Chapter 12 - Broken Vows and True Bonds
By late afternoon, the county rescue crews had cleared the secondary mountain trail. Paramedics filled Dr. Mercer’s home, carefully transferring Ellie into a specialized mobile intensive care unit to transport her to the regional medical center.
Julian and Clara stood together on the porch, wrapped in thick wool blankets provided by Mercer. Their faces were smeared with soot and mud, their hands bandaged, but their fingers were tightly intertwined.
Julian looked down at Clara. ""We missed the ceremony. The guests have probably all gone home. The banquet, the flowers, the vows... all ruined.""
Clara turned to him, her hazel eyes clearer and more radiant than they had ever been. She lifted Julian’s bandaged hand and pressed it against her cheek.
""Our wedding wasn't ruined, Julian,"" Clara said softly. ""A ceremony is just words spoken in front of people in expensive clothes. Today, I saw who you are when life strips everything away. I saw a man who would tear down a mountain with his bare hands to save a child who showed him mercy.""
Julian pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. ""I saw a woman who ran barefoot into a landslide without looking back.""
""Those are our vows,"" Clara whispered against his lips. ""We already made them out there in the mud.""
May you like
Before Julian could answer, an emergency physician approached them from the back of the ambulance.
""Mr. and Mrs. Vance—or rather, Mr. Julian,"" the doctor corrected himself with a warm, exhausted nod. ""Ellie is conscious. The swelling has gone down enough that we removed the tube. She wants to see you before we depart for the hospital.""
