Snowed In (Lost and Found Book 1)

by Deliaria Davis

  I am going to take your offer and be that chef that you want me to be. Just, send the funds to John. I can’t be with you right now because you make me want to give up my dreams and settle down. But, if I leave, I will have the drive to do what I need to do.

  Don’t worry about me. I am an Alaska Girl. We’re built tougher than Ford, and more dependable than Chevy. I’ll follow the Highway until I get picked up. I love you, Daniel. I can’t deny it anymore. Please, keep living your dreams. I’ll be back someday.

  Until we meet again,

  Alexa

  I read the letter for the sixth time since waking up in a cold bed. She was gone. I had gone looking for her, trying to find her tracks but there were none. The snow had buried them. I prayed nothing had happened to her because I hadn’t been able to find her and I had looked.

  My house was quiet without Alexa in it. I already missed the way she floated through it. Her touches were still everywhere. Her scent lingered in the air, and I could still taste her on my lips. I had to get out of here. I had to get to an airplane. There was only one thing for it.

  I got on my snow gear again and started toward the highway. I was almost there, I could hear cars on the road when I saw a giant shadow come from my left through the snow.

  It crunched.

  I screamed.

  The moose crashed over me, picking me up with its antlers and smashing me with its hooves again and again.

  I’m sorry, Alexa. I love you.

  I blacked out.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Alexa

  I heard the scream as I flagged down the truck right when I heard the scream. I knew who it was before I turned and saw the moose rush him. I watched as it attacked him again and again.

  “Help him!” I screamed at the driver of the truck. He was already out and grabbing his rifle from the back of the truck. It wasn’t hunting season, but not uncommon for people to still have their rifles. Fish and Game wouldn’t be happy, but we wouldn’t get in trouble.

  “Shoot the fucker!” I begged, tears starting to drip down my face. This was all my fault. I felt my body freeze. Not just from the cold and snow. But from the fear, I felt watching the man I loved get trampled. I couldn’t take it.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  The driver fired quickly, and proficiently. The bull went down, next to Daniel, thank god. I looked between the moose, the driver, and Daniel, not knowing what to do. The driver was already on his phone, probably calling the state troopers, so I ran to Daniel.

  “Oh god, Daniel. Don’t die on me. Please, baby! Don’t die.” I begged him, brushing his bangs from his eyes. His eyes flickered, and he moaned lightly as he tried to turn his head to me.

  “Alexa.” he gasped. “You left,” he faded back out.

  “Miss? I called help. It’s on its way. They are coming in from Fairbanks.” The driver walked toward me, holding his hands uselessly. I felt as useless as he looked as I waited for whoever was coming to help to arrive. The best I could do was hope that Daniel didn’t lose too much blood and leave me.

  I couldn’t believe I had walked away from him. If I hadn’t walked away from him we wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be waiting for who knows who, me praying for him to stay alive. I couldn’t face the world if he died. I needed him to live.

  I found my soulmate. My love. I couldn’t let him go now.

  We waited in silence, Brad, I found out was his name, helping me to keep Daniel comfortable as best we could for forty-five minutes before we could finally hear the sirens.

  Brad went out to the highway to wave them down so they could come to us. I couldn’t stop blaming myself as the paramedics worked on Daniel. He was barely stable, but they had to get him to a hospital, or they were going to lose him. I begged them to let me ride with them, but there was no room.

  They were taking him to Fairbanks. Brad took my arm and guided me to his truck as I sobbed, watching the ambulance drive away with Daniel. So much was left to be said, and I prayed I would have the time left to say it.

  We followed them to Fairbanks, but I wasn’t allowed back. I had no way to get ahold of Daniel’s father, to let his family know what was going on with him. I called John, and he promised to let them know what had happened. He also told me he would be on the next flight to Fairbanks he could get a ticket on.

  Brad had to leave, but not before he gave me his number, and told me to call him if I needed anything. He told me he lived in town and would be back with something for me to eat in a few hours, but he had to go to Anchorage to get supplies in the next day or two.

  Finally, after three hours of pacing, the surgeon came out.

