Page 28 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)

Colin’s hand shot out, grabbing Alex’s wrist with surprising strength.

His eyes were fierce, his voice rough but steady.

“Stop that! None of this is your fault. You hear me?” His grip tightened, his eyes locking on Alex’s.

“You’re not stupid! I chose to come after you.

I wanted to come after you! You didn’t ask me to.

” His expression twisted, pain tightening the corners of his eyes.

“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He shook the boy’s wrist. “Hey. I take care of my friends.”

Alex spotted Colin’s twisted ankle, the swelling already apparent under his mud-covered sock. “I’m … I’m scared, Colin.”

Colin’s face softened, his fingers loosening on Alex’s wrist but not letting go. “Me too, kid.” His voice wavered. “At the moment, I’m mainly scared of how bad Josh is gonna bitch me out for this damned ankle.”

Almost against his will, Alex’s lips formed a small smile.

“Listen to me, Alex. Everybody’s afraid. Everybody.”

“Not you , Colin!”

Colin’s lips twitched into a self-mocking smile.

“Oh, hell, yes , me! I’ve been scared a million times.

Scared to fucking death! Only a fool would claim that they’re never afraid.

But being scared isn’t what’s important, Alex.

What’s important is what you do about it.

” Colin’s hand tightened on his. “Fear doesn’t make you weak.

You can be afraid and still be strong. You showed up scared, and that makes you braver than most. But right now I need you to tell your fear to go fuck off!

I need you to go find Trent!” He pulled Alex closer. “Can you do that for me, kid?”

Alex’s heart thudded painfully in his chest, his eyes locked on Colin’s. He saw the pain, but he also saw the trust. Colin believed in him. Colin needed him. His hero, the strongest man and the kindest man he’d ever known, was trusting him to be strong.

He swallowed hard and nodded, his voice quaking but determined. “Yeah. I can do that.”

Colin’s lips curled into a crooked smile. “Good boy! Just follow the river’s edge. It’ll lead you to the campsite. It’s only about a mile or so ahead.”

Alex drew in a shaking breath and nodded. “OK, Colin. I’ll do it! I’ll get Trent. I promise.”

“I know you will, kid. I believe in you.” He extended the flashlight toward Alex. “Here. Take this.”

“No!” Alex told him, getting to his feet. “You need it. Trent can look for its light. I can use the river to find my way.” He began to walk backward along the water’s edge, moving slowly at first and then faster. “I’ll be back, Colin! I’ll get help! I promise!”

He saw Colin lift his hand in a weak wave before collapsing back onto the damp ground, then he turned and trotted forward, chanting Colin’s instructions like a mantra. Find camp. Find Trent. Get help.

Tree limbs slapped at his legs as he ran. The wind whipped around him, icy and sharp, biting at his skin, but he kept moving, his tennis shoes slapping against the mud as he followed the course of the rushing water.

He had always been afraid of the dark, and tonight, he felt more frightened than ever.

He’d spent days locked in a darkened room, tormented by an abusive father, left all alone to struggle with his pain and terror.

But this darkness was different. This darkness wasn’t inflicted upon him by an abusive parent.

This darkness challenged him to move past those memories—move past those fears—and be strong for a man who had never once let him down.

A man who had never once used fear and pain as a weapon against him.

He heard his father’s voice, vicious and cruel: “You’re worthless!” The memory twisted like a knife, but he shook his head, his fists clenching. “You’re wrong ,” he whispered, his voice a rasp in his throat. “Colin believes in me.”

A branch snapped behind him, and Alex froze, his heart slamming against his ribs.

He spun around, eyes wide, searching the darkness.

But nothing moved. Just shadows and the sound of the wind.

He swallowed hard, his throat tight. “I can be afraid,” he whispered, his voice shaking, “and still be strong.”

Struggling against his terror and exhaustion, he stumbled forward, tripping over a crooked branch, nearly landing in the water that curled against the shoreline.

But something powerful had been awakened within himself.

Something more powerful than any fear or weariness: Colin needed him. And Alex would not let him down.

He thought of Colin and Joshua, remembering the laughter the three of them had shared as they picked out the prizes for each Camp Pride activity.

He remembered the game of catch that had brought Colin into his life.

He remembered Colin’s kindness and friendship.

He thought about Joshua, recalling the love he had seen flow between these two men who had become so important to him.

He knew what it would do to Joshua if he lost Colin.

And he knew what it would do to him to have to stand before Joshua and confess that he’d let Colin down.

That he’d left him, lying injured in the dark to struggle alone.

“No way!” Alex blurted out, quickening his pace.

“Not going to happen! Fear can go fuck off!”

The river bent sharply, its currents clawing at a tangled heap of rocks and branches that blocked his path.

Alex gritted his teeth, shoving his way through the jagged debris, sharp edges scraping his palms. Icy water surged around his ankles, threatening to pull him back, but he forced his way through.

