Read Online Monroe, Melody S. - Deception Fantasy [Fantasy Resort 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody S. Monroe - Free Book Online

for help. He’d never seen any up here, but he’d never come at this time of year either.
    A path led further west. He followed it for a bit until he came to the edge of a ravine. He looked out at the setting sun. Peace descended on his soul. He loved the mountains and the clean air. He didn’t miss the big city, where the hustle and bustle tightened every nerve.
    There. It was that sound again.
    He stepped further down the ledge and stilled. Someone was down there in the basin. It was a small figure curled up on the ground. His breath hitched at the memory of that terrible time that had gone so terribly wrong.

Chapter Six

    It was happening all over again. When he was in Iraq, there’d been a girl in need. His fingers tingled as his gut clenched. “Hello?”
    The person didn’t move. Shit. The path down was steep. Without shoes and ropes, the sheer decline might result in him falling, but he was willing to try if it meant saving her.
    “Can you hear me?” he shouted, hoping the prone person was merely sleeping and wasn’t in need of rescue. He called a few more times while he mentally figured the safest way down.
    Feet sounded behind him on the path. Diana and Jack raced up.
    She nearly collided into his back. “What happened? I heard you yell.”
    Trace pointed at the prone figure, and her body tensed. “Oh, my God. I need to get down there and help her.”
    He grabbed her arm. If anything happened to Diana, he’d never forgive himself. “I’ll go.”
    “No. I’m trained. I can’t afford to have you get injured, too.”
    She made sense, but his need to atone was great. “Jack. Call 911. I’ll go back to the Jeep and lead them up here. They’ll never find their way without help.”
    “On it.”
    “Stay with Diana and see that nothing happens to her.” He faced her. “Jack kept up his medical certification. I never got around to it. He’ll be more of use to you.”
    “Great.” She could use the help. “I need to collect a sleeping bag to keep the person warm until help arrives, along with some water and medical supplies.”
    They all rushed back down the path to the campsite. From her bag she pulled out a roll of orange tape. “Trace. Label a tree each time you come to a fork. It’ll be pitch-black by the time the rescuers arrive and bring a flashlight.”
    “I’m good. I spent two years in the service. I’ll be careful.”
    “Wait.” She dug a hand in her pocket. “Take the keys. You might need to drive the car.”
    “Good thinking.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Take care.”

    * * * *

    The softness in Trace’s voice nearly undid her. He cared not only for her but for the injured person below. A bit of her heart would always be devoted to this man.
    The moment Trace was out of sight, she refocused. Jack and she rounded up gear in a controlled rush. She didn’t have to issue a single command. He seemed to know exactly how to handle the emergency, moving quickly and with purpose.
    When they got back to the tall cliff, she made sure her pack was secure and began the slow descent down.
    After a half a minute, rocks pinged off her helmet. What the? She looked up. Jack was partway down the cliff.
    “Jack, you can’t come down here. You aren’t experienced enough.” Though he had seemed to master the art of climbing in just one afternoon, this slope was tricky even for her. Too bad she hadn’t brought more rope, which would have made the descent safer.
    “I can help you.”
    She could use a calm head, but it wouldn’t do any good if she got stuck down in the ravine with one more person injured. He appeared anxious to help, and given he was more than halfway down, climbing back up wouldn’t be any safer.
    “Okay, but go slow.” She didn’t need to add further warnings as he took care to look before he stepped.
    Once at the bottom, they ran to the prone figure and knelt by the girl’s side.
    Diana lightly touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?” The light shake brought a