, I ducked my head into my knees to hiccup a sob. I’d probably be stuck here for hours before Kiki came back with help.

  I was a fucking idiot for leaving my tent.

  Caroline

  Sweat caked my body, and I nearly managed to nod off before Kiki’s familiar bark tickled my ear drums. The sound sent a jerk ripping through my muscles, and I clamped my hands over my mouth to stop myself from crying out. Pain gripped my legs with a viciousness, and my whimpers surrounded me mockingly. Twisting at the rustling that sounded to me right, I fumbled for a heavy rock as my heart hammered in my chest. Blood rushed in my ears, drowning out the sound of my own harsh panting.

  Kiki’s light steps were followed by something much bigger and heavier tromping behind her, and I swiped my tears from my eyes to get a clear look. The sun was turning the atmosphere gray; in a mere hour or two the star would crest the horizon. It’d taken my dog all night to find help, and I trembled violently before she burst from the trees. Her tail waggled furiously, tongue hanging out of her dry mouth as she came up to me. Rubbing and brushing against my back, her warm body supported mine.

  Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I let my relief surge through me as I rested my head on hers.

  “Good girl. Good girl, Kiki… Oh Jesus- I don’t know what I’d do without you, huh…” Mumbling shakily into her coarse fur, I sniffled hard before the sharp breaking of a twig captured my attention. Jerking as the sound rippled across my skin, I took a shuddering, shallow breath as a massive, human body emerged from the darkness.

  “… You look like shit…” Deep and rumbling, his voice wrapped around me to send a wash of goosebumps over my entire body. Stiffening as he sauntered closer, I tightened my grip on my dog while he crouched down. “Can I touch you?”

  My only response was a hesitant nod, and the man reached for me to carefully pick me up with an arm under my knees and another around my back. The action was smooth, causing no pain to attack my stiff legs, and I held the fabric of his shirt with white, trembling fingers.

  Kiki made no move to resist, and that was the real clencher for me. If she trusted this stranger, then I had no problem doing so either. At least, for now. Her whines and huffs were dying down, but her sharp eyes were everywhere when I glanced down as I was hauled into the air.

  “You trained that dog?” Tensing at the question, I sucked in air through my teeth as my gaze flew up. Brows furrowed, the man wore a curious expression that only darkened until I managed another silent nod. “She’s good. What’s her name?”

  “K- Kiki…C- can you bring me back to camp… a- about a mile… that way?” Sputtering my request, my heart squeezed, and my lungs locked when the man shook his head jerkily. “Why- why…? I- I need a hos-pital…”

  “You won’t make it to a hospital before you get an infection from all the shit in your boots. Besides, they’ll just charge you a crazy amount of money for something I can do for free. Relax. You can go after I disinfect your wounds. You lost a lot of blood overnight, too. You know your type?” My eyes widened at that, and I glanced down to stare at my leg. Even in the fading darkness I could barely see, and the man snorted roughly as he began to sway from a heavy gait. “Do you know your blood type?”

  “A… A+… The best grade you can get in school.” An ache spread in my chest from how hard my heart pumped, and I let my head fall back with a harsh groan. “My chest- my chest-“

  “Yeah- yeah… Calm down. You’re overthinking your blood loss. Lucky for you, I’m A+, too. What’s your name?” The man talked like he was discussing the weather; as if my panic wasn’t all too warranted. His dull tone spoke of experience, and the sound lulled my mind a little. Taking as deep a breath as I could manage, I held it for a few seconds before letting it burst from my throat.

  “Caroline.”

  “Caroline, huh? I’m James. It’s okay to pass out if you have to, you know. Your dog will probably saw through the rest of my leg if I did anything to you. She’s a smart bitch.” My slowing mind didn’t really register what James said beyond his name. The canopy above me was a blur, but despite my utter exhaustion, I couldn’t black out completely. Swaying from James’ gait, I blinked past my bleary vision, but it did nothing to help me see.

  “Here we are…” Time held no meaning until a blast of cool air hit my side, and James tightened his grip on me as I jolted into full consciousness. “Up on the table you go.”

  The light that James put on was so bright it would’ve blinded me if I could see any better, and I tossed my head to the side with a groan. Hard wood cradled my back, and my hands searched for the edge of the table to hold tight.

  “Don’t move. I gotta cut off your pants.” James’ voice was rough, giving me grounding for what was to come. Clenching my teeth together, I nodded between breaths as he pulled my boots off. A pained, straining groan escaped my clogged throat, but I stayed as still as I could as two thumps reverberated up through the table legs.

  “Oh- fuck!” Yelping when James rolled my sock down my swollen, injured ankle, I arched off the table only to have a hand land heavily on my inner thigh. “Ah- ah!”