  “Please tell me he’s going to be okay.” I ran to her, tears streaming down my face.

  The look on her face was grim. She took me over to the chairs and sat me down.

  “I am going to be straight with you. He died on the table twice. We almost didn’t get him back the second time. He’s in bad shape.” I gasped, covering my mouth to swallow my sob. I couldn’t believe that I had done this to Daniel. The rest of most of her words were drowned out. “Broken ribs… both legs… wrist… collapsed lung.” The list just went on and on.

  “Mrs. Black, most people don’t survive these injuries…”

  “Excuse me. I’m not Mrs. Black.” I corrected the doctor.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed…” she trailed off.

  “It’s fine. I’ll need this information for his parents when they get here.” I informed her. “I’m his… I don’t really know what I am right now. We were figuring it out when the moose attacked him.” I broke down again.

  “It’s okay. You can see him now if you want.” She stood, offering to bring me back.

  “Please?” I almost begged her, aware how petty I must have sounded.

  Thankfully she said nothing to me as she led me to Daniel. He looked so frail laying there, tubes and wires attached to him everywhere. He was so black and blue. I couldn’t stand it. Burying my head in my arms I sobbed as I sat beside him. I’m not sure how much later it was when John finally got there, but he took me to get something to eat, and I only poked at it.

  The same waitress that had waited on Daniel and me was there, and she gave me a look when I sat down with John. I knew I looked bad, but she didn’t need to look at me like I had committed a sin. Frustrated I took my food to go so I could go back to the hospital. I promised to call John at the hotel if there was any change in Daniel’s condition and he left me for the night.

  I listened to the beeping of the machine all night, not closing my eyes once. My guilt ate away at me. I couldn’t sleep, not when Daniel was lying there, teetering on the edge of life and death.

  “You must be, Alexa.” The sound of the soft deep voice startled me from my daze. I looked up to see a man, older, in a nice business suit. The woman beside him looked just like Daniel, but her hair was down her back and wavy.

  “Hi. You must be Daniel’s parents. I’m sorry we are meeting under these circumstances.” I shook his proffered hand. His mother pulled me into her arms.

  “You saved my son. You rescued my baby boy. I am forever grateful. If you need anything, and I mean anything, please let us know.” She held me a second longer before going to her son's side.

  Daniel’s stepdad pulled me aside. “John told us what happened. You need to stop beating yourself up, young lady. You were doing what you thought was best. Daniel was doing what he thought was best. He’ll be fine. You hear me?” I nodded as I looked at the older man, tears streaming down my face. I could tell that he loved Daniel like his own son. I could only hope to have a love like that one day.

  “Thank you. I must go now that you are here. Please, don’t tell him I was here. I can’t have him focus on me when he needs to focus on his recovery once he’s cleared to start the therapy. He has a long road, and I would only be in his way.” I bowed my head, hiding the tears sliding down my cheeks as I left the room. I ignored their pleas for me to stay as I pul
led out my phone to call John to pick me up so I could go home and start over.

  Epilogue

  Daniel

  Three months later

  I’m back in Portland, and I hate it. I was only in a coma for a week, some sort of miracle they had said. Alexa was gone. I knew she had been there with me. No one told me she had, but I remembered seeing her face. She was my angel, the force I held onto, to keep me grounded to the earth when all I wanted to do was let go.

  Mom and Dad were there when I woke up and told me how bad my injuries were. How lucky I had been. Today, I would be starting my therapy in Portland, to get me back in shape here. Dad had gotten me a flat for now, even though I had the house. It didn’t have any rooms downstairs, and he refused to let me live alone with stairs until I was strong enough to walk up them without help.

  I was at my favorite coffee shop; the PT place a block away. I could walk there in fifteen minutes if I was careful with my new cane. I had upgraded from the walker last week, and that was when they had cleared me to fly back to Portland. I hated leaving Alaska without trying to say goodbye to Alexa, but John had told me she had left two months earlier, and she was in school in the states.

  No matter how much I begged though he wouldn’t tell me where she had decided to go to school. It was driving me nuts. I wanted to find her. I would wait for her. I just hoped that she would wait for me.

