Hoe for Hosie

Snowy Road

Hope's PoV

Josie and I, along with our friends Lizzie and MG, were headed to a ski cabin they had rented for a vacation.

As we drove through the snowstorm, visibility was poor, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Surprisingly, Josie remained calmer than usual despite her dislike for the cold.

In fact, she seemed at ease, even dozing off in the passenger seat, curled up as much as she could manage.

I never tired of seeing her like that—it eased my nerves, given the perilous conditions. I glanced at her again, smiling as she muttered something about plants, her brow furrowing.

Reaching over, I gently stroked her hair, then refocused on the road. Just as I began to relax, disaster struck.

The car's wheels screeched, and we slid uncontrollably. I slammed on the brakes, steering into the skid, praying fervently that we wouldn't collide with a tree or another vehicle. The car jolted violently as we veered off the road, possibly onto gravel.

Realizing we weren't stopping, I released the brakes, then pressed them again as we rolled to a halt, my heart racing as I gripped the steering wheel tightly. Turning to Josie, I loosened my grip, reaching out to check on her. Her wide eyes met mine as she clutched the door and console, breathless and visibly shaken.

"Are you hurt? Talk to me, baby," I asked softly, cupping her cheek, relieved when she nodded and placed her hand over mine. She ran her thumb gently across my forehead, and I winced—it dawned on me that I might have hit my head during the abrupt stop.

"Are you okay? Did you hit your head hard?" she inquired, unbuckling her seatbelt and searching for our first aid kit in the glove compartment.

"I'm not sure," I sighed, switching off the engine and unbuckling my seatbelt, preparing to assess our situation outside.

Josie stopped me, grasping my arm gently and inspecting my cut more closely. "It's okay, I barely felt it," I assured her.

"Does that make me feel better?" she deadpanned, a small smile playing on her lips when I didn't respond immediately. "Just relax. Once you calm down, we'll figure out where we are. Everything will be fine."

"But Lizzie and MG are expecting us at the cabin tonight," I protested weakly, but I didn't resist as Josie cleaned my wound and applied a bandage.

"Well, at least you won't need stitches," she remarked, almost ignoring my concerns.

"But—" I began to argue, but Josie raised an eyebrow, silencing me.

She knew how important this trip was to our friends and me, but she also insisted on taking care of me. I sighed, running a hand through my hair and offering a soft smile to my beautiful fiancée. "Okay, I'll go check our surroundings. If I don't return, tell the police the yetis got me."

"I'll be sure to inform them," she replied, settling back in her seat with crossed arms, preparing for me to step outside. Chuckling softly, I opened the door and stepped into the biting cold.

The chill hit me immediately, and I cursed my decision not to grab a heavier coat. The wind howled around me, stinging my exposed skin and making each breath painful.

Despite the discomfort, I needed to assess our situation and ensure we weren't stranded in a dangerous spot.

Kneeling beside one of the tires, I saw that we were partially stuck in a mixture of mud and snow.