Chapter 820 Chapter 820
Jake hefted the rope over his shoulder and looked at Cale. “You guys need an ATV over here.”
Cale grinned. “We can cover more ground quietly with paws. Wheels can’t go everywhere either.” He adjusted the stakes under his arm.
Jake hadn’t gone to the house to see Rory. If she was relaxing with the women and enjoying herself, he didn’t want to intrude. Instead, he’d been voluntold to come over to Blair’s and help Cale block off the bridge. After Nichelle’s stunt jumping in the river during her first shift, they’d built a bridge over it. That way it could be crossed safely. The rising water had made the base of it unstable, so they were going to rope it off until the river settled down and it could be fixed.
His cat moved closer to the surface. Jake inhaled, assessing if there was something nearby that had caught his attention. The scent he took inside was Rory’s. He looked at Cale. “Is someone out here?”
Cale nodded as he navigated under a low branch. “That woman went for a walk. Cooper’s niece. It’s too bad what happened to her friend. We’ve increased perimeter checks at all three locations in case anyone is dumb enough to come after her.”
Jake scanned the area for her. “As far as I know, they found the guys that did it.” His animal was restless. This area was safe from stray wilds, so she’d be safe on that front, but it was slippery with the mud and ice that hadn’t thawed yet. She could fall and get hurt.
“Still, doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
Jake nodded. “This property is fenced, so it’s the easiest of the three to keep watch.”
“True. I guess over at Ed’s the real danger to anyone trespassing is Kelsey. She could drive over them in a bulldozer or crush them in a backhoe bucket.”
Jake grinned. “She does love the big equipment.”
“Darndest thing I’ve ever seen when we were marking out the foundations for the buildings and she wheels up in some ten-ton piece of equipment and makes it look like she’s dancing at the ballet or something.”
Jake nodded. “When Kelsey is at the controls, it’s best to just get out of her way.” He stopped and looked around. The river was just up a ways. “How far along is the bridge?” He hadn’t run here since the time he’d snorted some poison that made him feel like his insides had died and his heart stop.
“Just beyond those trees. I hope it hasn’t already washed away. Getting it across the first time was hard enough.”
Jake nodded. He had not been involved in that. Water was not his friend. Sure, a quick dip in a nice heated, no-wave pool he was up for, but currents and sharp rocks weren’t his thing at all.
When they stepped out of the trees, Jake’s whole world started to move in slow motion. Standing in the middle of the bridge they were coming to block off was Rory. He could see it moving with the pressure of the water flowing under it. She was looking the other way, so he couldn’t wave to her. If one of them yelled, it might startle her and cause her to fall into the rushing water.
“She shouldn’t be on there,” Cale said.
Jake dropped the rope but didn’t even get to take one step to go to her before a cluster of ice chunks collided with the brace. The entire bridge shifted, and Rory fell off the other side of it into the water.
“Holy shit.” Cale started running.
Jake froze for a few seconds and then ran after him. He could see her going down the river as the current pushed her. Yanking his jacket off, he tossed it as he ran. He paused long enough to kick off his boots. “Call the house.” Dropping his jeans to the wet ground, he pulled his shirt over his head. He didn’t stand a chance in the water in this form. He and his cat might hate water, but he needed his animal’s strength to survive this.
He’d never shifted on the move in his life, but as he ran along the bank, trying to keep her in his sight, his animal moved through him. He was done waiting. Their mate was in danger. One second, the damp mud was squishing between his toes as he ran. The next four paws were slapping down in the sludge beneath them.
He was running even with her now, trying to figure out how to get to her. She went under the water, and his cat forgot he hated water and jumped in. The cold was so startling that Jake was glad his animal was steering the body right at this moment because it took him a second to get past it.
He could see Rory ahead of them. Her head went beneath the surface again. Fear for her had him synch up with his cat so they could get their mate. With all the strength he had, he pushed off from a rock that his feet touched and launched them in her direction.
