“We met when I dropped off supplies the other night.” He pushed into the clearing and dropped his pack. She clung to Ethan, her mind refusing to work and give her a solution to this new problem. The man opened the bundle and pulled out a small packet. A tinfoil sheet appeared. “Here. Go sit on that branch and wrap this around both of you. His body heat will help you warm up while I start a fire. Put it over your head.”
Her arms wouldn't respond. She couldn't move. Even if the wolf came back, she couldn't move. Depleted and exhausted, she could only watch. The words forming in her brain didn't make it to her mouth. She needed... something. Ethan?
“Ah, hell. Kid, we are going to have to help your mom. She's half frozen.”
Cold. Yes, so cold.
“She said she wasn't cold, but she was shivering before, and she's not now.” Ethan helped the man wrap the blanket around her.
“Yeah, moms are pretty strong, or so I hear.”
Bethanie tried to move, to warn Ethan not to trust... Her eyes closed for a moment, to gather strength. She had to protect her baby. She had to...
“Okay, kid. We got to work fast, or your mom is going to be in some serious shit. I need you to go into that pack. There are four square silver pouches right at the top. Bring them to me.”
Lycos gently wrapped the blanket around the woman. He waited for the boy to hand him the packs and then tore open the thermal blankets. The material crinkled as it hit the cold air. With caution, he cocooned her into three of the thin emergency blankets. He pulled his ski cap off his head and gently tugged it over the riot of blonde curls before he wrapped a blanket around her head and shoulders, covering her face. The fourth blanket he handed to the boy. “Pull that over you.”
“I'm not that cold.”
“Good for you, dude, but we have to move, and I need you warm and on my six. Understand?”
The kid looked up at him. Big blue eyes and a red nose stared back at him. “No, sir. I don't know what that means.”
“That means I'm going to carry your mom, and you're going to walk right behind me. You need to keep up, and we need to move, or your momma is going to die.”
“Die?” The kid's voice trembled.
“Hypothermia is a motherfucker, kid. You keep up, you hear?”
“Yes, sir. I'll try.”
The boy sniffed and had tears in his eyes. Great. He needed... yes. He pointed his finger at the kid. “No sir, you'll do. You don't get shit for trying in this life, and trying sure as fuck isn't going to cut it tonight.” Lycos gave a sharp whistle.
Dog appeared through the trees and sat down.
The boy took a step closer to him. “Is he your dog?”
“He doesn't belong to anyone, but he's helping us tonight.”
Lycos stood, holding the woman in his arms. She weighed next to nothing, but carrying her through the brush and trees was going to be a bitch. “Okay, kid, you and Dog are right behind me. Hold on to his fur at his neck. He'll get you around or through anything on the trail. If you can't see me, don't worry, just keep your hand on that damn dog. Don't let go. I have to get your mom warm. You understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Lycos stepped off, heading to his cavern, it was closer.
“Sir, what about your pack?”
“Leave it, kid. Grab that dog's fur and get your ass in gear.” He waited long enough to watch the kid grab a handful of neck scruff. He whistled sharply and spit out, “Home, Dog.”
Lycos trusted Dog to get the kid home. He had to because he needed to haul ass. The woman was an idiot for giving her clothing to the kid. What in the hell had possessed her? That kid wouldn't have had a chance in hell if she'd succumbed to the cold. Was she really that fucking brainless? Why the fuck didn't they start a fire? Find shelter? Share body warmth? He pushed himself, damn near running while doing his best not to jostle the woman too much.
It took him almost a half hour to make it to his home. He held her against him and pushed in the code. He flew through the great room and up the incline, heading straight for his bed. He took off her boots and wrapped her emergency blanket-covered body like a fucking burrito in his king-sized mink blanket.
He rushed through the house again, stopping in the utility room. Shit flew out of the cupboard until he found the thermal packs he sometimes used for hunting. Hand warmers the marketers called them. He ripped open packet after packet, scattering the wrappings as he stormed back to his bedroom. He shook them rapidly before he placed two on her neck, two snaked down her shirt and were deposited in her bra over her heart and two he shoved down her pants to her groin. Most people would try to warm her extremities, but that could cause a heart attack. The ice on her eyelashes was melting, although she wasn't pinking up yet. It was the best he could do for her now.
