Stay: Changing Tides, Book 1 (11 page)

Jeremy’s face burned through his mind and he crawled closer, thick emotion choking his voice. “Let me help, Abby.”

She nodded, her whispered count loud. One, two, three… “H-have to s-save him.”

He breathed in between her counts, the boy’s ice-cold lips ripping at his heart. One, two, three…

Everything around them blurred with the motion of being hauled backwards. If it had taken a long time to reach them, the return trip was an eternity. He breathed again, filling the boy’s chest. Please, he prayed. Children were the worst. A loss so profound, it couldn’t be defined. “Come on, Hunter.”

Abby ripped her gloves off and repositioned her fingers on Hunter’s chest. Her even strokes willed the boy’s heart to work again. Tears streaked her face. The shouts from shore were closer now. He breathed for Hunter again. “We’re almost there Abby. Don’t stop.”

“I w-won’t.” But her movements were slowing, her exhaustion evident in the ragged breaths she took.

He breathed again and pulled her away from the boy as several members of the team crashed through the water to them. Abby fought against him, her struggles lacking any real strength. “It’s okay, Abby. We did it. We’re in.”

She glanced around, her body trembling in his arms, eyes wide as she watched Linda and Sam carry Hunter from the raft. Rand came over as well and held his arms out to Abby. Brack passed her down and rolled from the raft. Hands supported him as he struggled up the embankment to shore.

Dana was carried ashore as well, and in a blur of exhaustion and cold, Brack found himself in the back of the rescue truck, covered in blankets as he struggled out of his survival gear. Through the fogged window he could just make out the lights from the two ambulances as they left the scene with Dana and Hunter. He had no idea what had happened to Abby, but there was one thing he was certain of. When she was warm, safe, rested—he was going to strangle her for jumping in the water.

Abby closed her eyes, rubbing at her temple to alleviate the dull ache that had settled there. “Rand, would you give it a rest?”

He climbed into the back of the rescue truck. “I just want to make sure you’re all right.”

She shot a glance at the young female medic pulling down a blood pressure cuff. “Would you tell him I’m fine?”

The woman smiled. “That’s Rand for you.” She held out a hand. “I’m Celia Masters, and I’ve got a feeling we’ll be seeing more of each other in the future. ’Course I hope it’s not too often in this capacity. Welcome to Brighton.”

“Thanks.” Abby rolled her eyes toward Rand. “It’s nice to meet someone who isn’t susceptible to the Elliot charm.”

Celia wrapped the cuff around her arm with a laugh. “Have you met Lawson yet?”

Abby pulled the warm blanket tighter on her shoulders. Had she been freezing only twenty minutes ago? A slight chill remained, and the occasional shiver still couldn’t be controlled but otherwise, she felt great. “Not yet.”

“He’s my favorite.” She winked at Rand. “Sorry, hon.”

“Yeah, the rest of us homely Elliot boys are used to hearing that.” Rand shifted his weight to lean against the door. “So, is she okay?”

Shooting him an evil glare with a quiet mutter about pests, Celia concentrated on her task. After she’d finished, she looped her stethoscope around her neck. “If I hadn’t seen it, I never would have believed you’d been in the water.”

“Coast Guard training tends to knock the shock reaction out of you. Can’t count how many times I’ve been in cold water.” Curiosity with a dash of surprise flittered across Celia’s face, but Abby had seen it too many times for it to affect her anymore. Still, in such a modern world, a woman performing what used to be an exclusively male occupation shouldn’t be such an oddity. “Am I free?”

“All set.”

She grabbed her survival suit and jumped down from the truck. “Thanks for your help, Celia.”

“Hang on.” Rand grabbed her suit and looped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

With a tired nod, she shifted out of his embrace. “Give me a few minutes to talk to Brack?”

“He’s in Rescue Two. But you need to keep warm.” The distance she’d tried to place between them closed again as he tugged at the blanket, tucking the folds beneath her chin. When she pulled back again, an unidentifiable emotion creased his brows. “There. Better?”

