Chapter 11 #2
“Jesus Christ!” His head whipped back and forth as he scanned the massive structure. The spokes and supports connected in a way that would let him climb it.
Jumping over another divider, he reached up and grabbed the nearest beam, hauling himself onto the framework.
Reaching overhead, he grabbed the next one, ignoring the panicked crowd below and the crying children, still safe in their locked but rocking seats.
His attention remained on the two screaming boys holding on for dear life sixty feet in the air.
“Matthew! Toby! Don’t move! I’m coming up!”
“Adam! I’m right behind you!”
Chris was a few feet below him on the other side of the structure, climbing as quickly as he could to get to his son.
An unknown male voice shouted from below. “Just secure them! The fire department is bringing the bucket!”
The aerial bucket truck would be the easiest way to get them down, but first, Adam and Chris had to reach the boys and keep them from falling. It was doubtful either child would survive a drop from that height, and Adam prayed as he’d never prayed before.
Hand over hand, the two men scaled the structure. Adam blocked out everything but the next beam he needed to grab and the two boys swinging precariously above him. The damaged seat squeaked as it hung from one side. The terror in their eyes kicked him in the gut.
Dear God, please don’t let us fail.
The roar of the fire engine came to a stop far below them, followed by the loud swoosh of its air brakes.
Adam was about five feet from where Toby’s sneakers swung back and forth.
From there, he could see that Matthew was more stable than his friend and had one hand wrapped around the back of the seat while the other clutched Toby’s belt, keeping him from falling.
“You’re doing good, Matthew. Just hold on. Toby, don’t move. I’m going to come up and grab you, but don’t move until I say so, okay?”
“Y-yes… h-hurry!”
Chris was now even with Adam, but he had to maneuver to the inside of the frame to reach the boys. “I’m right here, Toby. Do exactly what Adam told you to do.”
“O-okay, Dad.”
“Good boy.”
His heart pounding, Adam climbed until he was directly behind Toby, then wrapped an arm around the boy’s waist and pulled him securely against his body. Once Adam had him, Chris positioned himself behind Matthew.
“I’ve got Toby. You can let go of his belt now, Matthew. Keep holding on to the seat.”
Matthew released his friend, and Chris immediately wrapped an arm around him. The weight of both boys was now supported by the men, whose legs were long enough to reach the wheel’s spokes beneath them.
Chris glanced down. Now that they had the boys stabilized, his voice sounded more in control. The experienced volunteer firefighter in him had replaced the terrified father. “Bucket’s on its way up on your side, Adam. They’ll bring it as close to you as possible.”
Long seconds passed as the aerial arm rose toward them. When the bucket stopped behind and a little below Adam, one of the two firefighters on board opened the side gate. “If you’ve got a good grip on the boy, you can step back. You’ve got about a six-inch drop to the floor.”
With both arms tightly around Toby’s waist, Adam glanced at Matthew and Chris. “Got him?”
The other man tightened his hold. “Yeah. Just no sudden movements. Nice and slow.”
Taking a deep breath, Adam moved his right foot backward until it found the edge of the bucket.
A hand at his lower back guided him as he stepped down, bringing Toby with him.
Once they were both safely inside, Adam set the boy on his feet and watched as the two firefighters reached out and helped Matthew, then Chris, into the bucket.
One of the two volunteers spoke into his radio. “All secure. Coming down.”
The crowd below erupted into cheers as Toby threw his arms around his father, and a trembling Matthew did the same to Adam. The fire department would have to retrieve the people from the other stranded cars one by one, but compared to this part of the rescue, that would be a piece of cake.
Once the bucket reached the ground, Adam, Chris, and the boys scrambled out.
Sage and Ashley rushed to their sons, crying and hugging them as hard as they could.
Adam glanced around and saw Evan standing next to Maddie, who was holding Jenna.
Tears streamed down the little girl’s face, and he strode over to take her in his arms.
“It’s all right, Little Bird. Matthew’s safe.”
“You thave… thaved him, just like you thaved Ruby Tuethday.” Her arms went around his neck, and she buried her face against him.
As the firefighters worked quickly to get the rest of the riders off the disabled Ferris wheel, people clapped Adam and Chris on the back, commending their bravery and quick response and congratulating them on a successful rescue.
Adam set Jenna down, and she ran to hug her brother and mother. It was a tearful but happy reunion.
When Ashley finally released her son, she spun around, zeroed in on Adam, and threw her arms around him. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you. Thank you so much, Adam. I–I could have lost Toby.” She began to sob again.
He smiled and patted her back. “Shh. It’s okay, Ashley. They’re safe and unharmed.”
Pulling back, her teary, apologetic gaze met his. “I’m so sorry I judged you. It was unfair of me.” The corners of her mouth ticked up in a grin. “I’m going to make you a lasagna a week for the next six months.”
Throwing his head back, he let out a hearty chortle, grateful for the release from the gut-wrenching tension still flowing through him.
His legs shook from the adrenaline overload and didn’t seem inclined to stop anytime soon.
“Not necessary, but who am I to turn down an awesome lasagna? Make me one next week, and we’ll call it even. ”
“Deal!”
When she went back to her husband and son, Sage took her place. “Thank you, Adam.”
She wrapped her arms around him, and his response to her embrace was far different from the one he’d had to Ashley’s.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled the familiar scent of her citrus shampoo and held her close.
After everything that had just happened, having her safe in his arms and Matthew standing only a few feet away affected him more than he could put into words.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then she gave him a final squeeze before pulling away. Her cheeks were flushed, and she kept her gaze pinned to his chest. “I—I think we'd better go home. That was more than enough excitement for the day. Heck, for an entire lifetime.”
“No arguments here, but I better replace Jenna’s balloons on the way back to the car before she realizes they’re missing.”
With a shaky laugh, she hugged him again. “Sounds like a plan.”