by Kristi Rose
Elizabeth straightened. “What do you mean stuck? Are you bleeding?” Her heart raced.
William glanced at his palm. “It looks to be a scratch. The blood isn’t thick. I’m good, babe.”
Nothing about this was good, but she didn’t go there.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
“It’s slippery. When I try to climb up, I slide back down. Anything in the packs we can use as a rope?” He inched forward on his hands and knees.
Elizabeth jerked the pack from her back and rummaged through it. She didn’t have anything. “I can tie my jeans together.” There were only two pairs in backpack. Not enough to make a rope. “How about yours?”
William shook his head, his focus on getting a foothold and not sliding back. He’d managed to get a few feet from the waters edge, then lifted his hand and before he could place it began a slow slide backward.
“Dammit,” he yelled banging his fist in the mud.
Elizabeth grabbed her purse and flung it open. Several pair of panties were stuffed in the top. She sat back on her haunches and tried to work out if it was possible. If she used her hoodie she should be able to make a rope of sorts that could reach. It wouldn’t extend very far, but she only needed it to get to where he began the slide back.
“I’m going to tie my undies into a rope. I need you to get to where you just where. I think using this we can give you some leverage.” She’d use weeds, but they were wet, and many were covered in thorns. So her undies it was.
Tying tight knots as quickly as she could, she said a silent thanks to her father who taught her how to make a granny knot. Lopping it through the hoodie, regretting having to give up that much undie-rope real estate, she tied it as tightly as her quivering hands could manage. Swinging her odd makeshift lasso, Elizabeth threw it down the hill, and it landed a few feet from Williams.
He glanced at her, laughed, then moved slowly up digging his toes into the wall of the hill. Elizabeth held her breath as he reached for her hoodie, stretching his long arms.
Beside him mud started to slide down. William lunged at the line and grabbed it just as his purchase on the land gave away. Elizabeth fell forward, trapping the rope, and the wrist she’d wound it around beneath her, and hoping to give them weight. Unable to see him, she found comfort in the slow tugs on the rope.
Ha! Good thing she hadn’t used the stuff Lydia and Jane gave her. It wouldn’t have lasted more then one tug. Not like good ol’ cotton. William’s head crowned over the top, and she burst out in laughter. Wrapped around his wrist were her undergarments.
He collapsed beside her. Mud drying in patchy areas, he looked uncomfortable. “You are quite ingenious, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Thank you.” She brushed a chunk of mud from his cheek and gently wiped at the dry blood at his temple. “I hate to be a downer, but I think we shouldn’t waste time.” The earth rumbled beneath them.
“I don’t want to be in these clothes any longer than I have to. What shall we do with this?” He offered her the ball of unmentionables.
“Here, I’ll take them just in case we need them again.” She hid her blush by ducking her head while she stuffed everything in her purse, taking a moment to undo the hoodie. It was muddy but only on the outside. She was glad she had the foresight to zip it before threading the undies through the sleeve. She was going to need rain protection, and this hoodie was the only thing she had.
“Do we know where we are in relation to the bed-and-breakfast?” She zipped everything up and resituated her backpack on her back.
William reached for his phone, began patting his pockets, and she knew then it was gone.
“We still have mine.” She dug into her purse, retrieved the phone, then glanced at the screen. “No service.”
“Can you pull up the GPS? Maybe we can get an idea of where we are in relation to where we’re going.” William was sitting back, his chest still puffing slightly.
The dark racing clouds and increasing thunder and lightning made her hand shake. She fumbled the phone a few time but managed to pull up the GPS app she had. Thankfully, she’d checked it before they ran out of fuel so she was able to access a local map. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the location of the bed-and-breakfast in her phone and no internet service to get it. She handed it to William.
He stared at the screen before answering. “I think I have a good idea of where we are and where we’re going. I had looked at my map right before I fell.” He scooted closer and pointed to the screen. “Let’s go this way. It should be a straight line.” William undid his breast pocket and took out a small palm compass, flakes of mud falling from him. He studied the little tool and scratched at his neck. More flakes cascaded off like bits of snow.
Elizabeth smiled. It was kinda funny, really, the predicament they were in. It was definitely a test of who they would be as a couple. Trial by fire and all that. No blissful, soft-on-reality honeymoon for them. Nope. Once again, she hoped this wasn’t indicative of the life that was before them.
William fidgeted again then tucked the compass away. “What are you smiling at?” He asked.
“You’re a mess. The first time I saw you, you were outside Lottie’s cafe and so well put together. Who knew this was in your future?”
Following a short laugh he said, “Since I’ve met you I’ve been quarantined due to a new flu strain, had to carry you down a snow-covered mountain—”
“You didn’t have to carry me,” she reminded him.
“Yes, I was going to let you hobble down with an injured ankle. And now this.” He flicked his hand at his arms, and a chunk of mud flew off and hit her in the face.
Elizabeth burst out laughing, picked up the offensive piece, and threw it back at him. Once the giggle was free, several others followed. She covered her hand, hoping to stop more from getting out.
