“We’re doing our best to get to you.”
“I know you are. I don’t expect miracles.”
It was a six-hour drive from Scarlet Springs to the Black Canyon. Flight time was about an hour, but the Team didn’t own any rescue choppers. If they had, it would still have taken an hour to get the bird ready and airborne.
“I’ve got a miracle for you anyway. I’m on the way to the Forest County Airport with Conrad, Taylor, O’Brien, Belcourt, and Moretti. Joe moved heaven and earth to have a helicopter meet us there and fly us to the Black Canyon. We’ll meet the Black Canyon ranger team in about ninety minutes.”
The breath left Megs’ lungs in a rush. “Joe did that?”
She shouldn’t be surprised. Joe Moffat, called Caribou Joe by Scarlet Springs residents, was a billionaire whose family had struck it rich at the Caribou Mine in the mountains above town. He wasn’t in the mining business these days, but owned a brewpub—Knockers—and acted as the town’s primary philanthropist. He donated tens of thousands to the Team each year.
“We didn’t even have to ask. The moment Joe heard what had happened, he picked up his phone and started making calls.”
Megs swallowed again. “He’s good people.”
“Our ETA is roughly fifty minutes once we get airborne. I’ll keep in touch. You two mean everything to this town. We won’t let you down, Megs.”
“I know you won’t.”
Hawke ended the call.
“Did you hear that? Joe arranged for a helicopter, and some of the boys are on their way to help.”
All of them were skilled climbers with years of rescue experience. Hawke and Austin Taylor were both paramedics. Taylor was also a park ranger. Harrison Conrad was a well-known alpine climber who had summited all the big Himalayan peaks, including Everest. Malachi O’Brien was a climber and an ER doctor. Chaska Belcourt was an engineer and one of the most brilliant climbers Megs had ever known. Jesse Moretti was a former Army Ranger who’d recovered from the scars of war through climbing.
“Hang on, Mitch. The boys will be here in a little more than an hour, and then we’ll get you to a hospital.”
A golden eagle soared through the air below them, taking advantage of the afternoon thermals, sun glinting off its dark feathers. It was the sort of thing Mitch loved—the unique view of nature that one had to earn.
She described it to him. “I wish you could open your eyes and see it.”
But he didn’t budge.
“You have to wake up, Mitch. I’m not sure I know how to live without you.”
A knot in her chest,Megs watched as the rescuers lifted Mitch out of the canyon using a complex system of tripod, ropes, and pulleys. O’Brien and Moretti rode on both ends of the litter to keep it steady and prevent it from striking the rockface.
Hang on, Mitch!
“He’s in good hands.” Taylor had rappelled down with Hawke.
The two hung on their ropes on either side of her, both of them stone-faced. They knew, as she did, how grave the situation was. More than two hours had gone by since the accident, and Mitch was still unresponsive.
He couldn’t die. He couldn’t.
Another helicopter flew overhead.
Taylor glanced up. “That’s Life Flight.”
Thank God.
“When we get to the top, remember to give us your car keys,” Hawke said. “We’ve talked it through. O’Brien will fly back with you and Ahearn. The rest of us will work with the rangers to clean your gear from the route, pack up your camp, and load your vehicle. Then we’ll drive everything back to Scarlet and leave it at your place.”
Megs hadn’t thought about any of that. It hadn’t even crossed her mind. “Right. Thanks. You’re good guys.”
Hawke rested a hand on her shoulder. “We’ve got your back.”
It felt surreal to be in this position, to be rescued instead of the rescuer. She had no radio and no idea what was happening up top. She wasn’t in charge. She wasn’t involved at all. Instead, she was waiting for a litter. Although she was uninjured and able to climb, there was no way she could reach the canyon rim before the Life Flight helicopter lifted off, and she wanted to stay with Mitch.
