“No one has fired at us since we left that clearing, Macy, so I think we're safe, but we have to do this quickly, okay?”
They moved to the small clearing as Ethan's bird arrived. She lifted a hand and waved, and it moved to hover above her. Jake's head appeared, and then the ladder.
“He doesn't want to land and be a sitting target, so we have to climb up, Macy.”
“Okay.”
She looked at the ladder swinging toward them and felt a rush of fear so strong she could taste it. Macy wasn't a big fan of heights. She could handle them inside a helicopter, but swinging about on a ladder wasn't on her bucket list.
Brad grabbed the harness Jake threw down and bundled her into it. His hands were steady and sure while hers shook along with the rest of her body.
“Okay, baby, Jake's got you now, so even if you slip, he'd pull you up.”
“Brad—” Panic made her limbs go weak.
“You got this, Macy. Remember, you're strong now.”
She looked into his blue eyes. He really believed she was strong, and that gave her the courage to climb.
The ladder swayed, even though Brad held one end and Jake the line she was attached to.
“Keep going, you're nearly there!”
She kept moving, one foot, one hand, until she felt Jake's hand around her wrist. The relief was indescribable.
“Hey there, sweet cheeks.”
She fell into his arms for a brief hug then hurried into the front seat after Jake released her harness and threw it back down.
“He's already started climbing.”
“Fuck” was Ethan's response to Jake's words. “I’m killing him when I know he’s safe.”
Macy only saw Brad as the ladder swung out. Unlike her, he was quick, even though the ladder moved.
“Is he close? Get him in, Jake.”
“Settle, Tex, he's nearly here.”
Macy's heart was literally in her mouth as she watched Brad grab Jake's hand, and then he was inside.
“You could have fallen, fuck, Brad, it would only have taken minutes to secure the harness!”
Ethan's words were hoarse with fear.
“N-no time, we need to get out of here in case whoever shot at us decides to have another go.”
He was breathing hard like her, and Macy thought, now that she could compose a rational one, that her arms felt as if they'd been wrenched from their sockets.
Ethan let loose with a string of curses, and they let him. He'd had to leave them, the brother he loved and her, the friend he loved, to drop off Buster and Willow.
“You okay?”
Macy nodded to Brad.
“You did awesome.”
She felt warm all over, and smiled. They were safe, and she could allow herself to relax. In fact, she felt the ridiculous urge to giggle.
