ES_ebook_8.2.19 Page 21

  As she was about to close the bag, her gaze landed on the golden egg of equipment—next to their weapons, of course. An earpiece. Heavens be praised, she wanted to shout.

  Jesse, I’m sorry I ever believed Bev. Giving us your gear may save our lives. Thanks, Stone, for also leaving your pack.

  After handing Ken the components of their lifeline, she secured the bag, and without asking Ken his preference, she slung it over her shoulders. When he didn’t protest, her concern for his health mounted.

  He looked pale and had begun to sweat when this would’ve been a cakewalk any other time.

  Time to move forward to get them closer to home. “Where is Point Charlie?”

  “Las Golondrinas waterfall.”

  Quickly searching her memory of the map they’d studied, she grimaced. “That’s a good clip.”

  “Not as far as the evac point. Don’t worry, we’ll make it,” he assured her, although he’d done nothing of the sort.

  “All right.” She hadn’t noticed him breathing so heavily, but it made her realize she needed to pay better attention.

  “Look,” she said before he took off, “you need to get used to having a woman rescue you instead of the other way around. Sure, you can take care of yourself, but you’re injured and not at normal capabilities. Lean on me and we’ll get through this.”

  He chuckled and folded his arm over his ribs. Her heart cried out in pain for him. “You just make me love you more each day.”

  Flustered, she just stared. He freely kept admitting his love for her. She needed to survive this to know what she truly felt. Too much was wrapped up in their situation and it shouldn’t be a consideration for something so life-changing. No, not changing. Life-defining.

  Before she could go down that road, he said, “If I remember correctly, we’ll follow hiker and game trails unless we need to divert against threats. There’s a small village, so we’ll skirt that.”

  She nodded then held out her hand as if to motion forward. “Lead on, old wise one,” she jested.

  Ken rolled his eyes at her. It brought a giggle she immediately stifled. They needed to focus on getting home.

  Leading them back to the trail, Ken kept them at a faster pace then she’d have expected him to carry with his injuries. As before, she constantly checked their six for trouble and wished they had a machete in case they had to go into the thick jungle to cut a way through the foliage and snakes.

  Ken swept his gaze back and forth. Without any other support, this was the best they could do.

  “Think the boys will make it tonight?” she whispered as she turned back forward.

  “I don’t know. It depends on if they can keep the hostiles off our trail and not get themselves captured. They’ve taken out the guard towers, but as we’ve seen, they’ll get replaced. Keeping as many as possible inside the fence around Alejandro’s home is what we need.”

  Frustrated they left the agents to fend for themselves, she swallowed hard. She had to remember everyone could take care of himself and more, but that need to protect rose in her. Right now, she needed to protect Ken.

  Ken continued, “When we first left, four tangos cleared the field before Franks and Cowboy took out the guard towers. Those are the ones Doc led astray.” He glanced at her then looked forward, his eyes roaming the area and the ground below for threats.

  “The team’ll stay as long as they think a threat will come to us. Then they’ll hoof it to Point Charlie or Bravo, depending on time.”

  “You’ve heard all that since we left? That sounds like a bit too much chatter.” She couldn’t imagine Ken allowing all that.

  “No.” He shook his head. “It’s from our plan, what I heard, and what I know Franks will do.”

  In the future at an op brief, she planned to remember everything from not only the normal but from the victim’s view. She’d never expected to be the one needing to be rescued.

  They’d only stepped off the path they’d traveled when they heard rustling in the bushes ahead. Ready to protect themselves, they prepared for anything. Except the little boy dressed in next to nothing who’d darted away holding—none other than—a snake. Although she hated them, having a child bitten by a venomous one sent shivers crawling up her spine. When she made to move out of hiding, Ken grabbed her arm, leaned close, and told her, “Safe snake.”

  The child scampered off, taking no notice of them or doing a good job of avoiding them, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “We must be close to a village,” Ken told her as they stepped back into the open.

  They stopped briefly for, what she suspected, Ken to catch his breath and take more painkillers that had been in the first aid kit. Although mild, they would help with his pain without him losing his edge. Doc would’ve ensured that to be the case.

  On a break at about midday, they checked in with the team, stopped and split a meal bar while rehydrating. A trek through the jungle taxed a body. If Bev really had to do this, why couldn’t she have chosen the beach? Admittedly, running in the sand in her combat boots would tire her out quickly, but at least she could have taken a swim afterward. The best part would have been no slithery things.

  This not happening at all would be Sam’s preference. What would’ve happened to Cody if they hadn’t arrived? Thankfully Alejandro had not abused him, but what had he been silently dealing with when his mother slipped off the deep end?

  She’d fooled Sam. While she’d known her friend was losing it, she had no idea it’d gone this far. Even though it’d become obvious Bev was a great actress, Sam missed the clues to this change.

  Moving again, every so often, they halted and listened to ensure they hadn’t been pursued, which made the day even longer.

  Satisfied for the moment at their progress, Ken continued to lead her on a small trail and through the jungle where it appeared paths were partially formed.

