WHITEOUT: Above And Beyond (Beauty 0f Life Book 10)

by Laura Acton

  “My intentions.” Scott went to the table, slung the pack on his back, pulled the full-face mask on, and tucked it into his jacket. He settled his goggles over his eyes before tugging on his gloves. “Ready?”

  Loki trotted over, prepared to open and close the door. He said a prayer for Scott’s safety and his ability to bring help for Dan before the worst happened. He stuck out his hand to shake Scott’s.

  Scott shook the offered hand, then pulled Loki in for a hug. “If I don’t make it, tell Lily and my kids, I love them.” Scott released Loki, grabbed his poles and skis, turned on the high-beam light attached to the goggle’s strap, and entered the snowstorm of the century with a single purpose … save Danny.

  Access Road to General Store – 8:45 a.m.

  About two hours ago, when Scott locked his boots into his skis and set out against the wind, he told himself it was only fifteen or so miles, and if professional skiers could traverse the distance in an hour, he could make it in two. Oh, how wrong he had been. He needed to reset his timetable because he was not even one-third of the way to the store yet.

  Scott didn’t berate himself for his slower than anticipated progress, acknowledging the reality of his situation as snow swirled around him. After the first twenty minutes of travel, Scott concluded those professionals skied at fifteen miles per hour under better weather conditions, whereas he worked against gale-force winds and almost zero visibility.

  With the dark gray clouds blocking the sunlight in conjunction with the thickly falling snow, keeping track of the road became difficult … like during their trek to the cabin. Appreciative of Dan’s Arctic gear which kept him warmer, and polarized sunglasses, which clarified his vision in the hostile conditions, he continued his efforts. If his stamina held out, Scott figured he would reach his objective in another three to four hours.

  The extended time worried him since his chosen brother’s life hung in the balance. As Scott skied, thoughts of Dan remained at the forefront of his mind. Despite gaining a natural brother, Kyle, some years later, Scott still considered Danny his little brother. Their bond remained closer than the ones he shared with his other male cousins Adam, Jeff, and Zach, and quite possibly the one he had with Kyle. Perhaps there was some merit to the supposition they were twins, but split and one given to each of their twin mothers.

  Just like their moms did for one another, Scott would do anything for Dan without hesitation, including giving his life if necessary. Though his other cousins and brother didn’t quite understand Dan’s psyche … Scott did. Danny received an extra dose of Broderick protectiveness. Sara’s death cemented the belief for him, especially with how it screwed with Danny’s mind.

  And ever since he married Lily and the birth of Jerrell and Anna, Scott found his own need to protect family ratcheted up significantly. He now comprehended how much he would hurt if he were powerless to save those he loved. Scott would rather die in an attempt than not try at all … he would risk all for the love of family … exactly like Dan.

  Fatigued and needing a break, Scott scanned as far ahead as he could, which was limited, but his eyes landed on a snow-covered shape down the ravine, and he realized it must be the SUV. He skied down, and after disconnecting his boots, he shrugged off the pack and pulled out the collapsible snow shovel he found in Dan’s gear.

  Leaning the poles and skis on the vehicle, he trudged to the rear and dug snow away from the exhaust pipe. He had no intention of asphyxiating himself with carbon monoxide. Once done, he returned to the driver’s side door and expended more energy digging out enough snow to open the door.

  After slipping inside and tossing the backpack on the passenger seat, Scott shut out the howling wind and took a moment to breathe. He unzipped his jacket, then the inner pocket to retrieve his keys. Scott released another sigh when the engine turned on without a problem. He waited about five minutes before turning the heater on full blast. After another few minutes, as the interior began to warm, Scott tugged off his gloves and face mask.

  Pulling out the insulated containers, Scott drank half the broth. He recapped it to retain the heat, saving the remainder for later. Next, he poured a cup of black gold and smiled as the steam rose. Allowing his muscles to relax, Scott sipped, enjoying the warmth the beverage created, melting him from the inside out. After he consumed two of the protein bars and washed them down with more coffee, he had thawed enough to move again.

