Page 31 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

TWELVE

The helicopter flew over the river, and Nathan was able to see much of the devastation, noting it mostly stopped with the narrowing canyon. He imagined the force of the releasing water had been slowed by the canyon, backing up the flash flood, and that had caused more turmoil for him and Erin as they tried to survive, as well as more widespread damage in the area immediately below the dam.

But it was over now.

He let the adrenaline completely drain out of him, because he had to prepare himself for what came next. As the helicopter flew them to the local hospital to have their injuries treated, Nathan pressed his head against the seat back and closed his eyes, his soul breathing an internal sigh of relief.

First Dad was shot.

And then the dam. And that moment. That horrible, terrifying moment when Erin was yanked from his grasp by the wall of water . . . it all rushed over him again.

Adrenaline had kept him alive and moving and on alert.

That, and well, he had no doubt God was watching over them. Otherwise, he had no idea how they had survived. Years ago, he’d been part of a search and recovery team after a flash flood decimated a campground located in a narrow gap between mountains.

The only survivor—a dog caught in a treetop.

Before yesterday, Nathan had seen firsthand how deadly things could turn, and now, of course, he’d experienced it himself. Except for the death. He struggled to believe they’d survived.

Unfortunately, he would also struggle to forget the feel of Erin in his arms as they both sought warmth and comfort.

Jack squeezed Nathan’s shoulder. “You okay?”

He nodded mostly to reassure Jack but kept his eyes closed. Far too many emotions crashed through him, and he wasn’t prepared to reveal to Jack or anyone else in the helicopter just how tormented he’d been. Though his friend probably understood. Still, he didn’t trust himself to speak just yet and would wait until he had composed himself.

Just when would that happen? By the time they arrived at the hospital? Or would it take much longer?

Forty-five minutes later, he sat on the edge of a table at the small hospital in Big Rapids while Dr. Sato finished stitching up a gash in his back. He hadn’t realized how badly he’d been hurt. He’d been too focused on keeping them alive for well over twelve hours.

The doctor looked at his eyes once more with his flashlight, sparking irritation. “You’re bruised and banged up, but other than the laceration on your back, you’re all in one piece.” Dr. Sato leveled his gaze on Nathan. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

“I don’t believe in luck.”

“Fortunate. Does that work for you?”

“God had something to do with it, okay?”

“I can’t argue with you there.” Flashlight in the eyes again. “The fact that there was a shooting there the day before pretty much cleared out the campers and fishermen. So only you two were caught in the dam failure.”

“What about Erin?” Nathan asked. “Is she going to be okay?”

“She fared better than you.”

That news stunned him, actually. “I was afraid she might have internal injuries.”

“Not that I’m supposed to talk about her injuries with you, what with privacy and all that, but you’re a detective and the man who kept her alive, administered CPR, so I’ll bend the rules. No internal injuries. She’s doing well.” The doctor winked, then grabbed a bandage from a drawer and Nathan waited for him to put it in place over his wound.

A male nurse entered to clean up after the doctor.

“Are we done here?” Nathan reached for the clean T-shirt that hung over a chair, courtesy of Jack. “I need to go see her.”

The doctor pulled off his gloves. “She’s down the hall, first door to the right.”

“Thanks.” Nathan dipped his chin and hopped from the table. Before he could exit, the nurse handed him some paperwork. Nathan quickly signed the discharge papers, then exited the room and went in search of Erin.

Outside the room, he peered through the small window and found a party. Jack, Terra, Nadine, and, of course, Erin’s mother. Celia’s expression was grim.

He pushed through the door and joined them. “I admit I’m a little jealous. Everyone’s in here checking on Erin, but nobody came to see me.”