Scorching Ground, page 11
“If I can gain control of the vessel, will it be able to take me to the past when the Sky People first created the vessel, so I can truly learn its power?”
Natukendra’eh looked at him for a long time. She sighed as if contemplating her answer. “I have told you. The vessel cannot travel back to a time before its creation.”
Elk Runner paced the ground in front of her, keeping his gaze averted from his grandmother, whose sharp eyes followed his movements. He wasn’t going to ask any more about the past. He had other things to worry about right now.
“Will you help me find the people I have lost?” He looked up, meeting Natukendra’eh’s stare. She shook her head.
“Why not? I can’t simply leave them in the past. They do not even know they are in the past.”
She shook her head again, like a mother shaking her head at a misbehaving child. “You should have thought about these things before you chose to send someone through time. I am merely a spirit now. I cannot help you in the physical world.”
“I believed the vessel was under my control. Sometimes it is, but it chooses to do whatever it wants.”
Natukendra’eh smiled. “Like you?”
Elk Runner glared at her for finding his predicament amusing. “I did not know of another way to make the man see that he was going to destroy the sacred mountains. I had to teach him a lesson.”
“And now it’s time you learned your lesson. You must find the two people you’ve lost. Somehow, you told the vessel where to send the man and woman, and it did what you asked.”
Elk Runner paced faster, then stopped again before his grandmother. “I didn’t tell it exactly where in time to go,” he said slowly.
“Think about what you asked the vessel to do, then it should take you back there. That is the only advice I can give you.” She leaned forward to look more closely into his eyes. “But you must do it soon before someone gets hurt, or their presence in the past will alter the future.”
CHAPTER 13
The pain medication had been slow to work, but after several hours, the throbbing in her arm was finally bearable. Along with being freezing cold, nearly drowning, and dislocating her shoulder, what more could possibly go wrong today?
Shelby lay curled up by the fire, the bare skin of her thighs that faced the fire heating up enough so she no longer shivered. Her good arm was wrapped around her middle, and Austin’s cotton shirt was tied around her neck and arm, creating a supportive sling.
Since he hadn’t been fully submersed in the water, much of the shirt Austin had worn underneath a heavier sweater had remained passably dry, while the rest of their clothes were laid out as close to the fire as possible to dry. What a fine mess they were in. She should never have suggested a river crossing, but it was too late to contemplate her lack of judgement.
If not for Austin’s quick actions, she could have been swept away by the current after the log had slammed against her arm. She was lucky to be alive and had only dislocated her shoulder.
“Could have been much worse,” she mumbled.
The tree trunk could have hit her in the head. The impact had barely broken any skin, but much of her arm would be bruised for a many days. The dislocation, of course, would take a lot longer to heal. All the more reason to find someone to get them home as quickly as possible.
The thought continued to swirl in her brain that she and Austin had somehow been magically transported to a time in the past, but it was just that – a thought. Once their clothes were dry, they could hike to the road, and she’d have a good laugh about her mishap, as well as her latest theory, later.
When she’d blurted out to him that she thought they had time traveled, the look on Austin’s face was of pure incredulity. He’d never take her seriously in the lab after this. To his credit, he hadn’t said much, other than encouraging her to rest and warm up. No doubt he’d dismissed her suspicion as delirium or something.
Shelby struggled to sit up, hindered slightly by her inability to use her right arm. Dizziness threatened to send her back to the ground. Her body had been slowly warming up, but now the heat from the fire was starting to become uncomfortably warm. She glanced around.
Austin was nowhere to be seen. He’d told her a while ago he was going to look for something to eat. Shelby stared toward the river. The event from several hours ago still had her head reeling with emotions. Austin had been a complete surprise.
First, he’d selflessly rescued her from getting swept away by the river, then he’d started a fire without the use of her lighter. She was used to him taking charge of situations in the lab, and disregarding her completely; but out here, he’d seemed like a fish out of water. After her collision with the floating log, he’d been decisive and had remained calm the entire time. He’d even agreed to help her out of her clothes. After several futile attempts to undress herself, she’d finally had to give up and ask Austin for help.
“In a survival situation, nothing else matters except trying to survive,” Shelby whispered. Images of Austin, kneeling beside her and undressing her filled her head. The experience shouldn’t even be in her mind any longer, but the memories lingered, even if they were a bit foggy.
Her whole body had been so cold. Her extremities had become numb, she had been shivering uncontrollably, and the pain in her arm had been almost unbearable, so she’d had no objections to Austin’s help. After removing her boots and socks, his hands had fumbled with the button and zipper of her pants.
He’d turned his back while tugging on the pant legs at the hem to pull them off her. The wet material had clung to her skin, refusing to let go. The scene would have been comical to an observer as Austin had almost dragged her across the ground in an effort to free her of the clinging pants.
“Why do women have to wear such tight pants?” he’d grumbled, glancing over his shoulder at her.
“They’re not tight, but they aren’t intended to be worn as a wetsuit,” she’d retorted through chattering teeth. With her left hand, she’d managed to shimmy the stubborn clothes past her waist, and one final pull from Austin on the hem had finally freed her.
