Her assailant let go of her and raced into the inky woods as if snapping dogs were at his heels.
Holstering his weapon, Alex crouched down beside Maya. “Are you hurt?”
“Not sure.” She tried to sit up. Agony ripped through her shoulder. She cried out.
“Don’t move.” Alex stared at the forest and back at her, clearly torn between chasing after the assailant and taking care of her. She wanted to tell him to go find the maniac. But she didn’t want to be left here on the ground alone, either. And she desperately wanted his help finding Brady.
Clearly deciding she was the priority, to which she breathed a sigh of relief, he used his shoulder-mounted radio to call in the situation before he positioned himself behind her to ease her into a sitting position. She gritted her teeth as the movement jostled her injured shoulder. He slipped the backpack down her arms with gentle hands and put it on himself.
“I’m going to lift you and put you into the saddle,” he said. “Do you think you can handle that?”
Grateful for his kindness she nodded. “Yes. I can do that.” And she would bear the pain no matter how much her shoulder hurt.
Coming around to her uninjured side, he wedged one arm under her bent knees and slipped his other arm around her waist. With apparent ease, he lifted her into his arms and stood. She’d always thought he looked strong, now she knew for sure. She wasn’t a tiny woman, measuring five feet seven inches with a figure that could be called curvy, but he didn’t seem the least bit exerted in holding her.
She couldn’t help but notice the five o’clock shadow on his strong jaw and the way his dark brown hair curled at the ends. He really was attractive. She’d noticed before but now... She met his warm brown gaze and a blush heated her cheeks. “I’m sorry you have to do this.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I’m not.”
What did that mean? She didn’t have time to contemplate his words as he lifted her so she could sit in the saddle. At well over six feet tall, he had no trouble placing her on the horse. Thankfully, she could grasp the saddle horn with her right hand while keeping her left arm bent close to her middle and as immobile as possible.
This time he sat behind the saddle’s cantle, mounting with easy grace. One of his arms slid around her waist holding on to her while he held on to the reins with his other hand.
“If it helps, you can lean back against me.” His voice rumbled from his chest, making his invitation inviting.
When was the last time she’d ever leaned on someone else? For anything? She couldn’t remember.
Slowly, she eased back until he took her weight against his chest, reducing the pressure from her bad arm and shoulder. Tiny shivers of shock and adrenaline slid through her. She took deep, calming breaths. Alex’s warmth enveloped her but did nothing to ease the boulder-size fear for her brother sitting in the pit of her stomach.
They headed down the trail until they reached the trail kiosk. She squinted against the flashing lights of the ambulance and the sheriff’s department vehicles.
Two paramedics rushed forward. With Alex’s help, she was taken from the back of Truman and laid on a gurney. The jostling sent streaks of fiery pain through her shoulder.
As the EMTs carried her to the ambulance, Maya nodded at Riley and his son and was grateful to see her friend Leslie Quinn.
The other woman stepped close and grasped her hand. “We’ve all been so worried about you.”
“Brady?” Maya hoped her friend would have good news.
Leslie shook her head.
Disappointment and fear clogged her chest. A crowd had gathered, and Deputy Daniel Rawlings was keeping the townsfolk back. She searched the throng, praying she’d see Brady’s sweet round face. But he wasn’t there.
“Stop,” she told the paramedics. Biting her lip against the aching in her shoulder, she propped herself up on her good arm. “Alex!”
He stood a few feet away and turned at the sound of his name. He handed Truman’s reins to Chase and strode to her side.
“We have to find Brady. I’m not leaving here until we do,” she told him as she swung her legs over the side of the gurney and attempted to stand. The whole world tilted on its axis and a fresh wave of agony from her shoulder crashed through her but she gritted her teeth and rode it out.
Alex held up a hand. “No. You need to let Jake and Gabby see to your injury,” he said, pointing at the two paramedics.
Fighting through the dizziness, she protested, “It’s getting dark. He’ll be frantic. He doesn’t do well in the dark.” Hysteria bubbled within her. She fought for composure. “I’m going back out there. He’s my responsibility.”
She steadied her feet under her and stood. “You coming with me or not?” She turned to the paramedics. “You can put me in a sling or something but I’m going back up the trail.”
The EMTs looked at Alex whose gaze shot to the sheriff before settling back on her. “I’ll go. But you need to stay here.”
“No, I’m going with you.” Her baby brother needed her.
Alex’s strong jaw set in a determined line. “We can stand here and argue about it some more. But the best thing for Brady is for you to let me do my job and let Jake and Gabby do theirs.”
His chastisement stung, but she understood. If she went up the trail, she’d only slow Alex down. And if she stumbled or fell in the dark, she’d do more damage to her shoulder.
Though it grated on her nerves and her pride, she acquiesced. “Fine.” She sat back on the gurney. A leaf dislodged from somewhere on her and landed in her lap. She slapped it away with her uninjured hand. “Only I’m not going anywhere until you return with Brady.”
She could only hope her trust in Alex was well placed because she didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to her brother.
* * *
Alex shook his head, half exasperated and half admiring. Maya was a fiercely loyal, protective and loving sister. She was also determined and stubborn and so pretty, even with sticks and leaves clinging to her long wavy dark hair and her big brown eyes a little wild with worry. He could only imagine what it would be like to have someone care about him with such devotion. A strange yearning clamored for his attention. He ignored it.
“Chase, find a couple of headlamps,” he called to the other deputy while he led Truman back into the trailer. It was too dark for the horse to attempt the trail.
Within a few moments, Alex and Chase moved to the trailhead. Alex paused. “You go up Pine Ridge Trail. Keep your wits about you.”
“Yes, boss.” Chase saluted and hurried up the trail to the left.
Shaking his head at Chase’s insistence on calling him that, Alex took the Aspen Creek Trail at a fast clip. His headlamp provided a large circle of light on the path. He swung the light into the forest on both sides of the trail, hoping Brady would see
