"It was just a coyote. The damn thing took them by surprise, that's all," Hunter managed to sputter out, before he felt the cold of his sister's hand seep through his clothing. He laid the flat of his hand over her cheek and found her so cold that it nearly seared his skin.
"Fawn, you're freezing!" he cried out in alarm. Of course landing in the snow was going to chill her to the bone, but even then she must have been cold as ice even before the fall.
"We need to get you inside."
He hated to leave her side for even the briefest of moments, but somehow Hunter forced himself. He tied the reins of Fawn's horse to the back of his own saddle and then came back to fetch her. Gingerly, he scooped an arm under her knees and around her waist, lifting her up.
"Just tell me if anything hurts, alright?" he said breathlessly, though his breath was more stolen by the sudden closeness than it was by any physical exertion,