Deadly Currents (17 page)

Mandy handed out the power bars. “What’s the plan? Walk up from the takeout?”

“That’s all we can do,” Ajax answered glumly. “There’s no other access point.”

Rob’s truck pulled into the side parking lot. He climbed out and looked into the bed of Dougie’s truck.

“Hi, Rob. What brings you here?” Mandy asked, trying to sound casual in front of the others.

“I’ll tell you later.” His glance at the guides conveyed that what he had to say was private. “What’s going on?”

Kendra dumped an armload of paddles into Dougie’s truck bed, causing a metallic clatter. “We’ve got a raft pinned at Raft Ripper.”

“Ouch,” Rob said. “I’ve got some extra rope and pulleys in the truck, if those will help.”

“Thanks,” Mandy said. “I’ll be sure to get them back to you tonight or tomorrow morning.”

Rob shot her a quizzical look. “I’m coming with you.”

“But—” Mandy began, then realized the sensibility of Rob’s offer. An extra person, especially one experienced in swift water rescue, would help get the job done quicker. “I hate to ask you. I’m sure you’ve had a long day.”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering.” Rob grinned and took her arm. “C’mon, you can ride with me.”

All of sudden he seemed to take charge of the retrieval operation. After they tied the raft onto the back of Dougie’s truck, he led the caravan back down to Hecla Junction. On the way, he quizzed Mandy for details about the stuck raft’s position. She couldn’t tell him much since she hadn’t been there and felt more and more frustrated as he shot questions at her and analyzed strategies out loud.

When they reached the river, Rob hoisted ropes out of his truck and handed the pulleys to Dougie, who added them to a duffle bag stuffed with throw ropes, a first aid kit, and hardware that he slung over his shoulder. With Ajax carrying the company ropes, that left Kendra and Mandy with the raft stuffed with extra paddles, which they pulled on a line up the river behind them.

After forty minutes of bushwhacking and climbing over rocks, Mandy’s arms ached and trickles of sweat ran down the inside of her wetsuit. When they reached the bank opposite the two huge knife-edged rocks in the channel that formed Raft Ripper, she stopped to catch her breath. The sounds of heavy breathing and water being sucked out of water bottles surrounded her as the others rested, too.

Mandy swiped her brow while she studied the scene. Ajax’s raft still lay plastered sideways against the upstream side of the second rock, three-quarters submerged. Roaring water slammed against it, but the raft never budged. It was definitely stuck and stuck good.

“There’s more water going over the far side of the raft,” she said. “So the first thing we need to do is get across the river so we can angle a rope from that bank to peel the raft off from this side.”

“Like a banana skin, right.” Rob grabbed a paddle. “Dougie and I will paddle the raft across while you and Ajax ride. Kendra should stay on this side with a throw rope downstream just in case. Rescue’s easier from this side. Everyone got whistles for signaling?”

He’s taking over again.
Mandy simmered as she led the group further upstream to get a safe distance above the rapid. Sure, Rob had more years of raft guiding experience than she did, but she was the river ranger here, she knew the capabilities of her team best, and the raft belonged to her now. She quickly formulated a revised plan. It was time to reassert her authority.

“Kendra’s our best rigger so she should be in the raft instead of Ajax.”

Rob stopped and gave her a quizzical look. “But she’s not as strong as him. Three men pulling on the rope should be enough to get the raft unstuck.”

Mandy put her hands on her hips. “No, it won’t. Kendra said they had a bunch of customers pulling on a rope before and it didn’t come off. Right, Kendra?”

Kendra nodded. “But we were pulling from this side.”

“Still. We need to rig a Z-drag to give us a three-to-one mechanical advantage, and you’re the best one to do it.”

The others bounced a few looks of confusion between Rob and her, then Rob shrugged. “I guess this is Mandy’s operation.”

She avoided looking directly at him. “It
is
my company’s raft, after all.”

