Page 57 of Take Me to the Wedding

After I took a drink, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted up to our friends. “Looks like a fibula fracture. And he’s a little stunned. We’ll need a rope harness to get him out of here. And can someone please throw down some water?”

“Tell them I want a beer,” I called out.

Sam ignored me. Brax poked his head over the side of the cliff. “Sit tight. We’re going back to get a rope and some help. He’s okay?”

“Tell him to make it a six-pack.”

Sam stared at me, a small smile on her lips. “He’s just as ornery as ever. Thanks, Brax.”

He tossed her a water bottle, which she caught and then walked over to me.

“I was doing that for your benefit,” I said.

“Doing what? Starting a bar tab?”

“No. Joking around. I don’t want you to worry about me.”

“That’s sweet, but the fact that you have to explain to me that you’re joking makes me worry.” She tugged on my arm. “Scooch over into the shade and lean against the cliff.”

I nodded, and didn’t even try to stand, because frankly, even sitting, the pain was too great. I scooted back on my butt, each scoot sending a burst of pain through my leg, until I was in the shade cast by a tiny frail Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But I was grateful for it.

“I’m so pissed,” I said through gritted teeth. “I can’t believe this.”

She was busy digging around in her pocket. She produced a little white plastic tube, which she opened into her palm. Then she handed me two pills.

I shook my head. “I don’t want any Advil before they set my bone.”

“I’m not lucky enough to have Advil for my cramps today. It’s just travel Tylenol Mia handed me before I left. So take a couple.”

I tossed down the pills and some water, then leaned my head back, closing my eyes against the pain. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry it hurts,” she said. Her face was drawn, her eyes full of concern. I wanted to make her laugh, distract her from the worry, but I was out of jokes. The situation sucked, but I trusted my friends. Hopefully, they’d get us out of here alive.

I opened one eye and managed a sorry bit of a smile. “Like amother.”

She laughed and scooted up next to me to share the shade. I handed her the water, and she took a sip. Then she reached into her pocket and took a couple of Tylenol too.

“Is this where we tell each other all our secrets before we die?” I squinted up at the top of the cliff. How were they going to manage to lift me up there?

“We’re not going to die. Just sit back and close your eyes, and I’ll tell you a story.”

I felt her prodding my leg. I knew what she was doing. Checking my circulation.

“Can you…” she began.

“…feel my toes. Yes,” I confirmed. I leaned forward to examine the swollen purple bruise on my lower leg. “It’s probably a simple fracture. But that will still get me two months in a boot.”

“You saved that dumb kid’s life,” she said.

I shrugged. “I didn’t think. I just acted.”

“You acted fast.”

A glance over at her showed she was twisting the bottom of her shirt with her hand, clearly a sign of nerves. “You did too. Some might question your sanity with a move like that.”

She thought about that. “I didn’t think I could stop you. But I figured I could slow you down a little.”

“Well then. Thanks are in order.” I tried to smile through the biting pain but failed.

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