“You know what I mean.” Rico bumped his shoulder and pushed past him. “How about we head back and finish the Park Loop Road?”
About to follow him, Theo decided to call out first. “Hello? Anyone here?”
Some rocks skittered nearby, and a noise that sounded like a cough echoed through the mist.
“Seriously?” Theo muttered, easing between the railings that were there to keep people safe. So many simply ignored them. It was lethal on a day like today.
“Hello? It’s not safe on the rocks today, so I suggest you come back here.”
No answer. Then, he heard it again. A slight cough and the sound of rocks being kicked around. The spray from the incoming waves soaked through Theo’s coat as he stepped toward the noise. The rocks in this area were super slippery, and his boots slid as he made his way carefully over them. One wrong step and he could go over the side.
“If someone is there, can you call out? Make a sound. Do you need assistance?”
The wind kicked up and buffeted him as another wave crashed nearby, the spray icy cold on his already chilled body. Time to head back to the vehicle. Before he could take another step, he felt something nearby. Next thing he knew, his foot had slipped over the edge, and he felt himself falling.
Throwing his arms out, he managed to catch the edge of a rock. His body slammed into the side of the rockface, and he hung on. Was there something below to drop down onto? Crap, he couldn’t tell. Reaching with his other hand, he gripped the ledge and attempted to pull himself up. Another wave crashed into his back, and the wind took that moment to blast him. It took all his strength to keep from falling further down. If only he could see through the flippin’ fog. There might be some footholds nearby he could use.
“Rico!” Had his friend already gotten into the nice, warm truck? There was no way Theo could even try to reach his radio. If he let go with one hand, he’d surely drop. Forcing his boots against the rock, he tried to find something to propel him up. The granite was too smooth.
The spray from the incoming tide buffeted his back, and the cold leached into every cell in his body. His frozen hands grew weaker, and he shouted again.
“Theo?”
Thank God. The voice was fairly close.
“Over here! Hurry. I slipped over the edge. Not sure I can hang on much longer.”
Footsteps approached, and Theo kept talking, directing the other ranger to his position.
“What the heck, man?” Rico’s gloved hand covered his as it began to give up. “I’ve got you.”
Together, they managed to heft Theo up the rocks and onto solid ground. His legs, his whole body, shook. The cold had permeated every pore and cell.
“Let’s get you back to the truck.”
Theo allowed himself to be helped back, though once he got his legs moving, they seemed to work okay. He was merely cold. As he huddled in the passenger seat, Rico climbed in and blasted the heat.
“What the heck happened? You were right behind me, then suddenly nothing.”
“I heard something. I couldn’t tell if it was a person, but it came from near the rocks. It sounded like a cough. I went to investigate. Called out a few times. No one answered.”
“How’d you end up going over the edge? The fog get you turned around?”
“No. I can’t be sure. Maybe I’m paranoid, but there must have been someone there.”
“After the other things you told me about, I might be kind of paranoid, too. You think someone what? Pushed you?”
Theo shrugged. “The waves were crashing pretty close and the wind had kicked up, so I honestly couldn’t say. But as one of the waves broke, I thought I felt something push against my injured leg. It gave way, and when I tried to correct, my other foot slipped over the edge of the rocks.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t crack your skull open.” Rico’s eyes were intense and concerned. “Are you hurt anywhere? Should we go to the ER?”
Taking inventory, Theo cataloged his aches. Bruises, for sure, but aside from the deep chill, he felt okay. Meanwhile, fear crept along his spine, sinking into his bones.
“I’m freezing and wet. Nothing a good hot shower won’t fix.”
Shifting the truck into gear, Rico pulled onto the road. Once the air in the vehicle had warmed up, he shucked his jacket and shirt and grabbed his bag behind the seat to throw on an old sweatshirt. It was all he had since he hadn’t replaced his extra clothes after his last injury.
“Maybe Chelsea can help warm you up,” Rico said, his tone mischievous.
