Paul Drake to the Rescue
Perry was actually relaxing outside their makeshift shelter, holding Della within the circle of his arms, enjoying the last of the day's warmth. The streak of lightning flashing across the sky and the clap of thunder that followed caused Della to jump involuntarily and turn her face into Perry's shoulder.
"I forgot your fear of thunder," he said softly. "It's alright, sweetheart. I've got you. But I do think we should retire to the safety of our oh-so-humble abode."
"Anything you say." She wasn't about to argue. Based on her previous experiences of being in the elements, she knew rain was imminent.
Just to put a period on her private prediction, the skies opened and a torrential downpour fell on them, soaking them to the skin before they could move to the shelter. Once inside they moved as far back against the rock wall as they could, huddling together under a blanket. Della started shivering, and Perry, quick to notice, rubbed her arms to get her circulation going, not sure if it was the cold or the storm that caused her shaking.
In an attempt to keep her mind occupied, Perry began nibbling on her neck, working his way up to her ear. She angled her head, allowing him better access, but that was as far as it went. Her mind was on other matters.
"I hope Paul's okay in this storm."
Perry let out a deep sigh. "If all you can think of is whether Paul is getting wet, I must be doing something wrong."
Now Della laughed and turned in his arms, locked her eyes on his. "I'm sorry if you think I've been avoiding you, Counselor. I'll have you know, I only thought of Paul in light of our former conversation. If you're going to start something, I want to make sure he isn't going to come riding up to the rescue in the middle of it!"
He closed his eyes for a second, and she was struck by how dark his lashes were against his pale skin. The wet hair added to the picture. He was gorgeous, and she loved him. Without giving it any kind of thought at all, she kissed him fully and lingeringly on the lips.
"No way are you doing anything wrong," she sighed, "You're doing everything right! If only we were at home . . . I would do just about anything for a hot shower and my own comfy bed."
His eyes flamed twin blue fires. "My bed is comfy, too, Miss Street. And my shower is big enough for both of us."
Perry resumed his path of nibbles and this time, she participated.
"Umm."
Perry stopped to look at his beautiful lady, realizing this was not the time or the place for what he wanted to do.
"Don't stop," Della murmured, almost shattering his resolve.
Still, he tilted her chin up and she looked at him as he said, "Even though I'm enjoying this moment very much, I think we should try to sleep. I'm sure that search party has given up for tonight."
"Rats!" She smiled at him, but created distance between them anyway. "Of course you're right. Let me check your leg before we settle in."
Perry stretched out his leg, and lay back, allowing Della to examine her handy work. It didn't hurt much, not nearly like it had just hours before, but he knew it was a constant concern.
"Perry?"
At her tone, Perry sat up, looking at his leg. Seeing nothing amiss, he turned his attention to his girl.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"If the rescue team is on horseback, how are they going to get us out? I mean, I can probably ride with one arm, but there's no way you can sit on a horse with your leg."
"Didn't the Girl Scouts ever teach you about borrowing tomorrow's troubles? Today has enough of its own." He drew her down beside him and wrapped his arms around her. "Pull the blanket around us, will you?"
When they were settled, he rested his chin on her head. "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm sure our ever-resourceful PI has things well in hand."
"I like it when you call me 'sweetheart,' Perry."
"Do you?" he asked huskily.
She nodded. "I like it a lot." She was quiet for a long minute, then asked, "Will you do something for me?"
He laughed softly. "Anything."
"Will you sing me a lullaby?"
Unable to hide his surprise or his smile, he simply started to sing. His voice, even with him flat on his back, was rich and reverberated in the shelter. The words were soft and simple and comforting. When he finished, he pressed his lips to her hair.
"Now, my dear lady, close your eyes and sleep. I've got you and I promise to keep you safe and warm."
Della snuggled closer to his chest, placing her hand over his heart. "Love you," she mumbled, nearly under.
"And I love you, Della."
Paul was huddled under the canvas shelter, holding Marica, keeping them both as much out of the storm as he could. Chief Micah Parker had secured Danny Novello to a tree at the far side of the shelter, even though Paul was all for leaving him in the rain. It was decided to keep him with the team rather than let him go, as the last thing the rangers needed was another rescue mission.
After thirty minutes of straight deluge, the rain let up to a steady, soft pour. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the rain stopped altogether and only drips and distant rumbles remained. Looking up through the branches, the group could actually see a few stars were peeking through the clouds. There was only a sliver of a moon, but even that was illuminated in the black velvet night sky.
Seeing that Marica had fallen asleep, Paul eased away, making sure she was tightly covered. Taking a seat by the fire next to Parker, he helped himself to more of the odd coffee.
Parker looked at him, not so much as in surprise as it was in anticipation. He knew Paul had something to ask.
"So why are we keeping the skunk over there with us?"
There it was. Parker chuckled and refilled his coffee before answering. "If we let him go, he will either fall, break a limb and die or manage to survive and return to his boss. If the plane is not submerged in the lake, I want to know where that package is." He paused to take a long sip of the hot liquid, then finished, "And if the pilot is still alive, we need to let this scenario play out."
Paul pondered that thoughtfully. "How do we guard him and stick to the game-plan? It's treacherous at best and I'm sure the rain didn't do us any favors."
