a clearing ahead of us to the left. He’ll lower the rope down and collect us there.” Jacob started to pull himself up, then winced. She reached out her hand for him and felt his hand grip hers for a few moments as he climbed to his feet. Then he let go. “Now give me back my gun.”
She bit her tongue to keep from asking him why he didn’t just use Cutter’s gun, partly because every inch of his tone implied that now was no time to argue, but mostly because he’d taken a literal bullet for her. She handed him back his gun. He took it. “Now, come on. Let’s go.”
She ran, dodging between the trees with Jacob right behind her, expecting at any moment to hear gunfire behind them. The trees parted and a long open slab of rock spread out in front of her, making a smooth gray platform. She stopped short, her feet on the edge of the tree line. Once she ran out, there’d be no cover.
The roar of rushing water ahead mingled with the thrum of the helicopter above.
“Go!” Jacob shouted. “Trust me!”
A rope ladder tumbled down from the sky, dangling out over the stone ahead, promising rescue and survival. She gasped for breath and ran for it, feeling her footsteps slip as they crossed the smooth wet rock. She leaped for the ladder, gripped it tightly and started climbing, rung after rung, as it shook and swayed beneath her, tossing her like laundry in the wind.
For a moment, she thought she was going to fall. Then she felt the rope ladder go tight like she’d suddenly been anchored. She looked down. It was Jacob. He’d holstered his weapon and was awkwardly clinging to the rope one-handed below her. The helicopter rose, sending the ladder flying out over the raging water below. She glanced past Jacob to the river churning beneath them. Her stomach lurched. This was reckless. She couldn’t do this.
“Grace!” Jacob shouted. “Look at me!”
She clenched her jaw and shifted her gaze to the strong and determined face of the man beneath her. His eyes met hers, a reassuring smile crossed his face and she felt something like a light switch on inside her.
“You’re okay!” he shouted. “Just keep climbing!”
A spray of bullets ripped through the forest beneath them. The helicopter lurched upward, nearly throwing her into the trees. Jacob shouted in pain. Then as she watched, he fell backward through the air, tumbling down toward the river below. A scream ripped from her lungs. No! His body hit the water and went under. Her heart pounded. He couldn’t be dead. He just couldn’t be. The helicopter rose higher. Jacob’s body surfaced. Thank You, Lord! The spontaneous prayer surged through her heart, She watched for a moment as he swirled in the water, fighting one-handed against the current and struggling to shed the weight of his bulletproof vest.
Jacob had taken a bullet for her and now he was going to drown.
She glanced to the sky and the safety of the helicopter above. Suddenly the memory of being fourteen-years-old and watching her father run from the police filled her mind. No, she wasn’t like him. She didn’t run, not from someone who needed her, not to save herself, no matter what. Well, now was as good a time to try praying as any.
God, if You’re listening, help me save him. And get us both out of this forest alive.
She let go of the rope ladder and let her body fall toward the river.
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