Page 29 of Vanished in the Mist
Bobby nodded. “You need to let Kaden’s hand go, Jessica, so we can take you on a chopper ride.”
She nodded, still crying, but finally let go of Kaden’s hand.
“Stella, where’s she hurt?” Bobby asked, motioning toward the gurney. “Do we need the backboard and neck brace?”
Kaden’s breath caught. He’d been so intent on getting her out of the water and reviving her that he hadn’t considered the possibility of broken bones.God, please don’t let her be paralyzed.
“Grab the brace and backboard as a precaution.” Stella leaned over, meeting the girl’s tortured gaze. “Jessica, are you hurting anywhere? Any broken bones?”
“N-neck. Burns.”
Stella checked Jessica’s neck. Then her gaze shot to Kaden.
He nodded, silently mouthing the wordsstun gun.
“Ch-chest hurts,” Jessica whispered. “On…fire.”
Guilt slammed through Kaden. Had he been too rough with his compressions? Broken some ribs?
Stella, as if sensing his turmoil, gave him a reassuring look. “We’ll take care of that. Bobby’s going to put a brace on your neck to make you comfortable.” She moved to give Bobby room, holding the girl’s head still as he put the neck brace on her. As he positioned the backboard beside her, Stella asked, “Do you hurt anywhere else?”
“All… All over. Sore. C-cold.” Her voice was strained, her brow furrowed in obvious pain.
“We’re going to roll you on your side really carefully and put a hard board under you to protect your back, okay? I’ll holdyour head while Kaden and Bobby roll you and slide the board under.”
“O-okay. Th-thank you.” Her voice seemed to be getting weaker.
Stella gave Bobby a sharp look and whispered, “Hurry. I’ll get her vitals in the chopper.”
Kaden helped with Bobby’s directions. Soon, Jessica was on the backboard and they were strapping her onto the gurney.
Kaden pushed the gurney while Bobby guided it and helped rush Jessica to the chopper. In a matter of seconds, she was loaded, along with Stella, and the chopper began its ascent.
The sound of sirens filled the air as a police car raced up the road on this side of the lake, coming from the direction of the marina toward the B and B.
“The cavalry is finally here,” Shanna said. “I’d hate being them right now, with so much happening. They have to be stretched pretty thin.”
Kaden nodded, looking at the crowd gathered outside the restaurant. “Where did Peyton go?”
Shanna slid an arm around his waist, startling him. He looked down in question.
“I don’t care about Peyton right now.” She pressed a hand against his chest, her soft warm fingers against his bare skin heating him like fire. “How are you? That was an awful, traumatic thing to go through. Are you okay?”
He slowly shook his head in wonder. “You’re worried about me? You went through it, too.”
“It’s not the same. You had her life in your hands. And even though Stella and I were ready to let go, you didn’t. You saved her, Kaden. You saved a life.” She stepped closer, pressing her cheek against his chest as she hugged him.
In spite of his vow to keep things cool between the two of them, he was powerless to stop himself as he tightened his armsaround her and rested his cheek on the top of her head. The feel of her in his arms, her warmth cradled against his naked chest, made the agony of almost being unable to save a dying girl begin to fade. As Shanna had reminded him, the woman hadn’t died. They’d given her a chance at a future. And that was the best feeling of all.
“Get a room,” a man’s voice said close to them, laughter heavy in his tone.
Shanna stiffened, then quickly pulled away, her cheeks flushing a light pink.
Kaden frowned at an amused-looking Chief Dawson. “You’re late. And your timing sucks.”
Dawson’s smile faded as he glanced around at the chattering onlookers. “Yeah. I know. When the call came in about another body being found, Officers Fletcher and Collier were searching around Mrs. Tate’s cabin for signs of the Warren guy. Ortiz and O’Brien were responding to a medical emergency and I was at the lake with the Chattanooga diving team. Days like this, I sure wish I had more than four deputies. I saw the chopper head out. I’m hoping that’s a good sign? I don’t need to call the medical examiner? Again?”
“Jessica DeWalt is alive,” Kaden said. “Or, she was, when we loaded her onto the chopper.”
