Page 28 of Their Haunted Hearts (Detectives Kane and Alton #27)

Twenty-Seven

Shaking with shock and emotion, Jenna stared at Kane, unable to speak or move.

It was as if she’d stepped into a nightmare.

Nothing seemed real. Underfoot the bridge shifted and she couldn’t make her hands release the cable.

Water ran down her face and into her collar, freezing her to the spot.

The sounds of the panicked elk had lessened.

Some had turned away from the edge of the ravine and were moving back into the forest in a rolling wall of brown.

Clouds of water vapor closed in around them, and as the bridge moved underfoot, it was as if they were riding a surfboard on clouds.

Through the mist she could just make out Raven, working his way back to Emily.

“Jenna.” Kane’s sharp voice shook her back to reality. “Look at me.” He stood for a few seconds, breathing heavily, and then held out his hand. “I know you’re afraid but we need to get over this bridge. I’ll lift you over the gap.” He met her gaze. “I won’t let you fall.”

She looked back the way they’d come and then past Kane but she couldn’t see the other end of the bridge. “Can’t we go back? The elk have calmed now.”

“There is no bridge to walk on and this end might not last much longer.” Kane held out his hand. “We need to move before it falls into the ravine. Think of the boys, Jenna. They need us. We must get home to them. Come on. Trust me. This is the best way to go.”

Heart pounding, Jenna edged closer, looking only at him and not the rolling water and certain death below. She took a deep breath and let go with one hand and grasped his fingers. Between Kane’s legs the jagged hole spanned about three slats wide and she’d easily slide through it. “I’m scared.”

“I know you are but it’s an easy jump. You can do it.” Kane’s other arm was hooked around the cable. “Count to three and jump.”

She turned her hand to take hold of his wrist and his fingers closed around her forearm. She bent her knees. “One, two, three.” She let go of the cable and jumped.

Her toes barely made the slippery moss-covered slat, and teetering back, she grabbed tight to Kane’s arm and then grasped the cable beside him. “I’m okay.”

“I’ve got you.” Kane stepped across the void behind her, gathered her in against him and held her close. “Take a few breaths and then move forward slowly. Test each slat before you stand on it. Keep one arm looped around the cable.”

Concerned, Jenna looked at him. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere, but I’ll need to help Raven get Emily across the gap.” He indicated along the swaying bridge. “Raven is behind her. She’s terrified.”

Jenna didn’t move. Kane’s face was pale and his expression granite as if he had slipped into combat mode. She frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m the luckiest man alive. I figure someone was watching over me. My hand fell onto the broken cable or I’d be in the water.” His mouth lifted in one corner. “I’m banged up some but I’d feel better if you were moving to safety.”

He never admitted anything hurt, not ever. Something was wrong. She shook her head. “They’re almost here. I’ll grab Emily when she jumps over. She’ll come to me.”

“Then anchor yourself like I’m doing.” Kane frowned at her. “I’ll take her weight. You just steady her when she lands.”

Trying to look calm and in complete control, Jenna smiled at Emily. “Come on, Em. Let’s get off this darn bridge.” She held out a hand. “Dave will help you and I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”

“Don’t look down.” Kane straddled the hole again and held out his hand. “Hold on to me and jump. You won’t fall.”

“You don’t look so good.” Emily looked over one shoulder. “Raven, will you help me, please?”

“Sure.” He took Kane’s place and swung her across the gap.

When Kane grabbed Emily and set her down on the bridge, Jenna caught him wincing. As he came up behind her, she turned to look at him. “Tell me what’s wrong. Where does it hurt?”

“My shoulder is dislocated. I felt it go when I grabbed for the cable.” Kane urged her forward.

“Raven will be able to pop it back in when we get to solid ground.” He sighed.

“I figure I have a splinter in my leg. It hurts more than it should. Apart from that I’m just dandy.

” He gave her a lopsided smile. “There’s no hiding anything from you anymore, is there? ”

Testing each slat as she moved across the swaying bridge, Jenna shook her head. “The combat face was the tell. I figured you were hiding something from me and you’re sheet-white. I’ve seen you injured before and that’s rare.”

“I don’t scare easy but I admit falling through the bridge I came close.

” Kane kept one hand locked on her arm. “The next bit will be dangerous, it’s uphill and the boards are all slime.

You have both sides of the guide rail to hang on to, so use them and slide one hand and then the other. Never let go.”

It seemed to take forever to make their way along the slippery, whining, shuddering bridge, but eventually they made it to the other side and collapsed onto boulders alongside the ravine.

Jenna turned to Raven. “How long since you’ve fixed a dislocated shoulder?

” She indicated toward Kane with her chin. “He’s too stubborn to ask you.”

“I’m not.” Kane shook his head. “Just resting, is all.”

“You need those cuts tended to as well.” Emily slid off her backpack and pulled out her medical kit. “I carry everything we need here. Do you need morphine for the shoulder?”

“Nope.” Kane leveled his gaze on her. “Once it’s back in, it won’t hurt as much. You’ll need to cut open my jeans. I figure I picked up a splinter in my leg.” He pointed to a hole in his jeans just above the bleeding cut below. He looked at Raven. “Shoulder first.”

Jenna wanted to hold Kane’s hand as Raven manipulated his shoulder but she just moved closer. She heard a pop as it slid back into place, but Kane didn’t make a sound. He stared into space as if zoning out. Raven made him move his arm and then wanted to place his arm into a sling.

“No, I’ll be fine.” Kane rubbed his shoulder. “It’s happened before. The cold wet clothes will help with the swelling and I’ll ice it when I get back to the office.”

“Sit still.” Emily cleaned the cut on his cheek.

