Kate explored the loft in her chair. Rick finally felt better that he no longer had to plan for the next search. He has been being plagued by both Gina and Paula. Rick tried to deflect them both but Gina has nose for what interested people and right now Kate's story is number 1 in her mind.
Rick groaned which he saw Gina's name come up on his phone.
Kate who was sitting on the couch in his office looked at him.
"Well aren't you going to answer that? Rick?" Kate asked.
"No…I want her to leave us alone!" Rick said looking at the offending device.
"Rick as much as I appreciate your sentiment. You do have obligations which I know you have let slip while you were searching for me. You have found me so you have to return her calls!" Kate said.
"I know Kate but she doesn't want to talk to me about deadlines or revisions. It is you she wants!" Rick said.
"What?" Kate was alarmed.
"Well not you you but you your story you!" Rick admitted. "Look I know you are just adapting back and you will tell your story when you feel comfortable."
Kate looked a little pensive. Her ordeal in the forest and her survival is a great story. She could see why Gina would want to talk to her. But Rick was right it is all too soon.
"Rick I know you are just looking out for me. Gina will just keep calling. There is no harm to listen to what she wants to say." Kate said.
Rick looked at his fiancée
"You are just so extraordinary!" Rick said moving over to kiss her and sit next to her. "If you are sure this is what you want. I will answer the next time she calls Ok?"
"That is fine Rick. I know my story will be an inspirational one. I'll need guidance on how to navigate." Kate said.
"Stick with me I'll help you" Rick said.
"Thanks Rick." Kate kissed him.
"Always… Kate Always..." Rick said.
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Three weeks has gone by and Kate was good as gold following the Doctor's instructions. It was time to get out of the chair. Kate steadied herself against a wall then held herself upright for the first time in about a month. Rick hovered nearby just in case she fell.
"Rick back off. I was doing fine with my crutch in the Wilderness. I should be fine here in the loft." Kate said asserting her independence once again.
"Katie Bear Rick only wants what is best." Jim said watching from a corner her progress.
"Dad I love you really but I have to do this by myself!" Kate asserted.
It took about a near fall to get Kate adjusted to the crutches but by the end of the day she was able to cross the loft and go into the kitchen and prepare something to eat.
\\\\
Rick had noticed Kate was favoring more Organic diet reminiscent of Alexis in her Vegan stage. Rick had laid in a supply of pinon nuts and wild strawberries which Kate seems very fond of.
This morning Kate was active. She had gained her independence and was busy getting her morning meal.
Kate held her bowl of fruits and nuts then made her way to the couch to sit and eat.
Rick had awoken to a cold bed then got dressed to find where Kate was. He observed her from a distance.
Kate sat on the couch but there was no other noise in the loft. She sat by herself then Jim came down and sat in the living room. Rick crossed over to kiss her good morning then sat beside her holding one of her hands.
"Rick I appreciate your hand holding but I want to eat and that means I need both hands!" Kate said.
"Not if I feed you" Rick said.
Kate thought about being fed and then she opened her mouth.
"When I was first awaken after I fell down. This was what was the first thing I saw. Kate said pointing at the bowl while she munching on the nuts.
"Kate, a bowl of nuts and strawberries…?" Rick asked.
"Not in a bowl but certainly nuts and strawberries it was in the knot of a fallen tree. It was sitting in plain sight. I had not yet figured out my leg was broken and I must have had a fever. But I crawled to the knot and ate the fruit and nuts. A little ways down the log was a depression filled with rain water. I drank from that then settled under a tree which was sheltering from the rains." Kate said.
"I must have been in and out of consciousness but eventually my fever broke. I knew from Dad's teachings that animals had been around me because I could see their tracks but when I was awake none could be seen. However, I do recall a dream where a soft warm furry animal which purred comforted me." Kate said.
"Kate that is fantastic the guides told me early on that you were being cared for. We even saw the prints of a cat in some of your early locations." Rick said. "The guides suggested it was a mountain lion or lioness."
"Anyways I learned to eat these and when I got stronger the food which appeared was slightly further away so I had to move to retrieve it." Kate said. "I had fashioned a leg splint but I had no way of moving. I just crawled at first."
"Kate you were being fed?" Rick asked
"Yeah It was small game later not only was it fruits and nuts." Kate said.
"That is amazing…I've never heard of an injured person being fed but what sort of animal?" Rick asked.
"I'm not sure Rick. But as I got my strength back I found a metal crutch which must had been from the crash site." Kate said.
"Then I followed the birds once I was able to move better. I started building fires then roasting the small game. The food still kept appearing but further and further away. Perhaps what ever animal it was must have been afraid of the fire. Kate said "Finally I got strong enough to hunt on my own and the food gradually disappeared. But by that time I had no clue where I was."
Rick and Jim sat spellbound by her tale. Kate continued.
"I had fashioned a spear at first but tossing it was too hard. Kate said. But I was successful in downing a few larger animals which I skinned and fashioned into blankets to ward off the cold." Kate said. "Then I found the right kind of tree and fashioned a bow and arrows. I was terrible with it at first but I found I could snag fish better. So I would have fresh trout occasionally."
"Kate this is an amazing story. No wonder Gina wants to talk to you." Rick said.
Jim was amazed on hearing how his teachings when she was very young were used.
"So how long were you in this valley where I found you?" Rick asked.
"Well I am not really sure but the cave I was using must have been 6 or maybe 8 weeks. Time really did not matter to me. Survival did." Kate said finishing off her morning meal.
"I see…What was the most terrifying part of this whole ordeal?" Rick asked.
"Not knowing if I would ever see you again." Kate said then she started to cry. "Rick there was animals but not having to talk to someone anyone was difficult."
Rick reached over and consoled her. Once Kate was composed he asked even more questions.
"A hiker was the one to set us in the right direction did you see him?" Rick asked.
"No Rick I did not but again I was not looking. There was a bear in the area and fighting against it was my main concern not a hiker." Kate said.
"You fought a Bear?" Rick said which his eyebrows shooting straight up.
"Yeah I did I won a nice warm fur too. The bear meat was very greasy too." Kate said.
"So you ate the bear meat?" Rick said very impressed.
"Yeah I killed it I could not let it go to waste. Rick you have to use anything in the wilderness which will allow you to survive." Kate said.
Rick had a whole new respect for his mountain woman. Jim was just so proud of his daughter.