He ran from his room and slid to a stop at the top of the incline. Dog sat beside the boy, who was still holding onto the dog's fur. Fuck… okay, he needed to make sure the kid was solid.
A quiet voice asked, “Is my mom going to be okay?”
“She's getting warm, kid, that's all I know right now. Let's take off our boots and coats.” Lycos strode past the kid and kicked off his boots and jacked off his own coat. He looked back at the boy, who hadn't moved. “Yo, dude, today?”
The boy blinked, turned and walked over to him. Lycos took the blanket and then helped the kid out of both jackets. “I'm going to go check on your mom again. Do you want to come with me?”
“Yeah, I mean, yes, sir.” The kid shot him a quick look as he stepped aside quickly. What the fuck? What was the kid afraid of? Like he was going to bitch slap him or something? Not likely.
He led the kid upstairs, picked up the corner of the mink blanket, and flicked them back. Her cheeks had some color in them now, and she was shivering. Thank God. They'd have to deal with any frostbite issues later. Getting her core temp up was the requirement now.
“She's warming up.”
“But she's shivering now.” The boy stroked the mink by his mom's shoulder.
“Yeah, remember when she wasn't?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, that wasn't good. Not good at all. Shivering is like an internal mechanism to keep your blood pumping. You stop shivering, and you're not long for the world. Cold is a stealthy motherfucker, kid. You stop shivering, and your body stops realizing you’re cold. You get really sleepy, and then you die.”
The kid swung his wide-eyed gaze to the portion of his mom's face that was exposed. “But she's not going to die, right?”
“Not if I can help it. She's warming up now.”
The boy nodded. “I can’t lose her, too.”
Lycos leaned against the wall. “Your old man gone?”
The kid nodded. Great, the boy didn’t have anyone else. Just his mom. He’d lived that scenario, but in his case, his mother didn’t have the protective instinct this kid’s mom had. He cleared his throat. “Hell, kid, she isn't dead. No need to worry about shit that probably won't happen.” What the fuck could he divert the kid's attention with? Food.
“Come on. Let's get some grub. Your mom is going to defrost for a while.”
The kid blinked up at him and nodded. He could feel wariness dripping off the kid.
They ambled down the incline as Dog padded through the great cavern toward the kitchen. “What's his name?” The boy looked up at him as he spoke.
“Dog.”
“That's not a name. That's what he is.”
“Nah kid, his species is canis lupus lycaon. Dog is his name.”
The boy turned his head and narrowed his eyes at him. The little bastard was intelligent, and he was trying to see if Lycos was filling him full of shit. Good for him, he obviously had more sense than his mother. “Fair warning, he isn’t a pet. He comes and goes as he wants.”
“But this is his home.”
“How do you figure?” Lycos looked over his shoulder at the child.
“You told him to bring me home, and he did.” The boy sh
rugged as if his logic was obvious.
“So I did. But he doesn't live here. He lives out there. He just visits from time to time, and he isn't a dog. He's mostly a wolf, so don't go trying to play fetch with the asshole.”
Lycos opened his freezer and grabbed a plastic container full of chicken stew. He'd missed dinner, and he was fucking hangry. Hungry and angry all rolled into one exposed nerve. Whatever. Hot water over the outside of the container loosened the frozen stew, and it fell into a large glass bowl. The bowl went in the microwave, a few buttons were hit and presto, instant warm up.
“Go over there and grab a loaf of that crusty bread.” He nodded to the breadbox. The kid headed over and brought it to the table. “Butter is in the fridge.” He watched as the boy got the butter out.
“Silverware?” The kid asked as he placed the butter on the table.
“Drawer beside the sink.”
Lycos put two bowls on the table and headed back into the storeroom. He threw the shit he'd tossed out of the cupboard back into its place and grabbed six more packs of hand warmers. “I'm going to go check on your mom. You stay here and mind the microwave. Do not take that bowl out. It will be hot. Understand?”