  His limp became more pronounced. She didn’t even ask. She put her arm under his to aid him. He didn’t hesitate to put his arm around her shoulder and shift his weight awkwardly as she took the brunt of the weight off his bad leg. It made for tougher and slower going, but together they’d make it.

  Keeping their rifles in their free hands, Sam praised the fact HIS made them all practice with their non-dominant hand. Always be ready for the unexpected.

  She struggled under his weight but refused to admit it because he’d try to walk on his own again and his crumpling to the ground was possible.

  No matter how far away from the compound they traveled, their vigilance couldn’t slip, but she couldn’t turn and check their six. If Doc had eluded the men, he’d arrive soon to cover them. She’d rest much easier when that happened.

  Until Doc or the boys arrived, she’d drop Ken in that small cave—also known as Point Charlie—and stand guard.

  A sense of relief filled her when the roar of the Las Golondrinas waterfall reached them. Then getting him down the slope they’d need to travel set off red flags. Trying to remember their terrain maps, it occurred to her that their path was about to get very steep.

  “Approaching Point Charlie.”

  She almost missed Ken’s low voice, immediately realizing he was updating the Franks and the team.

  He stopped, and she immediately released him and turned, moving back-to-back with him, uncertain why he halted.

  “Copy.” He touched the earpiece to turn off the mic.

  Although she wished they’d had another comm system for her, at least Ken had one to keep in contact with the team. Along the way, he hadn’t given her any more, other than the men had been engaged.

  “Let’s go,” he ordered, walking without her support.

  “What did they say?”

  “We’re to take shelter in the cave below the falls. The men, when they can, will arrive and take a position to protect. We’ll stay there for the
night.”

  Unbidden, the idea of spending the night with Ken—not as a prisoner—sent a delicious shiver through her. The thought of him touching her—skin to skin—heated her face. Her breasts ached for his touch. Her body wanted him to be hers. That desire within her shocked her somewhat, but she’d always had a soft spot for Ken that she’d held in check during her marriage.

  With Ken injured, it might be some time before their lust could be sated. Unless… her mind whirled with options as they passed bright, beautiful flowers along the trail.

  Stepping from the path, her mouth dropped at the splendor of the Las Golondrinas waterfall. Above them, she spied towering mud and rock formations that looked like hidden elephants. A higher pool set under towering trees caught her eye. If only she’d been here to explore on her own. To enjoy the environment without worries of someone tracking her to kill or recapture her.

  Scanning the area, a buffet of greens in the sudden vistas of wide valleys… the beauty of it lifted her soul.

  Looking down the waterfall area, the cave remained out of sight, but the landscape before her wowed her even more. A wide, bright blue-green pool that fed off the cascade lay below them. It would be an ideal place to swim and bathe, both with and without Ken. And, a bath sounded heavenly.

  To reach their destination, they had two options—jump into the pool below or make their way down a twenty-five-foot steep bank of shrubs, plants, and loose dirt. The trail looked sketchy, but jumping would potentially ruin some of their equipment—like their weapons. Or, they could get injured, which Ken didn’t need more of.

  Without question, they took the sketchy trail.

  “Be careful, it’s a steep descent,” he warned her.

  Even though she’d known this, his repeating her thought had concern leaping inside her. “Can you do this?” He could barely walk on his own. She’d been half carrying him.

  “We’ll go slow.”

  Slow. Great. Slow and no one protecting their backs. No one to pick him up if he fell.

  Halfway down to their location, on a misstep, her heart nearly stopped at the thought of an uncontrolled fall. Dirt and small pebbles rolled down around Ken’s feet and to the pool below. While she’d imagined them playing in the water, she didn’t relish the two of them falling into it.

  As she had that thought, Ken stumbled and his injured leg slipped out from under him. Horrified, she reached out for him but only caught air as he fell the last few feet making a large splash.

  Losing her balance after grabbing for him in her effort to keep Ken upright, weightlessness wrapped itself around her as she plunged into the cool water with the weight of the backpack tugging her down, leaving her fighting to reach the surface.

  25

  In the cool water, Ken gasped for air as he broke free of the surface, treading water with a rifle in one hand. He’d held it up in the fall, but he’d plunged too deep to keep it dry. He could strip it and dry the components as best he could without a kit. It may or may not be serviceable by the time they moved on to catch their ride.

  In the meantime, they had Sam’s piece because he’d also lost his SIG.

  A noise caught his attention. He looked up and horror gripped his gut, twisting it with no mercy, as he watched Sam’s flight through the air. Her head just missed a rock, before she landed with a loud splash. He had to get to her. She’d hit the surface hard, too hard.

  “Sam!” he yelled over the sounds of the falls. Without waiting for an answer, he swam to where she’d entered. Treading water for a moment and calling to her again, panic tried to seize him but he fought it off.

  With renewed vigor, he dove under the water. Even with the crystal clearness of the water, it took him a moment to locate her. A moment she may not have. She struggled with something, and when he got closer, he sighed with relief because she would survive this.