“What’s so funny?” William asked.
She shook her head and looked away.
“Is this going to take a while or shall we get moving?” Watching him come to a stand made her laugh harder. Every move William made sounded like crinkled parchment. More mud chunks fell. Elizabeth lost it.
“I’m—what’s funny?” William came toward her, and she scurried back on her hands, shaking her head. She came to a stop when a bush poked at her back.
“It’s not just you. It’s this whole trip. We’ve been married for less than twenty-four hours, and we’re lost, hungry, we used all my underwear as a rope, some serious weather is about to rain down on us and—“
William tossed back his head and laughed, too. “And I’m covered in mud.”
Elizabeth nodded then scratched a spot on her arm. Small red dots were scattered across her arm. She looked at the leaves on the bush. “And I think I might be having a reaction to this. Look.” She held out her arms, the red spots were growing.
William grabbed her hand and jerked her up, away from the shrub. He dragged her back to the spot where he’d fallen and scooped up some mud from a puddle and slapped it on her arms. “We can’t have you itching it.”
She had to admit the coolness of the mud felt good. “You just wanted me to be as dirty as you.”
He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her. A bright light followed by a booming crack of thunder startled them. Elizabeth screamed, and William jumped back.
“That was right there,” he pointed to an area behind her that was smoking. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him, grabbing his wet, muddy backpack when they passed.
They walked quickly, in silence, concentrating on their steps and watching the landscape. Elizabeth counted the seconds between each bolt and boom. The storm was coming in fast.
They stopped under a copse of trees, and William checked the GPS and compass one more time. “I think we have another mile or two.”
If they were lucky, she thought. That was all they had. But she didn’t feel very lucky at the moment. She felt scared.
They were about to m
ove into an area that was far less heavy on trees. They would be targets.
“William.” She placed her hand on his arm.
“We should stick to the tree line. Going directly into the open area would save us time, but the risk isn’t worth it.”
She shook her head, no indeed it wasn’t worth it.
He placed his hand over hers and squeezed; it was a relief that he could read her thoughts.
While hugging the tree line, Elizabeth slipped on her hoodie. It would be a decent shell against the rain. William did the same, and she would have laughed at him being so dirty underneath his clean, likely expensive water barrier if she wasn’t so tense about getting to shelter. No sooner did they have them on than fat, cold, rapid-flying rain drops descended upon them.
It was extra work picking through the weeds and roots of trees, and the canopy of leaves overhead offered some relief from the pounding rain, but by the time they came to a clearing, a large farm house centered directly in it, Elizabeth wanted to weep from anxiety and exhaustion.
“I think that’s it,” William said, nodding to the building then brushed water from her face. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, afraid to speak lest she break out into sobs. The weight of the entire day was suddenly too much, and seeing the house in the distance was the first beacon of hope she’s had in a while. They were going to be okay.
If they could cross the field without getting struck by lightning that was. What were the odds?
“Should we run?” he asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
The stood at the tree line, and William took her hand. “When I say three, go!”
She nodded again.
“One, two, three.” He shot off, pulling her behind him.
Unfortunately, the toe of her foot had caught a root and sent her head first into a roll, knocking him down as well.
Elizabeth landed on her back, lifted up like a turtle as her backpack was between her and the earth. William was beside her on his stomach.
Elizabeth started laughing. “We’re going to die. We’re not meant to survive this honeymoon. Shoot, we probably weren’t meant to get married. We’ve upset the universe, and now it’s paying us back.”
Chapter 4
William rolled to face her. There was a large red streak down his forehead where he’d plowed the earth head first, grass in his hair. She took one look at him and completely lost it, tears streaming down her face she was laughing so hard. Not that anyone could tell with the deluge of rain.
“I think you should make this part of the matchmaker business. When people get serious with one another they need to go to a bootcamp for love, or something, and undergo this.” He began to laugh.
She tried to gain control with deep breathing. “That’s a good idea,” she said between her laughter.
She was soaked through and through. Her shell had come up in the fall, and her front was soaking up all the water. Elizabeth shivered.
“Come on.” He pushed her to her side. “We can’t stay out in this.”
Slowly, she came to stand and bent over.
“Are you hurt?” he asked over the cacophony of rain.
She shook her head. “Just don’t want to be a target.” She pointed to the sky. “You should bend down. You’re too tall.”
William looked at her feet. “You okay to run?”
She looked down too then nodded. Nothing was going to stop her now. He took her hand again and started moving. Elizabeth tried to keep pace, but after a few steps her ankle began to scream, a hot searing pain traveling up her leg. She tried not to limp.
William looked back at her, and she yelled “Go!”
He broke into a run, pulling her behind him, and the pounding steps she took made the pain escalate from a ten on the pain scale to a one hundred. She entertained the idea of a quick faint but pushed against it. Jerking her hand from his, she tried to hobble behind him.
William spun, took one look at her awkward lopping gait before running to her then tossing her over his shoulder fireman-style.