She bit her lip as a sudden wash of sadness swept over her. Just four days ago, it had been Uncle Bill’s company and his raft.

The others loaded the raft silently, probably thinking the same thing.

When they were ready, Rob and Dougie ferried the raft across the river. As soon as they reached the bank, Mandy hopped out and walked up to a big ponderosa pine. She slapped the bark, releasing a slight scent of vanilla. “We’ll use this tree as our anchor.”

They worked swiftly to construct the Z-drag line using the pulleys under Kendra’s direction. Once it was done and Kendra had inspected it, Mandy said, “Okay, I’ll paddle into the eddy below the raft and attach the line while you three stay here.”

Rob sat on his heels and looked from Mandy to the stuck raft and back again. “I’d like to make a suggestion. Whoever’s connecting the line to the pinned raft needs to be tall, in case he has to reach a D ring far underwater. Also, the stronger that person is, the better, to tug the line taut. I think you and I should swap jobs. With the Z-drag, you don’t need as much strength here.”

Mandy hated admitting it, but Rob was right. Besides, she could tell he was itching to get out there and be a hero. “Okay, cowboy.”

Rob flashed a smile and hopped in the raft. He paddled out to the center of the river, rode the current past the stuck raft and executed a perfect eddy turn to slide his raft behind the rock. He tied his raft’s bowline around the prominent tip, then scrambled onto the rock.

Mandy winced. She would have tried to work from the anchored raft, which was safer than the slippery rock. She couldn’t tell him what she thought, though. The roar of the rushing water was too loud for anything but hand signals and whistles to pass between Rob and the three on the shore.

Rob lay on the rock and reached down along the sides of the pinned raft to attach a rope to D rings on the raft’s sides. When he had a three-point formation, he attached that rope to the Z-drag line and tugged it tight. He signaled Mandy to start pulling.

Mandy, Kendra, and Dougie pulled in line easily for a while, then strained as the tension picked up. Their progress slowly ground to a halt, as the battle between the mechanical force of the three of them multiplied three times and the pressure of the moving water reached a balance.

Mandy blew on her whistle to get Rob’s attention. She signaled with a hand swiped across her throat that their efforts hadn’t worked.

Rob nodded and signaled for them to release the tension some.

After they did that and Mandy whistled back, he lay down on the rock and groped underwater between the rock and the raft.

What is he doing?
Then Mandy realized he was trying to find a pressure valve to release some of the air in the raft.

Rob slid down, his head splashing under the water. Both arms plunged into the churning water. He started to slip and one leg flailed in the air.

Mandy held her breath. Finally, Rob brought a hand out to clutch the surface of the rock, stopping his slide, and raised his head back up out of the water, shaking it to fling drops off his hair. The air left her aching chest with a whoosh of relief.

Apparently Rob succeeded in expelling some air from the raft, because he signaled Mandy to start pulling again.

This time, the gang pulling on the rope made slow, painful progress. All of Mandy’s back and arm muscles strained as the rope crawled through the pulleys. Soon Rob let out a cheer. He pushed against the far side of the raft. Slowly, slowly, it peeled back from the rock.

Suddenly the raft popped free and came sailing toward the bank.

When the raft bumped against the river bank, Mandy scrambled down to pull the raft up on the shore. A quick inspection didn’t show any damage
. Thank the river gods.

By the time Rob returned to their side of the river and, with Mandy’s help, lined his raft back up the bank, Kendra and Dougie had dismantled the Z-drag line and coiled all the rope.

Rob swept Mandy up in a hug and yelled, “Success?”

“Success!” After planting a big kiss on his lips, Mandy high-fived Kendra and Dougie and shot a few whistle blasts to Ajax, who jumped up and down on the other shoreline.

After that, it was a straightforward matter to ferry to the other side, pick up Ajax, and paddle the two rafts down the river to the takeout. By the time they loaded everything into the two trucks, the sun had dipped behind the mountains to the west. Mandy shivered in the evening chill, and her stomach wouldn’t stop rumbling.

