“They’re not ugly. They’re impractical for the mountains,” Treasure said as she hobbled back to Vanessa. Every step she took sent a stab of pain through her ankle that radiated up her leg like electric fire.
Vanessa’s eyes were still closed and her shaking had lessened. Treasure knew it wasn’t a good sign.
“Are you still awake?”
“I can’t…”
“You can,” Treasure insisted. She dropped her armload of firewood and kindling in a heap. Treasure honestly didn’t comprehend how she kept moving, but she somehow prevailed.
Her frozen fingers fumbled at the zipper on her jacket, but she managed to unzip the coat and peel it off. She dug into the inside pocket and, at first, thought her waterproof packet was gone. With numb fingers, she pried the emergency kit — that hadn’t been thought of or used since she bought the jacket and placed the baggie inside — out of the very bottom of the pocket. She prayed the lighter was dry and still worked. She laid her jacket over Vanessa and focused on the task at hand. One thing at a time. One movement. One step toward staying alive. It was all she could do.
Before her father settled in Granite Lake, he had been in the army. He had a career as a mechanic and he maintained and repaired a variety of vehicles for the military. His passion had always been motorcycles, but he could work on any four-wheel truck or Jeep. Because he spent the majority of his adult life traveling on two wheels, he figured out a couple of survival tricks and he cemented them into Treasure’s upbringing. One of which was to always keep a knife, a lighter, and some cash inside a waterproof bag on your person whenever you go out on the bike. The rule had no exceptions. And the stash needed to be waterproof because Murphy’s Law stated if you assume it isn’t needed, it surely would be at the most inopportune time.
Treasure peeled the plastic open and pulled out the knife and lighter. They were dry. When she flicked the lighter, a blue and orange flame wavered in the cool breeze coming from the river. She concentrated on coaxing the dry needles, grass, and old leaves into burning. Within a couple of minutes, she added slivers of bark and small twigs to the tiny fire.
While she focused on building the fire, Vanessa fell asleep or slipped into unconsciousness. Treasure didn’t have any more strength to keep going. Her exhaustion was unfathomable. The world blurred around her. The never-ending rush of water mingled with the haze of her fading mind and the darkening of the night. With incomprehensible single-mindedness she focused on keeping the fire going until heat radiated at them. She alternated between checking Vanessa’s pulse and adding firewood until she could no longer physically move. Then, and only then, did she curl herself around Vanessa and pass out.
Fifteen
PERHAPS IT WAS the rushing wind of the rotor wash, or the rumble of the engines, or maybe she happened to come to, but Treasure woke to a scene of surreal chaos. As the blast of wind hit the remains of the campfire, sparks circled through the air like frantic lightning bugs. Intrusive spotlights cut through the pitch-black night. Thunderous roars vibrated through her body and ricocheted off the canyon walls. The disorientation made her cling to the Earth as if the sky was falling. Realizing a helicopter hovered overhead, Treasure jolted out of her stupor and pried her stiff, aching body off the ground. Someone in a reflective suit began a descent from the open door of the chopper.
The florescent orange rescue suit was a beacon of hope in the spotlights. Before she knew it, a man unclipped his harness and sent the cable back up. He turned to Treasure and she imagined Bodie’s strong face and imploring eyes. In the moment, she didn’t care if she were hallucinating Bodie as her savior and hero. All she cared about was Vanessa’s chances of survival now seemed probable. How long had she been unconscious? It was dark out and she thought she tended the fire for hours but couldn’t say. Treasure bent over Vanessa. She didn’t wake up with the arrival of Search and Rescue. Her mind began going through the protocol for moving Vanessa safely.
“Treasure?” Bodie yelled at her back.
“Vanessa has a possible concussion with a contusion and laceration to the left posterior skull. Her right ribcage is fractured near ribs seven and eight and her left kneecap is most likely broken.”
“Treasure!” he yelled again. His words forced her to stop talking and look at him.
Treasure stopped the medical speak and peered at him closely. “Bodie?”
“It’s me, Treasure. Thank God, you’re alive.”
