Muscles ticked in Deke’s jaw as he followed Toby’s gaze, then looked back at us. He held Toren’s gaze for a beat, then another, before he lowered the gun and turned, running off into the forest in the same direction Vic went.
Nobody moved for about three seconds, then Toren dropped into the snow.
“Toren.” I dropped down beside him.
“I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth.
“No, you’re not.” I eyed his now crooked fingers.
“I said I’m fine.” His tight tone said he was absolutely not fine.
“Lana! Toren!”
I glanced up to see Walker only fifty feet away now. With a few more running steps, he and his companion were at our sides.
“Jesus. That looks terrible.” Walker nodded to Toren’s hand.
“It’s fine.”
Walker snorted.
“Oh, man.” The other man, whom I didn’t recognize, walked up. “That’s a gnarly break, McCrae.”
“It’s fine.” There was a bite to Toren’s words now. “It just needs set and it’ll be all right.” He raised his good hand. “Make yourselves useful and help me up.”
The two men got under both of Toren’s arms and lifted.
I tipped my head, looking at Toren’s ankle. I couldn’t tell if it was worse off than before. It probably was after being smashed like that, but he’d put his boot on this morning, lacing it as snug as was comfortable, to help protect it as we walked, and so he didn’t have to carry it.
“Where else are you hurt?” Walker’s friend asked. “Your foot?”
“Yeah. I sprained my ankle a few days ago. Asshole, there”—he tipped his chin toward the trees—“just stomped on it again.”
The man winced. “Ouch.”
“Go after him, would you? We can’t let him get away.”
“I would, but he’s armed. I saw the gun. And I’m by myself.”
“Take Walker and Dustin.” Toren waved a hand at the man who hadn’t moved from his boulder through all the commotion. “Hell, Lana will probably jump at the chance to go after him.”
“He’s not wrong,” I said.
The man shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. We’d probably end up in a shootout, and I want him alive. He’s got information about this poaching ring I want.” He turned to Toby, who still stood off to the side with his hands up. “More than what that one can provide, I think.”
His gaze swung to me. “Are you injured?”
I shook my head. “Just pissed.”
He flashed a quick grin, the smile lighting his hazel eyes. “I can see that. You must be Lana. Walker told me about you. I’m Jesse Wakefield, one of the Fish and Game officers for this area.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” The hilarity of the exchange of mundane pleasantries in the midst of the craziness was not lost on me. Suddenly, I was extremely ready for it to all be over. “Listen, if you’re not going after Deke and Vic right now, can we leave? We’re all done with this shit.” I fluttered a hand, encompassing nothing and everything.
Jesse nodded. “Let me make a couple calls to get the ball rolling on getting a department plane up here with some more officers, then Walker can load you all up and take you back to civilization.”
His gaze fell on Toby. “Except you. You’re staying with me.” His boots making a soft squeak-crunch in the snow, he crossed to the quiet man. “You’re under arrest for poaching, and probably for a bunch of other things, but we’ll figure the rest out later.” He took a set of handcuffs from the back of his belt.
“Can I take these three back to the plane to get warm?” Walker called to Jesse.