  “Stop that shit, okay? At least you kept your feet in the water, and I’m not peeling crusty, dry skin and blood from your ankle. Jesus-“

  “Oh- piss off! Just hurry up before I kick you in the face!” The mental image sent a harsh shudder down my spine, and James snorted at my rasping threat. Taking a hard breath, I held the air tightly in my lungs as he wiggled my pale, aching toes free.

  “You want to suffer two broken feet then- be my guest…” James’ low mutter almost escaped me, and my gaze snapped to his pinched expression. His eyes never roamed higher than my knee, but the uncomfortable look plastered on his face deflated my lungs in a gasp before he spoke up. “Seriously, though- don’t fucking scream or your dog will attack me.”

  “That’s way more creepy than it should be, you know…” Through shallow pants I offered a reply, and James shot me a glare as he carefully pulled off my right sock.

  “You know what- why don’t you just s
hut up entirely? I have a Perc around here, I think- if it’ll help…” Without waiting for a response, James turned away from me, and for the first time I noticed the space around me. The kitchen was quaint, modest, rustic, and I squinted to watch blurrily as he flung open an upper cabinet roughly. Medicine bottles were lined up neatly, and I relaxed a little as he shook two containers before reaching for a third and shutting the door. My lips parted at the sight of the bottle, and he popped the top easily to drop two pills into his palm.

  “Don’t mess up, James…” The seriousness of the situation hit me when James held the two pills over my mouth. Staring through wide eyes at the two tiny objects, I took a shallow, unsteady breath before opening my mouth fully.

  “I got you, Caroline.” My lips twitched in a smile at the absurdity of this entire episode; I was about to be drugged out of my mind by a stranger, and then that stranger was going to essentially operate on my ankle. Carefully dropping the pills into my mouth, James moved to my feet as I swallowed hard.

  My dad is going to kill me. The thought was almost a certainty, and I closed my eyes to imagine the immense pile of crap I’d be dunked in when I got home. Clattering metal rang harshly in my ears, and within seconds I could feel the pain relievers start to take effect. Staring at the insides of my eyelids, I took a deep, shuddering breath as relief thickened in my veins.

  A dull throbbing traveled up my leg when James examined my broken ankle, but the pain that I had experienced wasn’t there. Keeping myself as still as I could, I held my fists to my chest to feel my rapid heartbeat. Slowly the organ was finding a normal rhythm, and after a long, quiet second James spoke up.

  “It’s a clean break. You’re just all types of lucky, apparently. Kiki- girl- get up on the table. Come up. Up.” The table shuddered when James hit it, and Kiki wasted no time hopping up next to me. “Don’t fucking bite me, yeah?”

  Kiki’s hard, warm body was carefully draped over my legs, with her elbows tucked under my thighs. Her chest against my apex vibrated in low, threatening growls, and my hands slid down to grip her fur. Rubbing soothing circles into what I could only guess was her scruff, I managed a soft sigh before James’ voice reached my ears again.

  “You’re probably going to pass out when I set your bones, Caroline. Don’t fight it, okay?” His words came through a deep tunnel, and I groaned softly in response. Too much effort went to deciphering what he’d said, and just as he’d instructed, I didn’t fight the darkness that nibbled at the edges of my consciousness.

  James

  Washing the blood off my hands roughly, I glanced over my shoulder to eyeball the pair currently on my kitchen table. That damn dog watched me with narrowed pupils and curled lips, and I knew I had no hope of getting to her human. I’d done what I needed to do, and until Caroline woke up Kiki was going to stand guard.

  She was a good dog.

  My gaze slid to Caroline, and I let out a harsh breath before yanking down the faucet handle. I still couldn’t wrap my head around how I’d gotten dragged into this mess. Leaning on the counter, I dried my hands before reaching for the pile of needles, tubing, alcohol bottles, and gauze to drop it in the trash can. The sound was almost damning, and I grabbed the back of a chair to sit down heavily.

  The woman on my table was clammy, pale, and dark, purple bruises were beginning to bud around her ankles and thighs. Staring at the pristine, white wrap on either ankle, I rubbed my jaw harshly as I debated calling an ambulance. My patchwork skills were amateur at best, but my argument for avoiding the hospital was null now. Against my outer thigh my cell phone rested heavily in my pocket, and I gnashed my teeth before throwing the idea of rescue away. Chances were that she wouldn’t even get to a hospital for hours, and by then she’d be awake. The nearest hospital was more than two hours away, and that didn’t include the journey to get the damn ambulance here.

  “Fuck.” Pushing myself out of the chair, I made my way to the refrigerator to grab a beer. “I don’t need this shit. I have enough to deal with.”

  The whole reason I was awake and out last night came back to mind, and I grimaced as I went to the living room to drop heavily on the couch. Any of the three channels I received out here was better than thinking about the past few months, and my fingers itched as they wrapped around the remote controller. Blinking hard, I popped the cap off my beer to neck the bottle, but even then, images assaulted my mind’s eye.

