nodded before looking up at the screeching woman. Looking up was a good idea because there wasn’t any death up there. “Why isn’t she getting down? Doesn’t she realize we’re the cavalry?”
“Got me. She claims she wants to stay up there rather than come with us.”
“Well, your comedy is a little dry, but that’s no reason to want to stay.”
“Hey! My comedy isn’t dry!”
Trevor smirked at her comment. “We tried tellin’ her. She’s not listenin’ or she doesn’t care. Maybe we should throw a rock, knock ‘er out, an’ make her come with us.”
Candice turned, glaring at him with her mouth open in shock. “ That’s your idea of a rescue?”
“Hey, that’s the only way when she doesn’t wanna be rescued,” Brandon agreed, pointing at Erica. “An’ for whatever reason, she doesn’t.”
Zach looked around in disgust. “Did you explain how we don’t have time for this?”
Brandon glared at him. “Don’t make me shoot you.”
Chuckling, Trevor shook his head. “We’ve been tryin’. We tried reasonin’. We told ‘er who we are an’ she’s safe. We even told ‘er she needed to come with us or she was gonna die! She doesn’t wanna come down. We’ve done everythin’, but throw a rock an’ that’s next… or we can just leave ‘er here.”
Candice shook her head. “We can’t just leave her here!”
“It’s just suicide for us to stand around an’ wait. If she wants to stay then fuckin’ let her stay!”
“We can’t ! She’ll die if we leave her.”
Irritated, Justice groaned. “Then be my fuckin’ guest on tryin’ to get ‘er down! We’ve tried everythin’. Now, I’m for Trevor’s idea of makin’ her come. After all, she’ll be happy when we save her life.”
Candice rolled her eyes at him. “Let me show you how a woman handles this.” Looking up at her, she offered the best smile she had. “Hey there. I realize you’ve had a pretty rough night. We all have, but you need to come down out of that tree. As it is now, they’re just going to leave you here and if we do… you’re going to die.”
Erica looked down, screaming. “Fuck off, bitch!”
Candice glared at her for a moment, before looking around on the ground. “Where’s the biggest fucking rock we can find? I get first crack at her.”
Trevor grinned. “See.”
Montana growled. This was ridiculous. He understood the woman felt traumatized, hell, they all did, but he had other people to consider. His calm, cool exterior broke as he pointed at the truck. “Either you come with us or we’re leavin’! I have too many people countin’ on us to get them to safety. I can’t do that if they get murdered waitin’ on you.”
Brandon smirked, shaking his head. “Now ya did it.”
Trevor chuckled. “Ya done pissed off Montana.”
“Other people?” Erica turned, looking at the truck and then back down. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
Justice looked at Trevor. “Find that fuckin’ rock.”
“I’m coming.” Looking around, she nodded. “I need help down.”
Once more Justice offered up a hand and this time, she put her foot on his head, then shoulders and walked down his back, despite the moans and groans of the bridge she used. Her foot slipped and she fell, but just before her head split open on a rock, Justice caught her. He smiled, setting her on her feet. “There ya go. Now, that wasn’t too bad, was it?”
Ignoring him, she turned to Trevor. “So where are we going?”
Justice stared at her, mouth agape, shaking his head. “Un-fuckin’-believable.” He muttered under his breath, turning away from her. “Oh thank you so much for savin’ my life! You’re such a big, strong man to allow my fat ass to walk down ya like that,” he said, imitating her. “I’m sorry I stood on your head. How will I ever repay you?” He answered. “Oh, that’s okay. Think nothin’ of it. I’m glad I could help.”
Candice watched him carrying on a conversation with
Cynthia Felice
Andre Norton
Jez Strider
Rosalyn West
Patricia Hagan
Nikki Winter
Carrigan Richards
Yvonne Collins, Sandy Rideout
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Beth Goobie