Page 94 of Sheltering Instinct

“Tess, what’s going on?” Levi called.

“The teacher is in shock,” Tess yelled back.

Levi’s gaze scanned. “Here’s the plan. You’re not going to like it.”

“I’m not leaving her!”

“No, we’ll try to help. This is the best I can think of. You’re going to untie the rope from the beam and throw it to me on the far side so I can lower her down. Next, you’ll untie the rope from you and tie it to her waist. Last, you need to partially untie her flotation, letting the rope drop within my reach. One end still needs to be tied to her waist.”

“Okay, then what?”

“Then you’ll lower yourself to me.”

“I’m not leaving her there.”

“Only for a moment.”

“You’re right. I don’t like it.”

“Once I have you, you’ll need to reach for the rope and bring it to me. I’ll have a good grip on you.”

“And the floatation?”

“I’m going to pull the floatation to drop her off the beam. Then, I’ll lower her with the rope. Imagine the beam acting as a component of a pully.”

“Got it.”

“Tess, she isn’t coming out of this unscathed. But this is a chance at survival, And it is putting you in a thousand times more danger than I’m comfortable with.”

“What if I did that and stayed up here to get her over?”

“I need you down here to help me with counterweight. It’s most likely that she’ll end up in the water, but we’ll have her on the rope. And I’ll need your help getting her onto the trunk. If I’m trying to save her, I can’t help you, and there is no scenario where I’d let that happen.”

“Levi!”

“Tess, we don’t have time for this. The water’s rising fast. I still have to figure out how to get us out from under the apron.Get the rope on her and get down here. Or we lose everyone, Tess. Do you understand?”

Tess’s body was moving at a speed she didn’t know was possible. After arranging the ropes as Levi specified, she did as the others had done. Rolling her hips onto the beam, wrapping her fingers as best she could, and stretching her arms long, she dangled over the raging waters.

Tess hadn’t understood how frightening this was.

Trust Levi?

Absolutely.

Trust Mojo as backup?

Yes.

But she had been in flood waters with jugs before. She remembered swallowing the muddy water and how it filled her nose and made her gasp for air.

She remembered the terror.

“Tess, I know. And I’ve got you.” Levi called. “Believe in me.”

Those were the magic words. Eyes squeezed shut, she let go.

Sliding through the humid air, toes in the freezing cold water, as the tide dragged her body, Levi’s grip tightened around her arm.

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