Saving Amber - Zoe Dawson Page 0,68
of her heart. “I’m sorry,” he said, pressing his face against her forehead. “Sorry any of this is necessary.”
“I’m sorry, too. I should have been more aware that Garza was bad news. I miscalculated, and he took the advantage. I’m not going to let that happen again. I promise.”
“It was broad daylight at the sheriff’s department. Who would have thought he would be that demented?”
She nodded. “Point taken. Shelter?”
He didn’t let her go and that was all him and nothing to do with her needs. “If I don’t get to you by nightfall, make a shelter. Make sure you’re not in an avalanche spot. Check for accumulated debris and broken tree stumps at the base of the clearing. If you find both, chances are you’re in an avalanche chute. The side of the clearing is a much better shelter location. You should also avoid areas near overlooks and cliffs. Start looking for an ideal spot as soon as the sun touches the horizon. You don’t need to get too fancy—your goal is to make it through the night.
“Dig a snow trench deep enough to provide a windbreak. Pile and pack additional snow on the windy side for further protection. Gather as much pine boughs, leaves, anything soft to line the bottom for insulation. Once you climb in, cover yourself with copious amounts of pine or any other leaves you can get. Snow is a better insulator than your average tent, so your emergency shelter should get you through the night. Hillsides provide good wind shelter, but low-lying areas are colder and damper, so avoid them.
“Make your shelter as small as possible to help retain heat. Stack up tree branches to the entrance to block the cold and retain heat.”
“I suppose I should manage my sweat while I dig and gather—moisture is my enemy in the freezing cold.”
“Bingo, babe. Once you’ve built your shelter, you should focus on water and warmth. The human body can survive for about three or four days without water, depending on conditions. Dehydration can set in within a few hours. It’s important to remember that water is just as important in cold-weather survival as it is in hot weather. A minimum of two quarts of water is needed for survival, and in cold conditions, you should drink even more. Eating snow may seem like a great idea, but it will lower your core temperature and actually bring on dehydration. Wrap it in cloth and suck the water out as it melts. Try to find open water—rivers, streams, lakes and springs. It’s best to get your water from a fast-moving body and strain it with some cloth to remove large bits of sediment.
“Use the COLD acronym to help you remember these important tips. C for clean, try to minimize dirt and sweat. O for overheating, because sweating causes moistness, which causes you to chill faster. L for loose, keep your clothes loose to allow blood flow. And D for dry. Wet clothing is your enemy in the cold. Keep your neck area loose to allow moisture to escape.”
She stood there for a moment assimilating everything he’d told her. He thought about tomorrow and what they would face apart and together. He would gladly lay his life down for Amber. No hesitation, no fear.
“You’re going to be amazing, Amber. I know it.”
“You do? I’m going to take that at face value.”
He cupped her jaw, smoothing his thumb along the edge of the bruise. He could only hope he’d get the chance to bruise Garza tomorrow. The man was worse than an animal.
Softly, Tristan said, “Why did you leave the JAG Corps?”
“You checked up on me?”
“I like to know who I’m dealing with. But, actually, you told me, remember.”
She bit her lip. “I checked up on you, too. I already knew about the consulate, the mandated break from combat and your therapist, Dr. Cross.”
“I don’t think it’s a secret that it messed me up.”
“Tristan.”
“You can’t fix everything, Amber. I learned that a long time ago, but we’re not talking about me. JAG?”
She looked away, then back at him. “I was prosecuting this guy. Exemplary soldier, decorated, and something didn’t feel right to me. It was…off. So I did some investigation on my own and I discovered that his girlfriend framed him for the murder of her parents. I resigned my commission and left. I put in an application for NCIS the next day. I get more satisfaction in bringing bad guys to justice than I ever did prosecuting them.”
He