Page 83 of Last Chance Christmas

He tried to regain his footing, but his other shoe slid on the slush.

Kianna reached for his hand, except it was too late.

Cole tumbled down the embankment.

Four

Kianna raced to the edge, careful to avoid the same divot that had caught Cole by surprise.

Titan barked, then whined and continued to pace.

If Cole was hurt…

Kianna grimaced. She didn’t have her medic bag with her, which meant she’d need to get creative on how to help him.

She crouched, and the wet snow and dirt seeped through her pant legs and sent shivers coursing through her.

She peered over.

Cole sat on the ground and was brushing snow off his pants. “Are you okay?” she yelled. The declining slope was more than twice his height. And with the slick conditions, Cole had slid down fast.

Bushes and a few small trees scattered the open field below. Who knew if there were any rocks masked under the snow?

Cole stood up and took a step toward the base of the drop-off. “I’m fine.”

He gave her a thumbs-up, but she wasn’t convinced. At least he was talking and moving. Those were good signs.

“I’m going to work my way back up.”

He grabbed a handful of branches on a nearby bush and used them to pull himself up the steep incline.

Titan nuzzled up next to Kianna’s side, and she rubbed his head. “It’s okay, bud. Cole’s coming back. He’s not going to leave us.”

Leave us.

Her own words pierced her heart, more painful than a pointed icicle falling and striking her.

Why did her mind have to go there now?

This situation was very different from the fallout from her previous friendship.

She and Cole weren’t even friends.

Acquaintances and first responders. But that’s where their connections ended.

The wind picked up again and nipped at her cheeks. Sitting here made the cold weather more noticeable.

Cole had climbed a quarter of the way back up the embankment. She wished there was something she could do to help. Just waiting here seemed useless.

He pulled himself up another few inches, but his foot slipped, and he slid down again.

“Cole!” Kianna shouted. Her voice echoed in the open expanse.

He clawed at the side of the hill for something to hold on to.

Instinct had her reaching over the edge with her arm. But it didn’t matter. He was too far down.

Cole braced his foot against a bush to keep from falling all the way down again, then peered up at her.