High Risk

by Vivian Arend

  Maybe more.

  The area became a flurry of activity. Ropes. Carabiners buckled and locked, packs in position. Alisha disappeared over the edge. Devon.

  Then it was their turn, hers and Marcus’s, Xavier holding their backup.

  Marcus leaned away and, using the rope as a counterbalance, walked off the ledge. Becki stepped closer, trying desperately to stay vertical, but it was a useless attempt. Instead, she went to her knees and rotated until her butt hit the ground. Only then could she force herself to crawl backward off the flat surface of the mountaintop until she was nestled into his arms.

  The thick fog masked just how far up they were, but the memories of climbing the ridge years ago told her all she needed to know. It was far.

  It was far enough to kill them if anything went wrong.

  “How are you doing?” Marcus asked.

  Speaking and breathing at the same time shouldn’t be this difficult. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Ready?”

  “Lower.”

  Marcus tucked his left arm around her, his right on the main line. She had her own rope to cling to as well, and the twisted fibers pulled through her fingertips, the harshness a blessing. The rough texture gave her something else to focus on as they descended the cliff face.

  “Still good?” His breath fanned past her cheek, and she nodded. She was surrounded by him, but the rope setup allowed her to control herself, or at least gave the illusion of control.

  Damn her breathing, though. She couldn’t get it to calm down. “I’m not going to lie. If the angle changes and we end up dangling in midair, you’ll have me in your lap for real.”

  Marcus chuckled. “As if I’d mind.”

  So normal, all their responses. Teasing about their attraction, laughing and panting with effort. Her brother was still out there, but if she could get past this point, past her heart in her throat, she could be ready to lead the team to him.

  She had to trust that Colin would be in one piece when they arrived.

  One foot caught on a rock. Becki stumbled, biting back a scream.

  “Don’t rush,” Marcus warned. “We’ll get down soon enough. Once we’re on the trail again you can go as fast as you want, well, as long as we can keep up.”

  “My nerves are on edge. He’s going to be okay, isn’t he?”

  “He’s going to be fine,” Marcus assured her. “Bonus? He’ll get razzed all summer for being the first of the class that needed rescuing. I thought getting into trouble didn’t start until they’d officially checked in.”

  “Colin always was precocious.”

  “He’s following after his sister,” Marcus teased. He squeezed her. “I mean it, I’m sure he’s fine. You warned him to stay put. We need you to find him for us. I’ll call him once we hit the canyon opening. It’ll all work out.”

  Distraction. The entire conversation was nothing but distraction, but the diversion of the banter worked. The cliff wall in front of them passed by steadily as they walked their way down it. Ropes above fed smoothly. Marcus’s warmth cradled her. “I feel stupid saying thank you so much, but it’s needed. You’ve been a rock.”

  “That’s not always a good thing,” he pointed out. “But I get it. You’re welcome. A little more and we’re done. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “I’m too freaked out over Colin to be worried about me,” Becki admitted. “Although I don’t know that I suggest this as a cure for everyone’s acrophobia.”

  They finally hit bottom, and Becki’s stomach unknotted from the tight ball it had formed while they’d descended. They stepped out of the way, but when Becki would have headed to prepare for the next part of the rescue, Marcus stopped her. Pulled her to him and crushed their lips together.

  She kissed him back frantically. Feeling alive, feeling everything that they had between them in that moment. She trusted him with her life. With her brother’s life. All the stolen moments up to now faded her fears.

  She just needed him.

  Someone wolf-whistled, and they separated reluctantly, Marcus cupping her face before he set her free. “You did wonderfully. You are an amazing woman.”

  Becki grinned back. “You help. You help so much.”

  “I can see why it’s not good to date people on your squad. Enough with the kissing business.” Alisha pushed Becki away from Marcus. “And you.” She gave him a dirty look. “You should know better. Focus.”

  “I was focusing,” Marcus stated. “But yes, full steam ahead.”

  Alisha smiled at Becki as she handed over a pack. “Come on, let’s go get your brother.”

