Finally, using every bit of strength that she had, she was able to open them slightly. She saw a beautiful man holding her up against his chest as he sat next to her. His skin was dark and his hair was sandy blonde. She could not see his eyes as he looked around the woods, but she notices that he had a very defined bone structure. He was unlike any man she had ever seen in her life.
She imagined that he could have been on the cover or any magazine or modeled for any company that he wanted to back home and she wondered what he was doing out in the woods. Katie tried to lift her head off of his chest, but once again pain like needles shot through her head.
The man looked down at her and she noticed he had gray eyes. She had never seen such eyes in her life and was convinced that she had hit her head much harder than she had thought.
“I thought I had lost you,” the man whispered, as he looked down at her.
“Lost me,” Katie managed to say.
The man only smiled and moved Katie’s hair out of her face. After a few minutes he asked if she thought she would be able to stand. Katie had begun feeling much better but had not said anything to the man. She was enjoying his gentle touch and the way that he held her. It had been far too long since she had been held in such a caring way.
Katie nodded her head and the man gently helped her up. “My name is Sam,” he said, still holding on to her.
“Katie,” she replied, gripping his arm as she tried to regain her balance.
“I do not think you can walk back,” Sam said, looking concerned at Katie, “We must get you back.”
Katie looked up at him confused and realized that he was looking at the area of her head that was causing her pain, she reached up and touched it and found that there was dried blood on her forehead.
Sam gave a gentle nod, then looked up the hill Katie had rolled down. “Do you think you can make it back up,” he asked.
Katie looked at the hill, knowing that she could not but not knowing what other choice she had, “I don’t know,” she sighed as tears began to well up in her eyes. Katie looked at Sam and noticed how odd it was that he was only wearing a pair of torn jeans. He had no shoes on, no shirt and no sign of a bag with him. She shook her head as she wondered why he did not have shoes on in the thick woods but did not have time to focus on that. She knew she had to get back to the hotel and see a doctor.
“I have to get back,” she said, taking a step toward the hill. She felt Sam’s hands holding her steady as she began to climb.
“I will be right beside you,” he said, gently, “don’t push yourself too hard. You can take a break whenever you want, it does not matter how long it takes.”
Katie smiled to herself as she slowly made her way up the hill. “I can’t believe I was so stupid,” she said, stopping to take a breath, “Why did I come out here alone.” Katie had always thought of herself as a person who was in great physical condition and she had never had any problems while she was hiking. It scared her that she was out of breath and that the pain in her head only seemed to get worse.
“So I could rescue you,” Sam said, giving her a gentle smile. Katie smiled back enjoying the attention he was giving her, but still focused on the pain in her head.
“Where did you come from,” Sam asked her.
“The hotel,” Katie replied, not sure which direction she should point to.
“That is a long way,” Sam said, with a look of concern on his face, “I don’t know if we will make it back before dark. These woods are not safe for you after dark.”
The way he said it frightened Katie, “But I have you with me,” she replied, trying to boost his confidence.
“We have to hurry,” Sam said, taking Katie by the arm and pulling her along the trail.
Katie tugged back at her arm, “Slow down,” she protested as Sam tried to get her to move faster.
“No,” he said sternly, “You are not safe.”
Katie realized that they were near the hotel, but this time there was no sun shining down through the leaves of the trees. Instead, there was only darkness above her. The only light was coming from the moon and the lights that were around the hotel.
Sam continued to pull Katie until they were almost to the edge of the woods. “Run, Katie,” he said, as she heard several twigs popping around them. Katie did not protest, she could see the seriousness in his eyes and his face.
Katie did not stop until she was back in the hotel. That was when she noticed how everyone was looking at her. One of the workers ran up and asked her if she was okay while looking at her head. Katie reached up and felt the dried blood on her forehead.
“Can you send a doctor to my room,” she asked the hostess.