The boy winced. “Yeah, I get it. I’m not stupid,” and plopped down on a kitchen table chair. Lycos glanced at him one last time before he dashed upstairs.
He pulled the hand warmers out of the woman's pants and bra and replaced them with fresh warm packets. As he tucked her back in, her eyes blinked open.
“Ethan...”
Fuck, her blue eyes were mesmerizing. Lycos shoved that thought down deep somewhere under a rock. “He’s safe. He's downstairs getting ready to eat with me.”
“Cold.”
“Yeah, you were fucking stupid for giving the kid your jacket. Just saying.”
“Had to save him.”
“You about got yourself killed.”
“Wouldn't matter as long as he's safe.”
“Right. We'll discuss how many ways that thinking is fucked up when you get warm. Go to sleep if you can. I'll be back later with something warm to drink. Then we need to check for frostbite.” He didn't want to do that. Didn't want to see what was probably there. If she was suffering from it, they'd have to make a run down the mountain, and the woman's cover would be blown, all because two city slickers decided to take a walk in the woods.
He headed back to the kitchen and found the kid with his head down on the table. Small little snores came from his slack body. Lycos bet the little shit was exhausted. He took out the stew, stirred it, and returned it to the microwave for a few more minutes. He sliced open the loaf of bread and threw it in the toaster oven to warm. Dog padded into the kitchen and sat down beside the kid. His tongue hung out as he panted.
“Too hot for you?” Lycos asked the animal.
The dog cocked his head before he lay down on the floor beside the child. Lycos pointed at Dog. “Do not get attached. We are not keeping them.”
The animal groaned and flopped over on its side. Lycos poured water into a kettle and set it on the range. The woman would need some warm fluids soon. He filled his bowl and a bowl for the child.
He tapped the kid on the head. “Yo, dude. Food, then sleep.”
The boy lifted his head and slid back into the chair. “Is my mom okay?”
“I think so.” Lycos pulled the bread out and slathered a piece in butter before he dropped it in the kid's bowl. The remainder of the loaf went beside his plate along with the rest of the butter.
The kid dunked the bread in the stew and chewed it slowly and carefully. Lycos watched him as he ate. The kids he'd been around were loud and obnoxious, full of sass and stupid questions. This one hadn't pegged any of those hot buttons yet. Thankfully.
“May I have something to drink, please?”
Lycos got up and poured the kid a drink of water from the tap. “Here.”
“Thank you.”
The boy pulled the glass to him and drank almost the entire cup before he started after the stew again. Lycos noticed the carrots didn't get touched. “Eat your veggies. You need the nutrients.”
No argument from young man, but the shiver the kid gave as he chewed the carrots wasn't from the cold. When he finished, he slid from his chair and took the bowl and his spoon to the sink. He returned to the table and finished his water before taking his glass over to where he'd deposited his bowl. The kid walked to the dog and sat on the floor next to it. His hand lingered on the hardwood. “Why is your floor warm?”
“Radiant heating. I have coils under the flooring. I pump hot spring water under the floors to keep it warm in here. Tends to be cold all year around. Caves generally do.”
The youth did a 360-degree survey of the grand cavern. “Why do you live in a cave? What's your name?” And finally in a guarded tone, “Did you work with my father?”
And there were the questions. He was going to nip that shit in the bud. “Does it matter?”
The kid shook his head. “No, sir.” He stroked Dog's grey tipped brown coat of winter fur. “But if you hurt my mother, I’ll find some way to make you sorry.” Fierce blue eyes rose and challenged Lycos.
Lycos dragged the last of his bread around the bottom of his bowl and sopped up the remaining stew. Shit. Had to admire the kid for his backbone if nothing else. “I’m definitely not a friend of your father, okay, kid? More than that you don’t need to know.” He glared at the young man until the kid dropped his gaze back to the dog he’d never stopped stroking. Lycos poured some of the hot water into a thermos cup with a screw on top. The warm water would hydrate her and help to raise her core temp.