  I couldn’t even step foot in a room in my own fucking house because of the atrocities I’d witnessed in there. It was pathetic, and a huff of a condescending laugh escaped my wet lips.

  A woman’s voice filtered out from my television speakers, and I upped the volume as she explained the weather. No matter how sad the distraction, it still worked; the next few days were going to be hot, hotter, and hot as balls. In my peripheral vision I could still see Kiki, holding her place on top of her master, and I took another swig of my beer absently.

  “Why am I the one that gets stuck between a rock and a hard place…” Staring blankly at the news channel, I leaned back into the couch in the hopes of falling asleep.

  Not that sleep was as easy as it was before.

  Drifting in and out of consciousness, I watched the sun grow brighter and warmer beyond my eyelids. The sensation of it on my face would fade and reappear, but my time overseas gave me a good idea of how to track the time. Deep, steady breaths inflated and deflated my lungs, and my heart thudded against my ear drums. The song was mine, proof that I was still here when so many people I knew weren’t.

  My leg throbbed at that thought, forcing me into full wakefulness, and I rubbed the spot absently with my fist. The thick scars were felt even from behind my jeans, and the dents in my flesh created a valley from knee to hip. Tracing the jagged mark through my pants, I took a deep breath before opening my eyes.

  Noon rolled around before I stood up, and I swiped my hand through my hair with a tired yawn. Rubbing my eyes and face, I shook my head wildly before my gaze landed on the table. Caroline was still passed out cold, and her dog was still watching me. Kiki’s body hadn’t lost any rigidity, any alertness, and I shuffled past the pair to crack open the cereal cupboard.

  I’d barely finished my bowlful when the dog sat up, her lean head whipping around to Caroline’s face. Setting my burden down with a clatter, I leaned to watch through narrowed eyes as she blinked heavily. She didn’t move, her eyes didn’t wander, but after a moment she opened her mouth to lick her teeth and lips.

  Firmly planted between my cheeks, my grimace grew deeper as Caroline slowly looked around. She took several passes to notice me, and I cocked my head while her slender brows came together.

  “… Did you mess up?” Rasping and scratchy, Caroline’s question caused her to wince as it gyrated my ear drums. Relief surged through me even while I shook my head, and her lip twitched up. “Awesome.”

  “You remember, then?” Grabbing a glass from a cupboard, I filled it with water before noticing Caroline struggling to sit up. Reaching for her shoulder, my fingers were only an inch away before a low, menacing growl made me freeze. Swerving to Kiki, my eyes narrowed into slits at the slight pick up of her lips, showing just the tips of her long, sharp teeth.

  The exchange was only a second, maybe less, but it was long enough for Caroline to sit up fully. Tearing my gaze off the dog, I pulled back my hand only to hold out the glass for her shaking hands.

  “Yeah. How long has it been?” Her trembling question came as I stepped back, and only then did the dog stop growling. Gulping down her drink roughly, she rolled her eye to watch me shrug.

  “It’s almost 1p.m.. I got you here around 5a.m.. The drugs are about ready to wear off- it’s why you woke up.” Caroline stared at me openly as I answered her, and I took her glass to refill it before continuing. “Your ankle will be fine in a few weeks. I wanted to wait until you woke up to call an ambulance- it’ll take forever, anyway.”

  “Thank you…” Trailing off, Caroline developed a quizzical ex
pression, and my own morphed in confusion. “U- uh… what- what’s your name again?”

  “James. I’m James Dunn.” So, she knows who I am- that I helped her… but didn’t remember my name. The effect was common with trauma and drugs, and I crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s at least four miles between my house and your campsite, you know. Your dog came all the way here even though you said there’s another campsite a mile from yours.”

  “Oh- like Dunn Enterprises?” Frowning deeply, I jerked my head in a nod at Caroline’s arched brow even as annoyance bubbled up in my chest. “I sell my pictures to a company under them. Uh, anyway… I don’t know why Kiki did that, but I’m kinda glad. I’d probably lose my foot… or at least a toe…”

  Caroline’s expression portrayed nothing of what she should’ve been feeling; the fact that she really could’ve lost her foot didn’t seem to bother her at all. For a long moment I watched her closely, but she only sighed as she stared at her bandaged feet.

  “… You can take a bath. You shouldn’t get the bandages wet, but I have more.” I didn’t move, waiting to see her reaction, and Caroline picked at her dirty, bloodied, damp shirt before sliding her fingertips down her arm. The trail she left was noticeable, and her face scrunched in disgust before she carefully shimmied her legs off the table.

  “Should I, like, call a hospital or something? Is it safe to walk on my right foot? I don’t do damsel very well…” Snorting at Caroline’s concerns, I sauntered over to the table to pick her up. Her body was lighter than before, and she stiffened but didn’t protest as I exited the kitchen. Kiki bumped against my shins, keeping herself firmly underneath her human, and I kicked open the bathroom door to set Caroline on the edge of the tub.