“It’s just a scratch. You don’t need a bandage.

” She cut open the leg of Kane’s soaked jeans and her mouth fell open.

She indicated to Raven. “This one needs a clean and a couple of sutures but that needs surgery. It’s not going to pull out and it will leave splinters behind. ”

Jenna’s heart raced at the sight of a thick splinter of wood embedded in Kane’s calf.

“I’m sure Raven has fixed worse than that in combat zones.” Kane frowned. “I need it out so I can walk out of here.” He looked at Jenna. “Call someone to meet us on the fire road.” He indicated a trail through the forest. “It’s that way. Give them GPS coordinates. They’ll find us.”

“Okay.” Raven scanned the area. “Over there. The boulder is flat and big enough for you to lie down.” He lifted Kane under one arm and helped him to the rock and then turned to Emily. “My kit has everything we need. Numb him up and get to work on the sutures. I’ll do the splinter.”

After making the call to Wolfe, Jenna called Rio and brought him up to date.

“Get the drones up and look for anyone carrying a rifle. We figure someone spooked the elk herd on purpose. Contact the game warden and ask him to check out anyone hunting in that area. I don’t believe it’s a designated hunting area. It’s a hiking trail.”

“Do you figure they’d still be hanging around?” Rio sounded skeptical. “How long have you been stranded on the bridge? They could be long gone by now.”

Jenna frowned. “Maybe but do a search anyway. If hunters were passing through, they’d have checked in with the game warden.

They might have seen someone. Talk to him first.” She paused a beat.

“Tell the warden that elk have fallen into the ravine. They’ll need to send someone to remove the carcasses when they reach the lake. ”

“Okay. I’m on it.” Rio disconnected.

Deciding to keep Kane distracted as the doctors went to work, she went to his side.

Kane lay staring at the sky, his hat lying on his chest as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

She wondered how many times in his secret past he’d been worked on in the field.

Teeth chattering, she edged closer beside him, trying to share heat.

It was freezing and everyone was soaked through.

She took his hand. “Tauri will want to know everything that happened. Do you figure it’s too disturbing to tell him about the bridge? ”

“We can tell him about the stampede and escaping on the bridge.” Kane’s eyes moved to her face.

“Not about me falling through.” He suddenly smiled.

“Jackson will say I have an ‘ouchie’ and to kiss it better like you do.” He squeezed her hand.

“Do all moms kiss things better? I recall my mom doing that to me, but not my dad. He’d say, ‘Suck it up and be a man.’”

“You never say that to our kids.” Jenna rested a hand on his chest as Raven cut into his leg. “You’re very loving to our boys.”

“It’s a different world now.” Kane sighed. “But I don’t rush over and make a fuss if they fall over. You don’t either. We both wait those few seconds to see if they get up and keep going first.”

Jenna nodded. “Yeah, well I’ve seen kids that cry every time they fall over when they’re not hurt. I noticed early on that Jackson waits to see our reaction first, if it’s okay with us, then he just carries on unless he bangs his head or whatever.”

“Bringing Up Kids 101, huh?” Raven looked up at them. “Are your shots up to date. Tetanus, for instance?”

“Yeah.” Kane lifted his head. “Why?”

“The hunk of wood you had embedded in your leg has a rusty nail in it.” Raven was stitching the wound.

“I’ve got it all and it’s going to be fine.

The muscle wasn’t damaged as first I thought but it will be sore for a week or so.

Ten days for the sutures and a course of antibiotics.

You’re not allergic to anything are you? ” He tied off the last suture.

“Nope.” Kane frowned. “Why?”

“When we’ve bandaged you, you’ll need to drop your pants. I have a shot that needs to go into your backside.” Raven grinned. “Sure you don’t want morphine?”

“I’ll be fine.” Kane frowned and sat up slowly. “I have pain meds for my headaches. If I need anything, I’ll take them.” He looked down at the damage. “Can you use waterproof bandages? I’ll need a shower when I get back to the office and get into some dry clothes.”

“Not a problem. You must keep this leg elevated for a day or so or it will bleed. Okay?” Raven shivered and packed up his bag. “I’m sure glad I have a change of clothes at the office too. I’m wet through.”

Jenna’s phone chimed. It was fortunate she’d decided long ago to never leave home without the satellite sleeve. “Yes, Rio.”

“I called the game warden and he heard the shots and went to investigate. He found a couple of kids shooting rodents. They had no idea their shots had spooked the elk herd until it was too late. They swear they didn’t see them.

He let them off with a warning. Oh, yeah, and he’ll organize the elk cleanup. ”

Jenna sighed. “Okay, it was a shot in the dark. Good about the cleanup, and before I forget, the body was a pig. It’s been here a day or so and it was wearing Darlene Travis’ locket.

A stampede went through the area, so it’s pointless doing a retrieval.

We figure it was a distraction to get us away from town. Is it all quiet there?”

“Yeah, the hotline calls have slowed. Do you want us to follow up on the other suspects?”

There was no way she could drag Kane around interviewing suspects right now. “Okay, thanks.” She disconnected.

“I’m good to go.” Kane stood and pushed on his wet hat. He went to pick up his backpack and Raven grabbed it. “There’s no need. I’m good.”

“I’m your doctor right now, which makes me in charge.” Raven raised both eyebrows as if waiting for an argument. “That shoulder could slip right back out under the weight of this. I’ll carry it and no arguments.” He slung it over one shoulder. “Lead the way.”

Jenna grinned at Kane’s stubborn expression. “I’m sure Wolfe will want to check you over too.”

“You called Wolfe?” Kane snorted. “I’m not dead yet.”