His hands dropped away, and this time, he didn’t try to bring her close again. “Yes. Much better, thanks.”

Sam and Linda were wrapped in blankets, both with smiles in place as Linda rushed forward. Her hands bunched in the blanket caused the edges to billow out behind her like a cape. “Abby, you guys did it. Hunter’s tired and cold, but he’ll be fine. It’ll just take some time for him to be feeling normal again.”

“And the dad?”

“Happy to have his son.” She shook her head. “Though if his wife has her way, he’ll be paying for tonight’s stupid decision for a long time.”

Sam and Rand laughed at her comment. Some of the other team members were gathering as they repacked and hauled away equipment. Laughter and easy conversation started again. An amazing change from before.

Relief washed over her. Nothing compared to knowing a victim would survive, but when that victim was a child, the emotions were difficult to control. Tears brimmed in her eyes and she blinked to keep them in check. She pulled Linda aside. “Does Brack know yet?”

Linda pointed to where Rescue Two was parked. “He’s still in there. His suit was leaking so they’re trying to get his feet warmed up.”

Abby’s heart lurched. The water temperature had been brutal with the neoprene barrier. She knew the bite of the cold without it would have been agonizing. “Thanks, Linda. If you don’t mind, I’d like to tell him.”

“Sure, honey.”

Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, her legs barely able to carry her up the small hill where the other rescue truck sat. The soft rumble of Brack’s voice reached out to her as she neared, and she smiled as his words became clearer. One of the poor emergency responders received the brunt of his frustration. Evidently, Brack felt they’d kept him for too long.

She leaned against the door and peeked inside. The windows were somewhat fogged, but she could still make out his scowling face. He barked and snapped at the man and woman trying to help him. Grabbing the door latch, she tugged it open. “Having trouble with your patient?”

“Absolutely friggin’ stubborn. Damn jackass on my grandpa’s farm has more manners,” the female answered with a disgusted snort.

Brack’s gaze met hers. “How come they cut you loose so quickly?”

His bare feet were settled in a bowl of water. He couldn’t go anywhere, and that simple fact sparked the devil in her mind. “Guess I’m just better equipped for the cold.”

Both EMTs backed away as Brack leaned forward until his face was inches from hers. “You are the last person who wants to test my patience right now.”

Unaffected—well that wasn’t actually the truth. Having him that close with such a wealth of anger flashing in the deep blue of his eyes, was—unsettling. But she wasn’t about to show him that. She’d ignored her wants and desires for her entire life. She’d do so now, even if the urge to press her palm to his cheek made her fingers tingle. “Why’s that, Captain?”

“You got out of the raft.” Lines etched his forehead with his deepening scowl. “Against orders.”

She shrugged, balling her fists at her sides to keep her hands from shaking. “I didn’t realize that order was in effect while our victims were drowning.”

“You knew damn well it was!”

“Really?” She could accept that he was pissed. Knowing more about his past put numerous things into perspective. But he was being unfair now. “You’re telling me you’d be having this shit-fit if Rand had jumped in the water?”

“Goddamn right.”

His shout rattled the interior of the truck, but she just settled back against the door. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. So, yell all you want. I did what needed to be done.”

“Against orders.”

“Against biased orders, Captain. When you make my orders the same as the rest of the team, I’ll follow them. But what’s really bothering you? The fact that I didn’t follow your orders? Or that you can’t control me like you do everything else? Or maybe it’s that I managed to save the kid on my own without your omniscient help? Is the problem that I could have gone back for the father if you hadn’t pulled me in? Steal your thunder, did I?”

The bucket of water tipped precariously when he lurched forward to grab her arm. “Let’s get one thing straight. I could care less who runs up a tally on saves. I’m here to help people, and to keep my team safe in the process. I don’t know who you worked for before here, but don’t you dare infer that I do what I do for any other reason than to help. I’m no glory hound.”

