Page 25 of Canyon of Deceit

TWENTY-FOUR

BLANE

In the bitter wind, Therese dug a hole like we’d done together on previous nights. She had a fire going as darkness wrapped around us and added another plunge of cold temps.

I sunk my teeth into my lower lip to manage the continuous throb in my arm and head.

Therese had done a quick and good job of setting it, although I wanted to cry like a baby.

Instead, I’d let out a string of curses that would cause Sergio’s mother to wring her hands and give me a lecture on bad language.

“How do you plan to find the SAR team?” I struggled into a semi-upright position to reduce the pressure on my head.

“I’ll start out at sunrise, but I’ll leave you two military rations. Probably something you haven’t eaten, but it’s filling and nutritious.”

“Oh, I have, and I’ll eat the chocolate too, or I’ll be constipated for a month.” I pondered the danger she’d be in. “I prefer you keep the military rations. You or Alina might need them.”

“I figured you’d refuse the food, so I’m going to prepare you a roasted feast.”

“Rib eye?” We both laughed. I pointed to more tinder and kindling that she’d brought to our campsite earlier. “Are you planning on using those?”

“Just you wait and see. I’ll create you a meal fit for a hero.

” She studied me in the flickering firelight.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, and this way you’ll have food and water to last a few days.

I know you’re a trained paramedic, but please stay hydrated.

If food makes you nauseous, leave it alone. ”

“I’ll do my best to follow orders.”

“A word of warning here, you have a nasty concussion. Do your best to stay awake. Stay warm. Oh, one more thing—if you sense rescuers are nearby, use my whistle. I’m placing it beside you.”

“No way. And bring Chandler into the campsite to gloat?”

“As you and I have talked, he already knows where we are.”

Talking hurt my whole body. “Grade-one concussion.”

“More like grade two. You had temporary amnesia, and I’ve detected slurred speech.”

I’d concede but not outwardly. The fall had done a number on my head.

Therese dug a second pit for the cooking fire.

She added stones atop the flames and let it burn down.

“I’m going to find an agave, cut off the prickly leaves, dig up the heart of it, and bring it back to roast. It’s loaded with complex sugars and lots of calories.

You’ll have the distinct experience of a desert artichoke.

The problem is the plant needs to cook eighteen to twenty-four hours for humans to digest.” She adjusted her headlamp.

“Be careful,” I said. “Hey.”

She stared at me in the flickering light. How could one woman light up the night like she did?

“I will never forget how you saved my life, and the survival skills you’ve taught me. We have our differences, but I’m drawn to you like no other woman in my life.”

Her gaze lingered. “You’re speaking through your pain. But thank you, and I... wish things were different too.”

“Those words will keep me warm.”

She grabbed her machete and flashlight. “You’ll be fine while I go hunting?”

“Sure. What are you hunting in the dark?”

“Food. The agave.”

“You were serious. Be careful. Holler ‘scree’ if you need me.”

Over an hour later, her hunting expedition and the length of time she’d been gone caused too many anxious scenarios to morph in my head. I warmed my hands and kept my attention affixed to where she’d trekked into the wild.

The combo of incessant pain and anxiety threatened to erupt into full-blown, red-visioned rage.

My backpack lay at the foot of a pile of rock.

It contained an extra shirt, water, and a blanket as well as several much-needed supplies.

I added my cell and satellite phones to those essentials.

And the keys to the Jeep parked near the Dog Canyon entrance.

I swallowed hard to control my anger at what erupted around me.

I stressed about Therese and poor Alina who might not have survived her captors.

Chandler might view this as a perfect opportunity to walk into the campsite.

I picked up a rock. Fat lot of good this would do me peering down a rifle barrel.

A typical David-and-Goliath scenario with the odds in his favor.

I squeezed my eyes shut to wait until Therese returned.

Maybe if I concentrated long enough, the head and arm pain might take a dive.

They didn’t. If this was what Therese’s prayers had caused for God to get my attention, I’d rather she didn’t consult Him.

Several minutes later she entered our campsite carrying the root of an agave, a rather bald agave, on her shoulder.

“Did you find the biggest one out there?”

“The bigger ones have the most sugar.”

The stones had grown hot in her absence. She positioned the root atop the stones and used prickly pear leaves to cover it, which was supposed to keep the agave from drying out. Over the prickly palms she placed dead bark, then piled dirt over it.

“This will be your dinner tomorrow night,” she said. “While I’m gone, go easy on the food and ration the water until I return. The agave is a bonus. I wish you had a weapon.”

“I have a knife in my right boot.”

“So do I.”

“Then we can single-handedly take out a bear, mountain lion, or the worst kind—two-legged beasts.”

“Ah, don’t forget snakes. I haven’t told you how I lost my phone.” She proceeded to give me the short version of the rattler that slithered to coil himself beside her while she wrestled with how to get me to safety.

Having her back helped my attitude. “Thanks to you again for saving my life and ensuring I will again ride broncs with a good arm to keep me balanced.”

“You’ve thanked me enough. We’re chiseled from the same stone, Blane. You’d have done even more for me.”

“If one of us had to go through the fall, I’m glad it was me.”

Therese poked at the fire and hummed a tune. Where had I heard it before?

“What are you humming?” I said.