Elizabeth tried to protest, but he couldn’t hear over the noise. The wind was picking up, and the dark sky was an ominous color of dirty green. Elizabeth’s ear caught a sound they hadn’t heard yet on their adventure. The rain, beating down in a steady rhythmic pattern produced by the wind would soften about every fifteen seconds or so. In that small space was when she heard the sound. It was after the third cycle that she realized it was a tornado siren.
“Run,” she shouted as the wind whipped around her. She tried to suck in her breath and not be heavy. She hated being a burden.
“Breath,” he yelled and slapped her on the backside.
She thought she heard him chuckle, but it could have been the wind. She bounced around upside down and took in shallow breaths. A bolt of lightning sizzled overhead, and William picked up speed.
He was amazing, her husband. She adored him more now than before if that was possible. They were a good team.
He slowed, then stopped and flipped her to her feet, holding her arm on the side of her hurt ankle to give her stability. He snatched her up around the waist, brought her in close, and they limp-ran the last few feet to the house.
A woman was standing at the door maniacally waving them in. At the stairs, William lifted her against his side and carried her up. He didn’t let go until they were in the door, and the woman had slammed it closed behind them.
“Sweet mother of pearl! What are you two doing out in that mess? A tornado touched down not a mile from here. I happened to have come up from the cellar to get more candles and saw you.” She was slim, older woman with a topknot of graying hair.
“You aren’t by chance Twelve Horses Bed-and-Breakfast are you?” William asked.
“I am.” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, dear, are you my honeymooners who were grounded here?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“In Nebraska actually. We’ve been trying to drive away from this storm since yesterday, but it seems to be following us.” William stepped away from the door when the house shook from thunder.
“Where’s your car?” She looked between them.
“It ran out of gas about eight miles down the road. We hiked it from there.” Elizabeth shivered.
“Gracious. You poor things. Unfortunately, we’re needing to get back into the shelter just in case that tornado changes its path. So come on.” She shooed them from the kitchen.
Elizabeth spied some apples in a basket in the counter. “Would you mind if I took one or two of these?” She pointed to the basket.
“Of course not, dear. I have stuff downstairs as well. Follow me.” She walked briskly from the room. Both Elizabeth and William took two apples each. William supported her down the hallway.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name,” Elizabeth said as they followed the woman down the stairs into a well-lit, fully redone and well-decorated basement. Elizabeth had hopped her way down.
“I’m Fanny.” She smiled at them both. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m Elizabeth and this is William. I don’t think it’s anything more serious than a twisted ankle. My shoe got stuck under a root.”
“You need to sit and let us take a look.”
“There is no way we can sit on those couches. We’re filthy.” She pointed to a sitting area. Another couple and a lone gentleman were there talking softly and picking at the plates of food in front of them.
Elizabeth’s stomach once again reminded her that it had been neglected.
Why never did William’s? Had he mastered control of even that?
“There’s a full bath right through those doors. You can get cleaned up, and we’ll take a look at your ankle. Do you have a change of clothes?” Fanny eyed William’s pack.
“I’m afraid his fell into some water. Along with him.”
“Here,” she held out her hands. “I can dump it in the wash.”
William handed her his backpack. “Thanks. We’re
sorry we’re a mess. I’m sure your clientele is far more cleaner than us.”
Fanny laughed. “William, this is a working farm with horses. We use the term bed-and-breakfast so people will be more at ease. My washing machine has seen worse things than the mud caked on you, and so has my shower. Most people come here with their horses and for training. Now go take a shower.” She held his backpack. “I’ll bring you some clothes. I think you’re about the size of my son.” She hustled off.
William whispered in Elizabeth’s ear. “Wanna shower together?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She looked at the other couples and took in the lack of privacy. “Ah. No. Call me picky, but I think I’d rather save that for when no one else is around to witness us going into a bathroom together.” She shook her head for added emphasis.
“Totally understand,” he said with a chuckle. “You go first.”
Elizabeth gave him a look of annoyance. “I believe you are the dirtier one.”
“I’ll be quick.”
“I’ll be here, standing.” She smiled, dropped her pack, and leaned against the wall, hoping she wasn’t leaving a mark.
“Come bang on the door when the tornado comes this way.”
“What makes you think it will?” She chewed her lower lip nervously.
“With our recent luck? What makes you think it won’t?” He kissed her quickly and disappeared behind the bathroom door. Elizabeth bit into her apple and waved at the couple when they looked at her.
Fanny came back with clothes in hand. “I checked the weather. I think we’ll be in the clear. The sirens should go off soon, and we can go back upstairs. I can get you both checked in and some real food.”
“Bless you,” Elizabeth said.
“Give me that jacket and anything else I can take to the wash. You can give these to your husband.”
Elizabeth took off what she could and traded with Fanny her clean ones for Elizabeth’s dirty.
“Oh dear, look at your arms.” Fanny nodded to the welts running up and down her arms. “Ed, come look at these.” Fanny called over her shoulder. An older man rose from the couch and came to stand with them.