  I caught a flash of fiery red hair out of the corner of my eye and shook my head. I had been seeing red everywhere the last few days. But, this wasn’t any red. This was an auburn that I had only seen once in my life. An auburn that belonged to one person. I braced myself and stood to get a better view. I recognized the back and the ass.

  “Alexa!” I couldn’t stop myself from yelling out. She stopped and turned, staring at me. The shock on her face turning unreadable. She came to me slowly, unsure. I couldn’t stop the feeling in my stomach. Unsure, scared, happy.

  I had found her and I couldn’t let her go again.

  “Daniel,” she placed her hand on my arm, almost as though making sure I was real. Tears welled in her eyes, and she threw her arms around me. I stumbled a little but managed to brace myself against the force of her.

  “I never thought I would see you again.” We spoke at the same time and laughed. I was so happy. I couldn’t stop smiling.

  “You left and I went to find you. I couldn’t stay in the house without you. It was too quiet, I needed you.” I whispered in her ear.

  “I had to follow my dreams, Daniel. I couldn’t not follow them. At least, until last week. I was going to come and find you later today. John told me you were back in Portland.” She pulled back to look at me, looking nervous.

  “Alexa, is everything okay?” I was starting to worry. I didn’t like the way she was looking at me.

  “Daniel, I’m pregnant. I don’t know how or why. I just am. And I understand if you are pissed or want some time to…” I couldn’t listen to her try and talk me out of being with her. I kissed her, putting as much love as I could into that kiss.

  “I love you, Alexa. I want you. I want this family. I want to marry you. I know it's a shitty proposal, but marry me. Let’s raise this baby together. And don’t you dare drop out of school. We will figure it out.” I was so excited I couldn’t contain it anymore.

  “Yes.”

  I took her and we left. I forgot about my therapy for the day. I had better things to do with setting up for the rest of our lives.

  Acknowledgements

  Oh, dear god. I know, I know. What else could this woman have to say to thank people for. Well, for one there is everyone in the Dungeon with me. Without them, I wouldn’t keep writing for you all.

  Then there is the Las Vegas Fight Club. You know who you are, what we are, and why we can’t talk about it. Fight Club Bitches.

  Shannon, my amazing cover designer. I don’t know how many times we stayed up way later then you were supposed to so we could tweak the cover and make it gorgeous. I Flove it. Love you Bitch.

  This one may sound weird, but to growing up in the 49th state. I miss Alaska. It is home, no matter where I may roam, or how long I may be gone. I love being able to write something that is so close to my heart for all of you.

  My amazing husband. Oh, I could not have done this book without him. He held my hand, encouraged me, listened as I battled with it and bitched about it for hours on end.

  Kim, we met in Alaska and we have known each other since we were kids. You are another who drove me to complete this book. I love you girl.

  To the other Kim in my life that sat through all the revisions of this book with me. Thank you for driving me to finish as well. Now get that law degree so you can become my lawyer.

  Leanna, thank you for just listening when I needed to bitch about writing. I know I can bitch a lot, but sometimes you need someone who ain’t involved to listen. Thank you!

  I know there are so many more from my numerous ARC readers, to my other fellow authors that have helped encourage me to keep going. K.K. Allen, Daniel Tighe, Monica Corwin, Rebecca Hamilton, JJ King, and TL Travis, to name a few who have just talked with me and offered free advice.

  I couldn’t do this without the massive Indie Author Network that there is and the support that we all give each other. I love you all.

  And to my readers? I appreciate you most of all. Whether you are new to me, or returning again, thank you for taking the time to read.

  One more favor? Drop a review. They mean the world to us.

  About the Author

  Deliaria Davis grew up in the cold winters and mild summers of Anchorage, Alaska, where her heart remains to this day. She met her husband there and would return in a heartbeat.

  She has five amazing kids, and when she isn’t writing she is homeschooling her autistic son, or helping her youngest son with therapy for his disabilities.

  Currently, Del resides in Spokane, WA, where she is hoping to someday be able to afford a house big enough for each of her kids to have their own door to slam.

  Until then, she will continue to write whatever pops into her head, and loves to interact with her fans.

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