Page 127 of Lion’s Den

“Copy. On my way.”

“Rhys here, taking over comms.”

Cam took a minute to pull Sedona to him and hold her in his arms. Gratitude filled him. He could have lost her.

Seconds later, Spencer rappelled down the cliff, stopping on the other side of Sedona. “I hear you might have a broken wrist. Is it all right if I look at it?” While he examined her wrist, the medic went through a more thorough neuro field exam.

When he finished, Spencer said, “Well, I think your boyfriend is right. We won’t know for sure until we get you to the hospital and x-ray your wrist, but I’d like to put a splint on it. Even if it’s not broken, limiting your movement will reduce the pain you’re in. Is it okay if I put a splint on your wrist?”

“Do whatever will make it hurt less.”

Spencer said into the comm device, “Neuro exam complete. No neuro deficits. Wrist injury suspected. I’m splinting her wrist before we move her.”

“Copy. Preparing haul system.”

The medic grabbed a vacuum splint from his mike bag and quickly splinted her wrist. “Does anything else hurt, Sedona? Don’t try to tough it out until we’re off this cliff. We don’t want to risk causing more injury by not stabilizing a sprain or a broken bone.”

“I’m hurting all over.” She gave a wry smile. “The tumble down the cliff was painful.”

“But no pain out of the ordinary?”

She shook her head.

“That’s good to hear.” He said into the comm system, “We’re ready for retrieval. Up or down?”

“Up,” Dario said. “Too many hazards on the way down and less distance to cover going up. Ready on your orders, sir.”

“Copy. Hold.” Cam looked at Sedona. “What do you say we get off this cliff and find a place that sells the biggest and best breakfast in this area?”

She grinned. “If that offer comes with over-the-counter pain meds, I accept. Are we counting this as a date?”

“Absolutely. I’m late to the game, so I’m definitely counting this as a date.” He tapped his comm device. “Ready.”

“Copy.”

Cam moved Sedona into a better position. “Put your arms around my neck and hold on.” When she did as he asked, Cam said, “Haul team, go.”

Dario said, “Ready, pull, reset, pull.”

Inch by inch, Cam walked up the side of the cliff as the haul team pulled them up. Finally, the edge team pulled them over the crest of the cliff to safety.

Spencer knelt beside Sedona and smiled. “You made it. I knew you would.”

“Thanks to Cam. I couldn’t have held on much longer, and the tree’s roots were pulling away from the cliff.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

Cam pulled her into his arms and accepted the Mylar blanket Spencer handed to him. He wrapped the blanket around Sedona’s back and tucked her against his chest. “Give me a minute,” he said to Spencer. Although Cam longed to stay right here with Sedona in his arms until he fully believed that she was with him again and safe, he’d settle for holding her long enough for her to stop shivering.

“Let me know when you’re ready,” the medic said.

Five minutes ticked away as Cam’s team put away their gear and settled a short distance away. Close enough to help if needed and far enough to give Cam and Sedona privacy.

He skimmed one hand along her spine, making her aware of his presence but not demanding attention. When her shivering slowed, he whispered in her ear. “I’m so proud of you. You could have panicked and made the rescue ten times harder. Instead, you were calm and logical. You thought things through, and that gave us the advantage we needed.”

Sedona tilted her head just enough to look at Cam. “What advantage? I don’t know about thinking things through, but I was terrified. It was a toss-up who would let go first, me or the tree. Thankfully, you arrived before I found out who won.”

“The advantage was you staying in control no matter how terrified you were. Because you could think, you could follow orders, and that made the rescue so much easier. So, thank you.”

She stared back at him. “People really become so afraid that they hinder rather than help their own rescue?”