“Whoa. Calm down, Hightower.” Ellie leaned forward and patted Hightower’s neck. He lifted his front feet again. “Reid, something is wrong.”
I pulled Nostradamus over and tried to help soothe Hightower, but he was having none of it. “He senses something. Asher, call Braden. I want to see if Khan can help. Ellie, dismount and take Nostradamus.” I jumped down and handed her the reins then walking with Hightower by the lead, I turned on my flashlight and began combing the area on foot.
“Holland. Holland, can you hear me?” I walked, searching to my right and left. Hightower pulled a little bit and pranced. “Okay, buddy, what’s going on?”
“He began acting up when we started calling her name, could it be that he just doesn’t like the noise?” Asher asked as he rode up behind me.
“No, Hightower is used to loud noises from the race circuit, I seriously doubt that would spook him.”
I saw lights in the distance coming from two areas, one was obviously Marcus and the other was coming from the direction we had left. “Do we know who that is?” I asked.
“It’s Ben. Braden called him to head this way because if we find her then he’ll be ready.”
London, Paris, and Braden all raced up at the same time. “Tell me exactly what happened?”
I turned to face Braden as my sister moved over to Marcus, who grabbed her hand up in his. The sight of that crushed me because I wanted that with Holland. “The more we move in this direction the more he’s acting up. I want to see if Khan goes in this direction. Ellie, why don’t you get back on Hightower and you and Braden go off and see if the horses lead you anywhere, we’ll be right behind you both.”
Ellie looked over to Braden, who nodded. We exchanged horses once again. “Here take this, you’ll need it.” I handed her my flashlight. “Please.”
“I will. I promise.” My sister knew what I meant. My one-word plea and she totally knew everything.
I climbed back on Nostradamus as Braden and Ellie took off, Marcus following them. The rest of us moved a bit slower, still fanning out and combing the area. Except for the bouncing of the flashlight in the distance, I could no longer see Ellie or Braden, they were too far ahead of us. For hours we searched, and I never once let that speck of light in front of us get out of sight. As the sky darkened to the inky black of pre-dawn, my heart sank lower.
London’s phone rang. “It’s Braden.”
She must have pressed speakerphone. “Come to the far corner toward Reid’s property but move along the fence line, I think we’ve found her.”
It was all we needed to hear before we all took off. It was at that moment that I realized that I would rather fight with Holland Kelly than be with anyone else, it sounded all kinds of messed up, but I didn’t care.
“Slow down, watch your step!” Braden yelled when I got close to them. I slowed Nostradamus to a trot because even though I couldn’t see much, he had a great sense of danger and I was relying on him.
“What’s going on?” But no one had to answer my question instead they both moved their flashlights toward the hole. “It that an old well?” It was hard to see since it was so dark.
“I doubt it since it appears to just be dirt. There doesn’t look to be any lining not even wood,” Braden answered. The rest of the group arrived, but David, Marcus, and Sam stayed on the outskirts. “I asked them to stay back, I’m not sure whether this is part of a sinkhole, although I don’t think it is since it looks to be perfectly shaped, but it’s so dark that I just can’t be sure. I don’t trust the ground stability.”
I was glad that he was thinking clearly because all I wanted to do was repel down that hole and see if she was down there.
“We’ve hollered but there is no answer and our lights aren’t strong enough to see what’s down there,” Braden explained. “We’re going to try some of the emergency lights that we have.”
I turned to see Ben and David each carrying a different style of high-beam light. Paris, London, and Ellie were all leaning toward the edge and shouting Holland’s name.
“Come away from there,” Braden and Asher reprimanded their wives.
“What? It’s okay for you to risk your life?” London asked. “That’s my sister.”
“Yeah, and she’s my sister-in-law, but I won’t be of any help to anyone if you fall down there. I need to keep a level head. Please,” Braden pleaded, and London stepped back, pulling Paris with her.
Running a portable inverter connected via a long extension cord back to the rescue truck, Ben and Braden powered on the first light. The area lit up like Disney World.
I shielded my eyes from the brightness. “Reid, we will hold this but since we are so close we won’t be able to see anything, can you and Asher try?”
“Of course.” I moved toward the ledge and laid flat on my stomach, not caring that the cold damp ground soaked through to my skin. The light moved, the beam directed down, and it took several seconds for my eyes to adjust enough for me to make out anything at the bottom. “I see her,” Asher and I both said in unison.
“Is she alive?” London asked. Paris let out a heart-wrenching sob.
“Help.” I think she said yes but it was so faint, it was actually more muffled. So I tried again.
“Holland, can you hear me? Please move, a leg, an arm, anything.”
“Is she moving?” London raced over to me.
“Jesus Christ, London, step back and give her a second,” Braden barked.
“Holland, come on, Tiger, please move something.” While I was waiting on Holland to answer my request, my brain was registering that Braden was giving orders to David. Something about a wench, safety harness, tandem straps, body camera.
That’s when I saw it, her legs slowly extending. “She moved. She fucking moved. She’s trying to sit up.” I hollered to the group. “That’s it, just be careful, we’re going to get you out of there, I promise.”
