12/31 5:23 pm New Years Eve

The chilling wind hissed through the boughs of the pines as Jake rode up along the edge of the ravine looking for the strays that had wandered off from the herd. He would have let it wait a couple days, but there were signs of a storm coming in, and to lose even a few head when you were just starting out was hard. Through the trees on the other side of the ravine Jake spotted one of the cows, its black coat standing out against the snow like a ink spot on a blank page.

As Jake eased Gus down the bank his thoughts were scattered on the breeze, the soft fullness of Erin's bottom lip, the small rough callous on her thumb from knitting which surprisingly felt good when she ran her thumb against his cheek. There are some who say that the seasons are each like a specific personality trait of a woman, if Spring were the tender gentle lover then winter would be the cold cruel mistress. Jake was not paying attention as well as he should have been when he came down the last three feet of the bank to the streams edge, and a forgotten mistress will have her vengeance.

Gus's hoof hit a icy stone, and slipped a thing that ordinarily would not have given Jake even the slightest pause, but when his silent reverie was broken Jake startled and jerked in the saddle. The unexpected movement surprised Gus, who feeling the jerk on the reins reared up on his back legs, pawing the air for purchase which would not come. The whole scene played out in slow motion to Jake. He could feel Gus going over, and in a moment of clarity managed to slip his boots from the stirrups and fling himself free of the horse. The dismount was a thing of rough beauty, the landing however did not go well. Landing awkwardly on his knees Jake pitched forward hitting his head against a stone. There was a flash of white exploding in his head as he recoiled from the blow, and toppled backwards towards the stream. The fall was brought to a stop by a second knock of the head, this time square against the right temple. The last thing Jake would feel before he passed into a state of unconsciousness would be the frigid waters of the stream rushing over him as he laid face down in the stream bed.

Bobbi Joe barked at her master as he lay motionless along the stream. Time and time again Jake would not respond to her, and somehow she knew that something was wrong. With a slow trepidation Bobbi stepped into the chilling water, laying herself tight along side her master ebbing the flow of the water against him with her own body.

Gus, once settled down was more then content to simply begin a slow wander towards home. This was too much excitement for him.

Erin waited a moment and felt his breath. It was shallow, and his purse had slowed. Jake's skin was cold and his bluish lips trembled and shuddered as Erin's hand moved over his cheek.

"Erin?" His word was barely above the most delicate of whispers.

"I'm here. I'm here. Keep talking to me." Erin stood again, to view the area. She wasn't sure if she could move him by herself, and she didn't want to set him floating down the stream. If he slipped from her grasp, it was possible that he would end up further in the river bed and take float. "Tell me a story, Jake."

Erin figured if she could keep him chatting as she tried to move him, he was less likely to fall asleep. Sleep was the enemy here, sleep and cold. Erin wasn't the outdoorsy type. In fact, the closest she had come to this situation had been reading some strange survival book in her fifth year at boarding school. Reaching a hand down to pat Bobbi Joe, she looked up and down the river again.

Erin removed her coat, and laid it in the snow. Moving back to Jake, she hooked her arms under his. Jake lay motionless save for the trembling of his lips. There was no words coming from his mouth, not even that same whisper.

"Come on, Jacob, talk to me." She was already pulling at his coat, trying to unbutton his shirt. She had to get him out of his wet clothes and into as much of her dry clothes she could spare. Unsure how long he had been out there, she was worried about his temperature as much as she was about getting him from the river and to his house.

"Tell me about the rodeo." Her prompts were meant to keep his mind sharp, keep him awake as she pulled him the rest of the way from the water and hoisted him up to remove his shirt and coat. He didn't respond, not even to help her at her task.

Erin got his clothes off, and pulled her sweater onto him. It was tight, but it was dry, and the wool would pull any moister away and keep him warm at least for the moment. Leaning him down on the jacket, she stood, moving quickly to Gus and the saddle. She was shivering now, the fact that she was without sweater and coat chilling her English blood.

Erin went through the saddle finding rope, she linked her arm through it, and then ducked down to try and find the buckle for the saddle. Years of cleaning and grooming her show horse did not prepare her for the quick movements she now had to execute. Though somehow she got the saddle blanket, too. Opening it up, she laid it out behind Jake again.

"Okay, Jake, I need you to say something to me." She laid her hand on his cheek again. He was like ice, she had to will herself not to recoil. Kneeling again in the snow, she put her other hand on his other cheek, looking into his eyes. "Just nod if you can hear me."

Jake still didn't say anything. He wasn't yet dead weight, his chest moved, but he was still quiet. Unable to tell if he were conscious or not, Erin just continued her talking to him as if they were sitting at the bar. If anything her voice would help, right?

"Okay, I'm going to lift you up a little now." She was worried, but wasn't letting it show in her voice. She hoisted him from the arms and pulled him onto the blanket, setting about to struggle with his jeans next. Wet denim would only bring death, and so she went to work, having to take her dagger out of her boot at one point to get them off. She pulled her coat free from under him, now that he was on the blanket, and wrapped his legs in it, buttoning it up so that it wouldn't fall off.

