Jake’s rising to his front knees made Bridget slide off, limp with chill and exhaustion. Night covered her. Even with Jake’s warmth on her front, her back stung with cold. Her body shook and her chattering teeth rattled in her ears. She’d awakened off and on and told herself she needed to find the will to walk back to the lodge. But the cold made her so tired. If only she rested one more minute, she’d have the strength. The next time she woke, her legs and arms even more wooden, her shaking harder, she had even less will to move.
Beside her, Jake rocked forward to get his back legs under him. She’d slipped nearly beneath him, too close to his hoofs and massive weight as he gained the full extension of his front legs. She scooted out of his way, feeling Old Mag’s trunk against her back.
J
