Page 18 of Rescued By the Mountain Man

The radio crackled again before he could respond. A new voice transmitted—deeper, with the same cadence as Mack's, but edged with controlled urgency.

"All units be advised: Lindstrom Orchard levee compromised on the north side. Evacuation priority alpha. Equipment and volunteers needed immediately at access point Charlie. Ross, do you copy?"

Another voice answered: "Copy that, Chief. En route with sandbags and three volunteers. ETA twelve minutes."

"Acknowledged. We need every hand we can get. Out."

Silence descended, punctuated only by rain hammering against the roof. I watched conflict play across Mack's features—concern battling resistance, duty warring with fear.

"You know where access point Charlie is," I said quietly. "You know which roads remain passable in your truck."

"It won't make any difference," he muttered, though with noticeably less conviction.

"One person can be the difference." I moved closer, ignoring the invisible barrier he'd erected between us. His expression darkened, but I held my ground.

"I'm asking you to see yourself as I see you—someone with value, whose presence or absence matters. Not because it creates a compelling narrative, but because it's true."

For a breathless moment, I thought I'd pushed too far. His eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. Then something shifted in his expression—there it was—a crack in the fortress walls.

"I haven't worked with a team since..." The sentence trailed into silence, implications hanging heavy between us.

"You don't need to lead," I offered gently. "Just show up. Do what you can."

"And what about you?" His gaze traveled over me, assessing. "Can't leave you stranded if the access road floods again."

Hope flickered in my chest. He was considering it. "I'll come with you. I can fill sandbags, make coffee, whatever they need. I'm stronger than I look."

Something almost resembling a smile touched the corner of his mouth, there and gone so quickly I might have imagined it. "Never doubted that."

Before I could savor this microscopic victory, the radio emitted an urgent alert tone, followed by an automated broadcast:

"FLASH FLOOD WARNING UPGRADED. All units be advised: Dam release upstream from Ashwood imminent due to safety concerns. Projected surge will reach Lindstrom propertywithin forty minutes. Repeat: water surge expected at Lindstrom Orchard within forty minutes. Immediate evacuation ordered."

The transformation in Mack's demeanor was immediate and absolute. Military training overrode personal reluctance, back straightening as decision crystallized in his eyes.

"Grab your boots and jacket," he commanded, already moving toward the gear closet with purposeful strides. "Anything waterproof. We'll need it."

I rushed to comply, collecting my limited wet-weather gear while Mack assembled an impressive array of equipment—rope, flashlights, first aid supplies, and what appeared to be military-grade communication devices.

"Your brother will have radios," I suggested, zipping my borrowed raincoat.

"Different frequency than mine," he replied tersely, checking batteries with practiced efficiency. "These are backups. Better to have gear we don't need than need gear we don't have."

The military maxim revealed glimpses of the man beneath the wounded civilian—the Marine who had led, who had saved lives, who had functioned under pressure that would shatter most people.

"Mack," I said softly as he secured his go-bag. "Thank you for doing this."

He paused momentarily, hands stilling on the zipper. For a second, I thought he might acknowledge the significance of his decision. Instead, he merely nodded.

"Stay close to me down there," he instructed, shouldering the bag. "Flash floods are unpredictable. Water can rise feet, not inches, in minutes."

"I will," I promised, following him toward the door where Scout waited expectantly. "What about him?"

Mack assessed his companion briefly. "He's coming. Good in rough terrain, and he's pulled people from water before."

The radio transmitted again: "All available volunteers proceed to Lindstrom Orchard immediately. Situation deteriorating rapidly. Safety equipment provided on site."

Mack's expression hardened with resolve as he grabbed his truck keys from the hook by the door. "Let's move."

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