She bit her lip to keep from smiling. God, he was easy to rile. “I know that. Just thought that temper of yours would get you warmed up faster than any blankets.”

She shivered under his heavy gaze. He was hot when he was pissed. The blanket over his shoulders gaped open down the front, revealing the smooth expanse of his chest and stomach to her hungry eyes. Under normal circumstances, she found him attractive. When he smiled and laughed, the world spun out of focus around her. But right now, his hair damp, body coiled with anger, she realized there would be no more denying herself or her wants. The snowmobile accident might have denied them where they’d been headed in the shop, but it would happen.

She wanted him. Like nothing she could compare the need with. She let her gaze wander over him, not caring in the least that the two EMTs stood by, watching the scene they were creating. She wanted to run her hands through his hair, to tuck it back where it hung in damp waves over his eyebrows, and this time, she didn’t stop herself.

He flinched at the contact, his eyes, so hard a moment before, suddenly widening.

“I didn’t come here to fight.” She moved away then. “I just wanted to let you know that Linda heard from the hospital. Dana and Hunter will both be fine.”

“That’s good.” She found the slight, confused tilt of his head endearing. “Then we did our job.”

“Yes.” She fumbled for words, suddenly uncomfortable in the confines of the vehicle. “Do you need more clothes? What got wet?”

“I’m all set. It was just my feet.” Confusion arched his eyebrows. “But thanks.”

The door swung open, and she turned to find Rand and Sam grinning up at them. Rand held out a hand to help her down. “I’ll give you that ride home, if you’re ready?”

Brack beat her to the answer.

“She’s riding with me.” He toweled his feet off and pulled on a pair of medical socks before sliding his boots on. Tossing the blanket to the female EMT, he shrugged his shirt and jacket on and climbed down next to them.

Sam cleared his throat. “Captain, we’ll get the gear back to the station. You and Abby need to keep warm.”

But Brack wasn’t listening. His hand caught on her arm through the blanket she still held and pulled her along next to him. She followed, not really wanting to cause a scene in front of their teammates. A quick glance back told her their Captain’s behavior had already done that. Sam and Linda were both smiling, but Rand had a dark scowl bridging his eyebrows. Jacob just shook his head. She decided not to look farther. The others would probably have the same expression…

Great, nothing like small-town gossip to pass the wintertime boredom.

The effort it would take to remove her arm from his grasp seemed too much to muster at the moment, so she decided on another tactic. “You know, if you like acting the caveman, throwing me over your shoulder would be more effective.”

“Don’t push me, Abby. Just don’t.”

He glanced at her briefly, but didn’t break stride. In that single moment, she saw something, a deep fear she hadn’t noticed before. For now, it was enough to hold her silent. She didn’t know if it was a flash from his past, or if it was just concern for her safety. Either way, she had no doubt she’d learn what the issue was—soon.

The truck rumbled over the bumpy trail, settling Brack’s focus. He didn’t dare speak. The fact that she lived less than five miles up the road helped. He didn’t trust himself at the moment. He had every reason to be angry with her. She’d disobeyed his direct order. Her attempts at humor didn’t make it right. Neither did the strange emotion he’d seen in her eyes inside the back of the rescue truck.

Resignation seemed the only definition that came close. But he had no idea what it meant. Even more, he didn’t know if he wanted to find out. He wanted to be angry. Wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled.

He pulled out onto the main road, spinning the tires. Damn woman. Jumping in the water. What had she been thinking? She didn’t know these lakes. She’d only been on one rescue drill. Anything could have happened. After years of training and calls he still didn’t know the intricacies of each body of water. She knew absolutely nothing about them or the dangers hidden beneath the ice.

“Brack, right here.”

The brakes caught and rumbled as he jerked the truck into her driveway. Good thing she’d said something or he would have gone right past, consumed by his thoughts. He pulled the truck to a stop and turned to face her, hoping he could retain control of his anger.