Page 3 of Crushing on the Mountain Men

A couple of women were sprawled on the ground.

Pam, who I recognized from when she stopped in to the office to see Bascomb, was calmly telling drunk women to sit down and stay out of the way.

And a small, curvy woman was bent over a prone man on the ground, doing compressions.

“Come on, Andre! Come back!” She checked his pulse as Creed approached her to take over.

“Rescue Group, ma’am. I can help.”

“I’m an Arrow County EMT, and a snake bit him. I treated the wound.”

I knew there were only a couple of ways to do this, and time was not on our side. I hastened to look at the bandaged wound on the man’s ankle.

I’d seen worse. I grabbed for the kit she gestured to. “Good job. I’m Davin Parresh. You are?”

“Kailee Sterrone. Pam and I are the only sober ones here at this bachelor party slash boys’ club event.”

Then she rattled off vitals, which Pam said into the satellite phone she was using for the Rescue Group.

I pulled out a knife and opened the bandage, thinking I would have to clean the wound, but it looked pretty clean, though swollen and angry.

“I think he had it a while. He was weaving a bit on the trail. I thought he was drunk or on something. No sign of alcohol in his things. Pam looked.”

“We have to get him down.” Creed looked up while checking the pulse. “He’s breathing again, and I think we can get him down on the ATV.”

I looked around. We could take four more people, less if we had to lie Andre down. He still hadn’t opened his eyes.

“The puking guys were just drunk. The women are sleeping. Pam checked.” Kailee was quickly packing up her tools.

“I can stay with the group. Bascomb is on his way up, too,” Pam said.

“Are you sure? I can stay and help.” Kailee said. She was fixing her long dark pony tail with efficient movements. It had come partially down while she was treating Andre.

“They might need you,” Pam said.

Creed nodded. “We are trained in CPR and some field medicine, but not as extensively as you’ve trained.”

“We can take my car from the public lot, too,” Kailee said. “Pam, want me to put out the fire?”

Andre opened his eyes and reached for his leg.

“Whoa, there.” I blocked his hand before he could touch the wound. I was getting ready to re-bandage him for the ATV trip.

“The ATV trip may not be pleasant, but we’ll soon have you to the hospital,” I said.

He nodded. “Was I bit by something? I felt weird after a sharp pain on the trail, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

His words were a bit slurred.

Kailee had her mini flashlight out and was looking at his pupils. “I think he may have had a mild stroke, I’m not sure. I’m still a student.”

She chewed her lip as she took his pulse again and I knew this woman was going to be important to Creed and I. I met his gaze and he nodded slowly.

Chapter three

Kailee

Andrefaintedagaininthe ATV, his head in my lap. I tried to cushion him as much as possible, but there was no way this could be smooth.

---