  * * *

  The entrance to the canyon stood like twin sentinels before her. The twisted myriad of paths beyond the gateway stretched gnarled fingers toward the sharp cliffs that should have been visible in the not-too-far distance. Becki didn’t pause to admire the towering pillars, their heads hidden in the fog, just headed straight in, determined to find Colin as quickly as possible.

  They were trails she hadn’t seen for years, but the familiarity was there. Scrambling over sections where flash floods or new growth had changed the course was far simpler than she’d expected. Grey and washed out, the scenery gave her nothing to admire as she raced them all forward. Ten minutes brought them to another junction, and she chose the left path without a qualm.

  “Becki, this trail backtracks,” Devon pointed out.

  “It’s the right route,” she insisted. “Trust me.”

  Saying the words made her heart quiver. What if she was wrong? What if she made a mistake and her brother was the one who would pay this time?

  The vision of the cut rope in her fingers danced in front of her eyes, the strands rapidly unraveling, no longer a lifesaving device, but one that stole life away.

  She stepped faster, thighs burning as she pushed herself into a run in spite of the weight on her back. Ten more minutes. Five. There was no use in stopping before they’d gotten close enough to the rock face to hear a response.

  When she finally figured they had to be near the cliffs even though the sky was no more visible than before, Becki pulled to a halt and waited for the team to catch up.

  Devon leaned on a tree. Alisha paced slowly, hands on her hips as her chest moved rapidly. Anders dropped to one knee and shook his head as he gasped for breath. “Holy. Shit. You want to go a little faster next time, Becki? I don’t need my lungs.”

  “Blistering. Pace. Awesome,” Alisha managed to pant.

  Marcus pulled out the satellite phone and put through the call.

  “Colin. Still good?” Marcus made eye connection with her and nodded. “Right on. Okay, we’re ready for you to signal us. Single blast to start.”

  He pulled the phone away from his ear at the same moment the shrill cry of a whistle rang from high and off to their left.

  Becki had to squat, her head between her knees to stop the spinning relief from knocking her completely to her back. Thank God.

  “We’re close,” Alisha said, staring into the clouds.

  Devon nodded. “Spread out in a line. Marcus, get him to signal again. Everyone raise your arm high for me and point. Let’s see if we can use triangulation to narrow our choices.”

  The team moved into position smoothly, no questions, no hesitation.

  “Colin, we heard you.” The calmness in Marcus’s voice as he spoke to her brother spread over Becki like balm. They were getting close, and everything was going to be okay. That was what his mannerisms said, that was what she’d believe. She closed her eyes to block out distractions, and when the next shrill whistle rang in response to Marcus’s command, she pointed.

  While she waited, she focused on her hand, bringing the tremor in her fingers under control. They were nearly there. Nearly there.

  The thought echoed like a drumbeat.

  Devon gave a shout. “Hold. One minute . . . and got it. Compass reading set for now. Marcus, have him signal every sixty count if he’s able.” Devon turned to the rest of the te
am and pointed. “Alisha, Xavier. You’ll be climbing when we get there. Set back a little if you want, slow your heart rates. We’ll get the gear in place for you. Just don’t lose sight of us in the fog, got it?”

  The two of them nodded, Alisha sipping from her water bottle, Xavier stooped over, hands resting on his knees as he caught his breath.

  Becki stretched her legs and got herself ready for the final sprint. Marcus stepped beside her, and she checked him over in a glance, making sure he was okay.

  She laughed when she realized he was doing the same thing in return.

  His gaze snapped to hers. “Ready to go again?”

  Becki nodded.

  This was when the team walked the fine line between being primed or falling over the limit into enough adrenaline to make them crash. The hard labour of the run helped as Becki followed Devon this time. He had his compass out, all of them alert for the steady stream of whistles drawing them closer to the wall.

  Suddenly they were there, the base of the cliffs appearing out of the grey like a curtain being pulled aside at a theater.

  “Colin,” Becki shouted.

  Instant response. “Yes. God, you guys are fast.”

