Page 37 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

“Athena. It’s Roark. There has been an accident. Jessica slipped and is about twenty feet below the path. Tell Jubal that I’m at my camping spot. He’ll know where that is. Get a copter here as soon as possible.”

“It might be faster if Mannie flies up and gets you to take her to the hospital. Then you could go together.”

“Good idea. Get Mannie up here and send an Ace bandage so I can wrap it and hopefully give her some relief from the pain.”

“Will do. You can expect Mannie in about fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting.” He signed off.

Roark thought about going back up to be with Jessica, but he’d miss Mannie if he did. It was better if he waited. He paced around the meadow. From tree line to tree line, straight across the meadow and back. He lost count of how many repetitions he’d done by the time he heard the whirr of the chopper blades.

Mannie landed in the middle of the meadow.

Jubal jumped out and ran to Roark, carrying a rope, a harness, and an Ace bandage. “Here you go, Boss. Where is she?”

“Follow me. How much rope did you bring?”

“One-hundred yards.”

Roark was huffing as he ran toward the rocks and the climb.It’s getting dark. I need to get her now.

He and Jubal reached the site.

Roark called over the side. “Jessica? How you doing, baby?”

“I’m still here and I’m doing fine, but I wouldn’t turn down a Vicodin right about now.”

“Can you put on a harness and we can haul you up?” He looked over at Jubal, who was tying the rope off to a pine tree. It would hold strong.

“I can’t. I’m unable to maneuver on this ledge.”

“Okay, sweetie. I’ll come down and get you. Do you trust me?”

“Do I have a choice?”

He chuckled. “No, babe you don’t.” He turned to Jubal. “Can you haul us up alone?”

“As long as you’re helping, I can do it. Or I can keep the rope taut if you climb it. It’s up to you, Roark.”

“I can probably climb, and that will be easier on you. If you looped the rope around you and back up as I climb, we’ll have her up in no time.”

Jubal nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Roark watched as he wrapped the rope around his waist three times. Roark knew it was three times, so it wouldn’t get too tight as he hauled Roark and Jessica up from the ledge.

He lowered himself on the rope to the ledge Jessica was on. Looking at it he cringed. It was a miracle she’d landed there and not missed it entirely. “Jessica, honey, can you stand?”

“Yes, give me a minute.”

“I can help if it would be easier.”

“No, I don’t think it would be easier,” she snapped.

He realized she wasn’t furious with him, but with the situation. It was out of her control, and she didn’t like it one bit.

She stood by using the rock face and finding finger holds to pull herself up.”

“That’s great. I’m going to lean down until I’m the same height as a large dog. I need you to get on my back, wrap your legs around my waist, and your arms around my neck. Just don’t squeeze me too tight. I need to breathe.”