Phoenix Inheritance Read Online Free PDF

tree hit the ground.
    â€œHoly shit,” Charlie said.
    â€œCareful with the swear words, kid.” She uttered the rebuke automatically. As if she should care he was swearing. That was the least of their problems.
    The leaves stopped falling. No more thuds. She took several deep breaths, trying to find some measure of calm.
    â€œYou okay?” she asked Charlie.
    â€œScared.” His teeth chattered. “I didn’t go higher. I’m sorry.”
    â€œYou went plenty high. Not your fault the tree didn’t cooperate.”
    Her back set against the tree, she wondered how long before their perch gave way from the weight of the snow collecting on its leaves. Seconds, minutes, hours? She really did need Captain Marvel right now. Damn.
    She swatted around the flakes that had gathered on her face and eyelashes and tried to stare up into the storm. She caught a glimpse of her scarf, hanging from what was left of the tree branch. She glanced down at her wrist. It was still attached. It must have ripped apart.
    â€œMa, the kitty’s here,” Charlie said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLook!” He pointed and she heard a meow above them.
    I could kill you, cat , she thought.
    The cat meowed again.
    â€œHe’s worried about me,” Charlie said.
    The cat did sound scared. Join the club, furball.
    â€œHe says he could have gone to a warm spot, but he likes me. He says I need a cuddle.”
    To her disbelieving eyes, the cat picked his way down the slope, through the branches, leaves and snow, and jumped onto Charlie’s chest.
    Oh, great , she thought. Now I’m not just trapped out here in the storm with my son, now I have to deal with a stray cat on top of us. Wonder of wonders, the cat started purring and settled down against Charlie.
    â€œI guess he does like you,” Renee said. “But be careful and don’t move around too much.”
    â€œHe’ll be calm. He likes me, likes me better than other people he knows.”
    â€œHe sure seems to like you.” The cat was distracting Charlie from their situation, so that was good, so long as it didn’t scratch or claw at them.
    â€œMa? We’re stuck, aren’t we?”
    â€œYeah, we’re stuck. For now. But I’m catching my breath and then we’ll try something else.”
    â€œYou’ll get us out. I know you will. Even if he says you can’t.”
    â€œWho says I can’t?”
    â€œOdin. The cat.”
    Great. She was being doubted by a cat. Not just a cat, the cat who’d caused this problem in the first place. No, wait. Charlie was probably the one who was scared and doubting her and pretending it was the cat.
    â€œI’ve done harder rescues than this. I’ll find a way to get us out.”
    She looked down at Charlie and he looked up at her. His eyes were wide and trusting and, for an instant, so like his father’s that it took her breath away.
    â€œOkay.” Charlie nodded and went back to petting the cat.
    First, assess the situation, Renee decided. Visibility was poor, near whiteout conditions. There was no chance anyone would stumble over them, not in this. That meant they had to either get out themselves or somehow send for help.
    Second, assess how long they could last out here. They were both dressed warmly so they had maybe a few hours before exposure became a problem. She suspected, however, that the storm would last far longer than that.
    No, what they needed was help and fast. She searched in her pocket for her cell phone and came up empty. She must have put the phone on the counter before going out for the patio furniture. Fuck, fuck.
    She closed her eyes to regain calm. If she lost it, so would Charlie.
    â€œHow’s the cat?”
    â€œGetting a little cold.”
    He’s not the only one . She tapped Charlie’s shoulder. “Since he’s so calm, see if he’ll tuck inside your coat and then zip it back up. Shared body heat