Page 34 of Rebel Moon

“I’m not sure.” He tried to stand. His face went white and he sat right back down in the snow. “Son of a—okay. It’s my ankle.”

Concern flooded me. “Don’t stand. Let me see. Where—here?” I took off my glove and gently put my hand into his boot. He winced but didn’t say anything. Even with his sock still on, I could feel the swelling. “Can you move it? Don’t be a guy, and just tell me the truth.”

“It’s not broke.” His jaw was tight. “Just twisted. I think anyway.”

“I’ll help you back to your cabin and then we’ll get some ice on it,” I said. “Luci can take a look to see what kind of damage you’ve done.”

He looked at me for a second, uncertainty moving behind his eyes. “Maybe one of the guys should help. I’m heavy.”

“Not too heavy for me.”

True to my word, I got him up, taking part of his weight at my side. His arm went heavy around my shoulders. Somehow I got him off that hill one slow step at a time. The others called out and I waved them off, shouting, “He’s fine, twisted his ankle, I’ve got him.”

I did have him, and I wasn’t handing him over to anybody.

His cabin felt warm after the physical effort to get him inside. I helped him to the bed and made him sit, hastily discarding my jacket and mittens, then knelt on the floor to ease his boot off.

He hissed. “That hurts,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry. Almost done.” I’d used the same voice with my little sister many times before. The kid was always getting herself into scrapes, and I was the one who made it all better.

His ankle had definitely swelled and was turning purple along the outside. Not broken. But a bad sprain.

I sprang into action, helping him lay on the bed with his injured ankle resting on a pillow. I filled a dish towel with ice from the freezer and pressed it against his ankle. With the other hand, I cradled his heel to hold it steady, his skin warm under my cold fingers.

“You don’t have to do this. I can do it myself.” His voice had gone rough.

“Let me help—and don’t make a fuss.”

“This is a whole new side of you,” he said.

“Don’t sound so surprised.” I adjusted the ice, not looking up at him. “Charlie’s skinned knees were my specialty.”

“Did you ever resent having to take care of her?”

“No way. She’s my angel. My whole reason for pushing myself so hard. Charlie and my mama. They’re mine and I’m theirs. No matter what.”

“Law school for Charlie. A house for your mom. I’d say you’re doing pretty well for all of you.” He was staring at the ceiling, eyes open like he was watching a movie up there. However, he must have sensed my gaze because he turned his head slightly to look at me. “I’ve had you all wrong, Price. Way wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come lay beside me.” He patted the spot next to him.

“Um, are you sure that’s a good idea?” I could still feel the heat between us from the mountain. And it thrummed through me, every inch and every nerve on high alert, craving his touch.

“Let’s be brave,” he said softly.

“Yeah, okay.” I got up and went to the other side of the bed, shedding my boots before I lay down beside him.

He turned on his side, wincing.

I sat up to adjust the ice pack on his ankle, then returned, settling on my side so we were face to face.

“Anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are?” Knox asked.

“From time to time.”

“How come, all these years, you’ve never brought a man around?”