by Robin Caroll
Smiling, she nodded. “Exactly.” At least somebody was on the same page.
He spun, glancing around the cave. “Do you happen to have a rope?”
“Actually, I do.” Why did he do such crazy things to her insides? The strain must be getting to her—her emotions flip-flopped and bordered on hysteria.
She shook off the random thoughts and pulled a nylon rope out of the supply bag and tossed it to Hunter. “See how long this is.” She grabbed the first-aid kit. “I’m going to re-wrap Orson’s splint and give him a couple more ibuprofen.”
Katie addressed the old man’s injury as best she could, put the first-aid kit back in the supply bag, then went to stand beside Hunter.
“Looks like it’ll be long enough to reach the tree. How do you want to do this?”
“We’ll need someone at the top to help pull.”
“I’ll go.”
She gave him a soft smile. “You’re still weak and will be for another day or so. No offense, but I need someone stronger right now.”
A blank expression covered Hunter’s face, hiding his true emotions. She touched his arm. How would she react if he actually opened up to her? “Only because I know how the anti-venom can knock you out. Don’t take it personally.” The heat shooting up from her fingertips at the connection between them made her jerk her hand away. The man touched something deep within her heart, and the emotion worried her. He was only here for a weekend, and losing her heart would cost her after he left.
Besides, who found forever in days?
The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Who do you suggest?”
Turning her gaze to flit over the group who finished packing, she pressed her lips together. “Well, Jerry’s the strongest of the group, but…”
“You don’t trust him.” His words were a statement, not a question.
“Not really. I mean, all we have are accusations at this point, but still.” Katie let out a slow breath. “Paul’s the only other one we could try.”
Hunter studied the man. “I guess. I don’t see him being able to hoist Orson up that far alone.”
“I figured I’d send him up to tie the line, then let Carter and Jerry climb once the line’s secure.” She puckered her lips and sucked in air, making little noises with her mouth. Shadow, soaking wet, rushed to her side. He shook, drenching both Katie and Hunter with his spray. Katie laughed. At least her pet’s antics were constant. “Shadow, boy, stop that.”
Hunter laughed as well. “Well, at least we got our shower this morning.”
The intimate implications of his words, even unintentional, sent power surges through her. Her eyes honed in on his face. She willed herself to look away when he stared back at her, but her body refused to obey her brain’s commands.
His expression softened, his mouth slacked. The air stuck inside her lungs. All moisture left her mouth. Desperate for a peppermint, she licked her lips, then swallowed. Nothing worked. The inside of her mouth felt like the Mojave Desert. She reached into her fanny pack, pulled out a candy, and popped it in her mouth.
“So, what’re we doing so early this morning?” Jerry’s cocky attitude rubbed against her zinging nerves as he joined them.
Katie straightened. “We’re going to secure a rope above and use it to move upward.”
“Who’s gonna do that?” Jerry smirked.
Biting back the snappy retort waiting to explode, Katie said, “I thought Paul would.”
Paul’s eyes widened as large as the face of a paddle as he joined the group. “M-M-Me?”
“Yes, you. You’re strong enough.” Moving to stand beside him, Katie laid a hand on his shoulder. “All you have to do is tie the rope around the tree.”
“What tree?” Insecurity covered his face like a wet sleeping bag, but his eyes lit in the barely-dawn light.
Stepping from under the overhang, she pointed out the tree.
He grimaced. “That’s kinda far up there. Not many trees to grab onto during the climb.”
“You can do it, Paul.” Smiling as wide as she could, Katie squeezed his bicep. “I know you can.”
“I’ll do it, for pity’s sake.” Jerry glanced toward the massive oak. “No problem at all.”
Her heart stumbled as she groped for the words. “Uh, Jerry, I need you down here for now.”
“Why does he get to go and I have to stay?” Even the whites of Jerry’s eyes darkened. “I’m stronger than he is. Besides, I’m not a wimp.”
Paul stiffened under her touch. She glared at Jerry. “I need you to help with Carter on the climb after the rope’s secured.”
