Search and Rescue by April Wilson

Chapter 12

Killian Devereaux

Just after dawn, Owen steps onto the front porch and catches my gaze through the window.

“It’s stopped snowing,” he says. “The helo will be able to fly in.”

I nod, then hail Jake on the radio. We coordinate the evacuation, then sign off.

The women are still sleeping, and I hate to wake them, but I need to get Hannah ready to travel. She’ll need her outerwear on, and then I’ll wrap her in the wool blanket and carry her to the exfil site.

I wake Maggie first. She jolts awake, sitting up in confusion.

“It’s about time to go,” I tell her. “You should eat something first. You’ll need the energy. There are protein bars in my pack. Help yourself. Or you can heat up one of the freeze-dried meals.”

There won’t be room for everyone in the helicopter, so some of us are hiking out. I’m just not entirely sure who yet.

After Maggie gets herself ready, she wakes Hannah. I step out of the cabin for a short time to let both women use the potty chair.

When they’re done, Maggie sets the bucket out on the porch, and I take care of it.

When I return to the shack, Hannah is sitting up in bed, fully dressed, and eating a protein bar. “Ready to go?” I ask her. I nod toward the door. “Owen says the helo’s ETA is thirty minutes. We should head for the exfil site.”

Hannah fingercombs her shoulder-length brown hair and ties it back in a ponytail. Then she pulls on her hat and coat. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Before we leave the shack, I slip my gloves onto her hands and wrap her in the wool blanket.

“No, you keep the gloves,” Hannah says. “You’ll need them.”

“You need them more,” I tell her. “This isn’t negotiable.”

“But I’ll be wrapped up in a blanket, and your hands will be bare. Killian, please—”

I reach down to cup her left cheek, which is free of cuts. “No arguments.”

“You’re wasting your time arguing with him, Hannah,” Maggie says as she puts out the fire in the stove. “I know a stubborn man when I see one.”

“Well, I’m stubborn, too,” Hannah says, glaring at me in the process.

After I make sure Hannah is wrapped securely in the blanket, I lift her into my arms and carry her out the door. Maggie closes it behind us.

Owen is waiting in the yard. “Ready to travel?”

I nod as I readjust my grip on Hannah. “Let’s go.”

Owen leads the way, with Maggie behind him, and I take up the rear. Maggie and I follow in Owen’s footprints through the snow, making the going easier.

When we arrive at the designated rendezvous site, I brush the snow off a fallen nearby log so Hannah has a place to sit while we wait for the chopper.

It’s not a long wait. We hear the chopper before we see it, the familiar whup, whup, whup sound of the blades filling the quiet morning air.

Owen had already marked the landing site clearly with some fallen branches, and we stand back as the pilot lands right on the designated spot.

The pilot remains in his seat, keeping the blades running, but the medic jumps out of the front passenger seat, and Jake McIntyre jumps out of the rear. Three of them flew up here, which means there’s only room for one more to fly back with them: Hannah. The rest of us will have to walk out.

Jake heads straight for his sister, crouches down in front of her, and cups her poor battered face. Then he leans forward and kisses her forehead. “You about gave us all heart attacks,” he says as he scans her face. “Please tell me you’re okay.”

Hannah smiles at her brother. “I’m okay.” Then she glances my way. “Thanks to Killian.”

“They didn’t hurt you?” Jake asks.

Hannah knows exactly what he’s asking. She shakes her head. “My injuries are all superficial, except for my ankle. I’m afraid it’s broken.”

“We’ll find out as soon as we get you to the hospital.” He brushes her hair back as he examines her face. “Mom and Dad are on their way from the airport. Most of the family is. They’ll come to the hospital as soon as they arrive.”

Jake stands and approaches me, his hand outstretched. We shake, and then he pulls me close for a bear hug. “Thank you, Killian,” he says, his voice shaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so emotional before. “I’m in your debt. My whole family is.”

“No need to thank me.” I glance at the medic, who’s now assessing Hannah. “I’m glad I could help.”

“Let’s get her into the helicopter,” the medic says.

Beating me to it, Jake steps forward and scoops Hannah into his arms and carries her to the chopper. After sitting her gingerly on the rear passenger seat and buckling her in, he climbs in to sit beside her. The medic climbs up into the front passenger seat.

Yep, it looks like I’m walking.

I swallow my disappointment hard, like it’s a rock lodged in my throat. I have no claim over Hannah. Jake’s her brother; of course he should fly out with her and see her to the hospital.

I approach the chopper and glance up at Hannah one last time. She’s looking right at me, her eyes wide. She looks a bit lost as she reaches out to me, and I take her gloved hand in mine. She squeezes my hand hard. “You’re not coming with me?”

I shake my head. “Sorry, but there’s no room. I’ll hike out with Maggie and Owen.”

She whips off my gloves and offers them back to me. “You take these. You’ll need them to get down the mountain.”

I step back. “Keep them. Your hands will get cold.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “I can’t take them.” She extends them farther toward me. “Killian, please.”

Jake pulls his own gloves off and hands them to me. “Here, take mine.”

Before I can decline his offer, he nods toward his sister and gives me a hard look. Take the damn gloves.

I nod to Jake. “Thanks.” To Hannah, I say, “I’ll see you soon, okay?” My heart’s pounding, and I hate the idea that she’s about to be taken away without me.

I step back from the rotors, and the chopper lifts into the air.

Hannah waves at me as they ascend.

I don’t know how long I stand there, watching the helo bank and head toward town. I don’t snap out of it until Maggie comes up beside me and pats me on the back.

“She’ll be fine,” she says.

I suck in a deep, frigid breath, hating how bereft I feel. For once, even for just a short time, I mattered to Hannah. And now she’s gone, and I can’t help fearing that I won’t matter again.

“Let’s go,” Maggie says. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get to the hospital.” She grabs my sleeve and pulls me back in the direction of the shack.  “Come on, Romeo.”

I glance up to see Owen already leading the way. Maggie follows him, and I take up the rear. We can’t let our guard down. Those poachers are still out there, and they’re looking for blood.