  Devon and Marcus had their packs off, ropes being arranged in loops, helmets snapped into position.

  “You ordered the best,” Becki answered. That was as much as she could get out before her throat closed.

  Nearly there. Nearly safe. She removed her pack and placed it with the others, the sweat on her back cooling in the lower temperatures.

  “Colin, I’ve got a climber coming up. How’s Rob?” Devon asked.

  “Stable.”

  “I hope you guys brought beer with you. I’m thirsty,” a second voice joined in, far softer than Colin’s robust shouts.

  “Beer is for wimps. Xavier’s got way better stuff once we get you in position.” Devon motioned Alisha forward. She was into her harness and rigged in less than a minute. “Tell us about your platform. Room for more up there, or cozy?”

  “Cozy. I’ll need to get out of the way for anyone else to visit Rob.”

  “Got it. Stay put for now, okay?” Devon ordered.

  Becki tipped her head back and still couldn’t see a thing much higher than she could reach. Marcus joined her, and she slipped her fingers into his hand. She didn’t care who saw the motion. “How far up are they?” she asked.

  “Far enough, I’d imagine. Guessing fifty feet from his volume.”

  She nodded. “That’s about the right height for a second lead to start.”

  Marcus twisted her until he could stare into her face. “You did incredibly back there. Never a moment’s hesitation. You were what got us here so fast.”

  “It’s a relief to be done. I want Colin on his feet where I can hug him.”

  “Will I do for now?” Marcus asked, and she slipped into his embrace, turning to face the wall. Leaning back against his body and accepting his support. “I’m very glad I’m not going up this time, though.” Alisha stepped to the rocks and began her ascent. It took an incredibly short time before the young woman had disappeared into the clouds, Devon working her safety line. “Damn, she is good.”

  “I don’t often get to observe the team in action like this,” Marcus said. “I’m back at base, or in the chopper. I’m proud of them—they’ve got the teamwork part down damn well.”

  “And the rest of your rules.”

  Xavier waited for his turn, assembling supplies and working efficiently with Anders. Devon had a steady stream of banter going back and forth between him and Alisha, the dialogue vital now that she was invisible to them.

  Becki rested her head on Marcus’s chest and worked to slow her breathing. There was nothing they could do at this point but wait.

  Waiting. Story of her life lately.

  “Take,” Alisha ordered.

  Devon responded, securing the rope as somewhere above them in the unseen grey, Alisha reached the ledge.

  “Try not to hold your breath,” Marcus warned. “You want to be able to hug your brother when he gets down, not be sitting on your backside with your head between your knees.”

  “Bastard,” Becki muttered.

  Marcus chuckled and adjusted her position, wrapping his arm around her until his mouth was directly by her ear. “This is what you were made to do. Nothing is going to stop you, understand? You will not have to give up doing rescues. Trust me.”

  His complete and utter conviction cocooned her and gave her the strength to wait as she peered upward and waited for Colin to appear.

  CHAPTER 35

  It was something Marcus thought he’d never get used to—a person suddenly appearing out of nowhere, parting the clouds. Colin twisted into sight, lowered on a fixed rope. Marcus intended to stay aside, out of the way of his team and the reunion about to take place. Becki had different ideas as she dragged him with her as she rushed forward, only letting his hand free when her brother’s feet hit the ground.

  “You stupid, stupid, stupid fool.” Becki nearly leapt on Colin in her need to make sure he was okay. “I have no idea why you thought climbing out of season was a good idea.”

  Marcus grinned as Colin glanced around sheepishly, accepting his sister’s clutch and her condemnation. “Well. The mountain was there. It had to be climbed, you know?”

  “Sorry to intrude. I need your rope, dude.” Xavier shouldered between the siblings without a qualm to work the safety knot from Colin’s belt. “So, until hell broke loose, was it a good climb?”

  “Awesome.” Colin grinned, streaks of dirt and blood on his face, the hours of waiting in the cold forgotten. “I can’t wait to come back and do it again. Well, without the Rob-hurting-himself part.”

