Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Rain had turned the hiking path into an accident waiting to happen, and it didn’t take long to strike.
The rivulet of mud flowing down the narrow and steep forest trail suddenly expanded, washing their path from beneath them.
Grey leaped to the side just in time while managing to hold onto his end of the stretcher, but Lachlan’s feet came out from under him.
His brother hit the ground hard and slid a couple feet before shoving a boot out to catch himself on the edge of a rock, the weight of the patient’s head and upper body falling on him.
Rain continued to pummel them, a stiff wind through the towering evergreens pushing the drops sideways into their faces as Lachlan grunted and got to one knee, seemed to struggle a bit to gain his balance and lift the stretcher.
The man they’d rescued groaned and moved a little in the cocoon of blankets they’d wrapped him in but didn’t say anything.
Grey crouched down, adjusted the angle of the stretcher and eyed his brother, who was now covered in dark mud. “You good?”
Lachlan set his jaw, adjusted his grip on the handles, and pushed to his feet. “Yep.”
He’d tweaked his back. Grey could tell by looking at him. But he didn’t say anything because it would be pointless.
They were both stubborn as hell, trained to take constant physical punishment and keep going. Whatever it took to save a life and get the person in distress to safety. Lachlan would carry his half of the litter down this mountain or die trying.
A little ahead of them down the trail, Emma paused, the beam of her headlamp shining on them while Chris took up the rear a short distance behind Lachlan. “Okay?” she called out.
“All good,” Grey answered, and resumed picking his way down the hill on a more stable path next to the mudslide.
It had taken them more than an hour to hike up to the rescue site in the dark.
Why this guy had decided a night hike up here alone in the middle of nowhere during a rainstorm at the end of October was a good idea, Grey didn’t know.
He was lucky he’d had enough reception on his phone to call for help, that he’d only suffered a bad ankle sprain, and hadn’t been hypothermic without proper gear by the time they’d reached him.
The wind eased a bit as they descended. It took ten minutes longer to hike down with the victim than it had climbing up to get him.
By the time they reached the parking lot where an ambulance waited, Lachlan’s face was tight with strain.
Grey gave the medics the intel on the patient as they handed the stretcher and its occupant over.
Lachlan set his end of the litter down with a deep sigh of relief, rolling his shoulders and head.
“How bad is it?” Grey asked him as they headed toward the far end of the lot where he’d left his truck.
“It’s nothing.”
Sure. Okay.
A slender figure jogged toward them through the glare of the ambulance’s headlights. “You guys okay?”
Grey stopped in surprise, squinting through the rain. “Naya? What are you doing out here?”
“I heard about the callout, knew you guys were shorthanded, so I thought I’d come up and see if you needed any more help.” She stopped a few feet away, looking between him and Lachlan. Long inky curls escaped the bottom of her hood, rain dripping from the ends.
“We’re all good here, patient’s stable and with the medics. I didn’t know you’d joined SAR.”
“I haven’t officially. I’m just volunteering for now. I brought hot decaf coffee, tea, and sandwiches if you’re interested.”
He was incredibly interested. In a lot more than the food she’d brought. But he’d humiliated himself enough years ago where she was concerned, so he’d keep those feelings that for some fucked up reason refused to die locked down tight. “That sounds good. Lach?”
“Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks, Naya.”
A smile lit up her face. “No problem. Right this way.” She led them to her SUV and opened the back. “Both coffees, right? In terms of sammies, chicken salad for Lachlan, and turkey with cheese and cranberry for you, Grey.”
It was the first time in forever she’d said his name. It was embarrassing how much hearing it affected him. “You remembered.”
“Of course. Here.” She handed him his sandwich and poured them both coffees. “So, looks like it was a rough hike in and out of there,” she said as she gave Lachlan his sandwich.
“Bit of a mudslide,” his brother answered, taking a sip of his coffee. “Oh, man, that hits the spot.”
“I’m glad. Hey, Emma, Chris. You guys want a sandwich and something hot to drink? It’s decaf,” she called out.
“I could kiss you, Naya,” Emma, Naya’s friend said as she strode over.
“I am going to kiss you,” Chris warned, and planted a big, smacking kiss on her cheek when he reached her.
Grey smothered the hot, irrational spike of annoyance at seeing him kissing Naya. Chris was happily married with two kids, and Grey sure as hell had no claim on her. Never had, never would.
Naya grinned again, the flash of her teeth bright against her dusky brown skin. “Aww, thanks. I miss those.”
Did he detect a trace of bitterness in her voice? Becoming a widow couldn’t be easy.
“Nah, I bet you get those from the kids all the time,” Chris said, digging into his sandwich.
Naya’s smile faded. “They used to. Haven’t seen them since the funeral.”
Chris stopped chewing. “What?”
“Their mom took them back to the mainland to live with her full time.”
Oh, shit, for real? Grey hadn’t known that. He’d thought they were just visiting there and assumed they would return to live with Naya and go back to school.
“Is it…permanent?” Chris asked in concern.
“Think so.” She forced a brittle smile, drawing on an inner reserve of strength to cover her pain.
Grey had to believe it was almost empty.
Everybody knew how much she loved those kids.
It was beyond cruel that she would lose Charlie, and then his kids too.
“Anyway, who wants something sweet? I’ve got fruit Danishes and those little powdered sugar donuts too. ”
Everyone took some and had another cup of coffee before heading out. Grey hung back a moment.
“Thanks again,” he said to her, trying not to stare as he drank her in. He’d had no idea she’d been all alone since the funeral. Hated how lonely and isolated she must feel.
“You’re so welcome. You all do so much for our community, it’s the least I can do. Oh, by the way, Rachel said I should talk to you about the training schedule. I need to pretty much start from scratch with everything, but I’ll start with whatever you think is best.”
The universe had a twisted sense of humor.
Spending time with her was something he’d dreamed about for years.
Getting the chance now was a bittersweet, double-edged sword.
“Sure, I’ll let you know the dates and what’s being covered in each course.
It’s great that you’re joining us, by the way.
Your medical background will be a huge asset. ”
“Well. We’ll see how I do with the training. Might just end up being an on-call volunteer.”
“No, I mean it.”
“You’ve already got Emma, the best charge nurse this island’s ever seen.”
“You’re a doctor,” he said.
She gave him a wry smile. “I don’t think my diagnostic radiology expertise is gonna be much help to you in the field.” She looked away. “Let me know about the courses. Drive safe.”
“You too.” He walked to his truck, consciously releasing the tension in his muscles that seeing her always caused. When he climbed into the cab, Lachlan was shifting around in his seat as if he couldn’t get comfortable. “Want some ibuprofen?”
“Yeah, I’ll take a couple.”
His immediate acceptance of meds said it all.
Grey took a bottle out of the center console and handed him two extra strength tablets. “You need to get checked out?”
Lachlan took a swig from his water bottle to wash down the pills. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll just soak in the hot tub a while when I get home.”
He nodded and started the engine, watching through the rain as Naya’s vehicle turned onto the road and started for town. Back to her empty house, all alone. Fuck. “Anything from Maddy?”
“It’s late. She’s gonna stay the night at Blaine’s.” He sounded fine with it.
Grey eased his truck onto the road, the red glow of Chris’s taillights visible ahead through the gloom. “Things are going good between you?”
“Yeah. Last night she even told me what happened to her in Syria.”
“Did she?” Sounded big.
“It’s fucked up. Some guy she worked with over there made it seem like he was into her, then sold her out to the enemy and had her captured. They waterboarded her to get her to talk.”