She tilted her head, with the regal air of a mountain queen. Her honey-blonde hair whipped back in the wind and her cheeks a rosy tint in the orange-yellow firelight demonstrated Therese didn’t need a throne. Her demeanor spoke of stately beauty.

“It’s ‘Just as I Am.’”

“I recognized the hymn from my grandma’s church.”

“Oh, your grandma took you to church?”

“Yep. But it takes more than recalling a hymn,” I said.

“You’re so right. It takes an abiding faith in Jesus Christ.”

“You don’t mince words.”

“Not when it comes to what I believe.”

An acid bubble crept up my throat. “Where is your God now?”

“With us. No doubt.”

“Is He cold? Arm broke? Without a phone? I can’t see God or a supreme being in this.”

“Blane, relying on God when life experiences challenge our every breath is hard. I agree this all seems unfair, and I’m angry too, but I know God is here. He is with us.”

“Isn’t life about learning from what is happening around us and processing that with our experiences?”

“Processing with truth that God is in control. He’s sovereign and needs to be our first priority.”

“Faith in God doesn’t fit in my life. Looks like a crutch.” I waved my hand. “Ignore me. I’m hurting and angry. Texas Rangers are supposed to be tough and problem solvers. They don’t get their guns stolen, break their arm, get the sense knocked out of them, or lose phones and backpacks.”

“Are Texas Rangers superhuman?” she said.

“Let me say not this superhuman.”

“Remember my phone is taking up space at the bottom of the canyon too. That’s the way we learn, Blane. Do you think I’ve never lost a backpack?” A quick dip of her head showed me I wasn’t the only one who often learned the hard way.

She eased down beside me and examined my arm.

“Yes, it hurts, but I’ll be fine. Therese, I hate seeing you trek out of here alone in the morning. What if you run into Chandler before the SAR team? Have you ever conducted negotiations?”

“Mostly reassuring whoever’s lost or hurting that they will be okay.” She poked at the fire. “Holding hands kind of thing, encouraging the victim to breathe and keep their eyes on me. I lack solid instruction other than caring and basic first aid.”

I longed to chase away the brain fog to communicate what I did best. Weariness pulled me like a magnet into the world of sleep.

But that proved dangerous. “You’ve dealt with Chandler, and he’s cocky and manipulative.

But who is with him? My money’s on Jurg Falin.

Though I guarantee you Chandler is calling the shots.

Listen to what both men have to say, but more importantly, listen to what Chandler isn’t saying.

” I swallowed hard against the incessant ringing in my ears and drilling in my head.

“Is talking too difficult?” she said.

“I’m... fine.” I paused a moment more.

“Normally I’d say whoever you’re talking to is right and agree with them.

In this case, concentrate on Chandler. How can you help him?

Look inside the man. Keep your tone of voice low and conversational.

The goal is for the right solution to be his idea.

He must be convinced you sincerely hear and respect his every word.

There are some things you can’t promise—demands for weapons, money, or a sure escape.

Blame the Rangers, FBI, local law enforcement, Russians. Whomever.”

“Makes sense. I’m hoping he and whoever he’s with want out of these mountains as soon as possible, which says the extra five hundred thousand may entice them to give up Alina.” Therese hesitated. “But I have my doubts.”

No point denying Chandler’s unpredictable behavior. Thinking about Therese and Alina facing death added kindling to my guilt and fueled the furnace of my fall. “Have you ever used a knife to kill a man?”

“No. But I will do whatever is necessary.” She patted the dirt on the roasting agave. “Told you before, I’d kill anyone to protect you or Alina.”

We drank a little water, and Therese shared her blanket. I fought to stay awake. “I’ve ruined this mission.”

“No, you haven’t. We aren’t the only ones trying to find Alina. But you are suffering, and I have pain pills. Please take one so you can sleep.”

“Someone else might need it more than me.”

“There’s no reason to suffer when this will alleviate some of the pain.

Pride, ego, and losing all manner of strength will stop us from getting out of here.

” She stared at me through the firelight.

“It’s not what we lose that defines our character—it’s what we learn.

You’re a strong man, and I think you’ll be surprised how this experience will transform you into a more formidable Ranger.

You’ll be teaching wilderness survival.”

I cracked a smile through the pain. “You can leave me a few ibuprofens.”

“We call them Vitamin I. I’ve stacked extra wood so you can stay warm.”

“That is a feat considering the scarcity of it,” I said. “I have no intention of letting the fire go out. Already set my internal alarm to check throughout the night.”

“Perfect. And I’ll be shaking you awake throughout the night. Once I join up with the FBI team, help will be on its way to get you to a hospital.”

“No, thanks. I’m staying right here until Alina is away from those animals. You need every available man on that team.”

Our conversation ended, and soon Therese’s even breathing indicated she slept. Or she wanted me to believe it.

I struggled not to move, although each breath brought a surge of agony.

Staring up at the star-studded sky, the flickering sight of such uncontested beauty brought peacefulness that existed outside of my normal world.

The dangers behind the unknown ahead butted against manning-up to the situation.

Therese thought she’d failed, but I’d been the one to fall.

Fate had dealt us an ugly hand with a coiled rattler, a body slide, no phones or weapons, and limited supplies.

Still Therese clung to her faith in a God who provided.

So far, He’d done a lousy job of keeping us safe and helping us find an abducted little girl.

God and I weren’t on speaking terms, but He might listen to Therese.