Page 49 of Rescuer
“It’s not one of ours. Ours would be white and blue. I’ve never seen that design before.”
The bird hovered over the clearing.
“They’re going to know we’re here,” Mia whispered.
Jackson waited for the hatch to open and for someone to climb down to track them. “God, we could really use some help here.”
Mia jerked. He felt her gaze boring into him, but he kept his eyes on the drama playing out above.
Lightning flashed right next to the helicopter. Within two seconds, thunder boomed. Jackson grinned. The storm he’d dreaded had arrived. And it might have saved them. If the helicopter pilot had any sense of self-preservation, he’d flee the area as quick as he could. Thunderstorms and helicopters weren’t a good match.
Sure enough, the helicopter tilted and flew in the opposite direction of the storm, its whirring blades stirring the branches and lifting the hair off their necks.
Neither Mia nor Jackson stood until the sounds faded and all they could hear was the fierce storm rising around them.
“We have to find shelter.” Jackson raised his voice.
“I don’t know this area. You go first.”
Saying he knew the area was a stretch. He knew the place where the boys had camped. He’d camped there himself. However, he’d never been in this area before. Still, they had no choice but to keep going.
Thankfully, the trees kept most of the rain off them. Most, but not all. Within thirty minutes, Mia’s teeth were chattering. As soon as they found shelter, hopefully she’d be able to dry off. Had she even packed another set of clothes? He always did, but he was outdoorsy. When they’d been together, her idea of roughing it had included a cabin with a full kitchen, working plumbing, and a fireplace.
Plus, she clearly hadn’t planned to be gone more than a couple of hours.
Briefly, guilt ate at him for dragging her into his family drama. He kicked it aside. She’d offered to help, and she was an adult. If she hadn’t wanted to help, she could have said no.
His side burned. The meds had taken care of the headache, but he felt like he’d been run over by a truck. He’d have to wrap his ribs.
“Look!” Mia pointed to the left.
Finally. A cave.
“Let’s get closer, then I’ll look to make sure it isn’t already occupied.”
She swallowed, hard. “I really don’t want to hunker down with a bear. Or a rattlesnake.”
“Not my idea of fun either.”
She snickered.
“What?” He narrowed his eyes at her.
“Like that time we went for a walk and that snake fell out of a tree and landed on your head? It terrified you.”
He put a hand over his chest and did his best snobbish posture. “My dear girl, I was slightly startled.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, smothering her laugh. She laughed so hard, tears fell from her eyes. “Startled?” Snicker. Snort. “You screamed and waved your arms like you were trying to fly.”
He grinned. “I might have made some noise, but I think the poison ivy was worse than the snake.”
“I did try to warn you it was there.”
“You did. In my defense, I’d already started falling before you pointed it out. And it was everywhere, so it didn’t matter where I landed. I itched for days.”
Still snickering, she followed him toward the cave. The spot between his shoulder blades started to tingle, then Mia gasped and spun around.
“What’s wrong?” Jackson halted, his hand going to his gun. He scooted closer until he felt the warmth of her through his T-shirt.
