Page 2 of Montana Delta Rescue
Relief that his dog was still alive and had found him ran through him. Now if someone could get them out. He heard shouts before passing out again.
He next woke to the sound of rotors on the helicopter that was carrying him to the closest hospital used by U.S. forces.
Herc had saved his life.
“Hercules,” he croaked out as he tried to raise his head to look around him, worrying about his dog. Though he had a feeling Herc was all right, he needed to see him. “My K9.”
The dog had saved his life, allowing men to find him and haul him out of the wreckage, to pull him to safety and medical help. He’d give anything to feel that cold wet nose on his hand again.
“He made it,” the medic beside him said, “Hold still, or you’ll pull the IV out.”
Rock squinted at the medic’s lips trying to read them, because he couldn’t hear the words or fully hear the blades of the helicopter that was carrying them high over the ground. He could feel the movements of the blades and knew they were inside, flying to safety. “They blew us up,” he shouted to be heard as his head pounded and pain shot through his body. “Can I see my dog? Is he all right?”
“He’s not here in the helo, but he’s gonna be okay, and so are you.” The medic said. “Just need to get you to the hospital so they can patch you up.”
“Good,” Relieved to see the medic mouth the word “okay,” the worry about his dog easing, Rock closed his eyes willing the pain to go away.
He didn’t remember the rest of the helicopter ride as it was all a blur until he was in with a doctor and several nurses going over his injuries.
* * *
Stateside,months later, after rehab and getting out on a medical, he received a job offer from Hank Patterson, founder of the Brotherhood Protectors in Eagle Rock, Montana. He’d agreed to join the private protection agency, and would be a bodyguard to actors and actresses, celebrities of all sorts. The mountains of Montana would be a nice change of pace from the sands of Iraq and memories of Utah and the other men who hadn’t made it home.
* * *
Marilyn Mae Tealsdrove from her hair appointment to surprise her boyfriend Tony Santoro.
She parked and let herself into his house quietly, walking through the house until she saw him.
He stood outside by the pool, intently focused on two men and hadn’t noticed her yet.
She waited by the sliding glass doors wondering when he would see her or if she would disturb him if she went on out and sat at the white table near the front of the pool and waited for him to finish.
Tony’s beefy bodyguard Cleo stood beside him, as the taller men faced a shorter, thin, pale man who wore a pink polo shirt and black pants. The man dabbed at his forehead with a white handkerchief as his hand shook.
Marilyn frowned.
Why is that man so nervous? Oh, Tony’s wearing the blue shirt I bought him.
She lost her frown as she observed her boyfriend.
Tony is so handsome. That shirt looks perfect on him, just like I thought it would.
In any crowd he drew her attention. Not for the first time, she wished she had pictures of her boyfriend. But she had none. He was movie star gorgeous but didn’t like having his picture taken. She knew better than to even try to take a picture of him.
Pulling her new cell phone out of her bag, she turned the camera on and reversed it to use it as a mirror, checking her makeup and hair again.
A platinum blonde bombshell with green eyes stared back at her and she smiled.
Tony had wanted her to go blonder and it didn’t get blonder than this.
I can’t wait to see his reaction.
She smiled again to herself and then tapped the phone to reverse the camera. Glancing at Tony again, she couldn’t stop the urge. He looked so handsome in that shirt.
Click.
He would never know. She had to have just one of him.