  Crawling into the back, he lay on the bench seat and rummaged around under the seats until he located Dan’s antibiotic and the aspirin. He also found Loki’s first aid kit and a bag of trail mix. He shoved three of the items into the open backpack before stretching out on the backseat and opening the nuts, granola, and raisin snack. He ate three-quarters of the bag while contemplating whether he should return to the cabin with the antibiotics or continue.

  After ten more minutes of rest, Scott turned off the engine, zipped up his jacket and rucksack, then pulled on his gloves, preparing to exit. He weighed what he knew of Dan’s condition, the speed at which the infection spread, Danny’s compromised system, and came to one conclusion. Dan needed a hospital and doctor as soon as possible, and the time he would lose to return with the medicine might cost Danny his life.

  Clicking his boots into the skis, Scott set off into the storm again. One-third of the way down … two-thirds to go. I will not fail Danny … we are all going home alive to our loved ones.

  Cabin – Main Room – 10:15 a.m.

  Loki wandered into the kitchen, poured himself coffee, filled a bowl with chicken soup, containing mostly noodles and veggies, all that remained after decanting the broth from the portion used to feed Dan sips every twenty minutes or so. Spooning in the first bite, he continued to mark off his mental to-do list, and his throat thanked him for the reprieve from speaking.

  Ever since Scott left, Loki kept up a verbal monolog to Dan, not that his unconscious … um, sleeping … friend heard any of his words. Talking helped Loki deal with his anxiety over being alone … well, the only one awake, in the cabin in the woods … and his growing concern for his buddy.

  Between packing their belongings, he tended to his teammate, refilling the snow bags when they melted and helping him swallow a little broth, then wiping his face with a cold rag before settling the cloth on his forehead, and repeating the cycle. His friend had not stirred once in over three hours, and Loki contemplated the delirium, which caused Dan to talk like a little kid.

  The bond on display between the cousins earlier, with their soft words, and the trust Dan showed Scott, along with the vulnerability the ex-soldier exhibited, shook Loki to the core and brought forth memories of his own childhood. In some ways, he and Dan shared loneliness that he didn’t think the others on their team understood. Though his youth had been filled with other people, and he had Ma and his sisters’ love, the abuse, primarily verbal, which Narciso subjected him to had isolated him, and his lack of social skills further separated him from his peers.

  Although different circumstances than his, Dan’s secluded upbringing at the Yukon base resulted in the same lonesomeness. Fortunately, they each found a friend who helped them reengage with the world. For Dan, it happened to be Brody, and for him, it was Sergio, his high school computer club buddy. And when he joined TRF, he gained Ray as a best bud, and Lexa too.

  Loki sighed, rested his elbow on the table and his cheek in his palm. The silence around him started to seep in and increase his anxiety, so he began to voice his thoughts aloud again. “Yeah, we’re alike in a few ways, but geez, we are so different too. I mean, wow, he can have any woman he wants, triplets even, while I stand no chance with the one I want.”

  He conjured up an image of Tia, her lovely face with beautiful honey eyes, chestnut brown hair, and the soft lilt of her voice, which made his stomach flutter when she greeted him in the mornings. Sadness washed over him. “I’ll never be in Tia’s league, but Dan gets any lady he desires.” Recalling Dan’s drunken song and Ray’s suspicion Dan got dumpe
d, Loki considered he might be wrong. “Guess Dantastic’s heart can be broken too. Though, I can’t for the life of me figure out why any woman wouldn’t want him.”

  Having sated his hunger, Loki rose and went to check on Dan again after grabbing more broth and a sterilized compress for Dan’s leg, which he carried in tongs. Taking a moment to study Dan’s lax, flushed face as he waved the rag to cool it a little, guilt gnawed at Loki. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been so eager for our ski trip. I think if I had toned down my response, Dan might’ve postponed this trip after he cut his shin.

  “My emotions are open for anyone to view … but Dan’s are so closed off. He probably hurt a heck of a lot more than he let on, but the disappointment I showed likely played a role in him choosing to come. Neither Scott nor Dan would be in this predicament if I insisted on waiting.”

  Loki set the cup of broth on the table and removed the dirty cloth from Dan’s shin. He hoped to draw out some of the infection and slow things down. Tossing the reeking, pus-covered one into the bowl on the floor, Loki tested the temperature of the clean rag.

