Chapter 12

"'Cause I'm a ramblin' man

I ain't ever gonna change
I gotta gypsy soul
And I was born for leavin' (born for leavin')"

"What in all of hell took you so damned long Andy, for fuc...wait. Who the hell are you?" Robert said, still sitting in the chair.

"I'm...uh...I'm officer Wilde. ZPD" Nick was caught off his game. But he tried to recover smoothly. And frankly sounded like a kit in the throws of puberty.

The hare sized him up. "Sorry about that, I thought I had gotten through on the emergency band before the power went out. We have a cop in town who is a fox, frankly I just assumed you was him. Sorry about that"

"No problem, so, uh, are ya ok?"

"Well, I'm, we, are alive. But buddy, ya need to get someone out here for that rabbit. I've done what I could with what I had. But she's hurt bub. She needs a real doctor. I'm not it." Robert replied. He looked Nick right in the eye, "Not to sound rude, but what the hell too YOU so long?"

"Uh, weather. Not sure if ya aware but it's gotten pretty bad out there."

"What time is it?"

Nick looked at his phone, which still had zero service "Damn, already four fifteen."

The hares ears dropped. "Almost 12 hours since we wrecked," The hare got up and motioned toward Judy. Nick was stunned. Standing he was almost half a foot taller than Nick. And probably out weighed him by a good bit as well. Nick noticed he was only dressed in boxers as he limped over toward Judy, Nick walking along side of him. As the got closer he noticed the hare had his left arm in a home made sling.

"How's the arm?"

"Shoulder actually, pretty sure its dislocated or the muscles is torn. Same with my leg, that's why I'm favoring it. Hell of a impact when we hit the bottom."

When they arrived behind the sofa Nick looked down at Judy wrapped in blankets. He took comfort seeing her breathing. Why did they have to get in that stupid stupid argument.

"How is she, other than the head I mean?"

"Well, pretty sure her left arm is broken, maybe leg as well. Wouldn't be surprised if some ribs are cracked or bruised as well. Officer, she hasn't been responsive at all. I hope it isn't overly serious but, well I'm gonna be blunt. Being knocked out is like, super bad for you. And for her to be out this long, well, I think, look we just need to get her to a doc and now. Did you bring a CAT?"

"Call me Nick, and, what's a cat?"

"Snow Cat. Ya know a track truck. For deep snow. Town has one, they didn't have you get it?"

"Nope, far as we knew ya'll were just broke down on the side of the road. It's ok though, I'm in a Blazer. We can get back to town in that"

Robert laughed "A Blazer? Shit you'd be lucky to even get it to start. Ha!"

"Hey now dammit, that..."Nick caught himself. Why is he suddenly so defensive about that hunk of steel out there? "Look, it got me here. It's parked outside. I'm sure it can get us back."

They both walked over to the window in front and looked down. With it being dark and snowing heavily they couldn't even see the Blazer down below.

"Heavy as that snow is coming down we better get it in the barn before it disappears in a drift. Come on, lets see if we can at least get it inside."

They went downstairs and over to the sliding doors. Nick struggled to get his open, old farm boy over there limping and one arm in a sling didn't seem to have much trouble at all with his. Nick decided his door must have been wedged. It felt better than admitting that even injured the hare was more of a mammal than he. Nick trudged through snow almost up to his armpits and opened the door of the truck. He slid inside and patted the throttle a couple times and hit the key. His ears flattened against his head as he heard the engine slowly crank over. Fear gripped his heart. Then, as if the old truck could sense his worry it fired off and idled. Roughly at first, then clearing right up. He smiled a little bit and switched on the headlights and wipers. The wipers struggled on the first upswing to clear the heavy wet snow but then sped right up and did what they were asked to do. He had to rock the truck back and forth to get it moving and started to pull it in, but then the hare ran toward him waving his hand.

"Back it in, if you pull it in we will never be able to back it out against the snow that drifts up against the door, try and turn it around, I'll guide ya."

Nick nodded and started turning the truck around. It was a struggle, he now knew what Robert was talking about. They would be leaving out of there tonight in that truck. He got the Blazer backed into the barn and shut it down. After he got out he walked along the drivers side and patted the fender, and whispered "Thanks buddy"

By the time he got to the doors the hare had them both shut and latched.

"So, Robert, how did you get Judy back here all banged up like ya are?" Nick asked as they walked up the steps.

"Well, the hood on her car was barely held on to the part that came off in the wreck, so I ripped it off the hinge it was still attached to, went and got her keys from the ignition and opened the trunk. Grabbed a med kit, emergency blanket and jumper cables. I rigged it up like a sled, drug it to the other side of the river, went back, got her and brought her over as well. Then I wrapped her in the blanket, used some duct tape that was in the trunk to secure her to the hood and the cables I wrapped around my waste and wedged the grips into a couple spots on the underside of the hood. And we had a sled. I knew where the closest shelter was and we went straight to it. Honestly I thought she would wake up by the time we got there. So, we got help coming?"

"My chief has a general idea where we are. I contacted your grandfather and he said he would let him know. He probably has the calvary on the way."

"We will give them till morning Nick, then we need to figure out a way to get ourselves out of here. I don't want your friend to die and bub, she isn't in a good way"

Hearing that phrase again Nick felt that same wave of guilt crashing at the shores of his confidence again. He needed to lighten the mood a little.

"Sounds like a solid plan Robert. A real good plan. Great plan. But I do have one question."

"Shoot"

"Why are you both almost naked?"