Left for Wild - Harloe Rae Page 0,16
steel bowls, and a hatchet with a dull blade.”
I stare at the meager supplies, a slice of hope severing off my foolish heart. “Is that it?”
“Better than I was expecting.”
“Those rations won’t feed us for more than a week. What will we eat once that’s gone?” Even to my own ears, my voice sounds robotic.
Halder pushes our sustenance away, as if the skimpy sight offends him. “We’ll find other alternatives. There are plenty of means for us to gather food.”
My skepticism raises a single brow. “Where?”
“Rivers are common in these parts. There has to be a water source nearby. We can fish.”
“How? Is there a pole in there that you forgot to mention?” I gesture at our small resources with a sloppy hand.
He shrugs off my disbelief. “I can make a spear.”
“This is beginning to sound a lot like Survivor, minus the tropical island and reliable stash of rice and the medical crew waiting in the wings. I suppose the interview process was bypassed. And it’s freaking cold. Can I get immunity from this challenge? I’m ready to tap out.”
A muted smile ghosts over his lips, but it vanishes a moment later. “A reality show would be a lot simpler.”
“How is this real?” My eyes get hot as I gaze across the frozen landscape. It’s icy and barren and never-ending. “Is this where I’m going to spend my final breaths?”
Halder stands and turns toward me. “Let’s not be morbid.”
“How can I not?”
“We have some elements in our favor.”
“Such as drinking slush to stay hydrated?” My sarcasm is thicker than syrup.
His forehead crinkles in the most manly way possible. Those simple creases draw me in like a magnetic pulley. Is this dude capable of being anything but instant-distraction hot? I mean, what are we even talking about? Halder doesn’t skip a beat, of course. “We do have the means to melt the snow and boil water.”
“But no fire,” I point out.
He stares at me for a moment, perhaps waiting for another super helpful suggestion. Then a crooked grin teases his lips. “I can build one. That’s not a problem at all.”
Why am I the least bit surprised? Halder’s declaration shoves a heaping spoonful of inadequacy down my throat. I don’t bother disguising my cringe. “That’s really impressive. I wouldn’t have the first clue where to begin. My outdoorsy skills are poor at best.”
He lets a low whistle loose. “Well, lucky for you, I’m a bit of a nature enthusiast. I’ve spent my fair share of nights camping under the stars.”
“Boy Scout?”
“Damn straight.”
“Wow, that’s actually really…” I let my words trail off. Was I about to call him sexy? Yes, I most certainly was.
“Nerdy?”
I snort. Yeah, as if. “Not at all. You’re gonna keep us alive with all that expertise.”
“That’s the goal. I have every intention of getting us out of here. No matter what, I promise you that.” His honest green stare bores into mine. Even though we just met, I’ve never believed anyone’s promise more than his in this moment.
My nod is slow, caught between a trance and the beginning whispers of acceptance. “So, what’s our plan?”
He peers up at the cloudy sky; only subtle hints of sunny rays are sneaking through. Those brief glimpses are enough to shed warmth over the white blanket of winter. “We’ll get a fire going. Then I’ll start on getting us shelter.”
“Here?” I point at the ground just in case he doesn’t hear me.
He kicks at a lump of dirt. “It’s as good a spot as any. I’d rather not risk wasting daylight searching for a better plot.”
“What about trying to find help?” Those sprinkles of acceptance vanish with a passing gust of wind.
“I’m not trying to be pessimistic, but there’s nothing out there. At least not within walking distance.”
“Are you sure?” I want to argue, badly. But I barely have a pinkie toe to stand on where this topic is concerned.
“Positive, Blakely. We can try, if that’s what you really want. I just doubt it will do any good right now.”
Why is he so resigned? Is this a normal reaction? Maybe I should just listen to him. He’s the one with any lick of experience, after all. “It seems odd to blindly assume without checking, I guess.”
He motions upward, making an arc across the portion of sky we can see. “Based on the position of the sun, it’s mid-afternoon. We could walk for hours and end up in a very similar place. Let’s begin tomorrow. There’s no urgency.”
“It’s only our chance of rescue