From the guides’ talk about celebrating over burritos and beers, Mandy could tell that they were hungry, too. It was almost eight thirty, after all. Poor Lucky would be looking for his dinner at home and wondering where his mistress was.

Mandy climbed back into the passenger seat of Rob’s truck, and he cranked the engine. When she remembered she still had paperwork to complete, as well as unloading all the equipment, she slumped in her seat and leaned her head against the window. She felt utterly drained of energy, but somehow had to come up with more.

Rob peered at her. “You okay?”

“I still have the trip closing-out paperwork to do, and I’m sure Lucky is starving. I know I am.”

He pursed his lips as he steered the truck up the bouncy dirt road. “How about if the guides and I unload so you can do the paperwork? Then I’ll pick up a pizza and meet you at your house.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“No, I don’t, but I want to.” His voice was tight, strained. “We have to talk, Mandy. That’s why I came by after work.”

Rob’s hands clenched the steering wheel. His jaw muscle bulged with tension.

Mandy just wanted to eat and fall into bed, but it had been two days since she had walked away from Rob at the FIBArk kickoff, saying she didn’t want to have anything to do with him. His confused stare as he drifted under her position on the bridge at the raft rodeo had torn at her heart.

“You’re right. We need to talk.” He deserved some answers. Problem was, she wasn’t sure what they were.

In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

—Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President Of USA (1743–1826)

When Mandy got home
and climbed out of her Subaru in the dark, Lucky leapt up against the fence, rattling the chain links and barking repeatedly at her. A sense of déjà vu flashed in Mandy’s head.
Was another rock thrown through a window? Or something worse?

Then she realized that this was Lucky’s angry bark, not fear. Rightfully so. She had left the poor dog alone in the yard for over thirteen hours.

She let the dog inside, immediately fed him, and refilled both his inside and outside water bowls. After he finished eating and drinking, she gave him a good brushing to get back in his good graces. Soon Lucky was nudging her hand for ear scratches, everything forgiven.

If only dealing with people was so easy.

Lucky ran to the living room window to look out and barked. He had heard Rob’s truck crunching into the driveway before she did. Mandy quickly set plates, two cans of beer, and napkins on the table, then opened the door for Rob.

When he lifted the lid of the large pizza box in the kitchen, releasing hot steam filled with the tantalizing aroma of cheese, ham, and pineapple—her favorite toppings—she felt faint.

By mutual unspoken agreement—or starvation—they plowed into the food without talking. Mandy ate four slices, twice her usual, and Rob polished off the other eight. Sated, she downed the last of her beer.

Rob reached into the fridge for a second beer for himself. “Another?”

Mandy shook her head. “I’m ready to burst. Thanks for the pizza.”

Rob popped the top of the beer can and took a few gulps. “Thanks for the beer.” He put down the can and gazed at her.

Oh no, here it comes.

“I know you’re going through a really tough time, Mandy, with your uncle’s death and trying to run his business at the same time you’re starting a new career, but
…” He seemed unsure what to say next, or unsure of her reaction.

Mandy tried to help him along. “But?”

Rob ran a finger up and down the beer can, leaving a trail in the condensation. “Every time I try to help you, you end up mad at me. You’ve got me wound up tighter than the whirlpool in Maytag rapid. Like today, what was that business on the river?”

Mandy blew out a breath. “You don’t just help, Rob. You take over. That raft was my responsibility, and I knew what I was doing. I knew how to retrieve it.”

His expression had wounded animal written all over it. “I didn’t say you didn’t.”

“But you implied it, by assuming leadership of the operation. I felt like I had to wrestle it back from you.”

He lifted the beer can to his lips then set it down again. “So I insulted you? Injured your pride?” His tone was incredulous.

“Yeah, frankly. Why’s that so hard to believe?”

“Well, because—” He stopped, as if he knew what he was going to say next was a big mistake.

Mandy leaned forward. “Because I’m a girl?”