“Who needs to warm up by a fire after that workout?” he’d panted, then come up to kneel behind her to help her injured arm out of the sleeve of her shirt. There hadn’t been anything sexual or romantic about any of it, but still . . . it had a sensual feeling.
“Maybe you did hit your head, Shelby,” she chastised out loud. Romance in the same thought with Austin was too much to comprehend. “Be glad Austin knew what to do while you were dazed, or you might be dead now.”
She’d sat shivering in only her sports bra and underwear while Austin had gathered more wood to ignite the fire into a roaring blaze. He hadn’t even come to the fire to warm up despite the fact that he must have been uncomfortably cold, too.
“Shivering is good,” he’d told her. “Looks like you’re not going into shock or becoming hypothermic.” He’d sounded rather relieved. “If you’d like, I can try to pop your shoulder back into place.”
She’d stared at him while he still kneeled in front of her. Had he always had such dark and mesmerizing eyes? His hair had been slightly damp, and a drop of water had lingered on his cheek. She’d had the irrational thought to swipe it away. His exposed upper torso was surprisingly lean, and his shoulders were wider than she would have expected – features about Austin she’d paid no attention to before. She was simply more aware because he hadn’t been wearing his usual lab coat. He hadn’t been wearing much of anything at all after getting wet in the river.
Thankful at the time for his question to divert her attention elsewhere, she’d asked, “You know how to set a dislocated arm?”
Austin had smirked. “My father is a professor of anatomy and physiology. Before he went into teaching, he was an orthopedic surgeon. My brothers are both doctors.”
Shelby stared. “My brother is a doctor, too. My mother is a nurse practitioner, but I wouldn’t say that qualifies me to practice medicine. I guess I know what you mean, though. You pick up on things just being around it enough. I haven’t yet decided what I want to be when I grow up.”
Austin’s smile had looked rather haunted. “At least your parents don’t pressure you into becoming a doctor, right?”
“No, no pressure,” she’d said. “I think my dad would really like to see me follow in his footsteps and become a park ranger, but like I said, I haven’t made up my mind, yet.”
Awkward silence had followed. There was a lot more to what Austin hadn’t said about his family than what he’d revealed. He’d almost made it sound like his father pulled the strings when it came to deciding Austin’s career path.
He’d finally broken the silence when he’d said, “While I don’t claim to be an expert of ever having to set a shoulder, I think my grasp on anatomy is pretty good and I can give it a try … if you’re willing.”
She must have responded with a ‘yes’, but it had slipped her mind. She’d still been too surprised at Austin’s knowledge, as well as the change in the way she’d always perceived his personality. She really shouldn’t be surprised about his knowledge. He was good at everything in school, and apparently seemed to be a natural out in the wilderness, as well. That added to the checkmarks in his corner.
“Do you want a stick or something to bite down on?” There was no hint of sarcasm or challenge in his voice the way she was accustomed from him whenever they were together at the lab.
“No, just do it,” she’d whispered, swallowing a rise in fear for the pain that would be inevitable.
The agony that had followed when he’d jerked hard on her arm to bring the joint back into the socket had been blinding to the point that she’d almost passed out. She’d screamed, and Austin had apologized profusely for causing her pain. He had, however, succeeded in getting her joint back in place.
He’d brought her some mild pain medication from her first aid kit, then produced a shirt to create a sling. The intense discomfort had consumed all of her focus. She had been unable to pay much attention to anything else, including Austin, who’d finally settled by the fire for some warmth.
Shelby had fallen in and out of restless sleep, probably lasting no more than a few minutes each time. At one point, Austin had stood over her, wearing only his pants.
“I’m going to look for some food. It’s best If you stay here and rest. I won’t go far.”
How long had he been gone? She pulled her backpack closer to her. It had been set by the fire to dry and was still damp, but not as waterlogged as it had been earlier. Austin had taken all of the contents out and laid them in neat rows. Shelby’s eyes fell on her phone. She’d kept it turned off the last few days to conserve the battery but turned it on now to see if it still worked. It had a waterproof case, so it shouldn’t be damaged.
The screen lit up, but the signal was still dead. She turned the phone off again, since the battery was almost dead, too.
“What if we are in a different time? That would explain the complete lack of signal.” Even in the backcountry, she should have some service, but her phone seemed completely unable to find even the faintest signal. The last time she’d hiked in this area, she’d had a long phone conversation with her dad about the otters she’d observed in the river.
Shaking her head at the absurdity of her thoughts, she reached for her sweater. It was still pretty damp, so she grabbed the lighter shirt she’d worn underneath. It was dry and warm except for a few small damp areas. Those would dry quick enough from her body heat. Sitting here in nothing but her underwear wasn’t exactly comforting. Several hours had passed and her pain was more tolerable thanks to pain medication. She was no longer freezing cold, and her mind wasn’t as dazed. Best to get dressed before Austin returned and spare them both the awkwardness of her nudity.
She managed to pull the shirt over her head and slip her uninjured arm through the sleeve. The other arm took a lot longer. She had to take it out of the sling, and gritted her teeth while moving her injured arm as little as possible.
