Page 108 of Counter Attack

He’d never hear her whisper. She tried again, raising her voice with the same result.

“She has to be here.”

ThatwasNathan, and he was looking for her.

“Let’s see if Gem can find her. Seek, Gem!”

In no time, something crawled toward her, panting. A bear? She steeled herself for the sharp teeth to rip into her.

Then a dog barked. “Gem’s found her. Hang on, Alexis, I’m coming.”

She still thought it was a dream until a wet tongue licked her face. “Gem?”

The dog barked again, and Alex reached out, her fingers finding fur. It wasn’t a dream. “Thank you, Lord.”

Shuffling and another thump, and then there was light. Alex blinked against it as arms wrapped around her. “You came,” she whispered.

“Yes. Are you hurt?”

“My wrist. I think it’s broken.”

“Lie still until I get the rescue basket in here.”

Half an hour later, Nathan, Mark and a ranger pulled Alex out of the cave and into the bright sunlight. Sunlight she hadn’t been sure she’d ever see again. After being released from the litter, she stood on shaky legs and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air that still had a tinge of smoke to it. Her deputies stood all around. Alex took another breath, and a fit of coughing overtook her.

“There’s an ambulance waiting at the road,” Nathan said.

“No hospital.” Pain shot through her wrist. Okay, that was unreasonable, but someone had kidnapped her and left her to die. Finding them was her top priority, and she did not want to waste hours at the hospital.

Nathan frowned. “You need to be checked out.”

“Maybe the paramedics can—”

“They don’t have the right equipment. Carson Stone will have my—”

She grabbed his arm. “My grandparents. Are they okay?”

“They will be now that we’ve found you.”

Alex glanced back at the mouth of the cave littered with charred branches. “Why set the fire?”

“I think Phame wanted us to find you.”

It didn’t make sense. Unless— “This was just to show how easy it was to get to me.”

“I think so.”

“I still could’ve died—there’s a drop-off in the room I was in.” She shuddered thinking about how faint the rocks sounded, dropping into the water. “We need to talk.”

“As soon as you get checked out.”

“All right.” As long as he didn’t leave her. She reached for his hand, but Gem poked her nose against her palm and whined.

“I think she’s looking for a thank-you,” Nathan said with a chuckle. “She’s the one that found you.”

Alex bent over and scratched the dog’s head. “Thank you, girl.” She raised up and nodded at Mark. “Thank you too.”

He gave her a thumbs-up and then called his dog. “Will we see you at the sheriff’s department later?”

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