by Lissa Kasey
Nate noticed a pair of dog tags hanging from the man’s neck. He reached for them and the man flinched. “Sorry, sorry,” Nate said, stopping before he touched them. The man choked and coughed from the effort. “I’m sorry. Let me get you some water.” Nate pulled his bottle of his jacket’s giant pocket. He had to huddle near the man’s head and carefully tilt the bottle so the man could drink.
“Is Luna yours?” Nate asked, though he was pretty sure the dog was. He’d seen a lot of homeless people in his time and they always seemed to take better care of their animals than they did of themselves.
“Yes,” the man said in a rusty, strained voice.
“She’s beautiful. A good girl.” Nate heard Luna’s tail start beating against the blanket again. “We’re going to get you both out of here and to some help.”
Jamie looked them over, then stripped out of his coat to drape it over the man.
“It’s freezing out there,” Nate protested.
“And I can move fast. There are extra coats at the office.” Jamie looked at the prone man. “I’m going to leave Nate here to look after you two while I go get help. It’s about an hour and a half hike out, as long as I move quick.” His gaze returned to Nate. “It will be dark soon.”
Nate sucked in a deep breath. “We’ll be okay.” Sure. What could happen, out here in the middle of nowhere? How many people had told him there weren’t bears on the island? Who knew, there could be a bigfoot nearby or a jersey devil or some weird and random west coast cryptid Nate had never heard of. “Leave the notebook with me and I’ll write down whatever bothers me.”
“I’m leaving the whole pack with you. There are two more bottles of water, a half dozen granola bars, and some of the jerky left. There are also flares and a lighter.” Jamie frowned at Nate. “I’d rather you not use those unless you absolutely have too. It’s pretty dry out here. Could start a pretty big fire.”
“If you’re not back by dawn all bets are off,” Nate told him firmly. He didn’t know how flares worked other than they were sort of like sticks of dynamite without the big boom. He could see himself losing a finger or an eye from trying to set one off. If he survived the whole night out here on his own and Jamie didn’t return, he’d be setting the forest on fire for help if necessary. “Pretty sure I’d be more worried about me using them than you are.”
Jamie looked at him a moment longer before leaning in for a kiss. Nate accepted it and returned it like maybe it would be their last one. Their lips parted and Jamie rested his forehead against Nate’s, staring into Nate’s eyes. “Stay in the tent. The temp is going to really drop tonight, and there is no good place here for a fire,” Jamie said.
“Okay,” Nate agreed and gave him a smile. “We’ll be fine. I have a slew of great jokes I can share with him. A certain someone bombarded me with them at breakfast this morning.”
Jamie pecked Nate on the lips, glanced briefly at the man, and then darted out of the tent and into the growing darkness. Nate sucked in a deep breath as a wave of anxiety rushed through him. For a minute he was drowning in panic, fighting to stay still and not run screaming after Jamie. Panic would not help this man, or Luna, the happy pit bull. Nate worked on scanning his body, tightening and releasing each muscle until some of the terror and tension had faded.
“He your boyfriend?” the man asked in a quiet voice.
Was he? “It’s new,” Nate said. “Best friend forever. Recently more…” Nate didn’t want to analyze his relationship with Jamie right now. Too much negativity in his head which would only succeed in tearing his mind up with worry. “You a veteran?” Nate asked, pointing to the man’s dog tags.
“Yeah. Army scout.”
“Cool. Thanks for your service.”
The man scoffed which sent him into a spat of coughing again. The heavy wet sound rattling from the man’s lungs was a bad sign. Pneumonia maybe? “Whole country so fucking grateful that this is where I’ll die.”
“You’re not going to die,” Nate promised. “Jamie’s getting help.”
“Can’t afford a doctor, so doesn’t matter. You just take care of Luna for me. She’s a good dog. Obeys really well. Not a picky eater.”
Nate didn’t know what to say. He just offered the man some more water, then dug a granola bar out of the bag and began breaking it into pieces and feeding it to the man. “What’s your name?” Nate asked after a while.
“Jordan,” he said refusing another bite of granola but accepting water.
