“Now who sounds like a commander?”
She scowled. As a leader, she’d failed miserably. “I’m no commander.”
“That may be, but you’re right.” He walked past her and scraped his fingers across the wood above his head. Slivers fell to the ground. “We didn’t find enough timbers to brace a small tunnel, but there were enough to build a brace under this.”
“Exactly.” She examined the timber against the wall. “This is the last brace in the gravel before it turns to hard stone. Then we can pull back the cave-in dirt, covering the rails until we break through.” Hope sang through her blood. They could do this.And how many times had you thought that before and were wrong?She ignored her inner voice. This was different. This was a mine and she had help.
She looked at Garrett who gave her a grin. “We have a new plan.”
She nodded. “We do.” As confidence filled her, she ignored the doubt that tried to creep in. They had a plan and this time they’d be successful.
~~*~~
Garrett sat down next to Riley against the cave wall that had become what he thought of as the staging area. He’d thought he was in shape after all the physical therapy he’d gone through, but obviously he wasn’t near his old strength. Maybe Cole’s idea of a weight gym in his station wasn’t such a bad idea.
Then again, if he’d done as much work on his new old house as he’d intended in the spring, he’d be in better shape. But he’d felt restless ever since returning to the area. It was as if he had no idea what to do with the rest of his life. His goal had always been to be a Hot Shot. Once he’d achieved that, he’d thought he’d retire as one, but fate wasn’t as kind to him as she’d been to his father.
“I’m wiped.”
Riley’s voice coming out of the blackness made him chuckle. “Glad I’m not the only one.” Actually, he was relieved that he’d been able to keep up with her. She had obviously not lost any of her strength from being in the Army. She’d worked alongside him as they pulled the earth away from the pile and back into the mine, telling him about her work training Afghan soldiers overseas. She still hadn’t told him about her last underground experience, but since she’d stayed with him in the present, he didn’t push it, but he would need to know.
They’d made good progress with their new tools, but there was no sign of busting through…yet.
“It’s a good tired. It will make it easier to sleep.”
She had a point there. Though rail ties and rock would make for a difficult night’s sleep.
As if she’d read his thoughts, she spoke. “I just need a few minutes rest, then we should make our beds.”
“Make our beds? I noticed a number of items in that transfer spot down there, but a mattress was not one of them.”
“No, but we have—ack! Copper, stop. Who woke you up? I’m going to change your name to Slobber if you don’t stop licking me.”
He grinned then reached over and pulled the dog off her. “Come on, boy. Settle down. You’ll need to rest so you can help us again tomorrow.”
A snort sounded in the darkness. “The biggest hole he dug was the one he took a nap in.”
That was true. At first, Copper had positioned himself between them and started digging with his paws, but it wasn’t long before he’d left them to dig somewhere else. When they’d paused long enough to recognize it was silent, he’d turned his phone light on briefly to find the dog laying in a hole he dug far away from them. Copper looked at them very proud of his accomplishment. He felt he should come to dog’s defense. “Well, heisa small dog. And you can’t really blame him for giving you kisses. You did save him as far as he’s concerned.” Heck, he would enjoy kissing her, too. Now where did that come from? That was a path he needed to avoid at all costs.
“I have a feeling he gives anyone he sees kisses.”
She sounded disgruntled. One minute she didn’t want to name the dog because he wasn’t hers and the next, she sounded put out that he might like everyone equally. “No, it’s just you. I’m holding him right now, and he hasn’t tried to lick me.”
“Humph.”
Though it was said in disbelief, he could tell that she was pleased. Wow, sitting in the dark certainly enhanced other senses. He’d always known that in smoky areas, but even then, there was some visual context. “You were saying we have beds?”
“Right. Not beds exactly, but good material for them. In Afghanistan, we would swear at the sand, especially the sandstorms, but there were a couple occasions when I was glad for it. It acts like those mattresses that are touted on commercials. It conforms to your body.
He’d never thought of sand like that, but it made sense. That was the theory behind the old seventy’s beanbag chairs that his great uncle used to have. “We don’t have sand.”
“No, but the gravel from the blocked tunnel is a hell of a lot softer than this rock. I’m going to bring some of it over here and build it up between the rail and the side wall. You may want to do the same on the other side. Then I’ll use my bandana to cover my ‘pillow’.”
She was right. There was bound to be stones in it, but it would be better than sleeping on the rail ties. “That could work.”
“I know it can. I just need a mint first. Are you ready for one?”
His mouth felt dry just at the idea of it. “Yes.” While she dug into her back pocket, he contemplated his bed. Though she had a good idea of filling in between the rail and the wall, he needed a bit more room than that. He’d fill in between the two rails. It would also put him in close proximity if she slipped into the past again.
