Wilde Side

by Jannine Gallant

  “You’re surrounded by politicians who are all about the present—and the future of their careers—not bygone eras.”

  She nodded. “Exactly. If they looked to the past a little more often, maybe they wouldn’t repeat the same bone-headed mistakes over and over again.”

  His chuckle echoed through the cavern. “You tell ’em, Devin.”

  “On that note, I think I’ll go see where Walton has wandered off to.”

  “I’ll be out in a minute. I noticed a water bottle on the ground in the back.” He hitched his thumb toward the rear of the cavern. “Someone in the group must have dropped it.”

  “Leave no trace, right?”

  “You bet.”

  Devin headed into the sunlight and glanced around. A flash of red down in the bushes caught her eye before she spotted her boss on the narrow ledge past the cave’s entrance. “There you are, Walton.” She raised her voice to be heard over the roar of the falls. “Enjoying yourself?”

  He turned and motioned her over. “Pretty spectacular, isn’t it.”

  Mist from the cascading water dampened her skin as she joined him at the edge of the cliff. Rocks and bushes fell away from their feet in a dizzying plunge. “Yes, it is. Not much like the view from your office window.”

  “You’ve got that right. After the last few months of endless campaigning, I needed a solid dose of Mother Nature to recharge my batteries. This trip isn’t just about gaining popularity with voters.”

  She grinned. “Multitasking at its finest?”

  Pain exploded in her back. Arms flailing, she tumbled over the cliff’s edge. A shrill scream wrenched from her throat as she plunged downward. Rocks gouged into her legs and arms as she slid. When she crashed through a prickly bush, she grabbed on and clung, desperation lending strength to her grip. Momentum nearly jerked her arms out of their sockets. Gasping for breath, head throbbing, she dug in with her toes, searching for a foothold in the crumbling earth.

  “Devin!” Sawyer’s shout was edged in panic.

  “I’m okay, I think.”

  “Shit! Walton, are you hurt?”

  A moan came from her left. Devin craned her neck to see the congressman sprawled against the base of a tree growing out of the slope several yards away.

  “Oh, my God. Walton! Walton!”

  “Don’t panic. I’m not dead yet.” The gruff response ended on another moan. “Damn, but I hurt, though.”

  “I’m coming down.” The alarm in Sawyer’s voice ramped up a notch. “I’ll try not to spray you with rocks, but keep your head covered if you can.”

  “No, Sawyer!” Her heart pounded in a deafening rhythm. “It’s too steep. You’ll fall, too.”

  “I wouldn’t try it without a rope.”

  Devin tilted her head and squinted against the sun to see who’d spoken. Liam stood beside Sawyer, his face pale.

  “There’s a rope in the raft. Can you run down to get it along with the first aid kit?” Sawyer fisted his hands on his hips. “I don’t want to leave them. If either starts to slip, I’m climbing down without the rope.”

  Roman stepped up beside the two men. “I’ll go. I’m faster.” He brushed past Charles, who’d joined them on the ledge, and took off without waiting for an answer.

  “You have a good grip, Devin?” Sawyer’s voice again, filled with worry.

  “Hanging in there…I mean here.” A giggle slipped out and ended on a sob. Blood trickled from her palms and ran down her arms.

  “You don’t sound so good. If I’m careful I can—”

  “No!” She forced down bubbling hysteria. Quit freaking out before he kills himself trying to save me. “I’ve got a toe hold dug into the hillside, and this bush seems pretty sturdy. I can last as long as I need to.”

  “What about you, Walton?”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’m wedged in tight. Thank God the tree broke my fall, or I’d have been a goner for sure.”

  “What the hell happened?” Sawyer’s voice was harsh.

  “Rocks. One nailed me square in the back. Felt like I’d been hit by a baseball. What about you, Devin?”

  “The same.” She rested her cheek against her quivering arm. “They must have been dislodged from up above.”

  Sawyer didn’t answer. As the silence lengthened, Devin’s nerves stretched to the snapping point. Teeth gritted, she shifted to ease the weight on her arms then glanced up.

