Keeping Her Warm(7)

“Girls,” I hear called. We all look over to see Coach Snow standing there. “You should be getting home. The school is locking up in ten minutes.”

“Coach Snow, Catherine was—” I push past Beth, not wanting to hear her finish telling Coach Snow I was using the school shower. My cheeks are already burning with embarrassment. Beth huffs as if I hurt her but I barely touched her. I rush out and don’t stop running until I clear the school doors and make it a good few blocks away.

I stop for a moment, bending over, trying to catch my breath. My nose burns and I can feel the tears wanting to break free, but I push them back. I really don’t want to face Coach Snow when I go back to school and answer why I’m using the school showers. I push those thoughts away. I have other things to worry about. Like the fact I forgot to fill up my two water bottles before I left school. I groan. Maybe I can put snow in them and it will melt.

I start walking again. My toes are already numb from the cold. I should have put on extra socks, but my shoes would have been too tight. I tuck my hands into my coat and pick up speed. I want to get away from the harsh wind, and the snow has already started to fall.

Each step seems heavier and heavier and I almost cry out in relief when I see my house. As I get closer the hair on my arms stands up at what I’m seeing. Boards cover all the windows and the front door. I rush around to the back as fast as my body will let me and see the back door is boarded up, too.

I reach for the boards, trying to slide my fingers in between them to pull at them. I pull as hard as I can and I hear a creak, but the board doesn't budge. Tears start to leak down my face. My fingers feel numb as I still try to pull at the board. I give another hard tug and I slip, falling onto the hard ground. The air leaves my lungs and I can’t find the will to pull myself off the cold hard ground.





5





Cole





I only get one knock on Mrs. Lemon’s door before it’s flying open. She stands there with Fluffy in her arms and a scowl on her face. Her lips are clenched together. She’s clearly annoyed.

“He could have died with how long it took you to get here!” She holds the cat closer to her. The cat tries to break free, but it’s no use.

“Sorry about that, ma’am. The roads are a little messy and I had to stop to pull a few people out of some ditches. Don’t want any of the citizens of Aurous freezing to death in their vehicles.” I smile at her as I say it.

“Well then, I guess you don't want any of your elderly citizens falling down either then.” Her eyes go to a bag labeled SALT that’s sitting on her porch. I have a feeling Fluffy was never lost at all. She called to get me to come salt her sidewalk.

“I sure wouldn't, ma’am.” I let my grin widen. When I first started getting calls from Mrs. Lemon I was annoyed. She would only let me come out when she called. I think it’s because the other men on our force would play into her games. At first I thought about not doing it, but I saw past her little games.

Mrs. Lemon is alone. Has been for years since her husband died. They didn't have any kids and I could tell she was lonely and sometimes just needed someone to help her out a little here and there, so I played into her games because really it didn't hurt anything. Normally I wouldn't mind salting her driveway, but today I’ve got a young girl on my mind.

I pick up the salt bag without another word and quickly get to work on her driveway and sidewalk. It doesn't take me but a few minutes. I drop the bag back on the porch. Her door opens back up and she’s got a coffee in one hand and a small tin in another.

“Thanks, sheriff.” She hands me the tin and coffee.

“Anything for you, Mrs. Lemon. You got everything you need for a few days? Town is going to lock up tight.”

“I’ll make do.”

I give her a nod, heading back down her sidewalk hoping into my cruiser. I say a small prayer there isn't another reason I need to stop. I drove through town once on my way to Mrs. Lemon’s and I’ll do it again now on my way over to the foreclosed house.

Main Street is clear as I drive down. I pull out my radio and call in to the station. I’m happy when I hear that everything is looking good and the snow trucks have already salted the roads twice now.

When I get to the house I pull into the driveway. A track of footprints on the pathway are already being covered by fresh snow. I glance to the front door and curse when I see the boards covering it. I walk over to my cruiser and turn on the headlights since the sun has almost fully set.

I follow the prints to the back of the house. All the air leaves my lungs when I see a young girl lying on the ground, snow starting to cover her. I rush to her and lift her in my arms, breathing a sigh of relief when she wraps her arms around me, burying her face into my neck. A jolt rushes through my body as I pull her close to me, almost knocking the air out of my lungs.

I rush back to my cruiser and open the passenger door. I practically have to pry her off me. I don’t want to let her go either. Her little body fits perfectly up against me, but I need to get her warm.

“Sweetheart. You have to let me go. I have to get you warm.”

“No hospital,” she whispers softly into my ear. Her voice is silky sweet, making all the hairs on my body stand up.

I hadn't planned where to take her, but the hospital is twenty-five minutes away and that’s with good weather.