“BJ?”
Out of nowhere Sally saw the large dog leap through the air. Keiffer shot his gun, missing the dog, just as the dog jumped onto Keiffer, biting him.
Garret grabbed her around the waist. She screamed as he pointed his gun and shot at the dogs heading straight for him.
“Freeze, Garret. Don’t do it,” Mason yelled as he pointed his gun straight at Garret.
Garret shoved her to the back and she went tumbling down the ravine.
She was scream
ing as her body made contact with the rocks and hard sharp surfaces. Her head hit something and her vision blurred.
She could hear the dogs barking and growling as if they were killing Garret, and then Mason and Steven were calling her name. Her last thoughts were that she loved them and she would never see them again.
* * * *
“Slow down, Mason. I know we need to get to her but look at the fucking drop!” BJ yelled as he grabbed his arm.
“I don’t give a fuck. She’s probably scared out of her mind. You heard her screams. We need to get to her now,” Mason yelled.
“Here, we’ve got some rope. I don’t know if it will reach her,” Virgo stated as he tied the rope around Mason’s waist.
“Wait, let Steven go down. He’s a doctor. He can tell how badly her injuries are and whether or not we can move her. Michael is calling in the paramedics and directing them here now,” BJ informed them.
“That’s a better idea. Okay, Steven. Do your thing. Save our woman.” Mason took the rope and tied it securely around Steven’s waist.
Mason clasped a hand over his shoulder.
“Take care of her.”
“I will.”
“We’ll hold the end up here,” Virgo stated. Mason and the others pointed their flashlights down the ravine.
“I can see her. Look,” Vic Ollsen yelled.
“Hold on, Sally. I’m coming down for you,” Steven yelled.
“I’ve got a helicopter on standby. The road is about two miles north. If he can get her up here, then we can have an ATV here in minutes. That can get her to the helicopter and then air ported to the hospital in Dallas,” Michael informed BJ and Mason.
“Okay. Let’s see how bad her injuries are. We may need a flat board from the paramedics to get her up here safely so we don’t move her around too much. Get the ATV here now and the cruiser on the roadway to take her to the helicopter,” BJ stated.
* * * *
Steven took his time, even though it was killing him. He could see her lifeless body sprawled out over dirt and rocks. She wasn’t moving.
“Sally? I’m coming for you, baby. I’m almost to you. Answer me if you can hear me, Sally. Please, baby, answer me,” Steven continued to talk to her in hope that she would answer, or in the least, know that he was close. He felt the tears reach his eyes. He was a fucking soldier not a crybaby. Sure he was scared, but tears? Where the fuck were the tears coming from? He wasn’t giving up hope that she was still alive.
He reached her and his throat clogged up. Her face was cut and scratched. Her head was bleeding in two spots, her forehead and near her temple. There were cuts along her chest and arms. One arm was twisted in the opposite direction, and he knew that it was broken.
“How is she?” Mason yelled down. They kept the flashlights on her and Steven used his to look her over before he moved her.
“She’s cut up bad. Two large gashes on her head, that I can see. She has a broken arm,” he yelled up.
He touched her cheek.
“Sally, baby, wake up, honey. Talk to me.”