by Desiree Holt
Mostly.
“Come on, slowpoke.”
April looked up to see Diane, grinning down at her from about fifty feet ahead on the steep hill. “Hey,” she called. “I’m not part mountain goat the way you are. I’m coming.”
“We can eat and drink when you get here,” she teased. “Get going. I’m hungry.”
“Okay, okay, okay.”
April made her way slowly to the small level space where Diane waited, blowing out a breath as she balanced herself on flat ground.
“Are you sure this is what I need to be doing?” she asked.
“Of course. Takes your mind off everything else. Let it wander, and you can fall on your ass.”
April grunted. “Is that better or worse than falling on your ass in life?”
Diane looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. “We’ll hear no more of that. From here on in, no mention of men of any kind. Not even mine.”
“You can talk about Charlie,” April said grudgingly.
“Nope. Not even Charlie today. Open your pack and take out your goodies.”
They sat quietly, munching protein bars and drinking bottled water, not talking, just listening to the sounds of the birds and small animals around them. When they finished, they stowed their trash and stood up.
“Not much further to the top,” Diane said. “Then it’s an easy glide downhill. Remember, concentrate on your feet, not men.”
If only.
They had gone perhaps another fifty feet when the ground shifted between her feet, loose earth unsettled her footing, and she slid away from the path.
“Hey!” she called, reaching to grab something, anything to hold onto.
Then everything happened so fast it was a blur. Just as she reached for the low branch of a tree, the earth crumbled around her, she lost her footing and plunged down a steep drop. She couldn’t believe how quickly she was sliding.
“Diane!” she screamed, just as she banged into the trunk of a tree, her leg bending at a bad angle. Pain shot through her like fire, and when she tried to stand she couldn’t put any weight on the leg. She dropped to the ground, tears running down her face. “Diane, help!”
Diane was already working her way down to the spot, careful to avoid the collapsing earth, bracing herself against the tree where April fell.
“Oh, honey. Let me see.”
She moved April very carefully so her back was resting against the tree trunk before she looked at the leg. When she touched it, April shrieked in pain.
Diane blew out a breath. “Okay, let’s not panic. I don’t know for sure, but I think the leg is broken below the knee. It got a good knock against the tree.” She fished in her pack and brought out a small bottle of pain relievers and a half empty bottle of water, holding them out. “Take these before we do anything else. Maybe they’ll take off a little of the edge.”
“What are we going to do? God, I’m so sorry I got us into this mess. Maybe you could hike back to the farmhouse and see if anyone’s there who could help us.”
“My grandparents won’t be hiking up here,” Diane pointed out, “and I don’t think anyone else is here on Sunday.”
“So we’re stuck?” April bit her lip hard against the pain and told herself not to whine or cry.
“Nope.” Diane pulled out her phone. “Not when we have two good-looking SEALs who can rescue us.
****
Mustang reeled in his line for what he was sure was the hundredth time and set the rod in the bottom of the boat.
“We’ve been out here for three damn hours,” he pointed out, “and don’t have one fish to show for it.”
Iceman grinned. “That’s why it’s called fishing and not catching. Pick up your rod and give it another try.”
“Uh uh. I’m done. I think we need to try another activity.”
“You might try getting everything on your mind out in the air, so I can kick your ass and tell you how stupid you are.”
“I’m not getting in touch with my feelings,” Mustang snorted. “That’s how I got in trouble fifteen years ago.”
“No, it isn’t, asshole. When are you ever going to admit nothing that happened was your fault and get on with your life?”
Every muscle in Mustang’s body tightened. “I don’t want to talk about it. You know that.”
“Because you might have to admit you were wrong? That after all these years you’ve met someone who can bring you out of that hard shell and make your dumb life worth something?”
“Lay off, damn it. I—” He was interrupted by the ringing of Iceman’s cell phone.
“Who the fuck is calling me on a Sunday?” But when he saw the readout, he frowned.
“Who is it?” Mustang asked.
“Diane. I didn’t think they’d be back so early.”
“Back from where?”
But Iceman held up a finger. “Yeah, babe. What’s up?”
At the look of dismay on his friend’s face, every muscle in Mustang’s face tightened and a sick feeling rolled through his stomach. He could spot the signs of trouble. And wherever Diane was, April was with her.
“What is it?” he demanded.
Iceman just shook his head. “Okay, where are you and what’s the sitrep? Uh huh. Uh huh. Can you give me the coordinates from your GPS? Yeah, I’ll wait.”
“Iceman,” Mustang began in a sharp voice.
Iceman shook his head again. “Okay. Yeah, got ’em. Is she stable? Uh huh. Okay. We’ll get right on it. I’ll call you as soon as we’re in the air.” He punched the Off button. “Okay, gather everything up. We’re heading to shore.”
“Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Diane and April went hiking on the big hill behind Diane’s grandparents’ farm. April took a tumble and—”
“Hiking?” Every bit of blood drained from Mustang’s head. “I didn’t know she was a hiker. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me that’s where they went? Damn it all to hell anyway.”
“Because I knew you’d have this knee jerk reaction. And since you made it plain to her she had no place in your life any more, she certainly didn’t need your permission.”