Rob nodded, his face drawn down in pure misery.

“What if I’d been a guy? Would you have taken over so fast?”

After a pause, he said, “I guess not.”

“See, that’s what bugs me, Rob. You don’t treat me like an equal.” She leaned back in her chair and held out her hand. “Like with the offer to buy Uncle Bill’s business. You went to David, not me.”

“Dammit. You had me so confused by then, I was afraid to talk to you about it. I thought you’d blow up in my face.”

Mandy gave a half-smile. “I probably would have.”

“See?” Rob jabbed a finger at her. “I went to David looking for advice on how to approach you.”

“Trouble is, he doesn’t know any better than you do. I was mad at David, too.”

Rob raked his fingers through his hair as if he felt like tearing it out. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t go tip-toeing around you like you’re surrounded by broken glass.”

Like I was last night.
“I’m not that fragile, Rob.”

“Every time I try to do you a favor, take care of you, you blow up in my face.” Rob’s tone grew faster and louder. “It’s damn frustrating!”

“I don’t want to be taken care of. I can do that for myself.” Mandy leaned forward and looked straight into his eyes. “Can’t you just care for me without feeling you have to take over my life?”

“But that’s how a man cares for a woman. At least that’s how it is in my family. Mom said Pop didn’t have to say he loved her. He showed it every time he tuned her car, unplugged the kitchen drain, or weeded her garden. She
liked
it and said I should treat my woman the same way.” His hand slapped the table, making their cans bounce. “How am I supposed to show you I love you?”

A warm glow suffused Mandy, and a goofy grin split her lips. “You love me?”

Rob gulped the rest of his beer and crushed the can. “Yeah, you infuriating little she-devil.” He grinned back at her.

She rose, pushed the table aside and sat on Rob’s lap. She slid her fingers into his hair, following the tracks he had made earlier, then trailed her hands slowly down the sides of his face to cup his chin.

“
Mi querida
is back,” he whispered.

She bent her head and teased his lips with hers.

His breath caught, and he hardened beneath her.

She trailed kisses up his cheek and ran her tongue along the edge of his ear. “I’ve got a better way for you to show me you love me,” she whispered.

With a grateful growl, he put his arms around her and ground his lips against hers, parting them to let in his hungry tongue. His hands roamed under her T-shirt, over her back, hunting for the clasp of her bra. When she tugged at his T-shirt, tucked into his jeans, he stood, taking her with him.

They whirled, hands tearing at clothes, fingers inching under to caress warm skin, until her rear end bumped up against the sink. She lifted her arms so Rob could pull off her T-shirt. They locked lips again while she rolled the bottom of his shirt up to his armpits.

He leaned back and tore off his shirt. “Right here, on the counter?” Passion hoarsened his voice.

Her response was to throw her arms around him and grind her hips against his.

A cold blast chilled her back. The breeze tossed the window blinds, clattering them against the frame.

Rob reached behind her. “I’ll close the window.”

Mandy leaned away. “You can’t. It’s gone. Someone threw a rock through it last night.”

“What?” He raised the blinds to reveal the screen patched with duct tape. “Who did this?”

Mandy rubbed her chilled arms. “Who knows? Forget about it.” She pulled his face down for a kiss.

After kissing her lips, he trailed kisses down the side of her neck then stopped.

“Don’t stop now.” Mandy groaned and peeked at him.

Rob was staring at the window. “You must have pissed off someone.”

She sighed. “I’ve been talking to people who might have killed Tom King, and I seem to have pissed them all off. It could have been any of them—or someone else. A note was tied to the rock.”

Rob grabbed her shoulders and moved her away from the cold breeze. “What did the note say?”

“‘Keep your nose out of the Tom King business or else.’”

Worry furrowed Rob’s brow. “Or else what?”

“I don’t know.” The mood had been shattered. Disappointed, Mandy reached for her T-shirt.

Rob stepped toward the window to take another look at the screen. With an “oof,” he staggered back against the table, banged into it and slid to the floor.

