“I was looking for you the whole time.”
I sighed. “I never doubted that for a minute.”
He curled his fingers in my damp hair. “You must be freezing. Let’s get you in the truck.”
“Okay.” I shivered. “Your body feels so warm.”
“Compared to you, an ice cube seems warm, Max.” He kissed the side of my head.
I licked my dry lips. “Do you have any water? I’m so thirsty.”
As if on cue, the dark-haired guy from earlier walked up holding three bottles of water. He handed one to me and the rest to Royce. “Dr. Thornton, I’m Jack. I’m with TEXSAR.”
“TEXSAR,” I murmured, fumbling with the lid of the water bottle.
Jack smiled. “We’re a nonprofit search and rescue group.”
“Oh. Sorry. My brain is sluggish.” All I could really think about was getting the lid off the water bottle he’d handed me. Unfortunately, my hands were shaking so bad I was struggling.
Royce must have noticed me bungling the job because he took the bottle and opened it for me. He handed it back to me with an affectionate smile. I put the open bottle to my lips and greedily drank. Water had never tasted so sweet and delicious. I felt my body springing back to life as my electrolytes were replenished.
“Jeremy says you seem healthy despite what you’ve been through.” Jack studied me. “You were very brave, Dr. Thornton.”
Brave? Hardly.
I shivered. “I think I was more lucky than brave.” I didn’t want to even think about how hopeless I’d felt toward the end. That would go to the grave with me. “I… I saw the helicopter when it went over, but I didn’t think he saw me.”
“The pilot didn’t see you exactly, but he saw the sinkhole. He decided it warranted a closer look. He radioed the guys on the ground to check it out, and they spotted you.” He raised his brows. “Good thing too. I hear there’s another storm on the way. A big one.”
I shuddered. “Oh, God.” If they hadn’t come when they had. If that other storm had hit… I’d have been buried for sure.
“You’re safe. It’s okay.” Royce tightened his arm around me. “I think I should get Max home.”
“Of course.” Jack nodded.
“The man who came down in the hole with me, Gordon. Is he okay?” I winced. “I’m afraid I accidentally knocked stuff down on him when I was being pulled up.”
Jack grimaced. “He’s fine. He’s a trooper.”
I met Jack’s gaze. “I… uh… I don’t really know how to thank you. Words just seem to fall short.”
Jack sighed. “You don’t have to thank us. Today was a good day. We’re always grateful when we get a good ending. You take care, Dr. Thornton.”
“You too.” We shook hands, and then Royce led me slowly to Jeremy’s truck.
Jeremy had a warm blanket ready for me, and as I hunkered down in the soft cotton, shoulder pressed to Royce’s, my eyes teared up. I was grateful to be alive. Grateful that I still had the opportunity to spend more of my life with Royce.
I hadn’t asked anything about River, and Royce hadn’t volunteered anything. That was fine with me. I didn’t have the energy or the brainpower to think about River Martin. So as Royce and Jeremy talked inhushed tones, I rested my head on Royce’s shoulder, closed my eyes, and gave in to exhaustion.
****
When we reached Royce’s home, Royce had me sit on the bed as he slowly stripped me down to my underwear. He winced, looking at the purple bruising on my shoulder and hip from when I’d fallen in the sinkhole. His eyes hardened when he saw the leather cuff around my ankle. “Is that courtesy of River Martin?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“I’ll be right back.” He left the room, and I watched him go, puzzled. When he returned, he held a pair of bolt cutters and a plastic bag. “That’s not staying on you one second longer.”
It wasn’t like I was going to argue. I lifted my leg and rested my foot against his thigh. He snapped off the padlock that held the cuff and then threw it and the cuff in a plastic evidence bag he’d brought with him. Next, he knelt and gently massaged the muddy, mottled skin where the cuff had been.
