For most people, the best thing about turning 21 is being able drink alcohol legally. For Radley, it was being able drive commercially over the interstate.
Reading the big sign announcing they had crossed over from Nebraska to Kansas, a strange satisfaction filled Radley. “We just crossed our first border Castaway.” She told the massive, white-marked gray dog with floppy ears in the seat next to her. Then she glanced down at the picture tapped to the dash of her and her father when she was about five. She knew her dad had better things to do in Heaven, but she hoped he was taking at least a minute to look down on her now.
The rig had been his originally. Since he was nice enough to wait until Radley was eighteen to die, that meant the rig was hers now.
As they got slightly deeper into the state, Castaway started barking and pawing at the door. Not his big loud, ‘mess with my girl and I eat your face’ bark, but her softer ‘I want something’ bark.
Radley thought she had an idea what he wanted. “Ready for your pack walk, boy?”
Castaway barked again, as if answering in the positive.
“Okay, okay, just let me find a spot to pull over and I’ll get my coat.” Radley assured him.
#
Pulling the faux fur lined hood of her dark brown coat over her head, Radley trudged through the thick snow on the ground, Castaway marching ahead of her on a leash. A couple of cars whizzed by, but she barely glanced at them, and the dog didn’t seem bothered at all.
The fields surrounding the highway was covered in a layer of glistening white for as far as she could see, almost completely unblemished it was so fresh. It was beautiful. It was also bitterly cold, and Radley was hoping they could get back to the truck soon.
“Who’s walking who?”
Radley whirled around to see a lean man who looked to be in his early thirties standing behind her dressed in compact medium blue coat, tawny golden-brown hair mostly hidden under a yellow knit cap, the backpack firmly held on his back.
“Where in the heck did you come from?!” Radley demanded, alarmed, one hand sliding for the rugger at her side that has hidden under her coat, just in case, while Castaway growled in warning. The field was clear, the road was clear for miles. She should have seen anyone else who was walking, even if they were behind her. At the very least she should have been aware of their presence.
“Same place you did, I guess.” The man said, pointing with a thumb behind him before looking Castaway nervously, “Uh, mind calling off your dog?”
Radley’s eyes narrowed, still suspicious of the newcomer, but pulled at the leash saying, “Come on boy, nothing to see here.” Then she walked away.
As they walked off, the man followed. “So, what’s a girl like you doing out here on the middle of the highway with a very large, very intimidating dog?”
“Presa Canarios need to be taken for walks several times a day.” Radley answered coolly, picking up her pace, “Castaway loves a good pack walk.” As the man kept following, the dog’s stand became more firm, vigilant, letting out a warning growl. “They’re also suspicious of strangers. There was a tone of warning in her voice said that silently added, So, you better move along.
“Look, I’m just walking the same way.” The man said, “I’m not trying anything funny.” After a beat he added, “Name’s Bear.”
Radley didn’t mean to be rude, she really didn’t, but she let out of a snorting laugh.
Bear gave a partly amused, partly tired smile. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
“I’m sorry, but—what cheap romance novel did your parents get that from?” Radley got out.
“Uh, huh,” Bear responded, “And you are?”
She looked away. “Radley.” She knew she had no business laughing at anyone else’s name. Where had her parents even gotten that from. “Look, no offense Bear, but if you’re really not trying anything funny can we not?”
Bear silently surrendered. “Just trying not to be a stranger so your dog doesn’t eat me. Jeez.”
“Okay, my dog is not going to eat you.” Radley said firmly.
They traveled in silence for a few yards until Radley caught something glistening in the field. Curious, she redirected her dog. “Come on, Castaway. Let’s take a look.”
“Hey, where are you going?” Bear asked, concerned, following her.
#
In the field was a large, glistening frozen lake. Radley’s jaw actually dropped when she caught sight of it. It was beautiful.
Bear stepped beside her. “Wow.” He said,” Look at that. Did you know this was here?”
“Why would I know?” Radley asked, glancing over to him, “And what happened to just walking the same way?”
“I was worried about you.” Bear said, packing up hand ranged, “You randomly walked off in a frozen field. That’s a good way to freeze to death.”
Radley scoffed. “Thanks Dad.” Looking out at the lake, she got an idea. Just to freak him out. She took a step out onto the ice.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?!” Bear called out, suddenly in a state of panic, throwing an arm out as if to stop her.
“You sure hitchhiking on the side of the road is a good idea?” Radley snarked, sliding forwards on her boots.
Not knowing what else to do, Bear stepped out on the ice with her, staying a few steps behind.
Radley scoffed. “I can’t get away from you, can I?”
“Hey, I just want to be where I can reach you when you fall and break a leg and I have to drag you out of here and get help.” Bear responded.
Radley scoffed again, twirling on the ice. “You’re not my dad.”
“No, but I’m seriously questioning his parenting.” Bear said, watching her wide-eyed.
