“You’ve done a good job. The place looks great.”
“Thanks. We had a great team help us.”
“You must have.”
When the tower came into view ahead, Toby whistled. “She’s tall. Should I be scared?”
“Depends, are you scared of heights?”
“I didn’t think I was, but then, I’ve never climbed a tower like that and zip-lined off it before. But I’m trying to step outside my comfort zone.”
“You’ll definitely do that here.”
Noah stopped in front of the tower and turned, then waited for the last of the group to arrive before he began.
“Welcome, everyone. I’m Noah Hayes, and I’ll be your instructor. One of my guys will be waiting for you at the other end of the zipline. Before we get up there, I’m going to go through a few procedures and safety instructions.”
He gestured to the gear he’d prepared earlier. “Everyone will be fitted with a harness.”
He spent ten minutes going through the equipment and safety instructions before handing out lanyards for the belay cable. “Before climbing, we attach our lanyards to the belay cable so that we’re secured.”
He noticed one of the older women look up to the platform a few times, and each time, her skin paled a bit further. He made a mental note to keep an eye on her.
When the group was getting ready, he stepped over to her. “Hey, Cindy, right?”
She nodded quickly.
“Are you okay?”
She swung her gaze from the platform back to him. “Yes.”
Scared of heights. She didn’t need to say it for him to know. “You can stop or pull out at any time.”
“No. I want to do this. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded, not sure if she would be, but if she wanted to give it a try that was her choice.
Noah checked that each lanyard was clipped correctly to the belay cable before climbing the vertical ladder. He liked to go up first so he could help them up onto the platform from the top.
“Make sure you keep in contact with the ladder at all times,” he called behind him.
When he was on the platform, he turned and looked down. One by one, everyone headed up and he helped them in their final steps of the climb.
Cindy was last, and she was slow.
“You’re doing well, Cindy,” he called, once everyone else was up. “Slow and steady.”
Suddenly, one foot slipped, and she screamed and grabbed the ladder in a bear hug.
“Hey, Cindy,” he called. “You’re safe. You’re connected to the cable. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I-I can’t move,” she gasped, her words barely reaching him.
“You’re doing great. Take as long as you need.”
“No. I don’t want to be here! I need help. I-I can’t stop shaking.”
Shit. He’d lifted his radio to call Rhett to come and help her down, when Toby lowered beside him. “Mind if I try?”
