Looking up at Richard, Maya pondered his quiet nature, wondering at the best way to approach him. She decided she wanted quiet time alone with him first. He seemed most uncertain of the three of them, and she contemplated how to lay both their fears to rest so they could move forward.
He smiled down at her and slid his fingers across her palm and entwined their fingers. His hand was big and rough, making her own seem small in comparison. He gazed at her, his pale blue eyes triggering a pounding reaction in her heart at his sweet gesture. She stumbled, and they both reached instantaneously to steady her. After her whispered “thank you,” they continued until they were within sight of Kendall’s truck.
Maya offered to help them finish up the chores, but all three men dismissed the idea, and she busied herself picking a bouquet of wildflowers. There was an antique rose bush near the sad remains of the house, and she made a mental note to bring shears, rooting hormone, and potting supplies on her next visit. A flowerbed filled with bushes grown from cuttings from the original rosebush would be lovely after the new house was built. Maybe they’d let her dig up the heirloom bush before construction started.
Maya squatted down in a thick patch of yellow daisies and reached out to gather some for variety in her arrangement. A horrific chill raced over her skin as her ears were filled with the telltale warning of a rattlesnake close by. The sound seemed to come from directly in front of her, and she didn’t have time to retreat before the snake struck.
She stared in shock at the wound on her left hand then traced the source of the stinging bite to the agitated rattlesnake coiling in the tall grass, preparing for another strike. Powered by adrenaline, she flung herself backward as far as she could, rolled to her knees and crawled to the bare dirt, screaming and holding her hand to her stomach.
She no longer knew where the snake was and struggled to her feet to put as much distance as she could between herself and it. She tripped and lurched forward, straight into Richard’s arms. He hit his knees with her and sat her down after looking around the yard.
Gasping in deep gulps of air, Maya whispered, “Snake.”
“I know. We heard it.”
She sat, leaning back against his inner thigh and tried to slow her breathing. The pounding rhythm of her heart made her feel like she was suffocating, and so she panted shallowly.
Richard tilted her chin so she’d look at him. Calmly, he said, “Listen to me, Maya.” Kendall and Boone both skidded to a stop beside them and crouched down at her side. “Kendall is going to look at the bite. I need you to calm your breathing and your heart rate as best as you can. The calmer you are, the slower the venom will move through your bloodstream.”
Her hand tingled fiercely as she did her best to settle down. Boone wrapped his bandana around her wrist snugly but not so much the circulation was cut off completely. Kendall checked his watch and looked closely at the bite, careful to not raise her hand as he did so.
“I see venom. It’s not a dry bite.” He placed her hand against her abdomen. “Keep your hand there. We’re going to take you to the hospital.”
“How far?”
“Not far. Divine has a hospital and ER. We’ll be there inside of ten minutes.”
“More like five. I’m driving,” Boone said as he held her hand to her abdomen.
Richard lifted her in his arms and carried her with little outward effort to the truck Boone and Richard had arrived in earlier. It had a backseat, and Richard lifted her in then climbed in behind her and drew her into his lap.
“Doing okay?” he asked in a reassuring tone.
Still trying to breathe calmly, Maya rested her head against his chest and nodded. She could hear his heart beating against her ear. It sounded like it was about to pound out of his chest. She wrapped her right arm around his middle and squeezed. Richard responded by holding her more closely. She felt safe in his arms.
Kendall turned in the seat in front of her and asked, “Did you get a good look at the snake?”
Shuddering, she recalled the threatening rattle of the venomous reptile. “Yes, it was a diamondback. I saw the markings clearly. It was as big around as my wrist. It didn’t rattle until I was practically on top of it.”
She knew they had plenty of time to get to the hospital, which would more than likely have the antivenin for that particular pit viper’s venom.
“Sorry, guys. I should’ve been paying more attention to where I was reaching. I ruined the day.”
Boone looked back at her and quirked an eyebrow before turning his eyes back to the road. “Yeah, Maya, what’s up with that? You sought that big rattler out and pissed him off just so he’d bite you.” Preparing to make the turn onto the highway, he added, “Hold on.”