“Fuck. Just fuck. How could you let them do this? Go hiking, out wherever they are?”
“Hey, man. In case you haven’t figured it out, you don’t exactly let women do something. This isn’t the dark ages. And another point. You and April are finished, right? So you have no say in it at all.” Iceman studied him. “Or have you decided you might have made a mistake?”
Mustang drew in a deep breath. “Is she hurt? Is it bad? What—”
Iceman shook his head as he reeled in his line and began to gather his own gear. “She’s hurt but not like Viv. Her leg is the only thing broken, thank god. This time you have the chance to be the big hero and rescue her. And maybe finally get your head on straight.” He yanked on the starter for the little motor, then handed Mustang his phone. “Call Kenny Simms. We’ll need his big search and rescue helicopter. Tell him it’s an emergency, and we’ll meet him at his hangar in thirty.”
Mustang scrolled until he found the number of their friend and pressed Talk, his hands shaking so badly he was afraid he’d drop the phone. When Kenny answered, he relayed Iceman’s message. A trained SAR pilot, Kenny asked minimal questions, knowing they’d give him the information when they saw him.
“I’m on my way,” he told Mustang.
“Hold your shit together,” Iceman warned as he steered the boat to the dock. “April’s gonna need you.”
“I know, I know.” He racked his hand through his hair. “Jesus, Iceman.”
“Yeah, it’s a bitch. But we’ll get them down safely.
****
“They’re on their way.” Diane disconnected the call, shoved the cell in her pocket, and crouched beside April. “How are you doing? Want some more water?”
“No.” April tried to smile, but the pain in her leg was ramping up to the unbearable level and also making her naus
eous. “I think I’d throw it up. Did Charlie say how long until they get here?”
“He said they are in the air and on their way. ETA should be in no more than fifteen minutes.”
April closed her eyes, trying to ride over the pain. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Why? Hey, girlfriend. Accidents happen..”
“I thought I was paying attention to where I was stepping.” She bit down on her lip again.
“April, it could happen to anyone. I’m just glad it isn’t any worse.”
“Yeah, worse.” She gave a shaky laugh. “Like breaking two legs instead of one.”
“Or breaking your neck,” Diane said, her voice serious. “That’s what happened to Mustang’s girlfriend fifteen years ago.”
The shock of the statement was so great that, for a moment, it even obliterated the pain. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Happened fifteen years ago. He was away on a mission, so deep they couldn’t even reach him to tell him. His C.O. personally rode on the bird that picked him up to deliver the news. Mustang blamed himself.”
“But why? He wasn’t there.”
“Even though she died instantly, he somehow thinks if he was with her, he could have saved her. As they say in the military, the situation was FUBAR—Fucked Up Beyond All Repair. I’m not sure he’s ever dealt properly with his grief.” She took April’s hand. “She was a lot like you, sweetie. A complete opposite of the women he’s, um, dated since then.”
“I know the kind of dating he’s done,” April told her. At least the conversation was helping her to ride over the pain.
“Because he refused to let himself ever become emotionally involved again. He was protecting his heart.”
April bit back a groan. “If he even still has one. I really pushed him to let me into all the parts of his life. Especially in the bedroom. And it was good, Diane. It was—” Without warning, a wave of nausea hit her, and she bent over and retched on the ground. “Oh, my god.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “I am so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. I can’t believe how well you’re handling this. Here.” Diane wet some tissues and wiped her face, then made her take a sip of water to rinse her mouth.
April closed her eyes, trying to ride out the pain.
Get here quick, Mustang. Please hurry.
“Hey.” Diane eased to her feet. “I think our rescuers are almost here.”
April heard it, the whap! whap! whap! of helicopter rotors. She lifted her gaze and saw the big black helo appear over the trees. The door to the cabin was open, a man hanging there, scanning the ground.
Please let it be Mustang.
****
Mustang held onto the strap in the doorway of the big Sikorsky S-92 helicopter as it came in over the treetops. He concentrated on swallowing back his nausea at the thought of what they’d find when they reached the site where the women were. Behind him in the cabin big enough to hold ten people, Iceman was prepping the litter, the winch bolted to the cabin floor, the long heavy cable and the basket to lift anyone incapable of hanging onto the cable themselves. Mustang didn’t want to think how badly April was hurt that the basket might be a necessity.
Next to Iceman was Frenchy Lavalle, the medic Kenny used as part of his regular SAR crew. He was busy checking his supplies and making sure everything was in order. Mustang knew this was usually done before liftoff, but today, time was truly of the essence. Anyway, the SAR guys were always well prepared so he was sure whatever they might need, Frenchy would have in his bag of tricks.
“There!” he shouted, pointing downward. “I see them in those trees. Diane is waving at us.”
Iceman inched forward. “Yup. It’s them. Holy shit. Looks like the ground slid right out from under them.”
“Fuck. How the fuck did that happen?” The muscles in Mustang’s stomach clenched.
“We haven’t had a lot of rain, the ground dries out, the shrubbery sheds its leaves. Everything can make for an unstable floor.”
“They never should have come out here,” Mustang said through gritted teeth.
