Steph could only imagine how much Jack hurt. His feet. His wrists. His entire body. She was sore, too, and she hadn’t been tied up and forced to run barefoot through the snow.
She made a short climb to a ledge that had a waist-high rock on it.This looks like it might be a good place to wait out the poachers.It was a flat section with higher rocks around it, creating almost a bowl. The best part was there was an opening at the back. From there, they could godeeper into the formation and maybe even come out the other side.
As she got into position, she checked the view. It was perfect and would put anyone on approach basically in the bullseye.
Into position, she softly called out, “Jack, I’m here.”
“Understood,” his voice floated back to her. “They’re almost out of the trees.”
Her heart rate picked up, suddenly thinking this was a bad idea. “Don’t wait. Just come and get in position.”
“They need to see me.”
Steph blinked rapidly as her eyes filled with tears and her nose stung. “It’s steep, so watch your footing. And you’ll need to really maintain your balance where it narrows.”
“Got it.”
“And the bend is super tight. Pivot with your hips.”
“Okay.”
“And— ”
“Thirty seconds and I’ll be moving.”
She pursed her lips as she shook her head. Thirty seconds. The sound of the machines shifted, the engines revving up. They were out of the trees and on approach. Had they seen Jack? She didn’t know, but she did know he’d make sure they did before he reached her.
Steph took the beacon from her pocket. Still no updates from the rescue team. “Is this stupid thing broken?” she muttered as she typed.Hidden in the rocks on the north side of the highway. GPS appears to be transmitting. Please acknowledge and update rescue time.Armed men are still pursuing us. Beware on approach.
“It’s time,” Jack called. “Make sure you’re hidden.”
“I’m good.”
Within seconds, Jack came into view, rifle tucked under his right arm and his left arm out for balance as he reached the narrow path. A rock above him poofed, sending debris falling as a gunshot echoed through the tight space. Jack flinched, his left arm windmilling as his balance was compromised.
“Jack!”
He miraculously recovered and was moving again as another shot came in, hitting the rock to his left. The ricochet sent bits of rock flying.
Jack was still moving, almost out of the narrow section and around the bend, when another shot sounded. He yanked his arm in toward himself and let out a yelp.
“C’mon! You’re almost here.”
He rounded the curve and kept coming toward her as another shot came through the narrows, this one too late to do any harm. The area she hid in was out of the line of fire, and Jack was behind the rock face.
His face was pinched, and blood was running down his left arm.
“Jack, come on,” she urged as she moved back so he could get into the safety of the rock bowl.
As he got into position, she asked, “Were you shot?”
He looked at his sleeve. The woolen base layer was sliced open, and blood covered the white fabric.
“I think it was a ricochet. Hit the wall first and then hit me. I was almost out of range.”
“That’s not what it looked like from here,” Steph said, already opening her backpack and grabbing the first aid kit.
“We need to get ready.” Jack moved over to where he had a straight-on view of the narrows.
