“There’s no way you can get him back up the cliff. You may be in good shape, but you’re not strong enough.” When she didn’t say anything, he cut her a sharp look. “I can do this, damn it.”
She stared at him, her heart beating hard and fast in her chest. For the first time in her life, she understood him. She understood why men like him did the things they did. Why they devoted their lives to saving others. The realization came to her like the white flash of a bomb inside her head. And it shamed her that she’d never understood until now. It made her feel shallow and small and petty because she hadn’t supported him. She hadn’t been strong enough to let him do what he did best, what he loved. And it hurt that it had taken this—her son’s life—for her to understand what she should have understood all along.
He stalked over to the edge of the ravine, turned and spotted a sturdy sapling, then crossed to it and looped the rope several times around the base. “This will help take some of the stress off you,” he said. “I want you to feed the rope and lower me down. A foot at a time. Nice and slow.”
“How are you going to get across the water?” she asked.
“I don’t know. But I need to get closer to see what’s on the other side of that boulder. Maybe I can get to him.” He grimaced. “If I need the rope, I’ll yell for you to untie it and toss it down to me.”
“How will you get back up if I toss the rope down to you?”
“Chances are I won’t need it. But if I do…” He shrugged. “I’ll have to figure something out if it comes to that. Right now, I just want to get that boy away from the water. He’s in a very dangerous position.”
She nodded.
“Once I get him, and we’re ready to come back up, I want you to loop the rope a couple of times around this sapling, and keep it taut.”
“I can handle that.”
“I don’t have any gloves for you. I need them myself this time.”
“That’s okay. I can do it.”
“I know you can.”
She flinched when he reached out and thumbed a tear off her cheek. It surprised her because she hadn’t even realized she was crying.
“We’re going to be fine,” he said.
“I know.” She knew the quick smile was for her benefit, but she appreciated it nonetheless. “Be careful.”
“Hey, jumping off cliffs is my specialty, remember?”
She choked out a laugh. “Yeah, and you stop bullets, too.”
“That’s my girl.” He tested the rope, checked the harness around his hips. “Whatever you do, don’t let go of that rope.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
Abruptly, he leaned forward and crushed his mouth to hers. She hadn’t been expecting him to kiss her and the power of it nearly took her feet out from under her. He kissed her hard, desperately, hungrily. She opened to him, and their tongues touched briefly. She tasted hope and fear and determination on his lips. Desire tugged sharply, followed by a pang of emotion so powerful it took her breath. She wanted to close her eyes and hang onto him, but the moment ended and he pulled away.
He grinned at her. “You never forgot how to kiss.”
She smiled back at him even though she was shaking inside. “Neither did you.”
“Hold that thought.” And with a wave of his hand, he shoved off into space and disappeared over the edge of the cliff.
Buzz knew he was in trouble before ever reaching the bottom of the gorge. His back had gone into spasms halfway down, a knifing pain that started at the small of his back and shot down his right buttock all the way to his little toe. It wasn’t the first time he’d had problems with the sciatic nerve, but it sure couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Ignoring the pain as best he could, he paused long enough to down a couple more pills, then turned his head to get his bearings. White water roared like an earthquake below. The terrain was rugged as hell and consisted of gnarled juniper, moss-covered boulders and loose rock that made for precarious footing. The hovering smoke lent a surreal aspect to the scene.
He pushed off with his feet and swung back, but still couldn’t see the boy from where he hung. The harness cut uncomfortably into the backs of his thighs, but the discomfort was minor compared to the ice-pick jabs in his back. Damn, he was getting too old for this crap.
He could still see Kelly above him. Even from ten yards away, he could see the sharp-edged worry in her eyes. He prayed to God she didn’t get some crazy idea about climbing down to help. When it came to her son, she was as protective—and courageous—as a lioness. He admired her strength, her tenacity—and tried not to think about all the other things he admired her for.
Raising his hand he waved to let her know everything was all right. She waved back.