Back Country (The Country Duet #2)(15)

“No, it’s not.” He coughs. “When are you coming to visit me? I’m waiting on you.”

“Dave, it’s way too damn early.”

“You kids have no work ethic. It’s well into morning. Just checking to see when you were coming to visit me.”

“Are the blinds in your room open?” I ask him.

“Nope, closed, but all the lights are on in the room.”

“If you were to look out, you’d see it’s pitch black.”

“I’m not fucking dumb, Hunter,” his voice escalates.

“Dave, you’ve got your times backward.”

“Bullshit.”

Another voice on the other end of streams through. It’s a female one and more than likely a nurse. I can hear her convincing Dave of the time. It’s not until I listen to the rustle of the blinds being pulled back that I know Dave has to be convinced now.

“Oh, shit.”

“Dave, I’ll be there to see you tonight. Try to get some sleep.”

“Bye.” One word and then the line goes dead.

I can’t help but chuckle at the ornery old bastard, but when I fall back on the bed, I’m wide-awake. My deep sleep long gone.

Thanks, Dave.





9





Hunter





“Storms make trees take deeper roots.” - Dolly Parton





The snow will be falling soon, so I take full advantage of a few spare hours. I hit up Connor and some of my other friends to see if they wanted to head up to the motorcycle trails, but everyone was busy. It’s not the smartest idea to ride alone, but I also don’t have many free hours in my life either.

I park my truck, then suit up in all of my gear. My Freshman year I spent a lot of time up here with Burton, riding these hills. The parking lot is typically packed, but not today. Shocking really, since snowfall is right around the corner. Winters in Northern Idaho can be brutal, and I’m all in for soaking up these few nice days we have left.

With my backpack on, I kick the bike to life and then take off for the top of the mountain. There are dozens and dozens of old logging roads that make the perfect obstacles. Hours of carefree riding float by until I find myself going down a mountain with about forty feet left. It’s a split-second decision; I know that I need to turn around, but there’s no place to do so. I ease the bike down and then when I’m about halfway down, I go vertical then my front wheel lands in a deep cutout in the mountainside.

Black. Everything goes dark in a split second. Then all I see is a bright blue sky. I blink once, then twice, before finally focusing in on the fluffy clouds. Slowly, I sit up and feel the ground below spin rapidly with brutal force.

My head is heavy, and something is on it. My hands reach up and feel the hard material until I’m able to take it off. My head wobbles when the extra weight and pressure has been taken off. I peer over to a motorcycle that’s laid out on its side. Do I ride motorcycles? Who am I? Where am I?

Panic sets in when the realization hits me I have no idea of anything. I press my palms into the soft soil below me trying to stand up, but everything spins way too fast. Something on my back jingles catching my attention. I have a backpack. The terror racing inside of me causes me to lurch forward digging through the pack for help.

I find a first-aid kit, a few bottles of water, and then a phone. None of it looking familiar at all. The harder I try to figure it out, the worse the pain in my head throbs. It’s a steady drum beat and the loudest sound I’ve ever heard. With each beat of it, it makes it harder to put together a string of thoughts.

The cell phone lights up in my hand with a Facebook notification. I don’t recognize the name in the notification. I press the home button, but a security code pops up. I study the numbers from one to nine and find myself even more confused. I keep my thumb on the home button while searching for a combination, but that drum sound grows louder and steadier.

Then like magic, the phone opens us. My fingerprint, I think, thank God. My first clue to getting off this mountainside. I notice I only have two bars of service. The picture on the home screen is just two people staring back at me. It takes me long moments to realize it’s another woman and me. The woman with bright ocean blue eyes and glossy auburn hair, and I remember that I love her. I love her so much it makes my heart hurt every single day.

Teale. It’s Teale. I find her contact, then press the phone icon to call her. It rings several times before someone picks up.

“Hunter?” The voice shocked.

“Teale.”

A pungent pause making me wonder if I shouldn’t have called her.

“Hunter, are you okay?”

“No. I wrecked a motorcycle and don’t know where I am. Hell, just realized my name is Hunter.”

“Where are you?” All shock evaporated from her voice, and now it’s just panic.

“I uh…” I stutter out. “I don’t know. My head hurts, and I don’t remember much.”

“Hunter, you have to tell me where you are.”

The drum beat at the final crescendo, nearly making me blind. “I love you. I think I know I shouldn’t love you, but all I know right now is that I love you.”

“It’s okay, Hunter. I love you, too.” Her voice fades off for the last part. “I’ll always love you.”