  Finding it not too hot, he draped it on the festering wound. “Man, Jon’s gonna be mad at us, but I’m not gonna let him blame you. I’ll take responsibility and make sure you aren’t in the truck or relegated to doing paperwork. Well, beyond whatever light duty time this injury is gonna cause you.”

  Heat hitting his leg roused Dan, but he woke slowly, his body sore and mind sluggish. The throbbing in his head, indicating the presence of a migraine, kept his eyes closed. His aching shoulder and a stinging pins and needles sensation in his lower limb made him want to retreat into oblivion again, as did the painful sounds from someone speaking. Everything so muddled, he couldn’t discern actual words, but the tone came across as caring and to his relief, drifted further away after a few moments.

  As Loki continued his verbal musings, he took the melted bags of snow to the bathroom to dump out the water and refill them from the giant snow pile in the shower. By the time he returned, Loki figured the broth would’ve cooled enough for Dan to take another sip or two. His buddy needed the nourishment and liquid to remain hydrated.

  Dan’s eyes opened only a slit as something touched his forehead. The light sent spikes into his brain, but he tried to focus. Barely making out a blurry figure with dark hair, he tensed when he comprehended some of the words.

  Loki noticed the sliver of blue and smiled as he used a soft, soothing tone like Scott had done, unsure if Dan the adult or Danny the child had awoken, and if it was the latter, he wanted to be reassuring. “I’m right here. I’m going to take care of you. I can’t stop what is happening, but I’ll do what I can to ease your pain.”

  After wiping Dan’s sweaty face, Loki rinsed the washcloth, wrung it out, and laid the fabric on his fevered brow. “Want you to drink this.” He picked up the mug and lifted Dan’s head to dribble a little broth into Dan’s mouth.

  Fear seized Dan, choking and sputtering, as he swallowed. No, no, God no.

  Loki set the cup down and started to reach for a towel to wipe up the mess when Dan’s hands shot up and wrapped around his throat. Caught off-guard, Loki gasped for breath as his fingers flew to his neck, laboring to free himself from Dan’s surprisingly firm grip. Under the crushing pressure, Loki’s vision began to gray at the edges, tunneling.

  Dan focused his gaze on The One … the sadistic bastard who tortured him for months, tricking him by acting as if he cared before inflicting ungodly pain by stabbing his gut with red-hot needles. Unrestrained for the first time since being taken captive, this was his last chance to escape. Dan squeezed with all the energy he possessed, wanting to kill the monster with his bare hands as his gravelly voice growled, “Die, bastard. Die.”

  Loki went limp and crumpled to the floor. He lay gulping in shallow, fast breaths as his heart raced. Squeezing his eyes shut, Loki comprehended he only lived now because Dan fell insentient again. If Dan remained conscious a little longer, Loki conceded he would’ve lost the battle … unable to dislodge Dan’s vice-like grip on him. The thought scared the crap out of Loki.

  He crawled away from the pull-out bed, putting distance between him and Dan. Concern etched deep lines in Loki’s face as he rubbed his abused neck. What did I do to make Dan attack me?

  As he stared, Loki’s mind went another direction. Something must’ve triggered a terrible memory, most likely from when he was tortured. Oh no, Dan is gonna beat himself up over trying to strangle me. I let my guard down. I should’ve recalled Jim’s warning … Dan can kill even when seemingly incapacitated. This is proof. Substantial, painful evidence of Dan’s ability.

  Loki recognized Dan would’ve never attacked him if he were in his right mind. The fever is to blame, but this will surely haunt Dan if he becomes aware of his actions. In truth, being almost choked to death will haunt me too for a while, but I don’t want Dan to find out. I want to spare him from carrying unwarranted guilt, which tends to be a Broderick trait.

  Rising, leery of getting too close to Dan, unsure if he was out or playing possum, Loki took a few steps forward. Should I restrain Dan? No, he’ll wonder why, and I don’t want to explain. Tying him down might make things worse. Plus, Dan needs to remain ignorant of what occurred. I’ll just be more cautious.

