Page 12 of High Seduction
“What, and miss all the excitement?” Tim grabbed a fresh first-aid kit and ran for the landing circle that had been cleared.
His interview with the head of the SAR had been cut short when the call for help came in. And whether he worked the hill or not, he was trained. As the most experienced paramedic around, he was recruited on the spot.
Mitchell glanced up as Tim approached. “Can you take this one? My team called in a possible heart attack, but it’s on the worst section of the trapped cars. We were trying to leave that gondola until the end for fear of dislodging it, but it looks as if that option is out.”
Great. “No problem. Stabilize the victim or stabilize the car first?”
“You focus on the victim. The team coming in will deal with the rest of the civilians and the carriage.”
Tim nodded. Then smiled wryly as the bright red body of a familiar chopper came over the ridge. So, he was getting to work with Lifeline today after all.
He waited until the chopper was nearly down, then crouched low and ran toward the open side door. Erin glanced out the window but probably failed to recognize him, as he was covered head to toe in borrowed rescue gear. Strong hands pulled him onboard, and he settled into a seat, the chopper lifting off before he’d strapped in.
He ignored the belts and snatched up a headset instead. “Critical-care paramedic reporting. You can toss me anyway you want—I’m experienced.”
Not even a flicker on the chopper as Erin maintained perfect control. “Tim?”
“Right in one, love. Give me a yo-yo ride like a good girl, and we’ll get this rescue finished so we can all go have a hot shower.”
A masculine laugh carried over the line as the solidly built man across from him passed over a small ear set and microphone. “Anders here. I’ll be the one dropping the string for you, and I promise no yo-yos. Only don’t distract me with talk about hot showers right now. I think my ass is frozen to the chair.”
Conversation paused as Tim switched to the battery-operated headset that would make it much easier to stay in contact during the rescue.
“I’ll go first to open the door,” Alisha offered.
“Let’s drop together,” Tim suggested. “Saves the time, and I’m sure Erin is more than capable of keeping us level. If you’re up for it, Anders?”
“Erin, what do you think?”
“In these conditions—no problem.”
They were tied together, harnesses checked even as they’d discussed it. Anders lowered them smoothly, and they were outside the gondola, worried faces staring at them through the fogged-up glass.
Alisha cranked open the door and Tim grabbed the sturdy metal frame, using one arm around her to help as they carefully pulled themselves aboard.
“Stay very still,” Alisha cautioned the eight people clustered in the tight carriage quarters. “I’m going to get you down, and while we do that Tim will take care of your friend there.”
Concerned faces shone back from all the occupants. A couple of teens and a group of older skiers—looked like a family out for the day.
The older man sitting on the floor was pale and breathing uneasily, and Tim went straight to work. He talked soothingly as he took heart rate and pulled out supplies. Glimpses of Alisha behind him were impressive. She had the rest of the family slowly putting on shoulder harnesses while she worked to buckle the hip and waist sections securely.
A sudden jolt went through the carriage, and one of the women shrieked.
“Ah, love. It’s only the cables giving a bit of a stretch.” Tim moved faster, stabilizing his patient and easing a harness around his shoulders before slowly rising to meet Alisha’s eyes. “I can help you double up your lifts, if you’d like.”
“Belaying them down would be faster,” she suggested.
Around them worried faces grew even tighter. “What are you doing about my father?” one of them asked.
“We’re going to get you all down,” Tim promised. “Alisha, rig a harness for three. You can belay from the ground. I’ll harness them from here.”
Talking in code around the people they had to rescue, moving as quickly as possible without moving much at all. It was enough to get his blood pumping for the first time that day.
“Tim, channel three,” Alisha ordered.
He flipped channels for his earphone even as he did up the last of the buckles on the heart attack patient. “Yes?”
“Erin says she can stay in place, and Anders will help with the belays. If you can rig your patient for winching up, she’ll take you and him straight to the hospital once we’re all down.
