Spoiled Rotten by Dayle Gaetz Read Free Book Online Page B

Amy winced and her eyes opened, just a slit. She looked at her mangled jeans and her eyes got big. “What do you think you’re doing?” She sounded like the old Amy.
    â€œYou won’t need any jeans if we don’t get you dry,” I snapped.
    She grinned. Or maybe it was a wince. “My favorite jeans,” she whispered.
    I pulled out the spare clothes I always carry in case of emergency. But I had to cut one leg of my jeans to get them over her broken leg. “
My
favorite jeans,” I said as I ruined them forever.
    When she had on dry jeans, and my dry sweatshirt and jacket, I climbed up to the bushes above the river. I came back with an armful of dry leaves, twigs and pieces of wood.
    I grabbed my sketchbook and ripped out a few empty pages and one full one. “Look, Amy,” I said, “I’m getting rid of that letter to Sara. No one will ever see it.”
    I scrunched up the papers and placed dry leaves and twigs on top. Using matches from the first-aid kit, I lit the paper on fire. Slowly I began feeding the little fire with more twigs. When it was big enough I put on one chunk of wood and then another.
    Amy wriggled closer, trying to get warm.

chapter eleven
    The temperature kept dropping. The fire was hot, but a breeze crept up from behind, and Amy couldn’t stop shivering. I thought about the hot-water bottles on the boat. That gave me an idea.
    The rocks near the fire were warm. I propped some against Amy’s back and gave her one to hold close against her stomach. She held it with her good arm and wrapped herself around it.
    When they cooled I replaced them. “Are you warm now?” I asked.
    She nodded.
    â€œHungry?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI need to go for help.”
    â€œNO!” she cried, and winced in pain. “Don’t leave me!”
    â€œI have to Amy. You need help. We can’t wait until morning.”
    â€œBut the bears will get me!”
    Oh-oh.
Now I was sorry for what I had told her earlier. “Look,” I said, “bears hardly ever bother people unless you take them by surprise. And you won’t be going anywhere.”
    But I will
,
I thought. And it would be dark before I got down.
    â€œYou said they come down to the river at night.”
    â€œI only said that to keep you going. Anyway, bears are afraid of fire. You just keep that fire burning and they won’t come anywhere near.”
    â€œHonest?”
    â€œHonest,” I said.
I hope.
    I gathered enough wood to last all night and piled it beside Amy. I stuffed the trail mix and all the food wrappers in my pockets, so there would be no hint of food smell near Amy. I tucked my backpack under her head as a pillow. All I needed were the jeans and T-shirt I was wearing. I left everything else with Amy.
    â€œI won’t be long,” I told her. “You’ll see.”
    She looked up with tears in her eyes. “I’m scared,” she said.
    â€œThere’s nothing to be scared of. Just keep that fire going so we can find you. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
    I saw her take a deep breath. She tried to smile but winced in pain. “Don’t worry,” she whispered, “I’ll be fine.”
    My throat tightened. She didn’t look fine at all. I patted her hand. “See you soon.” I started downriver.
    Without Amy I moved a lot faster. My legs were tired and my feet hurt with every step, but without my backpack I felt as light as a deer.
    Above the big waterfall I stopped to look down. The light was dim and the river roared below, dark and scary. There was no time to lose. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage and lowered myself over the cliff. I followed the easy route I had checked out that morning when I went down for my backpack.
    Halfway down, groping for a foothold, my toe touched a loose rock. It wobbled and shook loose. I held my breath as it bounced down the cliff and splashed into the river. I