Chapter Three #4
Raine referred to herself as an analyst. She claimed she was an independent contractor, but Harlow knew she worked for the government.
She just wasn’t certain in what capacity that was.
But Raine had access to information most others didn’t, and she was sent for at all times of the day and night and transported by military helicopters.
Harlow was actually a bit surprised that they had gotten away with coming out to the Twin Devils with no one finding them.
On the heels of that thought, she heard the sound of a helicopter in the distance, and her heart dropped.
It seemed too much of a coincidence for that helicopter to be in the air so close and not be searching for them.
Raine had grown in confidence as the afternoon progressed and was much higher than she had been before.
Clearly, she was intending to top out on the lower edge of the boulder.
Harlow got that uneasy feeling she often did right before disaster struck.
Raine’s leg was shaking even as she stretched out to claim a tiny ledge with her toes.
“You’ve been climbing for the better part of the afternoon, Raine; you should probably rest your leg.”
“I agree,” Raine called down even as she reached upward with one hand to curl her fingers on an outcropping just below her goal.
She stretched her upper body to full length while her legs were nearly doing the splits.
She had perfect form. That was Raine: even rusty at the sport, she was amazing.
“I’ll get to the top and feel as if I was actually successful.
” Her voice held a note of joy. Clearly, even though she had always chosen much more difficult routes, succeeding at climbing an easy route gave her the feeling of accomplishment.
The helicopter came out of the sun to rush directly toward them, distracting Harlow for a moment.
She could see the brand on the side marking it as one of the helicopters from Rainier’s security company, and her heart sank.
They were going to be in trouble. Rainier didn’t even have to lecture.
He would just give them a look and they’d be reduced to two wayward teenagers.
“Snake!” Raine suddenly called out, her usually calm voice carrying a slight note of shock. Maybe even panic.
Harlow looked up to see Raine jerk her right arm high, throwing herself backward away from the outcropping.
She caught a brief glimpse of the striking head of a rattlesnake as it retracted.
Raine was already falling, her body hurtling toward the ground.
She had moved around the rock as she climbed and her crash pad hadn’t moved with her.
Harlow’s heart nearly stopped and then went into overtime as she raced to try to break Raine’s fall.
She knew it was too late, but she tried anyway.
Raine hit hard, unable to get herself in a good position for a fall.
Harlow heard her low cry as her bad leg took the impact, crumpling like a broken twig. She swore she even heard bones break.
Raine let out another low cry and reached for her calf, and then abruptly pulled her arm to her chest. That was a very bad sign. Her leg had to be hurting like hell, but she was cradling her arm.
Harlow dropped down to her knees beside her. “Let me see. Did the snake bite you?” She caught Raine’s forearm and lowered it so the telltale twin punctures were below Raine’s heart. Blood oozed from the wound.
“I was already pulling away when it struck,” Raine said. “I don’t think it managed to inject that much venom into me.”
The helicopter set down a distance from them and three men leapt out, already running once they hit the ground.
Harlow was suddenly grateful they’d been tracked down.
Already, Raine was showing signs that the rattlesnake had scored.
That or the pain in her leg was excruciating. Either way, they needed help fast.
Harlow couldn’t help but think of the terrible way Lawyer had died. Infectious disease? Or venom? Surely, they would have known had he been bitten by a rattlesnake. He was a climber, and the rattlesnakes were coming out of their dens hungry. Active. Sunning themselves on rocks.
Rush got to them first. Harlow knew he was a good doctor, an excellent surgeon. He’d helped save Raine’s leg when the bones had been shattered by a bullet. He crouched down beside Raine, one hand sweeping back her hair so he could look at her face, the other moving lightly over her leg.
“A rattlesnake bit her,” Harlow reported. “That’s why she came off the rock.”
“I don’t think it injected a full measure of venom into me. I threw myself backward just as it was striking.”
Rush caught Raine’s arm to inspect the damage, even as his other hand continued to move over her leg. “The bone is broken, taku taonga.”
Harlow knew that meant Treasure. Rush referred to Raine as Treasure almost more than he called her Raine.
Raine swallowed hard, her gaze clinging to Rush’s. “Maybe not.”
“Let’s get moving,” Rush snapped over his shoulder. “Harlow, get to the helicopter.” Even as he issued the order, he gently lifted Raine into his arms. She clung to his neck with one arm, but when she went to lift her right one, he shook his head. “Keep it below your heart.”
“It’s bleeding all over your clothes.”
“That’s a good thing. We want it to bleed.” He was already moving, his footfalls smooth despite the uneven ground.
“I should drive her Jeep back. We can’t leave it here. And my cameras and…” Harlow broke off when Rainier dropped a hand on her shoulder, all but turning her toward the helicopter.
“You’re needed. Zyair will drive it back. Keys are in it, right?”
Rainier called to the dogs and indicated the Jeep. Both raced to the vehicle, where Zyair crated them.
Harlow jogged after Rainier. The last thing she wanted to do was hold up treatment for Raine, so she wasn’t about to protest.