He held up his hand. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Twelve,” she mocked, the corner of her mouth quirking up.
“Sorry, looks like you’ve got a concussion. I’ll have to call in a helicopter to get you out,” he teased, the humor not quite calming the pounding in his temples.
“Smartass. I’m fine. I mean, I hurt everywhere and am not looking forward to finding what all is black and blue tomorrow.” She groaned as she moved her legs. Pouting adorably pitifully, she added, “Or what isn’t. Ow.”
“Seriously though, you probably have a concussion. Did you lose consciousness?”
“No, just stunned.”
“Think you can climb up and hike back down?”
“Really, I think I’m fine.” Her own laugh jarred her, and she winced. “You might be right on the concussion bit, but I’m okay.”
“Right. Okay. Try to stand up and let’s see how you do.” He released the fabric from her head, checking the blood had slowed enough for now.
She groaned as she stood, slower than usual, but she seemed okay. Taking a step toward the slope he’d come down, she did fine at first, but the moment her right foot hit the ground, she hissed. “Ouch. And an ankle sprain.”
“How bad?” He laced his arm around her, blotted the blood that had trailed down again, then held steady for her.
Holding her own weight, she tried the foot again. Again, she hissed, but completed the step without wavering. “Not bad.”
“Well, I’ve had a few dozen sprains over the years, trust me, don’t push it. If you can get back to the cars on it, we’ll ice it tonight and you can pop a few ibuprofen.”
“Okay.” She nodded, looking up at him. Her hair was a muddy mess. His sweatshirt was coming apart at the arm where she must have gotten caught on a rock on the way down. Nausea filled his stomach, threatening to pitch out his lunch as he pictured what could have happened, how that sleeve could have been her skull. Still, whatever she got caught on might have slowed the fall enough that she wasn’t worse off.
Steadying her, even though he seemed to need it more than she did, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Running his thumb across her forehead, he brushed her hair out of her face and dabbed the trail of blood again.
Turning, she looked up the hill. Unable to let go, he followed her gaze.
The others stood staggered, far enough back from the ledge to avoid triggering another slide. Grady wore a puzzled expression, somewhere betweenI’m going to kick your ass,and something less antagonistic. Maybe appreciative, but it was too soon to tell, as he looked as stunned as the rest of them.
Haley took the scrap of sleeve from his trembling hand and wiped her own forehead this time, then stuffed it in her pocket. Asher and Sophie were climbing up the other side, Sophie a bit wobbly, limping a bit more than Haley, but good.
Finn stayed within arm’s reach. As the adrenaline waned, his knee threatened to give out if he moved wrong.
Halting, Haley glared down at his knee. “Dammit, Finn. You didn’t wreck your knee, did you?”
Shaking his head, he denied everything.
She raised her eyebrows, resting her hands on her hips. The dust coating her like Pigpen from Peanuts took the threat out of the admonishment, but she looked damn cute doing it. Maybe she’d let him help clean her up later in a long, hot shower.
“Okay, so it’s a bit angry. We’ll both sport icepacks and ibuprofen with our legs propped up tonight.”
Smiling and shaking her head, wincing from the concussion that was undoubtedly going to hurt for the next few days, she turned and continued the climb back up to the others.
Sophie and Asher reached the top of the other side of the peak just before they did, looking equally shell-shocked. Sophie moved toward her backpack, but Asher wouldn’t let her hand go, pulling her into his arms again.
As soon as they reached the top, Grady threw his arms around Haley and mumbled, “Don’t do that again you scared the shit out of me.”
She nodded and pulled away, walking with a slight hitch in her step toward her backpack. “Scared you? One minute I was admiring the view, the next I was ten feet lower and covered in dirt.”
Nodding, Grady ran a hand through his hair again. “Yeah, there is that. You okay? Really? Good to hike back down? We can alternate piggy backs if you need it.”
She laughed and said, “I’m fine. Thanks though.”
So damn stubborn. After taking the supplies he needed, Asher tossed Finn the first aid kit someone had brilliantly thought to bring. Catching it, he caught up to Haley.
