by Kim Turner
What was about twenty feet of rope felt like an eternity away from her and he was losing the ability to use his hands. He fought past the need for air and found her limp body at the end.
For the first time in a lot of years he prayed, calling on God to help her. Please, God. He tugged Jenna’s body along with him not having much strength to do so. It was so dark he couldn’t tell where the surface was and for a moment thought he might not be going up. Suddenly, he lifted from the water, coughing, and gagging and trying to take in air. He gulped and vomited water, kicking to stay above the surface and not let go of Jenna.
He held her head out of the water but she wasn’t breathing, her eyes closed. Kicking hard he struggled until Gabe grabbed her, bringing her to the surface, the rope still around her neck.
Her eyes were closed, and she was pale and unmoving. He fought to stay above the water, watching Gabe swim back toward shore with her. He had to fight to swim, but it felt like a losing battle. It was Tucker who grabbed and dragged him through the water to the shore where he collapsed as he tried to stand. He had to get to Jenna. Hold her, make sure…and he began to crawl but collapsed, raising only his head to look at her.
Gabe laid Jenna down. Brianna met them, going to her knees checking if Jenna was breathing as Aaron made his way to her on his hands and knees, unsure he could get there. His body shook and he threw up more water, coughing through.
“Come on Jenna, you can do this, girl. You have to.” Brianna was pressing hard on Jenna’s chest, water spilling from Jenna’s mouth with each stroke.
“Jenna.” Aaron tried to stand but lacked the strength. “Amos?”
“Hang on and we’ll get you to her.” Amos tugged hard and Aaron hung onto him as his father helped him closer to Jenna. He dropped to his knees beside her.
“I got it.” Tucker placed himself at Jenna’s chest, finding his hand placement between her breasts, allowing Brianna to breathe for her.
“Start compressions.” Brianna was out of breath, but stayed at Jenna’s head, holding her in position as Tucker began compressing her chest rapidly. “Come on, Jenna.”
Aaron shook so hard he could barely keep himself upright. This couldn’t happen. He couldn’t survive without her, not like this. He touched his right hand to her head and waited for Brianna to give her two more breaths. He watched as her chest rose and fell twice. He lowered his head to speak in her ear.
“Jenna, come on babe…Jenna…fight! Damn it, fight!” He had a hard time talking in between all the shivering. He coughed hard, water dripping from his long hair onto her face. He gently wiped it away. “Fight, Jenna…”
As Tucker completed the next set of compressions, Bri leaned to breathe into Jenna again.
“Jenna?” he whispered as Tucker went back to compressions.
Suddenly, Jenna gulped, her mouth moving in her attempts to take in air. She coughed harder and water escaped from her mouth and nose, rolling down the sides of her jaws to her neck.
“That’s it, Jenna. Come on. Again.” Brianna pressed on her chest again and more water poured from her mouth and Jenna coughed as her body pulled air into her lungs in spasms.
“Jenna?” Aaron called to her as sirens wailed in the distance.
“She’s got a pulse. Take another breath, Jenna, you’re safe.” Brianna continued talking to her, turning her to her side, where she expelled more water with coughing and gagging.
Aaron held her against his knees as Jeremiah dropped beside them tossing his rifle to the ground. “Is she all right?”
“She’s breathing and has a pulse, but she isn’t responding.” Brianna looked up at him and then back at Jenna.
“I couldn’t get a clear shot. She jumped, didn’t she? When he reached for the rope, I couldn’t tell what he was doing but I saw her fall. Who got him?” Jeremiah shook his head. “I didn’t have a clear view for a shot.”
Gabe nodded to Amos. “Pop got him.”
“Pop?” Jeremiah questioned, meeting his father’s gaze.
“You boys think I’m down and out, but I’ve been in a shoot-out a time or two in my day. Glad I didn’t miss this one.” Amos used his rifle for support, winded without his oxygen.
Tucker got up, holding his head. “Might need you on my team sometime.”