Mandy dropped to her knees beside him. Blood poured out of his shoulder.

“My God, what happened?”

Rob clutched at the wound and grimaced. “I think I’ve been shot.”

_____

At the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Mandy screeched her Subaru to a halt outside the emergency walk-in entrance. She cut the engine, then ran around the car to open the door for Rob.

His face was pale, and the T-shirt wrapped around his shoulder was soaked through with blood. A groan escaped his lips when he rose from the seat. He staggered back to lean against the car while Mandy slammed the door shut.

She dipped her head under his other arm and helped him stand. “Lean on me.”

He gritted his teeth and took a small step forward.

She put an arm around his back and pushed, trying to hurry him to take the few steps needed to get inside. His passivity scared her.
What if he doesn’t make it inside?
Should I have called an ambulance?
Taking Rob herself had seemed quicker, since the hospital was so close to her house, but if he lost consciousness and started to fall, she couldn’t hold him up.

Rob leaned more heavily on her with each agonizing step toward the emergency room door. Mandy began to pant from the exertion—and fear. Rob’s weight and wooziness reminded her of pulling Tom King out of the water.

And that rescue attempt had ended in death.

Finally they reached the foot mat. The door swished open. She spied an empty plastic chair just inside the doorway and slid Rob into it. Mandy yelled to the startled receptionist at the registration counter, “My boyfriend’s been shot. He’s bleeding—he needs help NOW.”

The stocky, middle-aged woman stabbed the intercom button. “Wheelchair STAT.”

Within seconds a large male orderly rushed into the lobby, pushing a wheelchair.

Mandy directed him to Rob and hovered, feeling useless, while the orderly helped Rob into the chair.

Rob’s face was as pale as whitewater foam. As the orderly pushed him through an automatic door into a hallway leading to examining rooms, Rob’s gaze lit on Mandy, but he seemed to be having trouble focusing.

When Mandy tried to follow, the orderly stopped her with a hand. “You need to stay here, miss, do the paperwork. We’ll take good care of him.”

The door closed behind them, and Mandy bit her lip to keep the tears from flowing. Panic had twisted her gut. Her late dinner of pizza and beer rumbled ominously.

What if Rob’s lost too much blood? What if the bullet’s done too much damage for him to be able to use that arm again?

“Miss? Miss?” the receptionist called. “I need you over here. Hello, Miss?”

Finally Mandy stepped to the counter. “When can I see Rob?”

“Soon, but we need some information first.” The woman pushed a clipboard toward her.

Mandy scanned the form. “I don’t know what insurance company he has.”

“Don’t worry,” the receptionist said. “Fill out what you can, and we’ll get the rest from him. He probably has the card in his wallet. Now, for gunshot wounds we have to call the police. You know that, right?”

“When you call, tell them to notify Detective Quintana,” Mandy said. “This is related to a case of his. He needs to know that the bullet came through Mandy Tanner’s window.”

With a nod, the woman wrote down both the detective’s name and Mandy’s. “You can take a seat to do that paperwork.”

When Mandy faced the waiting room, she finally noticed the other occupants. A young mother held a whining toddler with a red face and a weak cough on her lap. An overweight middle-aged woman looked at the wall clock, checked her watch, and repeated the ritual. Anxiety was etched in the deep worry lines on her face.

Mandy could relate.

She went to an empty chair and started filling out the forms. She knew the basics, Rob’s address, phone number, and so on. But when it came to next-of-kin, she couldn’t remember any more than the names of his parents, that they lived in Pueblo, and that Rob had dinner with them every other Monday. In fact, Rob had hinted lately that she should go down to Pueblo with him soon.

Mandy moved on to the next line of the form. She had no idea if he was allergic to anything. What if they gave him an antibiotic that he reacted to? She vowed to trade medical information with Rob as soon as possible. Neither one of them had family now in Salida. They had to look out for each other, now that they were a true couple. Rob said he loved her.