And as he stumbled past the last of the twisted branches, he looked up—and there, glinting just beyond the bend, was the glow of a campfire, a beacon of hope in the dark night.

He’d found them! A burst of joy and relief burst in his chest as he broke into a run, moving swiftly, yelling as he ran.

“Trent!” he called out. “Trent! Colin’s hurt! He needs you!”

He reached the campsite and collapsed against Trent, gripping his arm, shaking it, and pointing back along the river’s winding course. “He’s lying next to the water. His ankle’s busted, and something’s wrong in his chest! He has a flashlight, but I don’t know how long it’ll last.”

“How far, Alex? How far away is he?” Trent asked, already on his feet and reaching for his backpack.

“Colin thought it was maybe a mile.”

Trent wheeled to face the campers who had gathered around him and Alex.

“Evan! Get the first aid kit out of my tent and put it in boat one. Ryan, look in Colin’s tent and see if you can find his heavy jacket.

It goes in boat one, too. The rest of you, find towels!

Lots of them! I don’t care whose they are.

Bring me all you can find. I’ll need them to bind Colin’s ankle.

Aaron, go into my tent and grab the radio!

” He wheeled and grabbed a length of rope, then strode to the rowboat and hurled it in.

Alex watched as Evan dashed to boat one and laid the first aid kit in the bow, tossing Colin’s jacket on top of it.

Trent grabbed a six-pack of water and threw it into the boat, then turned and laid a hand on Evan’s shoulder.

“Evan, you’re in charge while I’m gone.” He looped the radio’s strap around his neck, then glanced at the group gathered around him.

“And I don’t want to hear one word about anybody giving him grief. ”

Evan shook his head. “Trent, they wouldn’t do that. We all love Colin. What should we do while you’re gone?”

Trent lifted his finger, asking Evan to wait, then lifted the radio to his lips. “Base camp! Base camp!” he barked. “Josh! Pick up, man. I need you.”

The GXT crackled for a moment, and then Joshua’s voice came through the speaker. “Hey, Trent! What’s going on? You guys doing OK? Where’s Colin?”

“Josh, listen to me. There’s been an incident, and Colin’s been hurt.

I’m headed to him right now, but I need you and one of the other guys to get here fast. We’ll need the rescue skiff and that foldable stretcher that’s in the medical station.

And, bring the med kit. I’ve got my first aid kit, but it might not be enough. ”

“Trent!” Joshua cried out, his voice pitched high and trembling with fear. “How bad? How bad is he hurt? Tell me!”

“Nothing life-threatening. Broke his ankle and maybe cracked ribs. But I don’t want to risk a punctured lung by moving him until he’s stabilized. Have an ambulance waiting at the dock.”

“Broken ankle? Ribs? Oh god—is he conscious ? Is he… is he bleeding? Can he breathe?”

“Josh, I don’t know ! I need to get to him! Yes, he’s conscious.”

“Oh god, Trent!” Joshua moaned, then drew in a deep breath, seeming to calm himself. “OK. I’ll bring David. Is there anything else you need?”

“Yeah. Blankets. Lots of them. We need to keep him warm.”

Alex tugged on his arm.

“Hang on, Josh.” He glanced down at Alex.

“Trent, he’s really wet from the river.”

Trent nodded. “Run to Colin’s tent and grab his sleeping bag.

Grab mine, too.” He lifted the radio to his lips.

“Josh, we’re on the East side of the river, about a mile past the lake.

The boys will be shining flashlights, so you’ll be able to see them.

Leave David here with them, then come on ahead to us.

We’ll have a flashlight shining at Colin’s location. ”

“I’ll be there as fast as I can.” There was silence for a moment, and then Joshua spoke again, his voice choked with pain. Trent, please, please take good care of him. Keep him talking. Don’t let him pass out. Check his pulse.”

Trent shook his head, a small smile touching his lips.

“Listen to me, buddy. He’s going to be fine, I promise you.

I’m not exactly a novice at this stuff. Just don’t dawdle.

Get your asses in gear.” He hesitated, then his voice softened.

“Josh, I’ll take good care of him. Now, get going! Campsite out!”

He lowered the radio and grabbed his biggest flashlight, then turned to Alex, who stood next to him. His eyes softened, and his hand moved to rest on Alex’s shoulder. “You did good, kid,” he said.

“I’m going with you,” Alex told him. “I know right where he is. I’ll lead you.”

Trent froze, staring down at the youth who stood before him. “Alex …”

“I’m going , Trent,” Alex insisted, his eyes fierce, his shoulders squared.

Trent studied the boy for a moment, then nodded and handed him a bundle of towels.

“Put these in the boat, and then you’re on flashlight duty.

” He turned to the group gathered around him.

“I want you guys to grab every flashlight we have and shine them down the river to guide Josh. He’s in the motorized skiff, so it won’t take him long to get here.

” He wheeled and moved quickly to the rowboat, where Alex was waiting. “OK. Let’s go !”