Just as she got a little lost in those bright green eyes, they heard a boom from off in the distance.
“Already?” she said, looking skyward. “This better not be Grayson thinking he’s seen Bigfoot.”
“What was that?” Logan asked.
“Someone’s flare.” She pointed up to the remnants of what was essentially a huge firework. “Can you run and carry berries at the same time?”
“I’ll try. How do you know where it came from?”
“I don’t for sure, but I can get us close. Let’s go.”
She slipped on her backpack and set off at a fast clip. From the general location of the flare, she had a bad feeling about what had happened. Logan’s steady breathing behind her let her know he was keeping up.
They arrived at the drop-off within five minutes. Grayson stood alone, a terrified expression on his face, the gun dangling from his fingertips.
“Where’s Joseph?” Tess asked, even though she had a pretty good idea.
Grayson pointed over the cliff.
“Damn it,” she muttered, walking to the edge and looking down. “Joseph? Can you hear me? Are you okay?”
“No! Compound fracture of my right leg,” the doctor cried. “I’ve tried to stop the bleeding with my sweatshirt, but I’m going to need a hospital ASAP.” At least he sounded reasonably calm. Probably used to pressure situations.
Tess turned to Grayson. “What happened?”
“We were picking up sticks, and a gigantic snake slithered out from one. I froze, just like you told us, but Joseph took off running.”
“Right off the cliff.” Tess sighed.
Grayson nodded. “I warned him to stop, but it was too late.”
“Okay.” Tess switched into emergency mode. “You two run back to camp and get the climbing bag, more rope, the big first aid kit, and the SAT phone. Actually, bring Ashton and Carter with you. I’m gonna need you guys to help pull him up.”
Logan and Grayson stared blankly, and she could tell they had no idea which direction to go.
“That way.” She pointed. “About a football field. Hurry!”
They turned and ran off. She took the rope from her pack and tied it around the nearest tree. Then, using what was left, jerry-rigged a harness for herself. She hooked the small first aid kit from her backpack to a belt loop, tested the knots, and walked to the cliff’s edge. Just as she was about to head over, the cavalry arrived.
“That was fast,” Tess said. “But perfect timing. Give me that.” She got into the climbing bag and grabbed more rope, a climbing harness, and two pairs of gloves. Then she swapped out the tiny first aid kit on her belt for the bigger one.
“You’re going down after him?” Logan asked.
Tess gave a brisk nod, pulled on the gloves, and stepped backward over the side.
“Holy crap,” Ashton muttered.
“Damn, she’s bad-ass,” Carter said.
Tess pushed their comments aside and focused on the task at hand. It only took her a minute to reach Joseph. About twenty feet down, he sat on a ten-foot by six-foot ledge that jutted out from the cliff and had caught his fall. There was barely room for the two of them.
“Well, if you had to go over,” she said. “This is the place. How ya doin’?”
“Not great.” The doctor gritted his teeth, obviously in terrible pain.
“Hey. Don’t worry. We’re gonna set your leg, haul you to the top, and back to camp. Then I’ll call in a medevac. They won’t have enough room to get you from here.”
Joseph sighed. “Okay.”
