Tuesday Tales, From the Word TOUCH

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Our word prompt is TOUCH. Once again, I’ve used a form of the word. My scene is from Forever in my Heart.

The drive that should’ve taken fifty-minutes took twice as long. Once they were through Lake Louise, the weather worsened, and the snow turned to freezing rain, making the road even more treacherous.

In the distance, he could see the flashing lights of the police cars blocking the road to keep the traffic back—not that there was much.

Carl screeched to a halt in front of one of the two Royal Canadian Mounties’ vehicles.

Getting out of the SUV, he followed Carl over to the officer in full winter gear, from the fur cap and coat to the heavy boots.

“Carl,” the officer said, extending his hand. “Dispatch said you were coming. It’s bad. We’ve gotten the woman out of the vehicle … she didn’t make it, I’m sorry.”

“I’m Mike Branscomb,” he interrupted. “What about my brother?”

He knew Luke was still alive, he could feel it in his heart, but he must’ve lost consciousness since the pain was gone.

“We were told you were coming, too. They’re having trouble getting him out, and now that this shit has turned to freezing rain, it isn’t really helping. They’re about a quarter-mile ahead. Looks like he hit a bull moose before smashing into the rock face. Get in your vehicle, and I’ll let you through.”

“Much obliged,” Carl answered before turning to Mike and touching his arm. “Luke’s always been a fighter, Mike. Don’t forget that.”

Mike nodded, unable to form any words in response.

Carl got behind the wheel, waited for Mike to buckle his seatbelt, and edged forward, the officers opening a path for them between their cars. He’d only gone a short distance when they arrived on the scene.

Flashing lights from a half dozen different emergency vehicles danced over the snow. Combined with the coating of ice and the freezing rain, the bright LED lights set up by the firefighters working to liberate his brother from the car gave the scene a surreal quality.

After Carl cut the engine, they hurried out of the vehicle. While Mike was grateful the occasional stabs of pain had stopped, he worried about the reason for it. Ignoring the stinging freezing rain, he slipped and slid his way over to the RCMP officer, recognizing his old friend, Jacob Sweeny, one of the guys he and Luke played pick up hockey with on Tuesday nights. The officer’s clothing was ice-covered, but he stood there, manning his post.

That’s it!

Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales