Chapter 8
Eight
MAYA FOLLOWED THEM out of the basement to wind their way through the restaurant, then out into the cold. Snow had started falling again, and Maya suppressed a groan. Snow was the last thing they needed. It would just cause them to have to do more digging.
They climbed into the resort Jeep with four-wheel drive, and Lila transported them to the entrance. Maya got her first up close look at the damage and swallowed a gasp. She had been so involved in helping with the medical clinic that she had left the digging to others. But to see it now . . .
The snow and ice were still piled high, and Maya had to say she agreed with Gideon. Trying to dig out was a hopeless task. At least out any time soon. It was going to take a long time at that rate.
And yet, men and women persevered with tools and gloved hands.
Tractors and their operators were doing their best to move the snow and ice, but it was so packed they needed people with shovels, rakes, and other tools to separate it before they could move it.
“Have they made any progress at all?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Lila said, “believe it or not. They’ve actually made a good dent in it. But even going at the rate they are, it’ll be another couple of days before it’s open. At least that’s my guess.”
She frowned. “I don’t think Mr. Webb has another couple of days, Gideon.”
“I know.”
Ben was working alongside several other men and looked up at their approach. He waved and joined them. “Here to pitch in?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Lila said. “Do you know who Grant Paulson is?”
“The resort manager? Sure, he and I were fraternity buddies. He’s over there.”
Maya spotted him and then saw Vance working as well.
“I’m going to ask Vance about Ellie while you talk to Grant,” she told Lila and Gideon.
She made her way over to Vance, conscious of Lila’s gaze following her.
The woman took her protector status seriously.
Maya could honestly say she appreciated it.
She reached Vance’s side. “Hey,” she said, “how’s Ellie?”
He jammed his shovel into the snow and leaned on it, breathing hard.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the hem of his sweatshirt.
“She’s all right. Feeling a bit better after the meds, thanks.
Told me to get out here and do my part to dig us out.
She really wants to leave.” He shrugged.
“Either that or she’s just tired of my hovering. ”
She offered him a sympathetic smile. “I understand.”
A chopper sounded in the distance, and they all froze as one. Then cheers went up. Tools dropped to the ground, and everyone waited until the helicopter was right overhead to start waving and yelling.
“An army bird,” Gideon said, stepping up next to her. “Praise God.”
“Yeah,” Vance said, “our time being trapped is now much shorter. They’ll get us out of here soon.
” He let his shovel join the others on the ground.
“I’m done with this. Someone must have pulled some strings to see why they couldn’t get ahold of a loved one, and I could kiss whoever that important person is. ” He whooped and waved.
The chopper hovered high enough that the wind from the blades was cold, but not overpowering. A line with a large box attached dropped from the open door, and Grant Paulson hurried toward it. He guided it to the ground and opened it. Pulled out an item. “A satellite phone!”
More cheers. The chopper pulled away, the decibels lowering significantly, and the phone rang. Grant answered. “Boy, are we glad to see you guys.”
Maya hurried to his side. “Tell them we have a cardiac patient who needs to be airlifted to the nearest hospital ASAP.”
He passed on the message. Listened for a moment, then nodded. “They’ll have a team here ASAP.”
Renewed hope was a wonderful thing. “Please tell me there are medical supplies in that box,” Maya said.
He asked and received confirmation, then said, “Basic supplies. First aid kit, splints, tourniquets, pressure bandages, thermal blankets, and some oxygen supplies.” He paused. “Over-the-counter pain relievers, insulin, inhalers, and some heart meds.”
“Excellent. Heart meds.” She could only pray they were the right ones. “If someone can get this down to the clinic, I’ll help get it sorted.” Gideon and Vance stood there listening and she smiled. “We won’t need the tunnels after all.”
“Tunnels?” Vance asked.
“Long story, buddy,” Gideon said. “You grab one end of the box and I’ll get the other. We’ll walk Maya over to the tent and let her get started with all of this and then I’ll explain.”
“Sure.” Vance snagged his end and Gideon grabbed his.
With the box between them, they started walking. Maya broke into a light jog with Lila next to her. She heard Grant’s voice behind them. “Go enjoy the rest of the time with your families. We’ll be out of here soon!”
Another cheer went up, and Maya looked back to see the workers dispersing.
Inside the medical clinic, it didn’t take long to get the medical supplies sorted, and Maya gave Mr. Webb one of the meds she’d requested.
She patted him on the shoulder, his pale face and shallow breathing a concern.
“Glad to see you’re back with us. You’re headed to the hospital as soon as we can get you there.
The next helicopter you hear will be your ride. ”
“I can’t thank you and Dr. Del and the others enough for all you’ve done for me.”
“You’re very welcome. Just take care of yourself.”
They left, and Maya yawned. Gideon smiled. “I think you need an early night.”
“I’m all right. Dinner and a movie sound good, though.
You up for some Pride and Prejudice? I might have brought the DVD with me, and there’s a DVD player in the room.
” At his raised brow, she shrugged. “Call me old fashioned.” He grimaced and she laughed.
“Come on, you know you secretly love that movie.”
“I can assure you that while I might like it, I do not secretly love it.”
“You watched it with me several times when we were younger.”
His features softened. “And, trust me, you’re the only person I’ll ever watch it with.”
Okay, she might have just fallen all the way in love with him at that very moment. Hoping to keep her feelings hidden, she linked her arm through his, then studied his face. Mirth now danced in his eyes. “Wait a minute. What?”
He raised a brow. “What?”
“Oh no. You’re not innocent. What are you thinking?”
“Have you ever actually made it to the end of that movie when you’ve watched it at night?”
She blinked. Had she? Saturday or Sunday afternoons? Yes. Nights? “Um . . .”
“Exactly. I won’t have to watch much.”
Gideon would have watched the whole movie if that’s what she wanted, but like he figured, she’d dozed off about an hour into it. This was a different version than the one they’d grown up with and he liked it. A lot. Not that he’d tell her that.
Or maybe one day he’d come clean. Assuming they were still hanging out in the future.
They’d gotten a later start on the movie as they’d waited around until she could help get Mr. Webb into the chopper.
Thankfully, a cardiologist had volunteered to do a ride-along, and they could all breathe a little easier knowing Mr. Webb was in good hands and on his way to the nearest hospital with an expert at his side.
She’d fallen asleep with her feet on the coffee table, her head tilted toward him.
She’d attempted to stay awake, but he finally pulled her to him to rest her head on his shoulder.
At that point, she’d given in and fallen into slumber.
The blanket she’d pulled from the back of the couch was tucked under her chin, and he decided she fit just right snuggled up under his arm.
He grimaced. The arm that had been in one position too long.
He hated to move, but the cramp had him shifting, pulling her closer to settle her more comfortably for them both.
Holding her was like nothing he’d ever experienced before, and it was something he could certainly get used to.
The peaceful look on her face had him vowing to stay put as long as she needed him to—in spite of the fact that his arm was once again going to sleep.
Minutes ticked past and he found himself drifting off.
He forced his eyes open. He couldn’t afford to sleep while someone was after her.
Thankfully, it was only a few minutes before Maya stirred and rubbed her eyes, then looked at the television and laughed. “Okay, you were right.”
“Yep. I had no doubts.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Modest too.”
He found himself contemplating kissing her. Her lips were turned up at just the perfect angle. All he had to do was—
A knock on the door startled him, and he pulled his arm from around her, gasping when the blood started flowing again.
“Your arm was asleep, wasn’t it?”
“Just a little. It was worth it.” He winked and her eyes widened, a flush creeping up from the base of her neck and into her cheeks. The feeling was back in his arm. It was the feeling in his heart that he’d have to figure out what he was going to do with. He made his way to the door. “Who is it?”
“Lila.”
He opened the door. “Hey.”
“Just wanted to let you know that someone else is taking a shift watching out for Maya tonight.” She pointed. “He’s parked right there and will be there for four hours, then another officer will take his place.”
“Okay, thanks for everything. You’ve been great.”
“It’s been fun. In a weird sort of way.” Her eyes widened. “Not that I would wish someone threatening Maya’s life, of course. Just that the change of pace was, um . . . nice . . . and okay, I’m done now since my words aren’t cooperating.”
He laughed. “I knew what you meant.”
“Thank goodness.”
He rubbed his chin. “Do you think I should stay here with her?”