Radley came to a screeching halt, turning. “You did not just say that.” Radley seethed, a switch flicking inside her, feeling her with rage. “You know what, how dare you?!” She began marching forward on the ice. “How?! Dare?! You?! You know nothing about me, certainly nothing about my dad, who by the way, raised me almost completely by himself. So why don’t you just leave me alone like I asked you in the first place?!”
Bear stood there for a moment, looking like he had been shot.
“Go!” Radley shouted, “Don’t you hear me?! I said go-“Her voice trailed off as the cracked and before she realized what was happening the world around became a blur of blue and white, the breath leaving her lugs, the freezing water stunning her.
After a moment panic set in and she tried to swim up to where she had fell through, but couldn’t find it, couldn’t even find the ice. And she couldn’t breathe. Her lungs feeling like she was about to explode, the world fading black around her.
Immediately jumping into action, Bear dived in, barely taking time to hold his breath. He almost lost that breath as the cold gave him the same treatment as it did Radley, but he kept his head enough to look around. He caught sight of her falling away as she still tried to get above water, yellow, blonde hair flying in the water. Bear swam forward, manage to get hold of the struggling girl, then went upward.
Bear didn’t know how he managed it. In her blind panic Radley was struggling, pulling him down with her, but somehow he got them both through the large broken place in the ice, both of them large, gaping breaths as the air re-entered both of their lungs.
At least she’s breathing. That had to be a good sign. “It’s alright Rad.” He said, pulling her off the ice as Castaway braked bloody murder, “I got you. Just—stay with me.”
He laid her down in the snow, Castaway running around barking at him. “Hey!” Bear protested, “I’m trying to help her!” He looked down at her shaking form, “Radley, can you talk to me.”
“Wha—” Radley began raising up, slurring the word.
That wasn’t good. Slurred speech was a problem. Slurred speech meant hypothermia was more advanced. She seemed more confused than drowsy, but he needed to act fast. “Okay, Rad, you probably want to sleep.” Bear said, raising to his feet with her in his arms, “But you can’t, okay? If you fall asleep you won’t wake up.”
“My truck…” Radley slurred.
“Your what?” Bear balked.
“My truck is back the way we came.” Radley got out.
Okay. He could work with that. If he could get to her truck, he could get her to a hospital, somewhere warm. “Okay,” Bear said, “I’ll get you there. Just stay with me Rad…”
#
Castaway must’ve been perspective enough to realize that his girl was in trouble and the interloper was just trying to help, because he just walked by Bear’s side as he trudged through the snow as fast as he could, the wind cutting through him. He had put his coat on Radley after taking off her own because it was soaked. First step in hypothermia first aid. She was responsive, her breathing was actually pretty steady, but still really confused, her speech slurred, shivering.
Finally, a large red semi -truck appeared on the side of the road, standing there like a beacon. It took a minute for Bear to realize, “Is this your truck? This is your truck?”
“Keys…” Radley moaned.
Pulling out the keys he got from her coat he climbed up as gently as she could with Radley. Rough movement could trigger a cardiac arrest. Opening the door, he carried her inside, leaving the door sitting at the tire, glaring at him.
In the back of the sleeper cab was a mattress covered with pink cameo bedding. Sitting Radley down on it, Bear began to strip off the rest of her wet clothing, Radley struggling against him.
“Rad, you’re hypothermic, I need to get you of your wet clothes!” Bear exclaimed, managing to get her shirt off.
Managing to get the clothes off of her, Bear wrapped her up in all the blankets from the bed and started ransacking the rest of the cab, looking for a first aid kit and something he could use to make a hot drink. That was surprisingly easy to find as the young trucker apparently kept a stock of self -heating cans on the counter. After figuring out how to activate a can of hot chocolate, he left it on the counter and finally found a first aid kit.
“Hah!” Bear shouted in victory, pratically ripping the box open and rummaging until he found the compress, gently putting it on Radley’s forehead. Her eyes rolled up to look at him and it looked like she might be coming round.
“Here.” He said, taking the can of hot chocolate and putting it to her lips, “How are you feeling?”
As the can was removed from her lips Radley answered, “Less foggy. Also, kind of feeling like a jerk. Sorry I yelled at you.”
“Don’t mentioned it.” Bear smiled, “What I get for parent-shaming.” After a beat he added, “So, ah, you drive a truck?”
“Yeah, this rig used to be my dad’s.” Radley explained, “My Mom—well, she just wasn’t in the picture, so he took me everywhere with him. After he died I—I just kept driving.” After a beat she added, “Except until recently I had to keep it to Nebraska.”
“Ah, we’re in Kansas.” Bear told her.
“Finally got old enough for inter-state trucking.” Radley smiled, “Ah, can I get out of this blanket burrito now?”
“A little while longer.” Bear said, “But I might need your help to actually drive this thing to the hospital.”