Jerry’s face twisted into an ugly scowl. “Why do I have to baby-sit the old man?”
“Nobody needs to baby-sit me. I can climb as well as any other man here.” Carter stomped to the edge of the cave and gazed up the steep incline. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Katie clapped her hands. “Listen. This is the way it’s going to be—Paul, you’ll climb first and secure the rope.” She wagged her finger between Jerry and Carter. “You two will go next. I’ll need all three of you guys in place before we try to get Orson up.”
“What about venom-boy here?” Jerry nodded toward Hunter, acidic sarcasm dripping from his words.
Hunter opened his mouth. Katie shot him a look that she hoped he understood meant to keep quiet and let her handle this, then grimaced at Jerry. “I need Hunter down here to help me boost Orson, as well as tie the supply packs for y’all to pull up.”
Jerry’s expression was one of pure loathing. “How sweet.”
“Look…” Hunter took a step toward the mouthy man.
Katie stepped between the two men, her heart thumping like a Mexican jumping bean. “We don’t have time for this. We have to get moving.”
Hunter stalked into the cave, then squatted beside Orson and spoke in low tones. Shadow parked himself at Katie’s feet.
Planting himself directly in front of her, Jerry rested a hand on his hip. “I still don’t see why I shouldn’t go first.”
Her wariness of him dissipated, consumed by the swirling anger in the pit of her stomach. “You know what, Jerry, I don’t have time for this spitting contest you want to have with everyone. For just a moment, would you let your pea-brain pretend to be larger than your testosterone level?”
She popped her shaking hands on her hips, digging her fingers into her waist. “Wrap your mind around this: we need to all work together to get out of here alive. Got it? There’s not enough room on this mountain for all of us and your over-stroked ego.”
A dark hue of crimson shot up his neck to his face. Bright red circles blazed on his cheeks. He clenched and unclenched his fists as a wide range of fury streaked across his face. Shadow shot to his feet and growled, low and guttural. She snapped her fingers and pointed to the ground, her gaze fixed Jerry’s face.
“Hey, let’s just get it done, okay?” Paul said.
“Good idea,” Katie spat out from behind clenched teeth. She snatched the yellow rope from atop the rolled bags and stalked to the right of the cave.
Paul hovered at her elbow. “Just tell me how to do it.”
She took in quick breaths. Jerry made her so mad.
Hunter patted Orson’s shoulder, then moved in her direction. Jerry remained rigid, not taking a step from his position. His face reflected his anger was still in control.
Concentrating on the task at hand, Katie explained to Paul the path to take. Hunter stayed close, positioning himself between her and Jerry.
Once Paul had a grasp on his task, he looped the rope bundle over his shoulder. He cast a final look to Katie, like a condemned man plodding to the execution chamber, and began his trek up the mountainside.
Katie snuck another peppermint as she followed his progress with her stare. Shadow pawed the ground until she commanded him to sit. Even then, the Blue Heeler didn’t seem content to merely watch Paul’s ascent.
Paul made his painstaking climb with the speed of a sleep-depraved tortoise. He
slipped several times, causing Katie to bite her lip and draw blood. Yet, Paul managed to steady himself before sliding and crashing down on their heads. At long last, he reached the tree. He secured the rope, then tossed down the end with a yell. The prideful glee in his voice reverberated over the wind and rain.
Hunter caught the end of the rope and wrapped it around a large sapling, holding the end securely behind his back, letting his body weight play anchor. He nodded to Carter. “You and Jerry go ahead and start climbing. I’ll keep the tension tight.”
Carter moved toward the rope and muttered, “Goood-Night!”
“Just keep a tight grip on the rope. Use it like a handrail.” She flashed what she hoped came across as a confident smile.
Paul cupped his hands to his mouth. “It’s easy. Come on.”
Chapter 13
Hunter held his breath as Jerry stalked past Katie, his head down and jaw set. Jerry gripped the nylon and gave it a tug, almost jerking it free from Hunter’s grasp. Jerry gave a twisted smirk and pulled himself along the incline.
“Go ahead. I’ve got it,” Hunter said to Carter.
