Noticing it was worse at Cade’s temple, Mei added another layer of bandaging, then applied gentle pressure.
Shouts of excitement erupted from the top of the cliff.
“They’re almost here!” a woman shouted. “Three county rescue guys!”
Jasmine closed her eyes and sighed with obvious relief. “Thank you, God. I’ve been praying this whole time for help to get here.” Her gaze shot up the sides of the ravine. “But how—what can they do?”
“This is their job, honey,” Mei said with more confidence than she felt. “They do this sort of thing all the time.”
In minutes, one man in sunglasses, a dark jacket and a COUNTY SEARCH & RESCUE–emblazoned backpack quickly rappelled down into the ravine, while the other two rescuers stayed at the top and watched, presumably awaiting directions.
Relief and gratitude welled up in Mei’s chest until she was barely able to speak. “Thank you, thank you,” she finally managed, fighting back the sting of tears in her eyes as the first man reached them. “I’m so glad—”
Her next words froze in her throat when she realized just who he was … and, with the next heartbeat, recognized the tragic irony of him being the first one on the scene.
Although he was all too familiar to Mei now that he’d removed his shades and black ball cap, he didn’t even glance her way because his attention was riveted on Cade.
He was all business, pure professional skill, as he hunkered down next to the injured boy. Working rapidly, he opened up his duffel bag and withdrew a stethoscope and portable blood pressure cuff, donned vinyl gloves, then began a careful exam.
But she’d seen his split second of hesitation.
The shock in his eyes.
And the way he’d blanched before throwing himself into EMT mode. Of all the people in the world to answer this call, Jack McCord had shown up. And Cade was his half brother.
Chapter Two
From the moment he reached the ledge, Jack riveted his attention on the still form of his brother.
Jasmine looked up at him. “I c-can’t believe you’re here,” she whispered, her voice laced with panic. “Can you help him? Please—” “Just hold his head steady. Don’t move. And be quiet, honey.”
Shoving aside his own whirlwind of emotions, Jack pulled on his vinyl gloves and forced himself into professional mode. He swiftly checked Cade’s vitals, relaying the data to the emergency room staff at the small local hospital through the cell phone headset on his ear.
Breathing—shallow but steady.
Pulse—regular.
Blood pressure—a hundred over sixty-eight. Skin—cool and dry.
Pupils—uneven, the right more sluggish than the left. Unresponsive.
Slight signs of shock, with a possibility of internal injuries and a head injury.
But thank you, Lord. Cade appears stable. Jack quickly checked him for bleeding and found he’d already been capably bandaged, then he searched for obvious fractures. Finally, rocking back on his heels, he listened to the E.R. doctor, disconnected and called his team members waiting at the top of the cliff.
He pulled a reflective foil blanket from his backpack and tucked it around Cade, then gently rested his hand against his brother’s cheek. “Cade—can you hear me?”
No response.
A heavy fist clamped down on Jack’s heart as his thoughts raced through a litany of fears for his only brother. Internal injuries could be hemorrhaging unseen. He could have sustained a serious brain injury or damage to the spinal cord. He’d fallen more than an hour ago. If he wasn’t responding right now, what were the chances of an extended coma … or death? Lord, please take care of him. Please keep him safe in Your hands—let his injuries be minor, and please, please help him heal. “How is he, Jack?” Jasmine’s voice shook. “I’m so scared for him.”
Whatever his own fears, inciting panic at this point wouldn’t do anyone any good. He considered his answer carefully. “I don’t see any significant external wounds. At least, he isn’t bleeding through any of the bandages so far. And I haven’t found obvious fractures. Of course, Cade isn’t awake to tell us where he hurts most, and I’m not a doctor. I also don’t have a radiologist’s X-ray report in front of me. We’ll have answers soon, though.”
Desperate hope flared to life in Jasmine’s eyes. “So that’s good?”
“Yes, it is. And his heartbeat, color and breathing are surprisingly steady given what he’s just been through.” Trying to stay positive in light of the very serious possibilities made it hard to meet her earnest gaze.
“Then why doesn’t he wake up?” Tears trickled down her dirt-smudged cheeks.
“Maybe he just has a concussion and will be coming around soon.”
“What if it isn’t that? What if …” Her voice trailed off.
Jack sighed heavily and glanced toward the other woman, who had stepped away when he arrived and now stood at the far edge of the ledge with her head bowed, her long black hair veiling the side of her face. “I don’t have the answers. But we’ll have him out of here in no time, and the E.R. will be ready for him. They’ll figure everything out.”
She sniffled and backhanded the tears from her face. “I just can’t believe this happened, and it’s all my fault. If I had agreed to go back to the car instead of insisting on going up the trail …”
“But it isn’t your fault. A terrible coincidence, maybe, being at the wrong place at that very moment. But you couldn’t have predicted it would happen.” He studied her closely. “What about you? Looks like you need to be checked over, too.”
She lifted a cautious hand to her face. “Just a few bumps and scrapes. Maybe a little sprain of my wrist. It’s Cade who needs your attention. Not me.”
“You’ll still need to be seen in the E.R.” Her color had improved and she appeared to be calmer since he’d first arrived. He moved next to her, noting that her skin was warm and dry as he took her pulse and blood pressure. Both normal.
He gently bandaged a laceration on her arm, then examined her swollen wrist and wrapped it with a splint and a firm, supportive bandage.
“I’d guess that the doctor will want an X-ray of your wrist at the very least, and you might need some sutures.”
He slowly straightened and pulled off his gloves, then donned a clean pair as he returned to Cade and knelt at his side. He looked over his shoulder at the other woman. “And what about you, ma’am?”
She still stood facing away from him, her arms wrapped around her slender waist, but now she turned slowly toward him with a tentative expression. “Hi, Jack.”
He felt his jaw drop and his heart lurch against his ribs. If he’d discovered the Queen of England standing in front of him, he couldn’t