Pressing her lips to his forehead for a moment, Erin took a second to breath. She knew time was short, but she had to take the second before she started on the second part of her plan. Her cheek pressed to his, closed her eyes for a second. She just wanted to sit there for awhile... let someone else take care of it, but there was no one else. Bobbi Joe nudged her with his nose and she snapped to, pulling the rope from her shoulder and starting to to fasten a makeshift harness.

1/1/2008
Around midnight.


Erin had lost track of time, but somehow had gotten Jake into the house and into bed. It had tried her strength and patience, but it worked and now she had him safely tucked in bed, beneath many blankets. Before the bed and the blankets, Erin had tried a warm bath, and trying to make him sip warm liquids, though he wasn't awake enough to sip. His body seemed to be warming, however, he hadn't said anything to her since her name at the streambank. Erin decided that body heat was the only thing that was going to work, and she had crawled into bed next to him. Though she wasn't as warm as she could have been, she was certainly warmer than he was, and Erin hoped she could share her heat.

With a sigh, she kept herself next him in his bed, leaning her head against his shoulder and allowing herself the time to close her eyes. She wasn't planning on sleeping, but for the moment she needed to rest and regather before she figured out what to do.

Jake was drifting in and out never fully going one way or the other. As his body warmed his once still body began soft stirrings, nearly imperceptibly. The chills still ravaged him, his back and joints aching terribly. There was something warm around him and even in a unconcious state he instinctively edged towards it.


"Hey, you awake?" Erin's voice was a bit raspy, she had been cold, tired. It was more exertion than Erin was ready for after her accident, but now things were okay. Linking an arm over him, she pulled herself up until they were touching, pressing her lips to his temple, she extended her minute.

"Theres no more coffee in the pot." Jake spoke for the first time in hours. Though this time the words came out, they made little sense in his delirious sate. He moved closer to the comfort of Erins embrace. Then again he was silent.

"I can make you some..." She pressed her lips to his forehead then, drawing him into her as if he were the smaller one and she had to protect him. He did seem small in this state, and was still slightly blue. Though the fact he had said something, anything, that was a sentence gave her a bit of hope that he would be okay. "Do you need anything? Water?" Erin didn't want to move, but she knew she should. They weren't out of the woods yet, and while the rest was welcome, it wouldn't do to fall asleep with him in this condition. Jake's body shivered against hers desperately trying to warm itself. He was able to feel her, and to see her now when he opened his eyes even if just the tiniest bit.

"Erin?"

"I'm right here." She rubbed her hands over his back trying to share what warmth her little body had with him. They were under blankets, though none of them heated, as she was trying to keep from shocking him.

"When did you ..." The question drifted off before he could finish it he was so exhausted. Now though at least aware of the source of heat he tried to roll over on his side throwing an arm over her body clinging to her for the warmth she offered.

"Doesn't matter." She muttered into his neck as they got closer together again, sighing she breathed him in and let some of the tension out of her body. "Rest." It wasnt' clear whether she was talking to him or herself, her head falling back against the pillow once more.

"Your such a good wife." The words came out slowly and distant sounding. His head resting against her breast a bit of warmth starting to seep into him. Erin smiled a bit as she laid her hand over his head. Though she felt her heart stop, she thought it best not to correct him. Running her hand down over his still somewhat damp hair, she let the breath she had been holding out slowly.

"I'm trying." It was said so low, that it was unclear again if it was for him or for her. Jake shivered again pulling himself tighter against her.

"I am so cold, so tired." His voice was weak, and distant , it would hard to figure if it was just the tirdness taking its toll or something else draining his voice. Pulling a hand between them, Erin felt for his heart, testing to see if it were beating strong and regularly. He was still cold, and she wasnt' sure what else to do.

"It's going to be okay. You're going to be fine. You just need a little rest." Though it was hard to tell if she believed what she was saying. "Hey, Jake?" She hoped the use of his name would rouse him enough to listen to her then.

"Hmmm?" He tried to focus, his eyes fluttering a bit as he struggled to open them and keep them open. Turning his head so he could see her face. There was a pause that while wasn't long, also wasn't unsubstantial. Erin caught his eyes and looked directly into them, the fact he clearly couldnt' focus making her lips purse just a little. With a long breath in that she let out slowly, she spoke softly, though deadly serious.

"I...uh...I love you." It was a bit embarrassing, but also she was nervous. Opening herself up to vulnerability was hard, specially in a moment where she was so likely to lose it all over again. "So, see? You have to be okay."


"You.. know I love you too, Dolly." He clung to her as he spoke with a strained whisper. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?" For once she let her feelings show in her voice. Erin was scared, and while it probably wasn't best to share with him at the moment, they did promise to share everything. "Cause I need you around, you know. " Jake nodded against her flesh. There was something in him now making the effort to stay awake even if just barely much easier.

"Forever I promise."

Pressing a kiss to his forehead, she smiled and ran her hands over his back again. "Thank you." She whispered in his ear before falling silent again in her effort to warm his still cold form.