“How’d you get way out here?”
“Walked of course.”
“By yourself?”
Jordan went quiet. Nate glanced his way to see him staring at the opposite side of the tent.
“Someone hurt Luna. Kicked her. Do you know who that might have been?” Nate prodded.
“Just some people I hitched a ride with. Took her from me. Heard her cry, but couldn’t get to her. Was already sick. Feverish for a few days. ‘Cause of the leg. Saw a buddy in Iraq die that way. Gash on his hip. Festered. Fever killed him. Couldn’t get to backup in time.”
“I’m sorry.” Nate stroked Luna’s head. She was one of those dogs who looked to always be smiling. Her tail still wagged. It gave him some peace to know she was feeling calm, even if she was hurt. “Do you think those people will come back? How long since they left you here?”
“Few days ago, maybe. I don’t know.”
Nate went quiet again, contemplating things. “Do you have family anywhere?”
“No.” The word came out a bitter burst of sound. Jordan coughed again.
“How long have your lungs been like that?” Nate asked.
“A while. Couple months maybe.”
Nate dug through the first aid kit and the Survival Kit, not really knowing what he was looking for. He found a small jar of Vick’s Vaporub in the bottom of the first aid kit. The smell was strong and Nate knew a few weird facts about the stuff and why it might be in Jamie’s kit. “Can I put some of this on you? It will help the cough, ease your lungs a little.” And maybe ease the stench of human waste.
He showed Jordan the jar. The man nodded slightly, and Nate carefully peeled the blanket back, and the man’s many layers of shirts down enough to apply some of the ointment to his collarbones. The smell cleared Nate’s sinuses too. He heard Jordan taking deep breaths and hoped it provided a little relief. “There’s some ibuprofen in here. Might help with the pain. When the medics get here, they might have something stronger.” Nate didn’t say that he was pretty sure it would take a few hours for Jamie to get to the office, round up help, and trek the whole batch back to them.
Jordan accepted the pills and Nate offered him water to help swallow them. Nate pulled out his little notebook and began a new section, writing out his worries. The first few lines were filled with fear of Luna and/or Jordan dying while he sat there unable to do anything. Eventually his scattered thoughts refocused and he began writing down writing ideas again. Jordan seemed to be dozing, so did Luna. The sun set and darkness encased them. If not for the little flashlight Nate didn’t think they’d be able to see anything. He hoped it had a long charge and leaving it on wouldn’t attract anyone unwanted. It sort of became his security blanket, despite only illuminating their tiny space.
“Do you believe in cryptids?” Nate asked, anxiety riding him when he heard some random noise outside he didn’t recognize. However, since he was a city boy and not used to spending any time in the woods, he could have been hearing a bird and not really known the difference.
“Cryptid?”
“An unusual creature. Something not yet scientifically proven. Like bigfoot.”
“No,” Jordan said. “Seen a lot of evil in my life, but all created by man.”
Nate understood. He’d never been in war, but knew enough of humanity to know how horrific it probably was. “I’m a city boy,” Nate said. “Don’t know much about dark woods. I apologize if I’m a little jumpy. My anxiety is pretty bad sometimes.”
“Nothin
g out here but us,” Jordan grumbled. “Called for help for a few days. No one came. Saw a raccoon once. Heard some birds.”
Nate thought about that for a while. How sad and terrifying it must have been to be out here alone and so badly hurt. “Were you hurt when your friends left?”
“Not my friends,” Jordan asserted very firmly. “Just some guys thanking a vet. Bastards took Luna from me.” He let out a long sigh, sucking in large gulps of air. “My fault for being too trusting. I know better.”
“What happened to your leg?”
“Fell.”
“Off one of the hills?” If he’d dropped from the cliff area Nate and Jamie had lounged earlier, he wouldn’t have survived.
“Just tripped over some shit. Wasn’t seeing right. Happens sometimes.”
Was he already feverish from the cough when it happened or maybe it was PTSD flashbacks? Nate had learned a lot about them when he’d been in the psych ward.
“Were the people you came with here when it happened?”
Jordan was silent for a while. They had been.