“Hey, Diane’s hiked here a million times. The trail they took is pretty easy. Shit can happen standing on a flat paved surface so don’t start assigning blame.”
“Sorry,” he muttered.
He just wanted to get her the fuck out of there.
And back where I can take care of her.
The thought shocked him so he nearly fell out of the cabin. What the fuck?
But maybe this happened to shock him out of his self-imposed emotional isolation. To let him know that he had something really good in his life within his grasp, if he’d only get his head out of his ass. Maybe Iceman had been right all along.
Before he could figure it out, first he had to get the women safely into the helo. To do that, he had to force himself to detach his emotions from the situation.
“Here.” Iceman handed him a wrist radio. “We’ll lower you and Frenchy to assess the situation, then you can let us know what you need. I’ll send you down first so you don’t have a cow waiting. Get ready.”
Iceman handed him the end of the cable, Mustang gripped it with his hands and wrapped his legs around it as he’d done at least a hundred times on missions. He signaled he was good to go and Iceman pressed the button on the winch. Kenny hovered in place as Mustang dropped slowly down to the women. His feet had barely touched the ground before he gave Iceman the thumbs up to crank the cable up and send Frenchy down. Then he was at April’s side, his heart thudding at the sight of her pale face lined with pain.
“H-Hi,” she said in a low voice.
“You sure pick strange places to meet,” he tried to joke.
“I’m so sorry about this,” Diane told him.
“Not…your fault,” April said through gritted teeth. “My stupidity.”
Mustang took her hand. “It’s no one’s fault,” he told her in a soft voice. “Shit happens. Diane, please don’t blame yourself.”
“I couldn’t help thinking of—”
He slid a glance at her. “Maybe it’s time we all stopped thinking about that. And moved ahead.”
April gripped his hand. “Diane told me about what happened. I mean, with Viv. I’m so sorry—”
“Sugar, that’s in the past. It’s time I put it there for good.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead. “And paid attention to the woman who’s made me whole again. Made me feel. Made me care.” He swallowed. “Found her way into my heart.”
He would have said more, but Frenchy was down, his kit in the pack strapped to his back.
“Looks like you got yourself in a little trouble here,” he grinned, trying to put April at ease.
“Maybe I just wanted a good-looking guy like you to rescue me,” she joked.
“Hey.” Mustang winked at her. “I’m the only good-looking guy you should be paying attention to. Remember that, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
A spasm of pain crossed her face, and Mustang gripped her hand harder. “Frenchy will fix you up right away, sugar. Just hold onto me, okay?”
“Okay.”
Diane moved carefully so she was out of the way.
But Mustang wasn’t leaving April’s side. He didn’t remember being this upset since he was in high school and at a rodeo episode where his best friend got thrown from a bucking bronc. He planned to supervise every second of her rescue and treatment. She squeezed his hand tightly and, as Frenchy checked her leg carefully, Mustang saw her close her eyes, trying to ride out the agony
“Fractured,” the medic pronounced. “Not a complete break, but it will still have to be set.” He smiled at her, apologetically. “Sorry about this, but I had to make sure what we were working with here.”
“No problem.” But her voice told them it was anything but that.
Frenchy began removing things from his pack. “I’m going to take your vitals, then give you something for the pain. It will
help when I splint the leg and we begin moving you around.”
“Th-thank you.” She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree.
Mustang stroked her arm as Frenchy took her blood pressure and checked her other vitals, questioning every number until Frenchy politely told him to shut up and let people do their jobs.
“I’m going to give you something for the pain now,” he told April. Looking at Mustang he said, “Want to watch me measure the dose, hotshot?”
“Just ignore him like we all do,” Diane joked. “He’ll be fine as soon as we get April out of here and to the hospital.”
When she relaxed slightly, a sign that the meds were taking effect, Frenchy took out an inflatable splint and very carefully encased her leg in it.
“Good to go with the basket,” he said into his wrist radio.
“Coming down now.” Iceman’s voice crackled from the speaker.
Mustang stretched out next to April, being careful not to shift the ground beneath them, as they waited for the apparatus to be lowered. Diane stayed balanced against the tree, out of the way. In a moment, the cable with the basket attached reached them, and Mustang and Frenchy began the arduous task of moving April into it as smoothly as possible. He thanked god for the drugs that would at least take the edge off the pain.
He knotted his fists as Iceman winched them up to the helo, one part of his brain marveling at Kenny’s precision in keeping the chopper in a steady hover. He wanted to be the one riding up with her, but his brain told him Frenchy was needed more than he was.
It felt like forever until April was at the open cabin door, Iceman lifting her in as gently as possible. Frenchy swung his body in, reattached the basket, and the cable began descending again.
“You’re next,” Mustang said to Diane, tamping down his impatience. He still had to follow common sense. A SEAL didn’t leave a scene until everyone was safely away.
“Me?” Her mouth dropped open. “In that thing? Are you crazy?”
“Come on. It’s a breeze.”
While she was still trying to protest, he lifted her into the basket and fastened the harness around her, then gave Iceman the thumbs up. The cable dropped one more time, and Mustang grabbed on. He was still rising with the winch as Kenny lifted off and headed for the hospital.
