CHAPTER 6
Forrest
I see the car slide off the edge and the body sliding behind it.
I lose sight of it for a few seconds while I come around the curve.
I roll my window down and hear someone yelling, “Help.”
But this isn’t just someone. I recognize that voice.
I throw the truck in park and reach for the chain on the passenger floorboard.
I fasten it around my midsection and hook the other end to the wheel.
My shoulder slams into the door, causing it to fly open and me with it as my body flies out and onto the road.
My shoulder bears the brunt, but I don’t even feel it. My body slides toward the wreck. There’s no time to walk.
I know this turn and if she’s still there screaming she doesn’t have much time.
As I near the edge I roll over onto my butt and lift up my arms and legs like I’m doing a crunch.
It’s a long shot, but if I can change my center of gravity and get my body weight turned I might have a shot.
We might have a shot.
It’s the only chance we’ve got.
My body spins and my feet are now in front as I continue to slide.
Three…two…one!
I bury my heel into the snow and my body pops up sending me into a Superman over the edge of the cliff.
I fly right past her and just then I see her grip give out.
Adrenaline spikes through me and I focus like I’ve never focused before.
She falls a split second and suddenly she’s right in front of me.
I reach out with both hands and grab her, squeezing tight.
My back slams into the mountain face, jarring us both, but no way in hell do I let her go.
She’s screaming and I’m breathing in short staccato breaths.
“Wrap your arms around me and don’t let go!”
I feel her hands try and connect behind me, but I’m way to wide.
“Lock your legs around my waist,” I say.
“You’re too high!”
I lift her up higher onto my frame and feel her legs clamp down on my obliques as I turn my body so my side is against the rock.
“Arms around my neck and don’t let go.”
Her hands clasp behind my neck.
Go time!
I reach up for the chain and pull. I know I’ve got about forty seconds tops before the lactic acid in my muscles builds up to where it’s too much.
I pull again, but I don’t go as high as the last time.
“Uhhh!” I yell as I pull harder.
I can feel her cheek against mine. She’s relying on me to keep her alive and there’s no way in hell I’m letting her down.
I breath out hard and pull one final time.
I feel my abdominals contract, my forearms fire and I lift my legs.
I lift my legs higher getting the chain to foot level and then I wrap my legs into it.
I pause for a quick second to catch my breath.
“Why are we stopping?”
I can’t utilize any excess energy, not even to talk. But I know she’s scared and it’s up to me to fix that.
With my feet now on the chain I can climb it like a rope, taking my upper body mostly out of the equation and doing all the work with my legs.
I begin the process of lifting my quads, adjusting my feet, and sliding higher up the chain.
Five pulls later we’re at the edge and my neck is above the side.
“Don’t let go. Not yet. Not until I tell you. You understand?”
I feel her cheek nod against mine.
I pull again as I rotate over onto my back.
I pull three more times until my entire body is on the road and she’s directly on top of me.
“Keep ahold. We need to get closer to the truck.”
Three minutes later I’m completely exhausted but we’ve reached the truck.
“Give me a second,” I say.
“You. You saved me,” she says.
I feel her hands release from behind my neck and press into the snow beside me as she pushes her upper body away from mine allowing her to look at me.
If I had an ounce of strength left I’d take that beautiful face of hers which is backlit making her look just like the angel she is and I’d kiss her right on the mouth.
She beats me too it.
Suddenly her face comes rushing down towards mine and I feel those soft, feminine lips on mine and I feel like I’ve suddenly been re-energized again.
All it took was her kiss.