“Did they say they were going to get help?” Were there more people out here they had to find?
“I wasn’t getting better. Asked them to take Luna to a shelter for me, so she’d get a good home.” He winced. “They hurt her. I heard her cry.”
Nate wondered at them leaving the dog alive. They must not have been armed. He didn’t know why they didn’t just let her go. Not that abandoning the dog in the woods was any kinder. “Horrible people,” Nate said.
“Yeah,” Jordan agreed, sounding regretful. “Just…take care of my Luna, okay? She’s…”
“I understand,” Nate told him. “I love animals. Have three ancient cats. Jamie rehabs dogs, has a pet pony and a very exuberant miniature goat, as well as three cats. We know all about animals.”
Jordan let out a long sigh, some of the tension easing. He closed his eyes. “Thank you.”
Nate set his notebook aside and checked the time on his phone. After ten. Jamie would be back soon, he hoped. He’d been gone a few hours. Nate found a little corner to curl up in his coat and told himself it was okay to sleep if he needed to. He was tired. Jamie was coming. Nate’s senses were attuned enough that he’d hear anyone in the distance. He pillowed his head on the backpack and closed his eyes. He needed a little rest at least, even if he didn’t sleep.
Sleep didn’t come. Each little nose startled him to tension. He listened to the sounds of the night, thinking a few times that he heard people coming, but then the sounds faded. Jordon coughed a time or two, but nothing really horrible for a while. Nate hoped the man got some real sleep.
Finally he’d begun to doze when wheezing had him bolting upright. It was so loud and harsh at first Nate thought it was Jordan. Only it wasn’t.
“It’s okay, angel girl,” Jordan whispered to Luna as her body was wracked with horrible convulsions and she struggled for breath. Nate crawled to her, cradling her head. He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t a vet and when his health OCD kicked in, it was always human illnesses.
“Don’t leave me, Lu,” Jordan cried. “I’m so sorry, baby. Sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Jordan could only reach her paw, but he stroked it with a weak hand while the dog continued to struggle. Jordan sobbed, begging Luna not to go and telling the dog over and over how she was all he had.
Nate felt tears burn his eyes. He was certain that Luna was going to die right then and there. Possibly even Jordan right after her from a broken heart. Nate wrapped his arms around her head and kissed her little nose. He whispered soft things to her, hoping at least to give her comfort if this was how it would end. He ran a hand down her neck to her chest and back up. Her trembling breathing made his own a struggle, and panic threatened to take control again. He was useless to them if he panicked. Which just made him angry with himself. Jamie trusted him to watch over them and take care of himself for just a few hours. Nate resolved that whatever happened he’d handle it. He had to.
Luna’s breathing eased. The wheezing turning to an eerie silence. Nate feared the worst. But the sound that followed was a deep, high-pitched draw. She was breathing. Large gulps, slower now that she seemed to be comforted by Nate and Jordan’s presence. She let out an annoyed huff and settled back down.
“She’s okay,” Nate told Jordan. She was breathing. Exhausted, and in desperate need of medical attention, but alive. For now. Nate pulled the backpack closer and curled himself up like a pretzel to watch them both breathe. How did nurses do this? Handle this stress? He needed a distraction before his breathing went south too. “What does a zombie vegetarian eat?” Nate asked Jordan.
Jordan just grunted, too tired to do much else.
“Graaains,” Nate said.
Jordan’s next grunt sounded like a rough laugh. Nate continued retelling the jokes Jamie had told him and prayed Jamie would arrive soon.
Chapter 24
Nate didn’t realize he’d fallen asleep until he was roused by someone shaking him. He opened his eyes to find Jamie hovering over him. Nate was surprised he hadn’t awoken sooner. He could tell there was more than a handful of people outside the tent. The sound of low voices and shuffling echoed through the quiet of the early morning around them.
“Come outside so I can get some of the medics in here,” Jamie whispered.
Nate let Jamie tug him away from Luna and out of the tent. The crowd appeared to be Graham, the fire department including Charlie and Jessie, a handful of cops, and two EMTs. Nate wondered if Jamie couldn’t get one of the vets to come out. He hoped Luna was going to be okay.