His arms moved around her in an encompassing, possessive hold. Treasure’s sore ribs ached but she ignored the pain and clung to him.
Bodie raised his radio and gave instructions to send down the stretcher for Vanessa. He refused to let Treasure help as he strapped Vanessa in. Bodie steadied the stretcher so it wouldn’t spin before it returned to the waiting crew aboard the chopper.
As they waited for the basket to come back down, Bodie examined Treasure, even though she already gave him the rundown on her injuries. She heard his quick, clear directions regarding the rescue basket. Then his lips found hers in a brief kiss that shared warmth and assurance she was going to be all right.
“Hang tight. I’ll be right behind you.”
Treasure knew she was secure in the basket, but fear-charged endorphins pounded through her body as she began the ascent toward the hovering helicopter. With his encouraging words still fresh in her mind, she lifted away from Bodie and overwhelming waves of fear wracked her system. She told herself to remain calm and breathe. It’s what she would say if she were talking to a patient. A few deep breaths moved in and out of her lungs before a man pulled her into the door. He unfastened the straps and released the buckles before helping her out of the basket. Before she fully grasped everything happening around her, she sat buckled into a seat and Bodie sat right by her side. Two crewmembers attended to Vanessa on the stretcher. Treasure watched the pilot and copilot follow procedure with efficiency. Another team member sealed and locked the door then took his seat. The all clear was given.
“We’re going straight to Memorial Hospital,” Bodie yelled to her. He took her hand in his and held tight as the helicopter flew away from the canyon.
The surreal experience didn’t stop. Once the helicopter landed and she entered the hospital, things appeared more familiar to Treasure. The emergency room wasn’t County General back in Reno, but it was an emergency room. She spent days of her life delivering patients to them. Except she was far from used to being the patient.
The staff wheeled Vanessa away to begin immediate emergency care. She awoke during the flight, but the pain and disorientation made her inconsolable. The medical staff needed to figure out how to help her as soon as possible. Bodie knew Vanessa well enough to give a decent medical history. Treasure heard Bodie repeat her assessment and told the doctor about the pregnancy. Treasure was more concerned for Vanessa than herself.
Someone wheeled Treasure to a bed in the emergency room. Bodie stayed with Vanessa and Treasure was alone with the ER staff. Through sheer stubbornness and refusal to ruin her favorite pair of boots, Treasure suffered the untying of her laces and eased her soggy foot out of the leather. The heavy-duty sheers used to cut away clothing sat on a tray nearby, but she refused to let anyone use them on her boots or jeans. With her ankle released from the restrictive leather, the injured tendons and muscle tissue now had room to swell. Her pain level would increase with the swelling. She refused pain medication on the flight. Treasure didn’t like drugs and didn’t want unnecessary pharmaceuticals in her blood stream. She needed confirmation of the extent of her injuries before making a decision about ingesting them. After removing her river sodden clothes, she was thoroughly questioned, palpated, and sent off to be scanned and x-rayed.
Hours later, she slept between visits from her doctors and nurses. The sun shone into her room and the clock on the wall said it was late morning. A different doctor came in, introduced herself, and informed Treasure her concussion was mild, her ankle wasn’t broken, but two of her ribs had hairline frac
tures.
“You’re very fortunate to have survived such an accident.”
Treasure saw the compassion on the doctor’s face and looked away. “Yeah, right,” is all she said.
“You’re beat up and bruised, but otherwise, you’re a healthy and strong woman. I’ve prescribed some painkillers for you, but the nurses informed me all you’ve requested is some ibuprofen. If you’re fine with taking that, I am, too.”
“Thank you,” Treasure said. “When can I check out?”
“I would prefer you stay twenty-four hours to be on the safe side.”
“But can I go home tonight if I want?”
“Yes. But you’re not allowed to drive. Get some rest, Treasure. You’ve earned it. The staff tells me you saved your friend from drowning. That’s incredibly brave. I suggest you let the nurses take care of you today. That way you won’t have to worry about a thing while you’re here healing.” The doctor finished typing on the keyboard near the bed and smiled kindly at Treasure.
