Page 31 of Wilde Flame

“You sure you don’t want me to ride that way?”

A wind gust hit, so strong that even Orion stumbled. “No, get to the barn. I’ll find her.”

“If you change your mind, I’ll stay saddled up for a bit.”

“Just get back safely. I’ll try to update in a few.”

I hit end and pushed the phone into my pocket. The trail was entering a wooded area, and I could still make out a few footsteps, but they’d be completely covered within minutes.

“Stay on the trail, Lilibeth. Stay on the trail.”

My heart was pounding in my chest and my stomach felt like it was weighed down by a ton of rocks. It was the first time in my life that I’d ever felt such gut-wrenching fear.

I rode for ten minutes more, with no sight of Lilibeth or any more footsteps. The snow was falling harder than ever.

“Lilibeth!”

Suddenly, Orion threw his head back and refused to move.

“Come on, buddy, I know it’s a mess out here, but we’ve gotta keep going.”

He started walking backward, snorting the whole time. When he let out a scream, I knew something was wrong. When we’d backtracked about a dozen feet, Orion headed into the woods, and no matter how hard I tried to make him back up, he refused.

That’s when I saw her.

Lilibeth was under a tree, sitting with her back against the wide trunk, her eyes closed.

“That’s a good boy, Orion!” I cried, before jumping off his back and running as best I could through the snow to get to Lilibeth. She’d been smart enough to huddle under a large pine. The thickness of it helped to shield some of the snow and wind.

“Lilibeth,” I shouted, as I dropped to my knees. She wasn’t opening her eyes. I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, hard. “Lilibeth!”

Her eyes snapped open. “Caden?”

“What happened?”

Tears filled her eyes. “Lyra got spooked and threw me.”

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “No, but I’m f-freezing. I can’t feel m-my hands.”

I looked down to see she wasn’t wearing any gloves. She didn’t have a hat on either. I pulled my scarf off and wrapped it around her head, making sure her ears and head were covered as best as they could be.

“Can you stand?”

Nodding, she took my hands, and I helped her up.

“I’m…I’m s-so cold. I can’t get warm. The s-storm came on s-so fast.”

“I’ve got you. It’s okay.”

I bent and picked her up, fighting against the snow to carry her back to Orion. I helped her get on the horse, then settled behind her. I took off my gloves and put them on her hands.

“But your hands—” she began.

“Are fine.”

Once I got back to the trail, I glanced around to see where we were. Grabbing my phone, I pulled up my location. “We’re closer to my place than the barn.”