Shrugging, the old man picked his way up the hill.
Katie moved beside Hunter, lending her own strength to the resistance of the rope in order to keep tension on the line.
He ignored his protective urging, focusing on Jerry and Carter’s climb. Even as he wanted to knock Jerry’s block off for his mouth and attitude, Hunter appreciated Katie’s sharp tongue. But if Jerry was responsible for the cut in the raft, she was now on his bad side. Not a good move for her.
She grunted as she tugged, wrapping the nylon tighter around the tree. Her calf muscles flexed, drawing his attention. Katie Gallagher was one strong woman.
Carter’s exuberant shout broke through the rain and wind. Jerry and Carter stood beside Paul. Katie turned to Hunter. “Okay, let’s get Orson tied and see if they can drag him.”
Within minutes, they’d put the jacket-style life preserver on Orson and wove the end of the rope through its belt loops. He gritted his teeth. “It’ll be okay.”
Hunter laid his hand on Orson’s chest. “It’s gonna be a rough ride, buddy. It’ll probably hurt—a lot.”
Katie ran a hand over Orson’s thinning hair, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Just try to stay on your back.” Her lips trembled as she smiled. “If you find yourself rolling or shifting, use your good leg as a guide.”
Orson nodded. Hunter fought squirming under the older man’s scrutiny. The blame burned from Orson’s eyes. Looking to the men above to avoid any more condemnation, Hunter hollered, “Okay, guys, pull.”
Cries and groans marked Orson’s progress. Each time he cried out, Katie cringed. Her compassion filled Hunter’s heart with a rush of attraction. He kept his body rigid to refrain from swooping her into his arms and telling her none of this was her fault.
Paul yelled that they’d secured Orson. Hunter let out a sigh of relief. The rope fell back at their feet, and Hunter lifted his gaze to meet Katie’s.
“Let’s tie this off and get you moving.” Her voice remained calm and even.
“Why don’t we send the supplies, then you and I can climb together?”
“No, I want you there to watch Jerry.”
So, she really didn’t trust the little weasel. But apparently, she trusted him. Hunter smiled. “Okay, but then you send the supplies and hurry.” He yanked the rope twice to ensure it would hold, gave her a smile, and took his first step.
The climb took him longer than he’d anticipated. Katie had been right—his body still suffered from the anti-venom. He hated feeling less than 100%, especially when the stakes were so high. He reached the plateau where the others waited, then turned to yell for Katie. The words died in his mouth.
A loud crashing caused his body to tremble. Then he realized it wasn’t a reaction—the mountain actually trembled.
He grabbed Orson and pulled him against the support tree. Jerry and Carter pushed Paul closer to the trunk as well.
Echoes of the crashing moved like an earthquake around them.
As if standing in front of Summersville Lake Dam when the discharge tubes opened and ten thousand cubic feet of water spewed out, a wave of mud jetted down over them.
Cold and wet, the dirt sluiced, covering them like chocolate over almonds. Calling on every ounce of strength left, Hunter held fast to the tree, sandwiching Orson between himself and the bark. Even as the forceful sludge pounded against them, the distinct sound of a dog barking pierced the deafening roar of the mudslide.
His heart flipped. Using the inside of his shoulder, Hunter wiped the muck from his face and peered down the hill. The mudslide rushed down, picking up momentum and power on its descent.
Dear God, help us!
Katie looked up at the group. The dog barked, then shot sharply to the left.
Hunter’s body trembled as the unforgiving mud slammed into her. Horror filled his chest as he spotted her legs shoot free, then disappear into the crashing mush. An arm cleared the surface, vanishing a second later. Supply bags tossed in the air, then landed in the rapid movement of the mire.
Terror stole Hunter’s breath from his lungs until he lost sight of Katie in the burbling thickness.
The earth slipped under Hunter’s feet. He anchored his position against the tree, trying to take on as much of Orson’s weight as he could, and held firm. Mud sledged against them, racing down the hill like a winter Olympic luger race.