“What's that for?”
“Your mom. When she wakes up, she's going to be thirsty. It’s hot and will help her hydrate.” He put the top on the cup. “Let's go check on her, then we'll find a place for you to sleep.”
The kid jumped a bit when the kettle hit the concrete countertop. Whatever. The boy probably had a right to be on edge. New shit and strange environments.
The kid got up and followed him. Claws scrambled on the hardwood. Guess Dog had decided to depart. Only, it sounded like the damn thing was following them. Yeah, the night was getting weirder and weirder. Lycos glanced over his shoulder as he turned the corner. Sure enough, the wolf was walking right next to the kid, and the kid's hand was holding onto the animal's scruff. Great. Dog had adopted the kid.
When they entered his bedroom, Lycos pointed to a huge recliner in the corner. “Sit over there.”
He heard the kid and Dog go over to the chair. Dropping down to his knees in front of the woman, his hand went inside the mink burrito, and he felt her skin. Still cold but warming up. She had burrowed into the mink and that was probably what she needed, sleep and warmth. He still unwrapped her enough to check her ears, nose, fingers, and toes. He didn't see any signs of frostbite, which was a fucking miracle. He wrapped the woman up again. “Leaving you on defrost mode for a while.” Lycos flicked the corner of a thermal blanket down, covering her face but leaving room for ventilation.
He rocked back to his heels and stood. “Come on, kid, let’s find some— Well, fuck me standing.”
Dog sprawled on the recliner with the kid damn near lying on top of him, doing one hell of an imitation of a blanket. The kid was out. Lycos pointed a finger at the animal. “I fucking told you not to get attached.”
The dog lifted his lip in snarl before he arched his back and stretched out, nearly obliterating the kid from view.
Whatever. Lycos rubbed his face as he left the bedroom. He needed to clean the kitchen, activate the alarm system, and then he needed a couple hours of sleep. Maybe the nightmare would be over when he woke up, and he wouldn't have to play caretaker to a couple of city slickers.
It took five minutes to clean and lock up. He stopped in his office and glanced up through the skylight. Snow obscured the view. He took a chance and deployed his antenna. It took a few minutes, but the signal acquired. He pulled up the National Weat
her Service’s radar imagery and studied the storm heading their way. He pulled up the projected forecast and groaned, actually groaned, at the prediction of two feet of snow by morning. By week’s end, they could have close to four feet. He had to go around the mountain to the cabin again. He needed clothes and shit for both of his unwanted visitors, plus their food. He had plenty for him, but... dammit, that meant he’d need the truck. He glanced at his watch. It was going to be a long, long, fucking night.
Chapter 8
Her mouth was so damn dry. Bethanie rolled from her side to her back and groaned. Every muscle in her body ached. She pushed against the... fur?
“Ethan!”
“I'm here, Mom.”
Thrashing frantically at the folds of material that confined her arms, she snapped her head toward his voice. “Are you all right?”
“I'm okay.” He padded across the floor, and she grabbed him, pulling him onto the bed with her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. You’re the one who was in trouble. The man was pissed when he brought you here.”
“You mean he brought us here,” Bethanie replied, distracted. She remembered the man, kind of. Bits and splashes, words and snapshots of things, really, but she knew they had a savior.
“Nope. Dog brought me. The man said I’d slow him down, and he had to get you to shelter fast because the cold is a sly motherfucker, and you could have died.”
Bethanie stopped all efforts to break free from the bedding that twined around her. “What did you just say?”
Ethan sighed. “You were too cold, and I told you that you shouldn’t have given me your coat. The guy had to move quick to get you warm. I couldn’t keep up with him. It was okay though. Dog got me here, just like he said he would.”
Bethanie blinked at her son as the rest of his words registered. “Wait, he left you?”
Ethan frowned. “Mom, did you listen to me at all? You could have died. He had to get you someplace warm—fast! He told me Dog would lead me here, and Dog did. He wasn't going to leave me...”
Lycos (Guardian Security Shadow World Book 3) Page 6