“I understand,” Treasure said. She was tired. More tired than she’d ever been in her life, and her body ached all over. The crutches she used to get back and forth to the restroom were a pain in the ass, and that was walking a few steps. She could only imagine what trying to maneuver around her father’s cramped apartment would be like. A weighted sigh escaped past her lips. “Thanks for the update. I’ll be fine,” she said.
“You will,” the doctor said with a chipper lilt to her voice. “Give yourself time and you’ll be back to normal before you know it.”
Treasure fell asleep before the door closed behind the doctor.
* * *
“Hey, darlin’.”
Treasure’s eyelids wavered and cracked open. “Hey,” she said as Denny came into focus.
Someone stroked her hair and Treasure slid her gaze over to find Melanie standing on the other side of the bed.
“We have a real life hero in our midst,” she said.
“What did you do now?” Treasure croaked, her throat dry and sore.
“Not us, you crazy girl,” Denny said.
“Your story of heroism is all over the news,” Melanie said. “There’s a reporter in the waiting room trying to get an interview with you.”
“I told him to bugger off,” Denny said.
“Yeah, but Bodie gave a report.”
Treasure grimaced at the news. “There’s not much to tell. Vanessa fell in the river and I went after her.” She winced at the memory of the unbelievably strong current and being smashed into one boulder after another.
“She fell in? How does that happen?” Denny asked.
“I didn’t see. She said something about tripping over her shoe. You’ll have to ask her. How is Vanessa?” Treasure asked and hoped only for good news.
“She’s okay. Bodie told us she’s going to make a full recovery.”
Treasure swallowed and closed her eyes for a needed moment of silence as relief washed through her body and eased her mind. It was strange she could feel so deeply for someone she didn’t even like, but Vanessa had become her patient. She always took to heart the condition of her patients. Her empathy was part of what made her good at her job. She opened her eyes and saw the vase of flowers on the counter.
“Did you bring the flowers?” she asked.
“I did,” Melanie said.
“Thank you. Thank you both for coming. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Also, I sort of need a ride home. Would that be possible?” She hated asking. Treasure never wanted to rely on anyone.
“What do you mean? You’re not riding the bike home? I brought it in case you needed to get back on the horse, so to speak,” Denny said.
She could see the grin peeking through his unruly beard.
“You did not.”
“I did. It’s loaded on my trailer right this second.”
“Ah, man, you’re an angel. I thought for sure it would be at some impound lot. Or stolen.”
“I did steal it. Before some low-life came along and helped himself.”
“I’m so in love with you, right now, Denny Masters.”
“All the women want a piece of this.” He peered down at his huge body, faded motorcycle T-shirt, and jeans.
Treasure reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’m all over it, you hot hunk of man. You’re the real hero in the room, Denny. I did something incredibly stupid and it happened to pay off.” Treasure tried to sit up in bed, but was overruled by a unanimous vote of stiff, sore, and aching muscles to remain horizontal. Her wrapped ankle caught on the sheets. She sighed and gave up.
“Here,” Melanie said and began pushing buttons on the remote to raise the bed.
“Thanks,” she said again.
“I bet you could use some food,” Denny said. “I sure can. I’ll go find us something.”
“I’m a little thirsty. See if you can find some coffee.”
He winked. “You got it, darlin’.”
Denny left to search for food and drinks while Melanie handed Treasure a cup of water. She took it gratefully and tried to move again to ease some of the discomfort in her back. The hospital bed was comparable to an iron bench beneath starched over-laundered sheets.
“Bodie was in here before we came in.” Melanie sat down on the chair beside the bed.
Treasure was well aware she hadn’t seen Bodie once since being admitted to the emergency room. She tried not to dwell on it, but couldn’t help noticing his absence.
“Did he say if he was going home to rest or anything?”
“He told us you were sleeping and gave us the update on Vanessa.”
Treasure stared at her lap. The range of emotions swirling through her was enough to make her dizzy, and unlike herself. She supposed the turmoil was normal given the circumstances, but she didn’t like it. Especially, in front of anyone.
