Together, they did the first aid—gently covering the open wound with gauze, then wrapping it, careful to avoid the protruding tibia. Tess deployed an air cast, and Joseph injected himself with a dose of morphine.
“Handy you’re a doctor,” she said. “It would have taken me forever to figure out the dosage.”
He didn’t say anything, but Tess could tell the instant the meds kicked in. The doctor’s shoulders slumped in relief, and the tight grimace morphed into a relaxed frown.
“Look,” Joseph said. “I know I’ve been kind of a jerk, and I hate to be ‘that guy,’ but Icannothurt my hands. They’re my livelihood.”
“I understand,” Tess said. “We should be able to get you up without any damage. Here, put these on.” She handed him the second pair of gloves. “Let’s get you tied in. The guys will pull you up.”
After helping him stand, she wrapped the climbing harness around his waist and thighs. She was considering options on how to get him up when Logan popped over the cliff and started down.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said.
“I hope I remembered how to tie a triple barrel knot correctly,” he replied dryly.
So did she. The last thing she needed wastwomen stuck down here.
He quickly and quietly made his way to them and pressed up against her. “Not much room here,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep them both balanced. “Sorry.”
“Why didn’t you say you knew how to rappel?”
“I’m no pro. Only tried it a few times as a Boy Scout, but I thought you might need a hand.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I do. Joseph’s down one leg and can’t hurt his hands. He’s basically dead weight. Does anyone up there seem like they know how to tie off a rope?”
“Well, I wouldn’t bet Joseph’s life on it,” Logan answered.
Joseph gasped and then started to cry. Tess shot Logan a “good job” look. He met her eyes and gave a wide-eyed shrug.
“I’ll be right back.” Tess hauled herself up the steep hill and tied off the rope she’d wrapped around Joseph.
“Logan and I will guide him up, but y’all are gonna have to do all the pulling.” She handed Joseph’s lead to Ashton. “In case Logan or I need help, my line is blue. Logan’s is green. Got it?” Three identical vacant expressions stared at her.
“Guys!” She snapped her fingers, and they all blinked. “This is what I meant about working together in an emergency. When I say go, start pulling. Slowly though.”
They all nodded. Carter finally spoke. “Yeah. Okay. We got this.”
Tess went back over the side, Logan wrapping his arms around her as she hit the ground. She ignored the bolt of electricity that shot through her at his touch.
“You ready?” she asked Joseph, who gave a curt nod.
Working as a team, they heaved Joseph to the top, Tess and Logan keeping his leg as stable as possible, while inching themselves up beside him.
All three tumbled over the edge, panting and sweating. Tess’s arms burned, but she didn’t complain.
“That was dangerous as hell for you to come down, Fox,” she said. “But thank you. Not sure I could’ve done it by myself.”
“Well, life’s short.” He shrugged. “And I didn’t want to have to turn in my Eagle Scout badge.”
His cavalier attitude made her wonder if he had some kind of death wish. But she quickly refocused on her more immediate problem—getting Joseph back to camp.
“We could lash together a gurney, but there’s no time for that,” she said. “We’re gonna take turns carrying him.”
“Seat carry?” Logan asked.
“Yes.” She and Logan showed the others how to interlock their hands and wrists to do the carry. “I’m sure everyone’s arms are burning from the rescue, so we’ll switch often. Ashton and Carter, you start. I’ll call the medevac. Grayson and Logan pack up the gear and catch up.”
It was slow going, but they made it to the clearing just as the sound of the helicopter roared up the hill.
