High Risk

CHAPTER 34

A trickle of sweat ran between her breasts as Becki strode after Devon. The weight of the emergency supplies on her back was familiar, and the burn of lactic acid in her thighs as well. They’d already dropped into the clouds, and the trail was visible for maybe twenty feet before the thick grey masked everything from them.

Gear rattled behind her—probably Xavier and Anders with the portable stretcher. Ropes and carabiners clicked softly, the occasional heavier gasp for a breath. No one wasted energy talking right now. As socked in as they were, the path forward remained amazingly clear. Well worn, although most people who traveled this section were on their way upward before returning in a loop to their base camps.

Becki focused on her feet as she tried to avoid the wettest sections. She stepped over fallen limbs and the occasional lingering snowdrift. They were at a low enough elevation that the trail was down to mud and rotting leaves instead of the thigh-deep frozen mess they could have been slogging through.

What was Colin thinking, going for a climb so early in the season? Reckless, impulsive, stupid fool.

Kind of like you at that age, her mental voice taunted.

Still, planning to give her brother hell was a good distraction from the next challenge on the way there. The last time she’d been on a rope without freaking, she’d been blindfolded, letting Marcus talk her through the climb. Wasn’t going to happen this time. This time she was on her own.

Only she wasn’t. . . .

Marcus walked behind her. Far enough to avoid the branches that snapped back at him when she brushed past, close enough she knew he was there. Felt his presence. It comforted her in a way that might have bothered her if she didn’t know he wanted only the best for her.

He’d said she was strong, and she was. She’d find the power needed to rescue Colin. When they got this mess of a day done with, she’d be strong for herself and face the media, and whatever else waited ahead.

And then she’d be strong enough to take Marcus up on his offer and see what they could build together. Doors might have closed, but the one that had opened seemed better than what she’d had before.

Devon held up his hand to signal a stop, slipping his pack off and reaching for a rope. “Gear up here. Anders, set your anchor. We’ll drop one at a time.”

The team gathered around, everyone moving with the skill of familiar experience. Becki avoided looking at the edge of the cliff only a few paces away to their right. Instead, she focused on the ropes being looped into a triangle at the base of the two nearest trees.

A hand touched her arm and she snapped her head up to discover Devon checking her over carefully.

He cleared his throat. “I might not be the most eloquent on the team, so if I say this wrong, take it the positive way I intend. We need you to lead once we hit the Needles. There’s a chance you could freeze on this descent, and I want to avoid that. You need to be at one hundred percent at the canyon. There’s no reason for you to do this drop alone. In fact, it’s better if you don’t, so I want to harness you to Anders. That way you don’t have to look, you don’t have to worry. Save your strength for when we need you on the next section.”

She’d expected this idea to come up, only it was nice how he focused on what she could do for the team more than the fact that someone had to babysit her right now. “Damn, you’re good.”

Devon tossed her a grin.

Becki nodded. “I get it. Well advised. Only may I request one change?” Devon was already moving away, and she hated to be demanding things like a rookie, but even the sight of the ropes being prepped made her skin crawl.

Devon paused. “What’s up?”

“I’ve done something like this before with Marcus.” Marcus stood at the sound of his name, and she tilted her head toward him. “I know I can deal with the descent if he’s my guide. Request to change partners.”

“I should have thought of that.” Devon called and waited for Marcus to join them before continuing. “Your decision, Marcus. Either you or Anders guides Becki. Whoever it is, she’s going down third. Get ready.”

She turned and found him standing there. The tall muscular length of him, addictive smile and all the rest. “You want me to anchor you?” he asked.

“I want you.”

That was all she said, and yet it was everything.

It was like a flashback to being in the cabin before all this started, Marcus’s expression a repeat of the one that had returned her hope. Connection, companionship. Understanding.

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 team 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.