  When he reached out to her, he didn’t know she could move so swiftly and skillfully. Her KA-BAR appeared at his neck, and if he’d moved before she recognized him, he might be floating down the river.

  Before she removed the borrowed knife and sheathed it, she struggled to tread underwater with one hand holding the rifle and the other with her knife. He worked to free the backpack from watery tree roots. They needed the items in it so he understood why she hadn’t abandoned it.

  Something twisted inside. If she hadn’t been able to slide from the straps, she would’ve been trapped. His hands shook at the depth of his feelings for her and the loss he would’ve suffered.

  Not wanting the bottom of the pack to rip and their equipment to fall into the depths, he handed her his rifle then gave her a thumbs-up for her to return to the surface while he worked with it. Probably needing air in her lungs, she followed his order.

  As he’d expected she chose, cutting the strap was a last resort as they’d still need to carry the pack. Nearing the end of his air supply, he worked swiftly to free the bag from the last branch. With the bag slung over one shoulder, he kicked hard to reach the surface, ignoring the pain of his damaged leg, before he had to take a breath. He’d prefer air to water.

  Watching Sam struggle with both rifles, he tossed the bag over one shoulder, stroked through the water toward her and led them in the direction under the pounding falls. He arrived first and slipped in the narrow space behind the falls, then hauled himself up to sit on the small shelf.

  Quickly, he dropped the pack and held out a hand to Sam to collect a weapon. After she’d handed him one, he placed it on the shelf. Before he could take the second, she’d placed it there and pulled herself up into a sitting position.

  Breathing hard, they looked around but remained in the spot hiding from general view, resting. Glad they would stay put for the night, and that Doc would be here to protect them, maybe he could get enough rest for his body and his leg. This hadn’t been nearly as bad as survival school or even when he’d been put through the ringer as a hostage in training scenarios. During those sessions, he hadn’t been shot though, which made the difference.

  They needed to move to secure the area although with their rifles and her handgun wet, they only had knives to protect themselves. While they could definitely do that, it had to be close combat and he wasn’t strong enough to defeat Alejandro’s small army.

  Gritting his teeth at the throbbing pain that settled once he rested his leg, Ken took too long to get to his feet. Sam narrowed her eyes, assessing him. He wanted to tell her not to worry. Obviously, his injuries couldn’t be that serious or he wouldn’t be able to stand. Although he’d never admit it, the movement took every bit of his resolve to bite through the pain radiating and burning through his leg.

  “We made a bit of noise when we plunged into the water, so be careful. You take that side.” He nodded behind her to emphasize his direction. “I’ll go this way.”

  “What about weapons?” she asked, concern hitching her voice.

  “Go ahead and carry your rifle and Glock. It might work, but doubtful. Just the sight of you carrying might be enough.”

  Shrugging the backpack over both of his shoulders, they separated to recon the area. The pools on their level and above were surrounded by the jungle, making it hard to clear all the areas.

  After clearing his zone as best he could, he met Sam in front of the hidden cave.

  “Clear,” she told him.

  He hated to give her this bit of bad news, but he wouldn’t keep it to himself. “Our comms didn’t like the swim. It’s not completely gone, but it’s garbled and, I couldn’t tell if they heard me transmit.” In his mind, something beat nothing at this point.

  They’d received his last check-in for approaching the falls. They might assume his location in the cave could block his signal. Either way, the team would be here. He had no doubt.

  One thing was for certain, he could count on the HIS agents.

  Trying to instill some humor
to lighten the atmosphere, he smiled and said, “Here we are, cradled in the jungle standing beneath one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve seen. And the swimming hole—well, it was just too much to pass up.”

  Her smile brightened her face. “It is a paradise out here.”

  Drunk on the memory of their kisses and knowing no one could sneak up on them, he held out an empty hand. “What’d say we make this our first date?”

  Her eyes widened and she stood silent, her gaze moving between his face and hand. With the bruise of his eye still changing colors, he couldn’t be much to look at.

  A cold knot formed in his gut as a wave of apprehension coiled. Although he’d been joking, he held his breath at her response. Maybe the kisses they shared hadn’t been as memorable to her. She’d given him the impression she wanted to move forward, but he could’ve read her wrong.

  In a soft voice, she surprised him with, “Can we?”

  Can we physically or can we while on the run? Wanting to be truthful with her, he responded, “We still have to remain vigilant until the men arrive. After that, we need to rest.”

  Something changed inside her and she flashed him a knowing grin. “So just what kind of date are you taking me on? We’ve already gone on a nice hike and swim. A grand adventure. What more can there be?”

  His eyes twinkled with mischief. “A gourmet dinner in a secluded spot.”

  She threw head back and laughed. “Such a romantic.”

  The world of romancing a woman had eluded him. Most likely because the few women he’d been involved with hadn’t been Sam. His heart had always been devoted to her.

  Unable to find someone worthy of replacing the spot in his heart for her, he’d lived a mostly solitary life. It wouldn’t have been fair to another woman to not have him fully hers.

  After borrowing her Glock and removing a flashlight from the bag, he crept into the small cave, hoping no wild animal had made its home here.