Jamie wrapped his arms around Nate and pulled him into a tight hug. Nate let out a long sigh. Relief so strong he almost cried. He hadn’t realized how cold he’d been until Jamie’s warmth sizzled against him. He tilted his face upward, not really thinking about it until after Jamie had already begun to kiss him in front of everyone. What would everyone think?
Nate pushed the thought aside to enjoy the sweetness of Jamie in his arms. No one shouted or yelled at them, in fact he didn’t hear anyone saying anything. Maybe that was telling. Were they stunned to silence? Nate was because Jamie had come back for him, sought him out first, and held him tightly, letting everyone else do the work. He could have brushed Nate aside to play the hero. He was the hero after all.
The taste of green apple candy and coffee flavored Jamie’s mouth. His tongue was hot and branding against Nate’s. Nate savored the moment, curling into Jamie’s embrace and devouring his mouth with the joy of having him back. His notebook had been filled with fears of never seeing Jamie again. Irrational stupid fears that faded under Jamie’s attention.
Jamie released Nate’s lips and sighed sweetly against them. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Nate protested. Just sat with them while they all waited.
“You did. You kept calm and took care of them. Alone in a stressful situation for hours.” Jamie stroked Nate’s face. “You’re so amazing.”
“I’m not the one who hiked out, got help, and hiked back. You must be exhausted.”
“I’m fine. We’ll both be tired. We’ll have a lazy day. Spend it in bed,” Jamie said.
Nate nodded, not even bothering to entertain the idea of worry over being in bed with Jamie. Whatever happened between them, happened. As long as he was with Jamie nothing else mattered. “Okay,” Nate agreed.
Jamie smiled and it was a bit like the sun coming through the darkness. Nate couldn’t help but return that amazing smile. He basked in Jamie’s warmth, listening as the rescue team got Jordan and Luna loaded up on stretchers and strapped down.
“His name is Jordan,” Nate told Jamie. “Not sure of his last name. But he was an Army Scout.”
Jamie shared the information with Graham who was also staying out of the way of the rescue, but helping dismantle the tent and gather up the stolen supplies. The EMTs worked with the fire department. The police and the rest of the FD crew cleaned up
the camp. There were enough flashlights that Nate felt blinded by their brightness.
“Can you put on the pack?” Jamie asked. The crew was finishing up. Funny how it had taken only minutes to get everyone loaded and the entire broken camp dismantled and ready to carry.
“Sure,” Nate agreed. Though he had no idea how he was going to make the hike back, in the dark, feeling like he had ice for bones.
Jamie helped him into the pack, tightened the straps, then he pulled Nate’s hood up over the top of his head and turned around, half squatting. “Get on.”
“I can walk,” Nate protested.
“You’re barely upright and frozen. I’m half expecting you to break into ‘Let it Go’ and create a magic ice castle instead of hiking back. I’ve had coffee, and spent time in warm buildings. Get on.”
“Just for a little while.” Nate climbed awkwardly onto Jamie’s back, letting Jamie adjust his weight. He’d never in his life had a piggyback ride. Wouldn’t have entertained the thought of having one as an adult. But as they began to move and Jamie’s warmth seeped through Nate’s clothes, bringing feeling back to his limbs, Nate relaxed more and more. Until he fell into a light doze, eased by the rocking of Jamie’s steps. If the crew spoke around them, Nate tuned it out.
The path evened out. Nate struggled to pull himself out of his warm coma as Jamie stopped and the group surrounded them. There was an ambulance in the parking lot near the office. More cars than Nate could recall seeing in town filled the lot. He was thrilled to see Jamie’s truck, and suddenly longed for his bed and the lulling purr of his cats.
The EMTs loaded Jordan into the back of the ambulance. Dr. Warren appeared beside the cot Luna had been strapped to. Nate hadn’t even seen him at first, but there was a van in the lot, Jen standing beside the open door.
Nate eased his grip on Jamie and Jamie let Nate slide off his back. His legs were a little wobbly at first. Eyes gritty with exhaustion. At least he wasn’t as cold anymore.
