Texas Heroes_ Volume 1(108)

“Okay. I love you, too, Mom.” His voice sounded like he knew—

No. She would not think about what could happen. She had to keep her head and make sure it didn’t.

“I’ll be back very soon. And don’t worry if you hear me calling out for Mitch. I’ll get you up, but if I can find him, we can do it sooner.”

“Bring Mitch. He can do anything, Mom.”

Tears blurring her vision so much she could hardly see him, Perrie nodded. “I’ll be back, sweetie. You’re doing great.”

It took every ounce of strength she had to push herself away from the edge, to leave behind the child who was her heart.

It felt like someone had tied a lead anchor to her chest and every step away from where Davey lay ripped her insides open a little more.

But she had no choice. Once she forced herself to turn away, Perrie began to run. When she’d gotten a number of yards away, she began to call out for Mitch, trying to keep the terror from her voice in case Davey could hear her.





Chapter Nine





They’d definitely been here, the tracks mingling like a herd of animals had stampeded. Perrie’s tracks weren’t so numerous, but Davey’s were all over the place. Mitch squinted, trying to make out a pattern, a sense of urgency pushing at him.

He was concentrating so hard he almost missed the sound.

His name?

Mitch froze, listening.

There it was again. Perrie’s voice calling out. Even at this distance, something about it dug claws into his belly.

He leapt into action, answering her. “I’m here. Perrie, stand still and call out again.”

“Mitch?” No question. Terror shaded her voice, turning it from gentle to sharp.

Then he saw her. Alone. He turned in her direction.

“Mitch—oh thank God—” She ran straight toward him, her motion jerky with fear. “It’s Davey, he’s fallen, oh please Mitch, help me. Help him. He’s—”

He reached her and pulled her into his arms. She was chalk-white, her eyes almost black with fear. “What’s happened?” He could feel her small frame shudder as her teeth chattered. Pulling her closer to warm her, he pressed her into his chest.

For a second she clung to him, then jerked away, looking up at him with horror in her eyes. “He’s fallen off the edge. He’s on a little ledge, and I can’t reach him. He’s—oh God, I have to get back—” She wheeled and began to run in the direction she’d come.

Mitch didn’t try to stop her. Instead, he took off running, too, catching up quickly, grasping her arm and pulling her along with him. “Is he hurt?”

She shook her head. “I can’t tell. He says his chest hurts.”

“Maybe he just got the wind knocked out of him. Anything turned oddly, his legs or arms?”

She was sobbing for breath now. “Not that I could tell. Oh, Mitch, he’s so scared. I didn’t want to leave him, but I had to—”

“Of course you did. It’s going to be dark soon, and he can’t spend the night on that ledge.”

She shot him a grateful look, but she couldn’t spare much breath. He wanted to tell her to stop, to conserve her strength, but Davey had to be the prime concern right now. He’d just have to watch her closely.

Then they were there, and he could see the spot where Davey had slid over the side.

“Davey, I found Mitch,” she called out, dropping to her knees and starting to scramble toward the edge.

Mitch grabbed her arm, shaking his head. Speaking low, he cautioned her. “Stay back. Let me look. We don’t know how much weight it can handle or where it’s weak.” In a louder voice, he called out, keeping his voice deliberately light. “Hey, buddy, decided to see if you could be Jim Bridger and explore the cliffs?”

“Mitch!” The little voice wobbled, then strengthened. “I told Mom you would save me.”

Mitch had never been so glad to hear a voice in his life.

“You bet I will,” Mitch answered, scanning the area. “Just hold on right where you are, and we’ll have you up in no time.” To Perrie he nodded toward the edge and spoke more quietly. “Stay back here, but talk to him while I get ready.”

Her eyes were still huge with fear, but she nodded gamely. “How are you doing, sweetie?”

“I’m being real still, like Ermie was.”

A ghost of a smile crossed Perrie’s lips, her eyes bright with tears. “That’s Princess Ermie to you, pal.”

When Davey gave a faint, broken giggle, Mitch’s heart twisted. Ruthlessly, he tuned it out. No time for emotion now.

He found the tree he wanted and tied a bowline knot to hold the rope. With fierce concentration, he formed a series of knots for handholds. He inched toward the edge on his belly. When he neared the edge, snow and a few rocks tumbled over. “How you doing, sport?”