The weight of the ice was still a burden for the trees, and that would be their greatest obstacle as they made their way down the mountain. Not long after leaving the house they heard the now-familiar crack, followed by a crash. Gabriel’s head had snapped around at the sound and he’d stopped, listening hard as if he might be able to tell where that tree was, how close it might be. The fall was in the distance, in the woods that surrounded Lolly’s childhood home, but it was telling—a warning, of sorts. They couldn’t get off the mountain without walking beneath trees. None of the ice was melting, the air was still too cold, so any of the trees could go at any time. They would have to be on constant guard against the weighted, weakened limbs overhead.
This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
Gabriel stayed close, either right beside her or directly ahead of her, depending on the width of the grassy strip and the thickness of the vegetation, as they walked along the side of the driveway. Though he hadn’t said much, he had to be as worried about the treefall as she was. That was why he often glanced overhead and, when possible, followed a path that didn’t take them directly beneath the overhanging limbs.
They were halfway down the driveway when they came to a splintered, icy tree that had fallen crookedly across their path. Gabriel straddled the tree, offered Lolly a hand, and helped her up and over. Walking on an icy surface was tough enough, but maneuvering over obstacles only made things harder. If they’d had enough food and propane they would’ve been better off staying at the house until help arrived … at least in her opinion. Gabriel might’ve had other ideas, since he’d left his son behind to rescue her and was anxious to get home.
Hiking wasn’t her thing. She wasn’t into athletics at all, other than admiring the great physical condition of professional athletes; she was definitely a woman who admired a great tight end when she saw one. Her layers of clothing made her feel awkward and unwieldy, while Gabriel managed to remain his usual capable, annoyingly perfect self. He’d always been athletic, and, yes, he had a great tight end. If he hadn’t been wearing his own heavy coat, she’d at least have been able to admire his personal scenery. Thank goodness he didn’t know she was imagining his butt; he continued on, steadfast and skillful, leading the way with aplomb.
She didn’t do anything with aplomb, even when she wasn’t hampered by layer upon layer of clothing. At least if she fell she’d be well cushioned when she hit the ground.
Gabriel looked great. Good-looking, muscled … really great eyes, a blue-green hazel ringed by inky lashes. He was bigger than he’d been in high school, definitely older, but those eyes hadn’t changed at all. Lolly had to forcibly stop herself from getting carried away. She tried to call upon reason, to think clearly. He’d saved her life, so there was probably some instinctive attraction going on that had absolutely nothing to do with who he was. Add the fact that they’d been skin to skin, that he’d been inside her, and she shouldn’t expect anything less than total infatuation.
Oh, who was she kidding? She’d always had the hots for him—not to the point that she’d spent the last fifteen years pining over him, but enough so that when she saw him again that old interest immediately flared to life again.
When she was safely over the log that blocked her driveway, Gabriel held on to her for a moment longer than was necessary, making sure her footing was solid—not that she was in any hurry to move away.
“I have soup and coffee in the truck,” he said. “We’ll take a short break there, and if a tree hasn’t fallen on it, we can get in the truck and get warm.”
After the hours the truck had been sitting, she had no hope at all that either soup or coffee would be warm, but it was food and she’d take it. The breakfast bars weren’t going to last nearly long enough. “Good idea.” It was a long way to Wilson Creek, and the trip was best faced in small chunks. To the end of the driveway. To the curve where the old Morrison house used to be. To the hill where there was a break in the tree line, where the sun would surely shine. To the highway … and from there they’d start all over again, as they walked to the McQueen house.
Where she’d be a literal fifth wheel.
After taking several steps without any problem, without warning, Lolly’s right foot flew out from under her. She instinctively flailed for a low lying limb, but as she grabbed it the thin, frozen twig snapped. Gabriel grabbed her, making sure she didn’t land on her ass. He held her close, secure, and she took a moment to wallow in his body heat and solid build. Gabriel McQueen was like a rock. Without him, where would she be right now? She couldn’t let her mind go there.
Lolly’s heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath. She knew what a disaster a bad fall would be. She was already sore, bruised, and shaken. All she needed was to break a bone or sprain an ankle. If she thought she was a burden to Gabriel now …
“You okay?” he asked.
When she nodded her head he released her, and she moved forward.
One step at a time.
Gabriel had known the trek down the mountain would be a tough one, hour upon hour of watching every step and being alert to the dangers all around.
After stopping at the truck to get warm—no trees having fallen on the truck—to drink some lukewarm coffee and soup, and to retrieve his weatherproof hat, he and Lolly resumed their trek. Lolly didn’t grumble, hadn’t uttered a word of complaint, but she’d already started breathing harder and favoring her bruised right side.