Page 46 of Rescuer
He didn’t know how to use a gun.
She raised her own weapon again, but he had quickly figured out what to do and fired. He nicked the rock surface and dislodged several large chunks. One of them knocked the gun from her hand.
He grinned at her.
But she’d had enough. She reached around Jackson and grabbed the gun from his holster, released the safety, took aim, and shot. Her shot was true, and the man clutched his shoulder.
He stumbled back, screaming.
“Come on, Jackson. We need to hurry.”
She urged him to descend again. They were only fifteen feet from the bottom. The uneven ground reached out to them with jagged rocks and patches of gravel. The rocks near the river seemed smoother. Roots jutted from the cliff at odd places where erosion had lifted the land away over centuries. The moment her feet touched down, sheer emotion walloped her, but she didn’t have the time to weep.
Quickly, she unfastened her harness, leaving the line hanging. Then she turned to Jackson. He seemed to have recovered some. He was trying to untangle himself, but his hands weren’t quite steady.
She reached over and knocked his hands away so she could free him. Then she bent and retrieved the gun that had fallen earlier.
“We have to move.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward some boulders. They’d provide some cover while they regrouped and planned. She refused to consider what she’d do if Jackson didn’t fully recover. What if he went into shock? His trembling hands could be a sign of that.
When they were no longer out in the open, she eased him down onto the rocks. Then she bent over and looked in his eyes. “I’m no doctor, but they look normal to me.”
Her gaze scraped his head. “Your head has stopped bleeding, so I won’t worry about that. Except…” She took off her pack and opened it. Rifled around inside until she found what she was looking for. “Here it is.”
She yanked a white box from the pack.
“First aid kit?”
She nodded at Jackson. “You’re already better if you’re talking.”
“I’m fine. That blow to the head knocked me for a loop for a minute, but I’m fine.”
“Hmmm. Well, you don’t look like you’re in shock. Your color is good.” She put the back of her hand against his forehead. His skin was warm. Inviting. Flushed, she pulled her hand back. “You’re not clammy, so that’s good.”
“Did I imagine it, or did you shoot someone with my gun?”
“I did.” She handed it back to him. “It’s a very nice weapon.”
“That was impressive.”
“Wasn’t the point.” Mia’s glance scanned the area. She listened. Nothing but the river flowing. She kept her voice low. “I don’t hear anyone, but I can’t help thinking he’s at the top, just waiting for us to come out of hiding so he can finish us off.”
Jackson shifted, hissing in pain. He pressed his hand to his ribs. When he went to stand, she leaped forward, hands out to assist him. He waved her away. “I’m okay. I bruised my side.”
“You might have cracked a rib.”
He shrugged. “Might have. I’ll tape it up. I don’t think that guy will be coming for us again. You buried a bullet in his shoulder. That will need medical attention, or he’ll bleed out. So my thought is, let’s see what we can find out.”
“Wait!” she said.
He stepped out of their hiding spot. Typical Jackson. Listen to no one and take ridiculous risks. She was tempted to let him find out if danger lurked by himself.
But he’d been injured. What if this was his injury talking?
She scrambled to catch up to him, her eyes bouncing around like Ping-Pong balls, desperate to take in every movement, to see the killers before the killers saw them.
Nothing caught her attention. No one shooting down at them. No voices.
Then Jackson stopped. She followed his gaze.