The sound of a chopper echoed loudly as the aircraft topped the ridge of the canyon and found a spot to land as ambulances arrived at the gate of the set. Seconds later police and FBI agents were on the scene in several cars, holding guns on everyone until Amos explained to them the story.
Aaron kept his hand on Jenna’s head as she continued to breathe on her own. That was good, wasn’t it, but in truth she’d been under that cold water for a long time.
In moments, paramedics were there assisting with Jenna, Brianna giving them a full report. As the men scooted in to care for her, Aaron backed up to give them room but not wanting to let her go.
Jeremiah grabbed him. “Aaron?”
He had to lay down or he’d pass out. “Gotta rest.”
“You’re hypothermic.” Jeremiah dug in the paramedic’s box and drew out a silver foiled thermal blanket covering Aaron. “This’ll warm you up quick.”
Aaron shook his head. “Take care of her…”
Jeremiah grabbed a stethoscope and listened to his chest. “How about we give you a little oxygen?”
Aaron sat up as Jenna was lifted to a gurney and strapped in, a tube in her throat helping her breathe. He leaned to watch as the men carried her toward the chopper, Brianna running alongside them.
“Hey, hold still, Aaron, they got her.” Jeremiah tried to hold him.
Aaron shook his head and got to his knees and then to his feet, jerking the oxygen off his face and tossing it aside so he could watch Jenna’s motionless body being loaded into the chopper. It occurred to him that she’d probably felt the same way when he’d taken the fall. The chopper lifted into the sky, taking all he’d ever loved with it and the pain in his chest consumed him. He fell to his knees unable to stand any longer.
“Aaron?” Amos touched his shoulder. “You gotta let Jeremiah help you.”
Aaron nodded, unable to speak, tears filling his eyes. “She has to be all right.”
“She’s a strong woman, son.” Amos tugged him back up and helped him to lie down on the gurney that was waiting. He settled back and closed his eyes, Jeremiah placing an oxygen mask over his face once more. He still shivered as he was carried and then lifted into the back of the ambulance.
“Jer’s bringing Amos and Tuck. Tucker took a good knock to the head, probably needs to get checked out.” Gabe shook his head and jumped in the ambulance after Brianna.
Aaron closed his eyes. He was fatigued, not hurt. All this wasn’t necessary.
“I thought I was going to lose you under that water too.” Gabe sat, wrapped in a thermal blanket, water dripping from his dark hair.
“I couldn’t find her.” The weight of her limp body haunted him and he could still feel her in his arms. “She was under for so long, but it’s good she was breathing on her own.” Brianna burst into tears. “Oh, my God, he’s dead, isn’t he?”
Aaron nodded and closed his eyes again.
“Hey, hey, don’t cry.” Gabe glanced at her. “She’ll be all right.”
Brianna snapped to attention. “You said I could cry all I wanted to when this was over.” She slapped his thigh with her open hand, “and I know good and damn well you locked me in that camper.”
“Hey, it was for your own safety,” Gabe defended, shivering.
“Well, I happen to know a thing or two about breaking and entering,” she hissed and wiped her tears. “I’m a nurse, remember, we are just as clever as you military cop guys.”
Gabe smiled, sizing her up. “Well, you did good then.”
“She was under…for a long…time.” Aaron looked at Brianna who sniffled.
“It’s hard to tell, Aaron. The cold will help. She’s so strong.” Bri’s voice faded as more tears s
treaked her face.
Aaron held her gaze. They had all done what they could do. The fact that Vince Hanson was dead did little to take away the pain plaguing him. All he could see was Jenna falling and the splash into the deep water, maybe one of the bravest things he’d ever seen. Now he had to hope that in doing so she’d saved her life. He couldn’t lose her though, not like this. They had a wedding to plan and a life to build together with the children and he wouldn’t let her go, not ever.
Chapter Thirty
Aaron sat at Jenna’s bedside in the intensive care unit. He’d been sitting beside her bed for the last nineteen hours. Dr. Gates had called in a specialist who’d let them know that Jenna would recover, but it would take some time. He’d removed her tube and said when her brain was ready she would wake, that all the signs were positive, as she was breathing on her own and her vital signs were stable as was her EEG.