  “That’s not possible.” His voice was sharp.

  “What do you mean?” She was almost too tired to care. Following the conversation was taking more effort than she had available.

  “The angle isn’t right. Rocks bouncing over the cliff wouldn’t have hit you in the back. Maybe in the head. Did you hear anything beforehand?”

  “Not that I remember. What are you saying?” Walton’s voice shook.

  “Someone must have thrown those rocks. Someone tried to kill you.”

  Chapter 9

  The urge to slide down the cliff to Devin, a good fifteen feet away, caused a physical ache in Sawyer’s chest. He forced back rising panic as the minutes ticked by. Her arms and legs were streaked with blood. Dirt coated every inch of her, from the top of her head to her hiking shoes that dug for purchase on the crumbling slope. Thank God she’d taken the time to change out of her sandals. Only the knowledge that he’d probably send them both plummeting to their deaths if he attempted to reach her kept him in place, pacing on the ledge above.

  “Where the hell is Roman with that rope?”

  “The kid’s only been gone ten minutes. He should be back soon.” Charles pressed one hand against the rock wall behind him then took a quick peek over the edge of the drop. “Walton hasn’t moved an inch, thank heavens. I don’t know how I’d face my sister if he didn’t make it out of here alive.”

  “I’d say that was someone’s goal.” Sawyer clenched his fists and shot a quick glance over at his godfather before returning his gaze to Devin. Assured she still had a tight grip on the bush, he faced the other two men.

  Liam Kennedy scratched a mosquito bite then frowned. “Who would try to kill him? No one was around but us. It must have been an accident.”

  Sawyer’s eyes narrowed. “Did you see them fall over the cliff?”

  “Nope, I was taking a whiz over in those bushes with my back to them. I didn’t see anything or anyone.”

  Charles hunched one shoulder. “I didn’t see them fall, either. I’d started back down the trail then stopped when I heard Devin scream.”

  Sawyer glanced over the edge at the woman he’d grown so crazy about during the last few days. Her eyes were closed, but her lips moved. He couldn’t hear what she was saying over the roar of the falls. Praying? Knowing Devin, she was probably swearing.

  If anything happened to her… He drew in a long, shaky breath and focused on what he’d been asking. “Where was Roman when they fell?”

  The journalist shrugged. “Last time I saw him, he was down by the pool with Walton. I’m not sure where he went after the congressman hiked back up.”

  Sawyer glanced over at Charles. “Did you see him?”

  “Afraid not. After I left you and Devin in the cave, I didn’t notice Roman or Liam…or Walton, for that matter. No one was in sight when I started down the hill, but then I wasn’t really paying much attention.”

  Kennedy jerked back. “This is beginning to feel like an interrogation. You aren’t implying one of us tried to hurt the congressman and Devin, are you?”

  “As you pointed out, no one else was around.”

  “You’ve lost your mind.” His voice rose. “The rocks that hit them must have fallen from up by the top of the falls. A mini slide or something. Maybe the stones were shaken loose by an animal. There’re squirrels all over the place.”

  Sawyer turned away. Liam’s theory was what he’d like to believe had happened, but logic told him a freaking squirrel hadn’t knocked rocks over the cliff. The resp
onsible party had deliberately thrown those rocks…and was distinctly human.

  Charles tapped his arm. “Here comes Roman.”

  He let out a breath. “Thank God.”

  Jon ran up the trail behind the younger guide. He dropped a first aid kit on the ground as Sawyer took the rope from Roman. “What the hell happened?”

  Sawyer met Jon’s gaze. “Good question. I wish I knew, but right now my only concern is to bring them both up safely. Yancy and the boys didn’t come with you?”

  “I told the kids to stay out of the way. Yancy stopped down below to film. Said he couldn’t waste the opportunity to capture a real-life rescue on tape. Ratings will be through the roof.”

  “Shit.”

  “My thought exactly.” Jon turned. “There’s nothing to hook the rope to. I’ll tie it around my waist and wrap my arms around that rock over there to be your anchor while the rest of you pull them up.”

