Julian noted the minute Petula became aware of the danger, too.
One minute she was backing up slowly, and the next she’d floored the gas, but Julian cursed again. She wasn’t going to make it.
Petula must have seen the futility of continuing, because she stopped her backward trajectory, stuck her head out the window of her van, and looked directly at him.
Even from a distance, Julian could see the fear in her face. Regret, too. But for what? Did she seriously think she was going to die?
Not on his watch.
Julian cupped his hands around his mouth. “Jump, Petula. Jump,” he yelled.
If she were at least clear of the van, she might go under, but Julian would find her. He was an incredibly strong swimmer, and like his brother Buck, he could hold his breath for an extraordinary amount of time.
Petula looked at him and shook her head.
Clearly, she couldn’t do it, and…
Julian gasped in a breath.
Oh, my God.No!
“Stay in the vehicle!” he amended frantically. “Stay there.”
In his gut-wrenching need to see her away from the van, Julian hadn’t understood that his initial order had been dangerously incorrect. If she jumped, she surely would be hit with one of the many trees that were speeding downhill in the deluge.
She looked puzzled at his change of heart, but nodded, for which Julian was thankful.
It was only because of her fears that she hadn’t listened. But where did it leave them, now?
He couldn’t get any closer to her withoutalsobeing in the path of the churning waters.
All he could do was stand and watch.
His heart was in his throat as the crest of the flood reached her vehicle. The surge picked up the van like a child’s toy, tossed it several feet into the air, then swept it askance toward the reservoir.
Julian’s feet rooted to the spot in horror.
He had to act. He had to…
…get his ass in gear.
Spinning in place, he ran full-tilt back to the truck, already pulling his phone from his pocket to call his brothers.
Spence picked up on the first ring.
“Jules. What’s?—?”
“No time, Spence,” he gasped. “Petula’s in trouble. There was a dam break or something on the land north of us.” He rattled off the address. “She’s still in the van, and it’s been caught up in the current, headed for a reservoir. I’m stripping down now to go get her.”
His shaking fingers lowered the zipper of his jacket and he tossed it aside. That was followed quickly by his shirt before he began working on his jeans.
“Wait,” Spence called out. “Don’t go unprotected. I have gear in the back of my truck, Jules. Suit up. That water will be damned cold, and you’ll be no good to her if you pass out from hypothermia. All I have is a wet suit, though. Not ideal for the frigid water, but it’ll keep you from becoming an ice cube, and it will only take an extra few minutes to get it on.”
Spence continued. “Petula will be damned cold too, by the time you get her out, but there’s nothing you can do about that except move as quickly as possible. Get her back to shore and put her into the hands of medical personnel, ASAP. I’m calling EMS right now. We’re fifteen minutes out. Don’t die.”
“I’m not planning on it,” Julian clipped.
He hung up.
