“No change. Stable and warm.”
“Westlake, our fearless tour leader?”
“Asleep, last time I checked.”
Nell frowned. “What about you? Don’t you ever rest?”
“I closed my eyes for a few minutes. It’s all I need.” His hands smoothed the thermal blanket around her shoulders. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
“Yeah, I do. Call it terminal curiosity.”
Amanda Wilson tossed in her sleep, and Dakota leaned down to check her pulse.
At his touch the teenager twisted, muttering hoarsely. “Mummy, you left the window open again. It’s so c-cold…” Then her eyes opened and she coughed, staring blankly up at Dakota. “My arm hurts.” She craned her head anxiously from side to side. “Where are the others?”
“Back at the hotel. We’ll get you there shortly.” Dakota raised the tube of her hydration pack. “How about you drink a little water?”
“How long have we been up here?”
“Most of the night.” After Dakota helped Amanda drink, he pulled the silver blanket back in place around her. “But the weather looks to be clearing. Just think of it this way. You’re going to have a great story to tell all your friends.”
The girl’s lip quavered. “I want to g-go home.”
“We’ll get you there,” Nell said firmly. “We’re going to make it through this.”
Amanda took a labored breath. “Is that what you do?”
“Sometimes life gets messy and complicated, but I don’t look down and I don’t look back.” Nell’s voice was flat.
She sensed that Dakota was studying her. “Something wrong?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking plenty loud, Navy.”
Across the tent Amanda giggled. “She’s got you there. You do seem kind of—intense. I guess that’s a navy thing.”
Dakota moved to help her drink some more water. “What, can’t a man enjoy the company of two gorgeous women in peace?”
The teenager wheezed out a laugh. “Very funny.”
Over the howl of the wind, motors droned closer. Nell could see the dim pattern of light around the flap of the tent. “They’ll have to land below the ridge. Someone needs to guide the rescue team up.” Nell pushed to her knees and grabbed her climbing gear.
“Sure you’re up to it?” Dakota asked quietly.
Nell shoved a coiled rope over her shoulder. “No offense, but I think I’m the best guy for the job.”
His expression was unreadable as he reached out and brushed one finger along the corner of her lips. It was almost as if he was memorizing her smile, Nell thought.
Then his expression hardened. “I hate to admit that you’re right. Watch your six out there.”
“SHE’S REALLY GREAT, isn’t she?” Amanda was watching the spot where Nell had disappeared. “I don’t think anything in the world frightens her. I wish I was that way.”
Dakota listened to the chopper approach. “You never can tell what makes people tick. I think Nell enjoys the thrill of being in danger. Besides, you’re pretty brave yourself. You took a real beating.”
The teenager shrugged. “Not like you two. So why don’t you like her? I mean, you smile at her, but it never quite reaches your eyes.”
The girl was a little too observant, Dakota thought irritably. “Nothing wrong with Nell MacInnes. I like her fine.” He just didn’t trust her.
“How’s Ian doing? Is he…” Her voice trailed away.
“He’s still alive.” Barely, Dakota thought. “That’s a helicopter coming in out there. With luck, you’ll be down at the hotel in ten minutes. How do you feel?”
The girl swallowed hard. “Like I might throw up.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” Dakota slanted her a quick smile. “Happens to the best of us.”
The tent flap rose and Nell appeared, snow on her cheeks. “A team is headed up to hitch you into a sling, Amanda. Ready to go?”
“I guess so. You’ll both go down with me, right?”
Dakota zipped up his pack. “You bet.”
“Do you need any help in here?” Nell’s climbing helmet was hanging over her shoulder and she was half turned to the light, looking relieved that the ordeal was nearly over.
“Not a bit. I’ll help Amanda outside and then go see if I can help them with Westlake.”
Nell stuck out one hand. “Nice to meet you, Navy. You can climb with me anytime.”
Dakota gripped her hand and studied her face, looking for traces of cunning or arrogance, but there was only excitement and a hint of a smile.
“I hear the girls are placing bets down at the inn.”
“What kind of bets?”
“Whether or not your butt is as incredible as they all think it is.” She gave a wicked smile. “I’m guessing it is.”
Dakota’s brow rose. “I thought you were into deltoids.”
Amanda gave up trying to hide her laughter. “Where are the deltoids?”
“Right here.” Nell reached out and tapped Dakota’s upper arms. “Something tells me these are pretty spectacular. Too bad I’m never going to find out.”
“I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours. Just name the time and the place,” Dakota said huskily.
Nell’s smiled faded. “I don’t think so. Something tells me it would cost a lot more than I’m prepared to pay.”
“How much are you prepared to pay?”
She studied him a long time. “I’m not sure. Whatever it is, you’d probably cost more. Watch yourself on the big walls, Lieutenant.” She tossed a coiled rope over her shoulder and headed out into the cold gray light of dawn.
Dakota was still watching her as the snow swirled up and the rescue team appeared on the ridge below them.
CHAPTER FOUR
THIRTY MINUTES LATER the storm clouds had moved inland and Amanda Wilson and Ian Westlake had been transferred to a medical flight bound for Edinburgh. Now the rescue team was relaxing, glad to have a successful end to their dawn ascent.
Meanwhile, Dakota’s Foxfire contact was waiting in a military helicopter on the far side of the loch. Izzy Teague was roughly six foot five and could have passed for Denzel Washington, but his grave eyes made him look older than his years. One of the government’s finest security operatives, the man could assess photographs or triangulate cell phone positions faster than most people could breathe.
The chopper was quiet. Restless, Dakota drummed on the window, waiting for the pilot to return.
“Something wrong?” Teague opened his medical bag and pulled out a small metal case.
“Not a thing.”
“Yeah? Then why are you scowling?”
Dakota shrugged.
“How’s your hand?”
“Fine.” Dakota didn’t look up, intent on stowing his gear. He especially refused to look around in hopes of seeing Nell.
Teague