Tony gave him a solid pat on the chest. “I can do more than dish up hot wings, and you’ve had more than enough heroics for one day. Let me take over.”
“Gladly,” Nick said and let Tony use the rope attached to him to bring them closer to the rescue boat.
“In you go,” Tony said.
Nick grabbed onto the lip of the gunwale. Hands were instantly there. They took him by the wrists, helping him drag himself out of the floodwaters.
Nick collapsed on deck, relieved to find Sassy already there beside him. He fought for air and rolled toward her, sweeping the hair from her face. “Still with me?” he asked faintly.
“Mmm-hmm,” she managed. She shivered violently and turned her face into his throat, burrowing into him for warmth.
He held her close, realizing that head-to-toe shivers had taken him over as well. He ran his hands over her for friction and heat as the river tossed the boat and the captain fought the waves.
Blankets were thrown over them. “This’ll keep you warm till we get you two to the hospital.”
“T-Tony?” Sassy said, squinting for the person behind the voice.
“Surprised, Colton?” he asked, tucking the blankets in around her for good measure.
“I—I think we’re ready for those h-hot wings now,” Nick quipped.
Tony laughed, patting them both on the back. His hand moved in circles, doing his best to generate heat for them. “There’ll be a wait on those, folks.”
“N…no…problem,” Sassy murmured through chattering teeth.
The searchlights cast everything around them in stark detail. Nick’s focus narrowed on Sassy until the boat bumped against the bank and they were transferred into the waiting arms of paramedics on shore.
Chapter 22
Sassy woke to bright white light and warmth she wanted to ball herself into and never leave. A protest from her raw throat prevented her from sinking back into sleep, as well as memories from the floodwaters. The inertia of dreams felt far too much like the current she’d escaped.
Her mother sat at her bedside. She straightened when Sassy blinked at her, adjusting the shawl over her shoulders. “You’re awake.”
Sassy tried clearing her throat and winced. Had she swallowed the whole river? “Where’s Nick?” Her voice sounded like someone else’s, fractured and deep.
“He’s in the room next door,” Bly noted. A partial smile slid over her lips. “I told the RN you wouldn’t be separated for long.” Just as quickly, the smile slipped away as she lifted a cup of water at the bedside and brought it to Sassy’s lips. “Oh, Haseya. What were you doing crossing the river during a storm? Haven’t you been through enough danger lately?”
Sassy swallowed the water. Strange how the thing that had nearly killed both her and Nick felt miraculous against her throat. “I didn’t think the bridge would fail. As soon as I got the word that Finbar had closed the investigation into Zephyr, I needed to see my artists on the reservation to check in, make sure they were okay after everything that happened…”
“You were worried more about their reputations than yours.” Bly shook her head. “We all nearly lost you and Nick today.”
“Did everyone make it?” Sassy asked urgently. “From the bridge? I saw some people go into the water when it happened…”
“Everyone has been accounted for,” Bly assured her. “Some are here, and it’s a miracle none of them were fatally injured, including yourself.”
“Nick said we’d make it,” Sassy said, laying her head back against the pillow, finding comfort in the starched cotton of the pillowcase. Her limbs were still so tired, she could barely lift her arms and legs. “How is he always right?”
“Shh,” Bly said, brushing her fingers through Sassy’s tangled tresses. “Rest awhile longer.”
“Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“Ayóó ánííníshní.”
Bly sighed. A kiss touched down on the top of Sassy’s head. “I love you, too. I’ll find you something to eat while you sleep.”
Something to eat.Sassy felt her lips curve even as she drifted away, following the pull of the dark back into slumber.