Her pants were more of a struggle. She writhed and slithered on the ground, bucked and kicked while pulling them up with one hand until she finally had them over her hips.
“You could simply ask me for help.”
Shelby raised her head off the ground, which sent a sharp jab through her shoulder. She clenched her teeth, then rolled over to sit up more easily. She blinked.
Austin strode into camp, smiling from ear to ear. Shelby’s eyes widened. That was Austin coming toward her, wasn’t it? The surly guy from school was nowhere to be found. Picturing him in his lab coat was nearly impossible, unless it was unbuttoned to show off the chiseled chest and stomach that were on display right in front of her.
“I’m sure you’re getting quite the laugh out of this,” Shelby mumbled and stood with the help of a loud groan. “If you’re keeping score, I think you’ve surged ahead in the category of surviving in the wilderness.”
Austin’s face sobered. “I wasn’t keeping score of anything.” He came closer. “I’m surprised you managed to get your shirt on.”
Shelby raised her chin to look up at him. Had he gotten taller in the last few days? She kept her eyes on his so she wouldn’t have to look at his sculpted upper body. Mentally, she rolled her eyes and smacked herself across the back of the head. What was wrong with her? They were in the backcountry of Yellowstone with no supplies, and she’d almost died this morning. Yet here she was, having weird thoughts of attraction for a guy she’d found completely annoying and overbearing not three days ago. Aside that he was definitely physically attractive, she couldn’t get over the fact that he was being so nice to her.
“Here, let me help you,” he said, proving her point. He didn’t take his eyes off her while his fingers zipped and buttoned her pants. Shelby held her breath while sucking in her stomach. Her heart pounded, and adrenaline surged through her with more force than when she’d been knocked off balance in the river.
No, this could not be happening. She couldn’t be attracted to Austin Hornsby. It was an absurd thought, just as absurd as having time traveled.
Austin stepped away from her. The amused smiled from a moment ago when he’d caught her fighting with her pants seemed a little strained now.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“Anytime,” he said, his voice a bit raspy. He cleared his throat and held out the thermos from her backpack. “I collected some berries in this,” he said. “I already ate a bunch as I was picking them, so these are for you.”
“Thanks,” she said again, taking the thermos he offered. Their fingers touched during the exchange, sending an instant surge of electricity up her arm. She yanked the thermos away in haste to stop the sensation. Austin’s eyes twitched slightly, as if he’d experienced something odd, too. He took another step back.
“Well, it looks like the rest of my clothes are dry enough. My jeans were still pretty wet, but I wasn’t going to go walking around the wilderness in my underwear,” he remarked, reaching for his sweater on the ground. “Do you feel strong enough to head out?” He pulled the sweater over his head, asking the question just as his head emerged through the opening.
Shelby dropped her gaze to the thermos in her hand, but he must have caught a glimpse of her staring.
“Yes, I think we should get going. The faster we get to the road, the better.”
Austin shoveled the contents of the backpack into the pack, then draped one of the straps over his shoulder.
“Let me help you with your boots,” he offered.
Shelby started to shake her head, but what choice did she have but to let him tie her boots? She was completely dependent on Austin at the moment. She sat on an old log and pulled on her socks with some effort, but didn’t object to his help getting her feet into her boots.
While he knelt in front of her, tying her boots, he asked, “So, do you still think we are lost in another time, or just simply lost?”
Shelby groaned. She should have kept her thoughts to herself. She’d never live this down, especially when they arrived at Mammoth Hot Springs later today.
She was about to give her answer, when something moved just beyond the trees. Not a second later, two men on horses appeared.
CHAPTER 14
“Well, finally, the cavalry has arrived.”
Austin stood as the two riders approached. Maybe now they could get back home. Along with relief came a nagging feeling of regret. His experiences over the last few days had been nothing short of amazing. Life was truly exciting when all modern conveniences were removed. He’d met the challenge head-on, and it didn’t seem like his time here should be up. There was more to see and experience.
“They could be park rangers,” Shelby said.
“I’ll go find out.” Austin smiled. More regret filled him. Shelby needed medical care for her arm, and his thoughts were purely selfish, but he wished he could have had more time with her. Saving her life yesterday had been a new experience, then being able to care for her to make sure she was safe. He’d never looked out for anyone but himself before.
Thoughts of undressing her shouldn’t be lingering in his mind, but they couldn’t be stopped. He’d done what was necessary to make sure Shelby wouldn’t succumb to hypothermia. He’d kept his eyes and hands to himself as much as the situation warranted, but part of him had wished he was undressing her under different circumstances.
One of the riders raised his hand and called out, “Howdy.”
Austin inhaled deeply. The two men stopped their horses a good distance away and seemed to be waiting for something. From afar, they looked like a couple of rough and tough cowboys, but surely that was to be expected from someone riding in the backcountry. There were plenty of farmers and ranchers in Montana who could have jumped straight out of a history book.
Shelby stood, coming up beside him.
“Looks like our luck is about to change.” Austin glanced sideways at her, smiling. Shelby’s eyes were round with disbelief as she stared at the riders.