When she was within reach, he didn’t know how he was going to get a hold of her. Grabbing onto any part with teeth was bound to injure her, and he couldn’t take that chance. He cursed in his head. This was going to suck. He had no idea if his animal could navigate underwater, but he took control long enough to get them under the surface. His animal was right there with him as they went under her and came up beneath her. Arms wrapped around his neck, and Jake wanted to scream that they had her. Of course, his animal wasn’t ready for a victory roar just yet; they still had to get out of this freezing, crazy, mad water.
Doing the dog paddle with four paws wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Unfortunately, without arms, he couldn’t do any other swimming style. The strong current was pulling against him, trying to send him back out in the middle, but with sheer determination, his cat found a reserve of strength and sent them sailing toward the edge.
“Jake.”
He heard Cale yell, and then something splashed in front of his face. It was a rope. Clamping his teeth around it, he locked his jaw and continued to paddle as Cale hauled them toward him.
When his paws hit stones, he boosted Rory’s weight onto his back and clawed his way out of the water. She clung to him, not moving. If she hadn’t been holding on so tight, he would have freaked out, worried she was unconscious.
“Just catch your breath.” Cale dropped down a few feet away.
Jake’s sides were heaving in and out.
“Kobie is on the way.” Cale was out of breath.
Jake dropped to his stomach and was content to stay in this position in cat form as long as Rory needed him for support. His animal, even wet, would have more heat than a two-legged form.
He heard more than four paws hitting the ground on the other side of the trees and lifted his head. A black tiger with a large white Blair right behind her came flying out of the trees. Blair actually slid several feet in the mud to stop. Kobie had a clothe bag in her mouth, she dropped it in front of Cale and then came over to Jake.
Kobie nudged Rory, and he felt her stir.
“Here, let’s get this blanket around you.”
Jake stayed on his stomach and watched as Cale wrapped the blanket around Rory’s shoulders. She was shaking and still fighting to catch her breath.
“Your clothes are about twenty feet that way.” Cale pointed.
Jake got to his feet and moved over to stand in front of Rory. He lowered his head and then nudged her shoulder gently. She reached up and grabbed a handful of fur by his neck and rested her head against him. His cat froze and stayed in that position, not pulling from her grip, barely breathing.
When she released him, he spun and ran in the direction Cale had pointed. He spotted his jacket and shifted as soon as he stopped. His body felt numb, but then again, he’d just gone for a refreshing dip in an angry river.
He checked everything was zipped and in place as he rushed back toward them. Rory hadn’t moved. Kobie was laying against her back, to warm her. Blair stood back, as did Cale, and Jake was grateful for that. After almost losing her, he couldn’t guarantee how his animal would react if the males were too close to her.
He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled the blanket tighter around her. “Are you hurt?” He leaned back and looked at her jeans.
“I don’t think so. Just numb.”
He nodded. “Okay. Let’s get you back to the house to warm up.” He stood up and then leaned down and lifted her into his arms. When she went to wrap an arm around, he shook his head. “Just keep your arms tucked in. I’ve got you.” He glanced at Blair who looked at the river and then shook his head and turned to go back. That was twice they had almost lost someone in it. They’d be lucky if Blair didn’t bring the dozer over and try to fill it in after this.
Rory tucked her head under his chin as Jake pulled her tight against his chest and started to walk. Kobie kept pace beside him, and he was good with that, if he slipped, at least he’d have a large feline to land on.
“I’m going to head back and get some help and come try to pull the bridge out of there.” Cale moved by them. “Hell of a save, Jake. I couldn’t bring myself to jump in.”
Jake glanced at him and nodded his head slightly. On any other day he wouldn’t have jumped in either, regardless of season. Something inside him took over when he saw Rory being pulled along. The need to ensure she was safe had been the strongest feeling he’d ever felt in his life. He moved carefully through the trees. It would have been close to a heavenly feeling, inhaling her scent with each breath, but the fear and smell of the water prevented it.
“You okay? If I walk too fast, we’re going to slip.”
“I’m okay. You’re quite warm.” Her voice was hoarse. She’d probably swallowed a lot of the icy water.
He was going to have to get Beth to check her over. Stone or ice on the skin was worse than sliding through gravel. He knew this from experience. Both parts and the thought of one mark marring her body made him tense. His cat was right there with him on that.