Keeping his eyes trained on the place where Katie had been mere seconds before, Hunter’s gut knotted into a mass of tangled nerves. She hadn’t resurfaced in several minutes. Images of her being sucked into the murky mass made him shudder. Father God, protect her!
The thick sludge met the rising river, feeding its hunger. It swirled into the raging water, wind pushing it like the beater of a mixer.
Around him, Hunter recognized the desperate cries from Paul—the litany of curses from Jerry—the grunts and groans from Carter. He felt Orson’s shuddering back against his chest. Quivers of fear—or pain?—racked the injured man’s body. Hunter squeezed closer, using his body as a shield over Orson.
Almost as suddenly as the slide had begun, it lost force and intensity. The flooded river consumed the mud, taming its hungry temper.
Hunter loosened his grip on the tree. Orson slumped against him.
“I-I-Is it o-over?” Paul’s words broke the tense silence.
Wiping his face with his palm, Hunter cleared his vision. “I think so.” He’d do just about anything for a cell phone right now.
The men shoved away from the tree—the foundation to which they’d clung for dear life. Slinging mud about as they tried to acclimate themselves to the ravages nature had thrown at them, they stomped and shook. Hunter eased Orson down and propped him against the sheltering oak. He secured the man, then his hand grazed the knot of the nylon rope. Hope soared through him.
“You guys stay here. I’m going down for Katie.” He tugged on the rope, slipping it higher on the tree trunk, clearing it from the level of mire.
“Man, are you nuts?”
Hunter glared at Jerry. “We can’t leave her down there. What if she’s hurt?”
“Hurt?” Jerry flicked his hands, sending little globules of muck flying. “She’s a goner, man. There’s no way she could’ve survived that.” He shook his head. “No way.”
“Well I’m going to find out for certain.” Hunter lifted his feet to reposition himself closer to the rope. A pop sounded as he released the air pocket. He lifted his face to the sky, letting the onslaught of the rain wash away the mud stuck to his face. Please, God, let her be okay.
“Waste of time, man. Total waste of time.”
Without a conscious thought, Hunter gripped the neckband of Jerry’s wetsuit. His fingers sank into the pliable material. “I don’t care if it’s a waste of time or not, I won’t leave until I find her. You stay here with the guys and try to get over by that rock formation. Got th
at?” He let Jerry go with a shove.
Jerry stumbled two steps backward, then found his footing. His stare could freeze the sun. “Fine. Whatever.” He turned to Paul. “Help me get Orson moved.”
Satisfied the group would be secure, Hunter held onto the rope and took his first tenacious step down the hill. Stomping in the thick mess made his progress unproductive. He could move faster by sliding his feet along the ground, letting the slippery mud glide him along. The closer he drew to where the cave was, the faster he slid.
He tightened his hold on the rope, careful to watch the level of the river, which with the addition of the muck, appeared to have risen faster. His hands stung, especially his injured one, as the rope burned against the exposed tender flesh.
Fat raindrops battered his head, sending chunks of mud swabbing down his shoulders. Hunter twisted his head back and forth rapidly, removing as much of the sludge as possible.
Carefully, he crept the remaining feet to reach the tree where the rope remained tied. He grabbed the tree and let his gaze drift over the area. No sign of Katie.
Please, Lord, let her be alive.
“Katie! Katie!”
He stood as stiff as the mud drying on the back of his neck, listening for a reply. Only the roar of the wind whipping across the river echoed in the air. “Katie! Katie!”
“Ugh.”
His heart surged at the sound—could that be her? Hunter strained to hear over the pounding in his head. Fear choked his mind. “Katie!”
“Here.”
He could barely make out her voice coming from his right, toward the cave.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You.
Shifting to firm his balance, Hunter moved in that direction. “I’m coming Katie. I’m coming.”
She didn’t answer.
Taking two more sliding steps, the adrenaline coursed through his veins, urging him on. “Katie!”
A dog barked, loud and repetitiously.
“Shadow!”
The Blue Heeler’s barks came louder.
Hunter slugged as fast as his sense of balance would allow him. At last, he reached the lip of the cave. And saw her. The knot in his stomach tightened.