  With that in mind, Loki moved to pick up the spilled mug. He blotted up the wetness, and with one eye on Dan’s face, he positioned the refilled snow bags. Once he finished, Loki released a breath which he didn’t realize he held and slumped into the chair to watch over Dan.

  Loki’s fingers traced his sore throat for several moments before he rose and went to grab a bag and towel, needing to ice his neck, so it didn’t swell. I sure hope Scott made it to the store. He can’t return fast enough.

  Scott’s Lucky Day

  26

  November 24

  Access Road to General Store – 11:15 a.m.

  Freezing as the temperature dropped further, Scott struggled against the fierce crosswinds attempting to push him over. Staying upright and moving forward took an enormous amount of effort. After bringing his watch close to his face, and noting he had been out in the elements for about four and a half hours, minus his break in the suburban, he revised his timetable once again as his rate appeared to be slower than anticipated.

  To combat the cold and his frustration at the slow speed, Scott kept his mind occupied by thinking about his children. He imagined holding them in his arms and rocking them to sleep after giving them their afternoon bath … an activity he enjoyed doing on the weekends. Lily would stand in the doorway with a soft smile watching him.

  After Jerrell and Anna drifted off into slumberland, he would continue to hold them until Lily took one or the other, and they settled the little ones in the double bassinet his sister Vicky gave them. Afterward, he would pamper Lily, giving thanks for being the luckiest man alive, because she said yes when he asked her to marry him.

  Wrapped up in his musings, Scott almost missed the intersection, awareness of his location returning as his ski hit a snowdrift. Turning, he headed down the road leading to the general store. Reinvigorated, wanting to reach his destination so he could arrange help for Dan and selfishly warm-up, he dug deep into his reserves and picked up speed with the wind now at his back.

  Eagerness overrode fatigue when he spotted a sign ahead. Almost there! I made it! Fate had more sinister plans, and disaster struck when least expected. The ski pole snapped, knocking Scott off balance, his momentum propelling him forward and down, still clutching the smaller portion of the shaft.

  When Scott landed, he couldn’t prevent the pole from skewering his thigh. The ferocious wind swept his roar of pain away as Scott rolled to his back. He raged at the unfairness of it all as the brilliant white snow around his leg began turning bright crimson. So close. So very close. Blackness edged in, and Scott lost his battle to remain conscious.

  Scott’s & Lily’s Home – 11:55 a.m.

  Lightly bouncing two inconsolable babies
, Lily paced. They had been crying for a solid forty minutes. The piercing shrieks of Anna and Jerrell woke her from an afternoon siesta. She raced to their room at one fifty, wondering what caused the banshee-like screeches from her usually docile infants.

  She examined them several times for anything which might’ve caused their wailing, but found no bites, no fever, they were dry, neither too warm nor too cold, and ten minutes prior they had fallen asleep with full tummies. They also didn’t pull their legs up, indicating digestive distress from her breastmilk, which made sense. After determining her diet to be the source of the colic, Lily had not consumed any onions or garlic for months now.

  Their inconsolable cries tore at Lily’s heart, and she remained at a loss for how to soothe her children. She tried singing, talking, rocking, and now she paced her bedroom, delicately bouncing them in her arms. Nothing calmed them, and she considered calling Ann or Vicky but hated to bug them.

  Needing to heed the call of Mother Nature, Lily set the bawling twins in the center of the queen-sized bed and surrounded them with pillows. She grabbed Scott’s sleep shirt from where it had been tucked under his pillow and covered both her babies to prevent them from catching a chill, before hurrying to the bathroom.

  She rushed through her business and washed her hands. When she shut off the faucet, she registered silence. Lily raced from the room with dripping-wet hands, wringing them dry in the towel she yanked off the rack, worried something terrible happened to her babies. Oh no! Did they fall? I should’ve put them in the bassinet.

  Lily stopped abruptly at the foot of the bed. Both infants somehow fisted their little hands in Scott’s shirt and brought the fabric to their cheeks. Now content, they cooed melodiously. Tears sprouted and spilled from Lily’s eyes at the endearing sight. After drying her eyes, she scooped them up, taking the shirt with her and moved to the rocking chair by the window.