  “There’ll barely be room for Charles and Roman and me to get some leverage.” Sawyer handed one end of the rope to Jon. “Knot it tight.”

  Roman looked over the edge. “Who’re we bringing up first?”

  Sawyer glanced down and forced out an even breath. “Devin. I’m amazed she’s held on this long, and Walton is firmly wedged against the tree.” He knelt down and raised his voice. “Devin?”

  “You hauling me up?”

  She sounded near tears. His fist clenched around the rope before he loosened his grip to double the end over and tie a secure loop.

  “You bet. I’m going to drop the rope down to you. Can you grab the loop and hold on?”

  “I’d better be able to. Let me get my feet securely anchored before you do.”

  “We’ll start pulling you up the second you have a tight grip. If you can walk up the hillside instead of getting dragged, it’ll take some of the pressure off your arms.”

  “Ready on this end,” Jon called.

  The other two men got into position as Sawyer straightened and fed out the rope until the end dangled just above her head. “Slip your hand into the loop and hold tight.”

  “I don’t know if I can let go of the bush.” Her voice quavered.

  “You can do it. One hand then the other. Grab onto the knot.” He met her terrified gaze. “We’ve got you, babe.”

  “Grab the damn rope, Devin.” Walton raised his voice. “Don’t make me come over there and kick your butt!”

  She let out a feeble laugh then made a lunging grab. The rope stretched taunt.

  “Pull together.” Sawyer tightened his grip. “Steady. Steady.”

  Devin dug into the hillside with her knees and feet as they drew her upward.

  “Only a couple more yards.” His arms strained as she slipped then pushed off again. “Almost there.” Bending, he grabbed her under the arms to haul her up onto the ledge. Dropping to the ground, he pulled her against his chest and squeezed tight.

  “I was so, so scared.” Tears dampened his shirt before she lifted her chin to give him a watery smile.

  He kissed the top of her head. “Not half as scared as I was.”

  “Get Walton.”

  Sawyer forced himself to release her then helped her to her feet. “Can you walk?”

  “I’ve got her.” Liam set down his video camera and wrapped an arm around Devin’s waist to lead her out of the way.

  Taking a deep breath, Sawyer let it out slowly and focused on his godfather. “Your turn.”

  “I’m ready, but I’m not sure I can hold on the way Devin did. I must weigh twice as much as she does.”

  “You won’t have to. The way you’re wedged in, you should be able to slip the rope around your waist and secure it. I’m making a loop that’ll pull tight once you have it in place.”

  “Sounds like a solid plan.”

  “Here we go.” He glanced back at Charles then met Roman’s gaze. “You two ready? He’s going to be damn heavy.”

  Roman nodded. “Don’t worry, we can take it.”

  When Liam returned and resumed his position, video camera poised, Sawyer gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to toss it off the cliff. “I’m throwing the rope down now. Tie it around your waist then hold on.”

  With a few grunts and some maneuvering, Walton positioned the rope. “I’m ready when you are.”

  “Good.” Sawyer glanced behind him. “Let’s do this.”

  Together they reeled in the rope. His arms shook under the strain as he planted his feet and hauled the dead weight upward.

  “Shit! He weighs a ton,” Charles huffed.

  “That’s it, Walton.” Sawyer gasped for breath. “Get your feet under you and scramble up.”

  As his godfather’s head rose above the edge of the cliff, Liam finally put down the camera and squeezed in beside them to drag Walton up onto the ledge.

  “Made it.” He let go of a shaky smile as he crawled onto stable ground. “I wasn’t so sure I would.”

  Sawyer laid a hand on Walton’s shoulder. “Rest for a minute, and then I want to check out those abrasions. You have a couple of nasty cuts on your arms.”

  He nodded and leaned back against the rock wall. “Go check on Devin first.”

  Jon stepped forward and handed over the first aid kit. “I’ll assess the congressman for anything major while you work on Devin. Her hands are a mess.”