“I’m going to see if I can get a nurse to start my discharge process. I want to go home,” she said.
“You can stay with me for as long as you want. I even have a real bed for you to sleep in instead of the couch at your dad’s.”
“I need to call my building manager and check on my apartment.”
“I understand wanting to go home, and I hate to say it, but I don’t want you to leave Granite Lake. It’s been great having a friend in town.”
Treasure returned the smile. Reconnecting with Melanie had been an unexpected gift. She appreciated having a friend who didn’t only want to go clubbing and drinking on the weekends. “I may take you up on your offer if I can’t return to my apartment.”
The overwhelming stresses in her life were stone weights on her back, drowning her in anxiety. It wasn’t only the mold in her apartment and the bathroom remodel. She waited for the human resources manager to return from vacation and schedule a hearing about the sordid incident with Court. Even if she were allowed to return to work tomorrow, she couldn’t. Her sprained ankle would take at least a week to heal, and possibly longer before she could lift weight safely. Freaking fabulous, she thought.
She pressed the call button and a nurse arrived a few minutes later. Treasure asked to be released. The nurse informed her she could leave whenever she wanted. The doctor already signed the discharge papers. Even with the paperwork complete, it took an hour to eat, dress, and get out of the hospital. Bodie never came to see her.
The drive to Granite Lake took over an hour. Evening quickly turned to night as they drove into town. Treasure’s physical discomfort kept her on edge, but she didn’t complain as the crutches wedged beneath her arms and she hobbled inside the apartment. The offer to stay at Melanie’s house held firm, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Everything she needed was at the shop: clothes, toiletries, laptop, and food. Moving her belongings seemed like more hassle than it was worth.
Her friends fussed and made sure she was as comfortable as possible. They promised to check on her the next day. Then Treasure kicked them out. She wanted to be alone. Processing what happened over the l
ast thirty-six hours needed to begin. It never would with people constantly surrounding her. Quiet time was a necessity to Treasure, just like air and food.
Treasure checked the time and decided it would be okay to take a couple of ibuprofen. With her ankle elevated on a pillow, she lay her head back and closed her eyes. Sleep enveloped her and all life’s problems became blessedly silent for the time being.
* * *
“If only you knew what it’s like to sit on this side of the bed.” Bodie pinched the bridge of his nose. He ran a hand over his scalp and stared at her unbelievably beautiful face.
He’d been staring at her in the hospital bed for God knew how long. He refused to wake her, but he wouldn’t leave her side. Bodie had the irrational fear if he looked away, she may disappear — again.
The past fourteen hours had been a living nightmare.
After Treasure left the barbeque at his parents’ house he waited to hear back from her. But she never returned his call or sent a text message. His impatience for her lack of communication didn’t outweigh his hurt feelings. He was pissed off with his mother and Vanessa for treating Treasure the way they did. He desperately wanted to explain the situation, but she wouldn’t call back. It never crossed his mind Treasure was in any sort of danger. He mistakenly assumed she needed time alone and he understood why. Treasure hid her feelings well. Many aspects of her personality had depth he’d only begun to uncover.
When he lived and worked in Reno, Bodie was a member of the local Search and Rescue group. He volunteered when he could. This winter his SAR group moved him to the inactive list until he returned from Wilderness School with new certifications. Since he decided he no longer wanted to live in Reno, he informed his commander and chairman that he transferred to the Mountain Rescue group in California. With his experience and training, he was accepted immediately. Bodie’s qualifications made him a good fit for more than one of the specialized teams. Ground search, swift water operations, and four wheel drive team were the most obvious choices, but he needed to meet the other members before joining the groups that would benefit the most from his contributions. The chairman of the local Mountain Rescue Group welcomed him and gave him a scanner to keep up with any emergencies happening in his area. He never thought he would be needed quite so soon. He only went to meet the chairman the week before. Getting oriented with the local SAR group was one of the things that kept him occupied and away from Treasure since leaving school.
Chasing Treasure: Granite Lake Romance Page 15