Page 2 of Need Me
“Cool!” Daveysaid.
Although it expended precious energy, Robert continued conversing with Davey as they made slow progress up the rock face. It kept Davey’s mind off the pain and assured Robert that he wasn’t succumbing to shock. Robert’s muscles burned from the effort it took to haul the chubby boy towards thetop.
He had to get creative when they reached the outcropping, which used up more of his strength, but Robert was in his euphoric state by now. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and soon he didn’t feel his protesting muscles or straining tendons. All that mattered was getting Davey to safety and defeating the cruelmountain.
About twenty feet from the top, Robert looked up and saw Kenny and a couple of other people looking down atthem.
“You guys doing okay?” Kenny hollereddown.
“Ow! Kenny, if you’re going to yell, take the com out first. You almost blasted out my eardrum,” Robertsaid.
“Oh, sorry aboutthat.”
“You can speed it up now that it’s getting wider,” Robert told him. “Davey, youokay?”
“I’m sotired.”
“I know, but we’re almost there, buddy,” Robertsaid.
“Okay.”
When they reached the top, several pairs of hands grabbed Robert and Davey, hauling them up into the early May sunshine. Once they were on firm ground, Davey’s parents swarmed him, carefully hugging him as they cried with relief. Robert removed Davey’s harness and the paramedics tookover.
“You okay, Rob?” Kennyasked.
Robert nodded to the affirmative as he watched the medics load Davey into the ambulance. Amid the flashing lights and static from walkie-talkies, Robert took off his rigging and caught his breath. If only every rescue could end sowell…
Kenny clapped Robert’s shoulder, cutting into his thoughts. “Damn fine job,Rob.”
“Thanks.” Robert handed his earpiece to Kenny. “These really come inhandy.”
Kenny took the com with a chuckle. “Nice of your rich friend to donate the money for them and some of our other newtoys.”
Robert smiled as he thought of his best friend, Kate’s husband, Ric Stanford. The guy had more money than God, but he rarely flouted it. Kate had put a bug in Ric’s ear about the rescue holding a raffle to earn money for some newequipment.
Kate had told Robert about Ric handing her a signed check for ten grand the next morning to send to whoever ran the show. Robert had been amazed. It wasn’t every day in his world that someone dropped ten G’s on something like it was only adime.
“Yeah, Ric’s a goodguy.”
“So are you. That kid was lucky that you were available,” Kenny said. “You’re just the right guy for this kind of job. Steady, tenacious, and you neverpanic.”
“Thanks,” Robert said as he went over his equipment to make sure it was ship-shape.
Once he was finished and made sure he was no longer needed, Robert went to his SUV and threw his climbing stuff in the back. Getting into the driver’s seat, he sat back for a few minutes todecompress.
Then he pulled out his cellphone and hit Kate’sicon.
“Robbie! How did it go? Is the little boy okay? Are you allright?”
Robert laughed. “Easy, Special K. I’m fine. They took Davey to the hospital. Just a broken arm and a bunch of scrapes as far as Iknow.”
“Oh, I’m soglad.”
“Me,too.”
“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.” Kate sniffed. “You’re my best friend, youknow?”
Robert grinned. “Oh, boy. Here come the pregnancyhormones.”
