Free Now and Forever by Mary Connealy

can’t do that, maybe we’ll find another cave nearby with a bigger hole.”
    “We’re going to get out of here.” Shannon threw her arms high in the air and squealed with excitement.
    He knew plenty could still go wrong, but it felt good to have some hope for a change. He leaned over, grabbed her, and kissed her square on the lips.
    “The outside world’s only ten feet away,” Tucker said. “As soon as the sun rises, we’re going to figure out a way to get out there.”

8
    S hannon never figured she’d go back to sleep, but when her eyes opened next, the cave was bathed in sunlight. True sunlight. Nothing had ever been more beautiful to her.
    She lay curled up with Tucker and didn’t waste one second shaking him awake. “Let’s get out of here!” She was on her feet, striding to the bright beam of light pouring down from that hole—a hole just barely wide enough for both of them to climb through. “It’s big enough, and not that high. I think I can climb out of here if I stand on your shoulders.”
    She turned and smiled as he got carefully to his feet. Her smile shrank. The thought of him lifting her, he’d hurt himself.
    “Let’s scout around,” she said, “see if there’s a better place, a place we can just walk out. We’ll feel pretty silly climbing out that little hole if there’s an easier way out just around the next corner.”
    Tucker shook his head. “Can you shove those two rocks over and stack them?” He pointed to two flat rocks. A size Shannon could lift. “I can brace my knee on my bad leg on them and you can climb up, stand on my shoulders and just climb all the way out.”
    “I don’t know where we are. I might be gone a long time getting help.” Shannon thought of the miles they’d been swept downriver and the distance they’d hiked inside the mountain.
    “What if I never find help? I’m pretty confident in the woods, Tucker, but what if I leave and can’t find my way back here? There must be a way for you to get out, too. Maybe I can find a tree branch and shove it down through the hole, give you something to climb out on. Or maybe I can find a tree root or vine stout enough to use as a rope.”
    Tucker considered the opening. “That hole would be a tight squeeze for me, so a branch would probably take up too much space to let me climb through. My whip’s too short. A root or a real sturdy vine might work. But you have to find something strong to tie it to, like a tree or a big rock, so I can pull myself up. Look around once you’re up there. I’d as soon not send you off in the wilderness by yourself.”
    He pulled the scabbard off from around his neck that held his cutlass. “Use this on a vine or a root if you find one. If you can’t, and you have to go for help, use it to mark a trail so you can find your way back.” He looped the knife around her neck and guided one arm through so it crossed her chest.
    Once she had his knife, he held tight to the leather strapsof the scabbard and looked her hard in the eye. “We’re going to get out of here, Shannon. We’re going to find a way.” He kissed her, then nodded.
    She believed they’d make it, but a frightened place in her heart wondered if she might never see him again. The very thought made her wrap her arms around his neck and hang on for dear life.
    Finally it ended, and Tucker said, “C’mon. We don’t have time for such nonsense as kissing. We’ve got work to do.”
    Shannon gasped. Tucker laughed and gave her one more kiss. Then she stacked the rocks, and he braced his knee on one while he stood upright on his good leg.
    It wasn’t a pretty piece of climbing, but Shannon got onto his shoulders and was high enough that her head stuck outside. She wanted to break down and cry—Kylie would be so proud.
    Knowing she was a burden to Tucker, she thrust her arms through the hole and heaved herself up and rolled out onto a slope so steep she almost took to rolling all the way down the mountainside.
    She