Marcus and Asher moved to take Ben and Braden’s places holding the light so that the two of them could get the rescue operation in full gear.
“Here.” Braden knelt by me and handed me a radio that was tethered to a rope. “I put it on a channel C-seventeen.” He handed me the rope, and I slowly started easing it down as Braden spoke the entire time.
“Holland, this is Braden. Take the radio. Leave it tied. Press the button on the side and talk to me. Holland, this is Braden, grab ahold of the radio. Leave it tied. Press the button on the side and talk to me.” He repeated the same thing over and over until, the radio let out a crackling sound a second before Holland’s voice came over the air.
“Hey. You found me.”
I hadn’t realized how long I had been holding my breath until that moment. The sound of her voice filled me with a jumble of thoughts, gratitude, and anxiety, but most of all, there was the desire for time to hurry the fuck up so I could get her out of that hole and into my arms.
“Of course, we found you. Listen to me. I need you to tell me if there is any slack in the rope.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, we’re going to pull some back up, tell me when that slack is gone.” Braden gave me a nod, and I started slowly easing some of the rope back up.
“Okay, stop.” Holland’s voice was weak.
I turned to Braden to see what was going on. But David had the other end of the rope and was straightening it out. Then with a tape measure, he was measuring off segments. “There are about eleven feet left,” he called out.
“Holland is twenty-four feet down,” Braden exclaimed. I felt guilty for letting everyone else work, but I didn’t want to take my eyes off her. “Here, Reid, take my radio.” I grabbed it from Braden and tuned out everything but the girl on the end of the line.
I pressed the button and began talking, “Hey, Tiger.”
“Reid, is Khan okay?”
“He’s fine. You’re going to see him very soon.”
A sob broke from her and I sucked in my breath at the sound of her pain. “I’m hungry.�
�
“What’s your favorite thing to eat?”
“Pancakes.”
“Pancakes?” I chuckled. “More than steak or pizza?”
“Yeah, pancakes. I love pancakes.”
“Then I’ll make you pancakes as soon as you’re safe.”
“Reid?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I hurt, I can’t move my arm.” Holland stopped and for the first time I really noticed that her breath sounded labored.
I hollered out to whoever was listening, “Sounds like she may have broken a rib or two, her breathing is labored.” Then I returned to Holland. “I was mad at you.”
“You were?”
“Yeah, I thought you stood me up.”
Holland let out a small laugh. “You feel guilty, huh?”
“Leave it to you, you’re in a hole and probably trying to figure out how to get the upper hand.” I paused for a second to see if she’d laugh. “Tiger, I promise that we’ll find who left this hole, I’ll make them pay.”
“I just want to get warm.”
“I know, honey, we’re going to get you out of there real quick and get you warmed up. Holland, I’m going to take care of you, I promise.”
“Will you just hold me? I’m so cold.”
There were a few seconds of silence, and my finger was getting ready to press the button when the line crackled and she whispered, “Reid?”
“Yes.”
“How am I going to get out of here?”
“I’m going to come down and get you.” I wasn’t sure what they were planning on doing, but if anyone was going down to get her, it was going to be me. I needed her in my arms, and I needed to know that she was safe.
Chapter Sixteen
Reid
It took about an hour for the troops to rally and for everyone to return. Spotlights were propped up around the area, vehicle lights were pointing toward the center, and now we were deciding the best mode of rescue.
“She says her right arm hurts, and she is having a hard time breathing, maybe a broken rib or two. She won’t be able to hold on to anything, so I need to go down to get her.”
“Hold on, Reid, we need to think about this, you’re a big guy, I’m not sure there will be enough room for you to move around.”
That was completely unacceptable. Without dropping my glare from Brandon, I grabbed the radio. “Holland, how much room is down there with you? Would I fit?”
“I don’t think so. It’s small.” Holland had finally pushed herself up and stuck out her left arm. “I’m touching the sides.”
“See . . . I don’t think you’ll have freedom of movement, and even if you do get down there, there is no way you’ll get back up with her in your arms.”
It irked me, but I knew that he was right. There was no way. I turned to face Ellie and had to force back the burn of emotion behind my eyes. My sister, who had always meant the world to me, knew what I was about to ask before I asked it, but still, I whispered, “Please. I can’t . . .”
For several seconds, Ellie didn’t say a word, then slowly she shut her eyes as in a silent prayer. “You don’t have to say anything, I know. I’ll get her out safe.”
“I’m also worried about you.”
“Oh, shush.” Ellie hit my arm, and our gentle moment was broken and back to the normal sibling banter. She stepped over to where Braden and Ben were standing with a few other deputies and firemen and Marcus wrapped an arm around her and tucked her close to his side.
I tried to keep one eye on Ellie as they harnessed her up and walked her through what to do as well as watch Holland to make sure she was hanging in there. She was leaning against the wall of the hole, her legs were outstretched, picking up the radio again, I spoke. “Holland, stay awake for me. We’re coming down now.”
She lifted the radio. “I’m so cold.”
“I know, honey. I promise, just a few more minutes.” I glanced over to Ben, who had several silver foiled blankets and a few large packets that looked like pillows sitting on a stretcher.