"Leave him to us, Paul. We have ways of securing a man to a horse." He offered a faint smile and his eyes danced in the firelight. "One of my men will be leading that horse with another right behind him. And failing that, Little Wolf is a crack shot."
Paul looked around, spotting a very tall, very broad man sitting just a few feet from Novello. Realizing he was being stared at, the man grinned widely and touched the brim of his cowboy hat.
"Little Wolf, huh?"
Now Parker laughed outright. "His name is Charlie Johnson, but he likes to play the part sometimes. He is actually a college professor teaching Indian culture at CU."
Once again Paul felt like a colossal idiot. All of his assumptions, starting from his first meeting with Marica, had been turned on their heads. For the first time in his professional career, he felt out of his depth. Adding to that feeling was a sense of urgency to find Perry and Della, and a gnawing wave of exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him.
He drained what was left of the coffee. "Okay, Chief. I'm turning in. I take it we start at first light?"
Parker hid his amusement. "First light? No, Paul. We leave at five. If you want to reach your friends tomorrow, that is. Sleep well."
The last comment was made a little tongue-in-cheek. Paul started to make a nasty comment but then thought better of it. It was only fair that the man laugh at him a little.
Making his way back to where Marica still slept, he leaned as comfortably as he could against a tree, gently pulling Marica closer so that her head rested in his lap. Her dark hair framed her pale face, making her look unearthly and lovely in the moonlight.
She drowsed awake long enough to say, "Thank you, Paul."
"Go back to sleep. It's going to be a short night."
Dawn broke early. Perry, the first to regain consciousness, took self-inventory. He was on his back, with Della wrapped around him as tightly as she could considering their injuries. She was still fathoms-deep in sleep. Shifting gently, he repositioned them on their sides, brushing back a curl that had fallen onto her forehead. She didn't stir. He tenderly placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"Wake up, sweetheart. It's morning," he said softly into her ear.
She snuggled even closer to him, giving a small groan. "Just five more minutes, Mae. Perry's going to kiss me . . ."
His dimples flashed as temptation overwhelmed him. Oh, how he longed to make this particular dream of hers come true. Cupping her cheek, he kissed her slowly and lingeringly on the mouth.
"Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty," he teased.
Her eyes flew open. "Chief!"
"There's my girl!" He drank in the sight of her hazel eyes and smiled. "Now, Della, be a good girl and sit up. Besides, young lady, you have all the blankets and I'm a little cold."
She didn't hesitate. Struggling to sit up, she apologized, "Oh Perry, I'm sorry. I've been a cover hog all my life!"
He chuckled, helping her into a sitting position. "That's okay, Miss Street. I had another, softer blanket to keep me warm."
Della blushed to the roots of her hair, but Perry put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to place a kiss on her lips.
"Now my lovely girl, how about some breakfast?"
"Coming right up."
Chief Parker roused the team at five on the nose. While Marica did a series of stretches to loosen up her stiff joints, Paul sat back in muted fascination. She moved first from side to side, then touched her toes and walked her hands forward.
"How on earth do you do that?"
"Yoga. But I need to get the kinks out or I'll never make it to your friends."
Parker came over to them, greeting Marica in particular with a smile.
"Good for you. It shows that you stay in shape. Now if I can pull Paul away from his current pastime, I need some help with Novello."
"Sure thing, Chief. Let's get to it." Paul stood, and every piece of his spine cracked and popped. They both eyed him curiously, but he just grinned.
Paul gave Marica a quick kiss before following Parker to where two of the other men were hauling a protesting Novello from the ground.
"Hey, watch it, you apes! I'm stiff and sore from the way you morons had me trussed up all night in the cold. If I catch pneumonia, I'm gonna sue."
Parker gave the man a smack on the back of his head. "That is enough out of you, Mr. Novello. Time to mount up . . . unless you prefer to remain in the wilderness alone. Without resources. Oh, and for the sake of the group leader," he pointed to himself, "please exercise your right to remain silent."
Novello's face colored in anger. "Yeah, well you can't—"
"I can," Paul gritted, grabbing the man by the collar, lifting him up so that he had to stand on tiptoes. "You heard the man, and if you don't keep your mouth shut, I will shut it for you."
"You big bas…"
Parker sighed, motioned for Paul to set the man on his feet, then pulled a paisley handkerchief from his pocket, twisting it and effectively gagging the man. "There is always more than one way to tree a 'coon."
One of the other rangers brought a saddled horse over, and Parker, with one great heave, set the man in the saddle. His legs were then tied to the stirrups, his hands likewise tied to the pommel. Content Novello wasn't going to fall, Parker threw the reins to one of the rangers, with instructions to lead the horse.
The rest of the makeshift camp was broken down and repacked, and Marica, already mounted and waiting, gave Paul a reassuring smile as he climbed up on his horse.
"Today is the day, Paul."
It was in that moment he knew he loved her. The realization came out of the clear blue sky. Always before he had enjoyed female company, both physically and emotionally. But this feeling was different. Permanent. He knew in that moment that even if they never had a future romantic life together, he would never stop loving her.
Forcing lightness into his voice, he said as calmly as he could, "Lead the way. I'm sure they are more than ready to be rescued."