He and Gabe had been treated for mild hypothermia, and Tucker was being kept overnight for a mild concussion. Brianna had gone downstairs for coffee and now that he sat alone with Jenna, he touched her cheek. The last hours felt like a blur, but Gabe had let him know that Sarah and her sister had made it home with the children.
Fatigue had long since taken him, but he wouldn’t rest until she woke.
“Aaron?” Sarah entered with a light knock, walking closer and touching Jenna’s brow. “How is she?”
He shook his head. “The doc says she’ll wake up when she’s ready.”
Sarah set a duffle bag on the floor and a small brown bag on the table beside him. “I brought you a change of clothes and some dinner. Did you eat?”
He shrugged. Had he eaten? “No.”
“Well, you need to eat, Aaron, if you want to care for her. I have the children settled home. They’re fine.” Sarah reached inside the bag and pulled out a small thermos, opening the lid. “Homemade vegetable soup, thought it might warm you up.”
“Disneyland?” He glanced at Sarah, who had met her sister with the children and then moved right into a Disney hotel.
“I figured it would be a lot of trouble to find us there inside the park. Lily is dying to show you the pictures and tell you all about it.” Sarah smiled. “And Mason was all giggles the entire time. He is such a good baby.”
He nodded. “I missed them both so much it hurt.”
“Eat.” She waited. “They really are fine.”
Aaron dipped a heaping spoon and took a bite. The soup was still hot as it hit his empty gut. In spite of his mood, slight warmth spread through him.
“Good?”
He nodded taking another bite.
Sarah smiled, “Jeremiah’s home with the children and Amos. I understand your father saved the day. Did him good I suppose.”
“He’s always been the best. Figured it all out, never blinked an eye.” Aaron beamed. “Some heroes never know they are one.”
Sarah touched his hair pulling back a strand and kissing the top of his head, hugging him. “I was so frightened, Aaron.”
“I love you, mom.” Aaron needed her to know and set the soup aside, standing to embrace her.
“You know I can never hear that enough.” She wiped her tears. “You stay here and rest when you can. I’ll be with the children, please call us.”
He sat again, glancing at Jenna. He needed some kind of reassurance. Something to give him hope. “I can’t lose her.”
Sarah bent down before him. “Then don’t. You sit with her, hold her hand and talk to her. She needs rest and you.”
Sarah made it sound all right, but it was hard to see. He fought the tears filling his eyes, swallowing the lump in his throat. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “Jumping saved her life and she doesn’t even know it but she saved us all. The damn bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“She’s a strong woman and she’s been through a lot. She’s going to need you when she wakes, but you must eat and rest so you can be what she needs.” Sarah hugged him again, handing him the soup. “I’m going to head back home. Gabe said he’d be back in a while to sit with you. Oh, and in your bag is an envelope for Jenna from a Thomas Campbell. I wasn’t sure if you might need to see what it was about, given all that happened.”
He nodded. “I’ll look. Let me walk you out first.”
“No, you stay with Jenna. I’m fine.” Sarah kissed his cheek and touched Jenna’s hand once more before turning to go.
Aaron turned back to Jenna, grabbing his soup. He took another bite, letting the warm liquid hit bottom, closing his eyes for a moment. Everything still played through his mind. The terror in Jenna’s eyes, her fall and then the feel of her cold body in the frigid deep water. If Amos hadn’t snuffed out Vince Hanson, things could have gone much worse. As it stood now, Hanson was dead and the others working for Hanson were being detained and an FBI agent had been by to question him twice on what he knew about all that had taken place.
He glanced at his bag and lifted the envelope addressed to Jenna. This had to be Thomas’ answer about her script. He took a deep breath and opened it, pulling out the documents bound by a clip. Glancing quickly at the opening letter he smiled. Epic Films was making an offer. He knew it and shoved the papers back inside, setting it nearby.
He took another bite of his soup and set it aside and touched Jenna’s hand and spoke. “I’ll be here, as long as it takes.”
