Knights In Turnout Coats
by
I have no idea how long I was lying in the mud practically upside-down still seat- belted in my truck. The last thing I remember was driving down the windy canyon road on my way home. It was dark and raining and I wanted to get home before the mudslides started.
It had been raining for days now. I took the chance when the rain slackened to run out to get some much needed groceries and a load of feed for the horses. I was only planning on being gone a couple of hours...
It was dark and I could feel the mud oozing underneath my head, creeping into my ears. I tried to lift my head up but pain tore through my neck and back. Not a smart idea...
The rain was pouring down once again and I could feel the droplets as they pelted me in the face through my shattered windshield. What time is it? And where the hell am I? Not that it mattered... There were maybe a half a dozen ranches and homes on this desolate road. I could only hope someone came along and soon...
I tentatively began moving each part of my body, one thing at a time. I knew my neck and back hurt, but what other injuries did I have? My right leg rebelled with tremendous pain when I tried to move it. I realized that I really COULDN'T move it and that my ankle was pinned somewhere in the wreckage. Great, I thought...
Suddenly, the whole truck shifted about a foot. I grabbed for whatever I could as I slid further into the ravine. The more mud that came and the harder it rained, the worse my chances were getting of being found alive.
I closed my eyes, waited and prayed...
"HELLO! IS ANYBODY DOWN THERE?!"
My eyes popped open at the sound of someone calling.
"YES! HELP!," I screamed back.
"ARE YOU HURT?!," the voice asked.
"YES! AND I'M PINNED IN THE TRUCK! PLEASE HURRY!"
Floodlights filled the ravine, covering me and the truck with a golden glow. Please hurry...
It was some time before I heard anyone again. This time the voices were closer and I could hear the crashing of brush.
"PLEASE HELP ME!"
"Calm down Miss," a male voice said. "We're almost there..."
"We're gonna have to secure this truck before we do anything," another male voice said as he shined his flashlight into the ravine.
"Cap... Send those lines down with Chet and Marco. This truck could go at any minute..."
I squeezed my eyes shut tight when I heard those words... Please hurry...
"Are you okay?," I heard someone ask.
I looked up to see a mudstreaked, yet handsome face looking at me.
"No... I think my ankle is broken, but it's pinned. And my neck and back hurt too," I replied.
"My name is John Gage and this is my partner Roy DeSoto. We're paramedics and we're here to help you..."
When he backed away, I panicked and reached out to him, grabbing his coat.
"It's okay... I won't go anywhere," he said.
He dare not touch me for fear of making the truck slide further.
"What's your name?," he asked.
"Jenna... Jenna McCallister," I replied.
"Well Jenna... as soon as we get the truck securely tied down, we'll see about getting you out of here."
I could here the more voices as I tried to stay calm. He was here and he would save me.
"Okay John... You're good to go," a voice said.
"Ready to get out of this mud?," he asked with a crooked grin.
"I've been ready," I replied with relief.
It took some time to free me from my muddy, wet confines but I was finally clear and on my way to the top of the ravine.
"You're very lucky," he said.
"I know... I didn't think anyone would find me," I replied. "How did you find me?"
"One of your neighbors noticed the broken guardrail and called it in. The Sheriff's Department found your truck and called us..."
"Thank you... all of you," I said with a sigh. "Do you like rescuing damsels in distress?"
"That's my favorite thing," he replied with that crooked grin.
"Well Sir Knight... this damsel thanks you most heartily," I said with my own grin.
He chuckled...
"Sir Knight huh? I've been called alot of things, but never a knight," he said.
"Well you are... you all are," I replied.
"Just take it easy... You're safe now," he said as he squeezed my hand reassuringly.
As I was loaded into the waiting ambulance, I finally relaxed a bit. I was safe thanks to some brave knights in turnout coats...
The End