“Reid, keep talking to Holland, Ellie, you keep talking as you descend. Once down there, talk us through what you are doing. Do you get me?” Braden asked and Ellie nodded as Ben double-checked the straps on her harness then wrapped Velcro bands around her wrist.
“Once you have her, fold your arms over each other and the Velcro will help you keep your hold. Finally, remember, before you tell us to start pulling you up, squat, have Holland wrap her legs around you, face-to-face. Move this strap, the strap is very important”—he tugged on a loose strap that hung at the back of her like a swing—“secure it under your thighs, and it will help form a seat on the way up so you aren’t having to hold all of Holland’s weight. I doubt that she’ll have any strength to help you.”
Ellie nodded.
“Be careful of her ribs, don’t want to puncture a lung, and watch out for her right arm.”
“Got it.” Ellie gave a thumbs-up.
“Holland, are you ready?” I asked into the radio.
“Yes, so ready.”
“Okay, we’re coming down.” Ellie moved to the hole and slowly the men fed the rope down and Ellie using her feet, kept herself straight and walked down the wall. “Do you see Ellie?”
“It’s Ellie? I thought you were coming.”
Her words crushed me. “I was too big.”
Holland chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts to laugh.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t want you to hurt.”
“Reid?”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry about being mean to you. I’m sorry about throwing manure on your house and about locking you out. I’m sorry about mooning you and flipping you off.”
I heard Braden and Marcus laughing.
Paris was laughing and still crying, “You know that, once she feels better, she will forget apologizing and go back to doing all of those things again, don’t you?”
“I hope so.” I truly did. I loved our banter.
“She’s almost here. I hear her talking.” Holland’s words were still so weak.
“She has a radio as well and is talking to Braden.”
“They’re laughing.”
“Yeah, they think it’s funny that you threw shit at my house. Should I tell them that you tried to throw it at me as well?”
“I said I was sorry. Hey, she’s here. She said to pull the radio up.”
I glanced over at Braden, and he nodded. I hated not having that contact with Holland. “Okay, do as Ellie says, and I’ll be up here waiting for you.” Holland didn’t say anything else, and I started pulling the radio up. When it was in my hands, I moved over to the guys and waited for word from Ellie.
“I have the five-point harness on her. I’m connecting her harness to mine now.” Ellie was silent for a few seconds. “I’m attaching her to the rope. I’m squatting and moving the straps underneath me.” Ellie was talking us through just as Ben had asked. I looked over and he was mimicking her movements, his way of making sure that no step was left undone. “She is wrapping her legs around me, and I’ve fastened my wrists. We’re ready.”
Ben spoke into the radio that connected to Ellie. “Holland, are you ready?”
Holland’s voice so much softer than Ellie’s. “Yes.”
The men started pulling, and the wench started slowly cranking.
“Reid, take this.” Ben threw me a foil blanket and one of the pillow packs. “It’s a heat blanket. As soon as you see her, pop that button on the side, then once she is out of the hole, peel the corners of the pack apart and pull the blanket out, wrap it around her. Lay the foil shock blanket over it, it will help hold the heat in.”
I nodded and moved toward the opening, watching, my heart pounding with each passing second.
“I’ve got you, we’re almost there.” Ellie’s soothing words repeated over and over across the air. “We’ve been so worried. I’m so glad you’re okay. You should see Reid, I’ve never seen him so
distraught.”
My sister could say anything she wanted to make Holland feel better or to distract her from whatever pain she was in.
When their heads appeared above the hole, I pulled the blanket out and move toward Holland, wrapping her in warmth. When she was unhooked, I tried hard not to hurt her as I wrapped her in the heat blankets and lowered my mouth to hers. “Thank god, thank god.”
The stretcher had been moved behind her, and Holland was eased backward. Ben quickly removed the harness. Ben and the paramedic took over and worked as they carried the stretcher toward the rescue truck. “Who’s coming with her?”
I turned to London and Paris, pleading for them to let me.
London nodded. “We’ll be right behind you.”
“Ellie, will you take Nostradamus back?”
“Of course, just go.”
By the time I jumped into the back of the rescue truck, Ben already had an IV in Holland, oxygen going, and a pulse-ox running. “Looks like her right shoulder is dislocated. May be some broken ribs, her right ankle also sustained some damage, but we won’t know how bad until we get some X-rays done.”
I grabbed hold of Holland’s hand and didn’t let go. When we pulled in front of the ER, the back doors opened and then Ben and one of the other men had Holland out and rolling through the doors, I followed, never letting go. Our eyes were locked, and a single tear ran down her face.
“It’s okay, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hi, who do we have here?” a male nurse greeted us. Ben answered his questions and handed over the forms he had filled out on our way here. The nurse quickly read over them. “Hi, Holland, I’m Keith. On a scale of one to ten, how is your pain right now?”
“Eleven.”
“We’re going to get you moved into a room and get some X-rays. Let’s get you moved into room nine, okay?” He patted to a hospital bed against the wall.
She nodded, and after a few minutes, they had her settled in the hospital bed and the paramedics were moving out.
Steadfast (Iron Horse Book 3) Page 11