  Sawyer found her sitting just inside the cave. Her face was coated in dust and streaked with blood and tears, but her smile was beautiful. He knelt beside her. “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself. Thanks for hauling me up.”

  “I don’t know what to say. Seeing you like that…” He let out a shaky breath. “Probably took ten years off my life.” His fingers trembled as he uncapped a water bottle and handed it to her. “What hurts the worst?”

  She rinsed her mouth out then spat before taking a drink. “I can still move everything. That’s good, right?” She shifted and winced. “My arms ache like mad, but I don’t think I dislocated anything.” She wiggled her right foot. “My ankle hurts, too. I may have sprained it. And my back feels bruised from where the rock hit me.”

  He picked up her left hand and turned it over then sucked in a breath. “Your palm is shredded.”

  “Yeah, I thanked God for that damned prickly bush since it probably saved my life, but I was swearing at it at the same time. The thorns did a number on both my hands.”

  “Let me check your ankle.” He ran his palm down her calf to her foot. When she winced, his lips tightened. “Feels a little swollen. I’ll wrap it in an elastic bandage. But first, let me give you something for the pain. You allergic to anything?”

  “No. Ibuprofen should take the edge off and maybe help with the inflammation.”

  He found the tablets in the first aid kit and handed two to her. After she swallowed them with more water, he took the bottle from her.

  “I want to wash out those cuts and abrasions, but I can’t do a thorough job here. Let’s wrap your ankle then get you back down to the river. I’ll carry you if you can’t walk.”

  “I’m not going to argue.” She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes as he went to work on her ankle with a bandage from the kit. “Is Walton okay?”

  “Battered and bruised, but he seemed to be in better shape than you thanks to that tree he landed against. I’ll check him when I’m finished here.”

  “No need.” Walton stepped into the cave and flashed a tired looking smile. “My ribs are bruised, and my back hurts, but I’m moving under my own steam. You okay, Devin?”

  She nodded. “Nothing a bath in the river, a bottle of antiseptic and a few bandages won’t fix.”

  His brow furrowed. “I know you’re as tough as they come, but don’t try to do too much.”

  “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you. Don’t decide you have to be a hero, even if it does look good on TV.”

  He snorted. “Nothing like taking advantage of our misfor
tune. I made Liam turn off his camera. Damn vulture.”

  Jon cleared his throat. “I’m going to start down with Walton. Do you need any help here? Should I ask Roman to wait for you?”

  “Nope, we’ll be along in a few minutes.” Sawyer closed the first aid kit and handed it to Jon. “You can take this since I may need both hands free to carry Devin.”

  He grabbed the kit and tucked it under his arm. “See you at the bottom in a few minutes.”

  After the others passed by the cave’s entrance on their way down the hill, Sawyer wrapped an arm around Devin and rested his cheek against her filthy hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened in my life. Hearing you scream and seeing you dangling from that damned bush like a discarded doll…” He shuddered.

  “You really think someone threw those rocks at us on purpose?” Her eyes were wide when she glanced up at him.

  “You would have heard a rockslide start up above. Honestly, though, I think you were nothing more than collateral damage.”

  “You mean they were intended for Walton.” Her voice hardened. “I just got in the way.”

  “Or whoever threw the rocks didn’t want to take a chance you’d see him if you were left standing.”

  “Who would do such a thing? It’s not like Walton has a political rival up here in the middle of nowhere. No one was around but our group.”

  “Unless someone who isn’t in our party beached a raft nearby and hiked up to the falls.”

  She let out a sigh. “This doesn’t seem real.”

  “Those cuts and scrapes are plenty real.” He stood then gripped her elbows to help her to her feet. “Let’s get you out of here so we can treat your hands.”

  She shifted her weight to her right foot and winced. “It hurts a little, but I can walk.”

  “Forget it.” Lifting her into his arms, he stepped out into the fading sunlight. “Careful of your palms, but I want you to try to hold on around my neck.”

  She grinned. “Bet you’re glad I’m not built like Walton.”

  “Honey, if you were built like Walton, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have spent the last couple of nights snuggled up together in your tent.”