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tece26

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1.         James pulled away from Rose to look her in the eyes. “Honey, you are so cold!” He rubbed her arms until she flinched. “Sorry babe.” He took his hands away. “We need to get ready Rosie. Do you see my bag there? It’s in the car just above where I was pinned.”
2.         He waited until she nodded before continuing. “I need you to get it, It might be wedged pretty tight, we also need some wood. Make it as dry as you can find. Can you do all that?” She nodded again shivering. “Good girl. When you get this stuff bring it back to the truck.”
3.         “Okay hun, I’ll be right back. Are you okay?”
4.         “Yes, take your time don’t hurt yourself anymore.” He kissed her one more time and watched her as she struggled toward the car and his bag.
5.         When he was sure she was busy with her tasks he slowly lifted his shirt and examined his side. A large, deep gash ran from his ribcage diagonally to his hip. It was bleeding but the flow was staunched by the branch that still ran the length of the wound. He gritted his teeth as he started to pull the branch out. He screamed in pain then bit his lip.
6.         “Jay?!” Rose turned around. “What’s wrong? Do you need me?”
7.         “NO!” James quickly pulled his shirt down. “No I’m fine, just trying to make it up to the truck.”
8.         “Need help?” Rose said turning to come back.
9.         “Rose we need that stuff, I’ll be okay. Just get what we need.”
10.         “Okay.” Rose continued to work as James struggled on one knee slowly up the mountain, around the guard rail up to the truck. He worked through the pain and ignored the blood behind him in the snow. It was flowing from his side a little more freely since he had messed with branch. But he made it up to the truck and collapsed in a heap next to the mystery man. By the time he made it Rose had already dropped off the bag plus a torn blanket she had found.
11.         When Rose left for the wood, he quickly tore the bottom of the blanket off and tied it around his middle creating a bandage over the wound. This worried him, but he didn’t want to worry Rose. He sat and began going through his suitcase pulling out all his clothes. He put on some of the sweaters and struggled to get some over the unconscious man. They were a bit tight over the man’s belly but he stretched them out as best he could.
12.         Rose came back with the wood and they set up a fire. Shortly afterward Rose spoke up. “Jay, we need to stabilize your leg before we go.” She moved closer to him. “I found some longer branches to make you a splint hun.” She had already created a splint and sling for her arm, and was already struggling to tear more of the blanket into strips for the splint using her teeth.
13. “Stop Rosie.” He pulled the blanket away and continued. “I need you to listen to me.”
14. “What? Jay we have to make you the splint. We don’t have all day to talk about this.” Rose said it not looking at him. She knew what he was going to say. She took the blanket back. “Can you straighten your leg?”
15.         “You know I can’t go.” He said quietly.
16.         “Don’t say that. Please Jay, don’t. I need you right now. I can’t do this alone.” Rosie said catching her breath.     
17.         “Don’t cry on me Rosie,” Jay pleaded, “I can hardly move I would slow you down and become more of a problem if we get have to stay another night.”
18.         “I get lost so easily. How would I even know if I was going the right place, the right direction?” Rose argued.
19.         “Climb up the mountain, back to the road, and follow it back down. You will come to a house sooner or later, a phone. Maybe even a car will see you sooner.” Jay tried to stay calm as he saw Rose getting defensive. “You can do this Rose! Please! Look at me.”
20.         She took a minute before finally looking up at him. She was determined not to leave James behind. “James,” she said moving closer and taking his face in her good hand, “I am not leaving here without you. If I mess up it’s your life!” When he started to shake his head she simply said, “If you don’t come, then I don’t go.”
21.         They stared at each other for a minute, trying to judge each other’s reactions to their wants. “Fine,” James sighed, “Go get the wood for the splint.