“Aa…ron.” Jenna’s hand gripped his.
Aaron sprang up beside her, startled. “I’m here.” He searched and hit the nurse call button.
Her eyes fluttered at the light as she tried to focus. “I was so…afraid.”
“Shhhh. It’s over.” Aaron pushed her hair back behind her ear.
“My head.” She closed her eyes for a second and then looked at him again. “Mason…and Lily?”
“Had a nice trip to Disneyland. They’re home safe.” Aaron pulled the blankets tighter around her and brought her hand to his lips. “I thought I’d lost you.”
She struggled to speak, holding her head. “Vince?”
He held her gaze for a moment and shook his head.
She nodded as Melinda, the nurse on duty came in.
“Jenna, you’re awake.” She came closer. “Do you know where you are?”
“The hospital,” Jenna answered.
“Good.” Melinda grabbed both of Jenna’s hands, “Squeeze.”
Jenna grimaced, but gripped the woman’s fingers.
“That’s good, now wiggle your toes?” Melinda pulled the covers back from her feet watching.
Jenna wiggled her toes, her eyes closing again.
Melinda pulled a penlight from her scrub pocket and spoke, “Let’s take a look at your pupils.” She shined the light in each of Jenna’s eyes more than once. “Your pupils look great and so do your vitals. You’ve had Decadron to help with your head.”
Jenna nodded, and looked at Aaron. “What…happened?”
“You landed in the water and it was all I could do to find you…you were under for a long time,” Aaron whispered, scooting to sit on the bed beside her.
“Explains…my head.” She squeezed her eyes closed.
“I’ll get you something for pain, but I need to let Dr. Conner know you’re awake.” Melinda pulled her blankets higher and entered her assessment into the Electronic medical record. “Everything looks good Jenna. I’ll be back in a few minutes with something for pain. On a scale of one to ten?”
“Twenty…” Jenna closed her eyes and squeezed tightly to Aaron’s hand as she left.
“I’m so sorry, Aaron. It’s my fault… I thought he’d kill you or your brothers. I’m sorry I left, but I had only a short time to pay for the land.” She broke into tears, her body trembling as she let go of her emotions, clinging to Aaron’s shirt, raising up with all the strength she could find to bury her face in his neck.
“Let it go, babe. It’s over.” Aaron lay her back against the pillow wishing he could dry her tears, but maybe she needed those and had for a long time. “No mor
e running.”
“Oh, God. Aaron, there are so many things.” She closed her eyes.
“Jen, you don’t have to. Rest for now.” Aaron pulled the blankets back up on her again.
“No, I…need to tell you. I was so scared for you and I saw Gabe and then Bri…Brianna. She’s all right?”
He smiled. “She’s been here the whole time. She went down for coffee.”
“You’ve been here too?”
Aaron nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
“When you yelled ‘jump’ I thought the rope would catch.” Jenna shook her head, her voice cracking. “It was so dark in the water and I couldn’t get my hands loose.”
“It’s the bravest thing…I’ve ever seen.” He touched her cheek.
“It’s not the fall…” She tried for a smile but winced.
“It’s the landing.” Aaron finished for her.
“It’s still hard to believe.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“I think you need to rest to find yourself again and you will,” Aaron whispered, stroking her hair.
“Jenna, Jennifer, Jenny…I’m not sure I know anymore.” She chuckled through her tears.
“One day at a time,” Aaron assured her with a soft kiss to the forehead.
“I should have asked you about the land, but I knew you wouldn’t let me…” She tried, her amber eyes more clear.
“You didn’t have to do that. I told you to stay put.” He still didn’t believe it himself and he wasn’t at all sure how he felt about it.
She shook her head. “My father left me that money as he used to say ‘to build dreams.’ I want this for you. And you wouldn’t let me out of your sights.”
He nodded. If that was how she wanted it. He still couldn’t believe she’d paid it all in full. “We’ll need a good nurse.”
She smiled, “I’d like that.”
“And I have a little something else Sarah brought by.” He lifted the envelope from Thomas Campbell and handed it to her.