He didn’t sound fine. He sounded exhausted. They’d haul ass the rest of the way down to tonight’s takeout spot where he could better assess the situation. If need be, he’d get his godfather medivacked out by helicopter.
“What’s with the scowl?”
He glanced over at Devin. “Just weighing my options.” He pointed his paddle toward the front of the raft where Walton rested, wedged between a couple of the waterproof cases.
“Your options? Want to clue me in on what those might be?”
He kept his voice low. “We either finish the trip or make an emergency call to bring in a medivac chopper. There’s really no middle ground. I’ll determine the best course of action based on Walton’s condition once we get off the river.”
“I’m sure my boss will have something to say about the whole thing.”
Sawyer paddled hard as they reached calmer water. “I’m sure he will, but it’ll be my decision.” He raised his voice. “Charles, I need your muscle through here.”
“You’ve got it.” The man cast a worried look toward his brother-in-law then dug deep with his paddle. “The sooner we’re off this river, the better.”
The rest of the trip was made in silence as the raft slid through the water. After a final set of rapids, Sawyer swung in next to the oar boat and empty raft. Jon hurried down from the tent area and grabbed the rope to tie them off to a scraggly tree.
“What the hell took you so long to get here? Where’s Roman?”
“We had an incident. Roman’s group isn’t far behind us.” He rested a hand on Devin’s shoulder as he stepped past her then glanced over at Jon. “Help me get Walton to shore. He got trapped underwater for a couple of minutes after the raft flipped. Maybe a little longer.”
Jon’s gaze locked with his. “Did you have to resuscitate?”
“Yes.” Bending, he helped Walton to his feet. “Take it easy getting over the side.”
“I’ve got this.” His godfather’s voice was gruff. “I’m not a damned invalid. I just needed to rest a bit, but now I’m fine.”
Sawyer grinned but didn’t loosen his grip. “Good to hear. If you’re snapping at me that must be a good sign.”
Walton clamped a hand over his arm. “Can we downplay this whole situation around the media? I don’t want them exaggerating the facts and reporting I nearly died or am brain-damaged or some other idiotic thing. My campaign manager will kill me himself if anything negative leaks out.”
“You really do sound better. Thank God.” Sawyer shrugged. “I’m fine with keeping the details between us. I already told Roman to stay quiet about it.”
“Good.” Walton grunted as he stepped out of the raft. “Let Devin spin the facts when they ask questions. That’s part of her job, and she’s excellent at it.”
Sawyer turned to meet her gaze. “A useful skill, I suppose.”
She slid over the edge of the raft and splashed to shore. “You bet. I can lie with the best of them.” She stopped beside her boss and patted his arm. “Don’t worry about your image. I’ve got your back.”
“I know you do.”
Sawyer exchanged a long look with Jon. “Despite the fact Walton sounds ready to take on the world, I want him to rest. Can you see him to his tent then stay close until I get there?”
“Sure.”
“I don’t need a babysitter for Christ’s sake!” Walton’s voice grew louder with each word.
Jon slipped an arm around his back when his steps faltered. “Hey, if I’m hanging out with you, I don’t have to snap a bushel of beans for dinner. Cut me some slack so I can get out of kitchen duty.”
As they moved slowly away, Devin turned toward Sawyer. “Shouldn’t a professional look at him? He may seem okay, but—”
“I have EMT credentials. Both my brothers and I took a course a few years ago since we all work in environments that can result in serious injuries. Based on Walton’s responsiveness, I’m feeling optimistic, but I do want to watch him closely for the next few hours.”
Charles ran a hand over the back of his neck. “My guess is he’ll fight you all the way if you try to call in an emergency evacuation. I can’t begin to imagine the fallout, politically speaking. The other two candidates would jump on him with both feet and turn the situation into a public relations nightmare. Still, if he needs medical attention…”
“He’s right.” Devin’s forehead creased in a frown.
“Let’s hold off for now.” Sawyer fisted his hands on his hips and let out a breath, wondering if he was making the right decision. Fear that he wasn’t ate at his gut. “If I see any sign, and I mean the tiniest indication that Walton’s in distress, I’ll have him flown out of here pronto, and to hell with his candidacy. His health matters far more to me than his campaign.”
“Agreed.” Devin angled her chin toward the river. “Here comes Roman’s group. Maybe reiterate to him that we don’t want what happened blabbed around camp. I’m not concerned about Jon talking out of turn. He seems like the strong, silent type.”
Sawyer smiled. “You’re right about that. You discuss the situation with Roman. I imagine he’ll be more inclined to listen to you, even if I am his boss.” He took a step back. “I’ll leave you to your damage control while I go check in with Walton.”
She laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. The warmth of her fingers branded his skin and sent a surge of adrenaline zipping through him.
“Thanks, Sawyer.”
“For what?”
“Saving his life.” Her fingers tightened. “If you hadn’t been there…”
He covered her hand with his own. “I care a lot about Walton. Not that I wouldn’t have responded the same way to anyone in trouble, but it sure as hell made the situation a lot more personal.” He let out a weak grin. “I expect the stress will catch up to me any minute now, and I’ll be the one who needs reviving.”
Roman’s raft scraped across loose rock as he nosed it up onto shore to let his passengers disembark.
Devin shot a resigned glance in their direction, but her eyes were warm as she turned back to meet his gaze. “If you do, I’ll volunteer for the job.”
A wider smile curved his lips as he reluctantly moved away. “Your tent. Tonight. I’ll let you practice.”
Chapter 6
For the second night in a row, Devin waited in her tent, nerves stretched in anticipation. Sawyer had said he wanted to update her on Walton’s progress without being overheard by Liam or Yancy, but the glint in his eyes told a different story. She capped the bottle of lotion she’d smoothed over sunburned shoulders and returned the container to her bag then wrapped her arms around up-drawn knees. When a shadow darkened the side of the tent facing the campfire, her bare toes curled.
“Devin?” Sawyer’s voice was low. Sexy.
She shivered. “Come on in.” The way her whole body tightened when he unzipped the nylon door, it might just as well have been his pants.
Get a grip!
He ducked through the opening then turned to secure the flap. When he settled beside her, their arms brushed. She drew in a quick breath.
“You okay? You didn’t say much during dinner.”
“I was so relieved Walton appears to be completely fine, I was quietly basking in thankfulness.”
His chuckle rumbled over her