  Xavier nodded. “Sounds like a plan. You let Becki look you over for a minute, okay? I think you’re all right, though.”

  Marcus approved of it all as his team slipped easily into action around him. Alisha had dropped another rope from the anchor she’d set on the ledge. Anders worked to attach the stretcher and medical supplies. Devon was already belaying Xavier as he headed up to work his magic on the injured climber.

  Becki had taken her brother aside and was assessing him, her training crystal clear in every move. This was what she was meant to do, and if she was willing to work with Marcus’s team, he’d feel privileged.

  He wasn’t going to lie, either, and pretend her skills were the only reason he wanted her.

  Becki waved him over, and he responded quickly. “What’s up?”

  “He’s good, as far as I can tell. You have any heating pads in the supplies before I go digging through everything?”

  “I don’t need to be babied,” Colin complained, glaring at his sister. He glanced at Marcus. “Tell her I don’t need heating pads.”

  “You expect me to argue with your sister? Not likely,” Marcus said, stepping aside to grab what she’d asked for out of the medic bag.

  “She’s not that scary,” Colin insisted. “And she’s a total wimp when it comes to ridge running.”

  Yeah, this kid was going to be interesting to watch. Marcus caught Becki’s eye, doing his own assessment of her now that her brother was safely on the ground. Dark shadows under her eyes, weary body positioning. She was headed for a crash, the adrenaline rush wearing off, leaving room for everything else she’d been dealing with to surface. “Becki, grab some food and drink. You need a sit-down before we head out. I’ll take over checking Colin.”

  “I don’t need . . .” She snapped her mouth closed on the near-mirror complaint to the one her brother had just uttered. After one final scruff of Colin’s hair, she scrambled to her feet and marched past Marcus, bumping him with her shoulder and whispering as she went by. “Bastard. I’ll get even with you for that one.”

  He chuckled. “I hope you try.”

  She stopped unexpectedly, cupping his face tenderly before moving to follow his directions.

  Marcus wanted to grab hold of her and squeeze her tight. To pic
k her up and swing her around in celebration of all the successes she’d had that day. The quiet dignity she showed, though, was exactly right. Totally Becki.

  Whatever life was going be like in the coming days, it was never going to be boring.

  * * *

  Becki found a spot to the side where she could lean on a rock, see everything and not be underfoot. The granola bar and drink she’d grabbed did help—Marcus had been right.

  The setting remained otherworldly, people at the edges of the working space shifting in and out of her vision as the clouds rolled through. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower. A thick layer of condensation coated everything.

  She tugged her jacket tighter against the cold. Colin moved to the right a couple of steps and vanished, and her heart jolted until she realized he was fine, just hidden in the mist.

  The stretcher came into view, and she rose to her feet as Marcus rushed forward to help Devon guide the solid platform. The tired and pain-filled face of a young man barely out of his teens appeared as the flat surface lowered to the ground.

  “You enjoy your roller-coaster ride?” Marcus asked.

  Rob nodded. “You guys are like angels.”

  A snort escaped Marcus. “Well, that’s a new one. I’m usually called the opposite.”

  “Relax, Rob. We’ve got a ways to go, but you shouldn’t have to spend the night on the mountain.” Devon squatted beside the stretcher, adjusting straps.

  “Thanks to Colin. He was awesome.” Rob’s words slurred as he closed his eyes. “I thought I was fucked. Of course, the mountains wouldn’t be a bad place to die. I wouldn’t mind it, you know, being buried here, but not for another eighty years or so. . . .”

  Xavier landed beside them, unknotting and moving back into position to check Rob. “You aren’t dead, you aren’t dying. Please, my artistry is so underrated.”

  He glanced at Becki and winked, lowering his voice. “He’ll be either out in a few minutes or singing to the forest elves. I gave him a painkiller to take the edge off.”

  Becki nodded, stepping away as Anders and Xavier relocated the stretcher to the side of the clearing to rig a carrying system. She swayed, the euphoria of having made it this far making her light-headed.