“What?” Lance’s gaze bounced from Cam to Hope.
She gave him a shaky smile. “It’s going to be okay. Just be patient.”
Joel didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat it. “We don’t know who else is out here, so do not move.”
Charlie’s head came up. “Wait a second.”
With Cam’s help, Charlie and Jeff lowered the sleeping bag the rest of the way to the ground.
Lance kept shifting his weight back and forth as if he was ready to bolt. “So we’re going to just stand here?”
“What’s the plan?” Charlie asked at the same time.
Joel had met more grateful rescuees before. Then again, he’d had some with even bigger attitudes. The protection business wasn’t always an easy gig. “As Hope said, patience.”
Cam stepped up. “I’ll go.”
No way was Joel letting that happen. If anyone ran out there, it would be him. He’d dragged Cam along on this gig, promising a quick stop, and ended up dropping him into the middle of a disaster. “We’re not sacrificing you.”
Charlie threw up his hands. “Someone has to get out there and call for help.”
“You’re clear of the trees. Can’t you use your satphone?” Hope asked.
“It’s on the helicopter.” Not the best topic as far as Joel was concerned.
When they first left the helicopter, he figured he’d be right back. When they came a second time, he was more interested in the gear and extra guns. He’d screwed up, and Cam gave him crap for it.
Not that the sat phone would have been of any use until right now anyway. Like hers, his needed a clear shot at the sky, and between the trees and the weather, he hadn’t had that for two days.
“I’m going.” Cam slipped off his pack. “Cover me.”
He took two steps and a shot rang out. His body went down. Hitting the ground on his stomach, he didn’t move.
Hope gasped and the men started shouting. Joel refused to lose it. A single shot and a spiderweb of broken glass on the helicopter windshield. That put the shot high and likely from the direction of the old location.
Still, his voice shook as he called out, “Cam?”
“What?” He didn’t move as he answered.
Joel let the relief wash through him. As expected, Cam had fallen more out of training and experience than anything else. “It’s the rigging.”
“You sure?” Cam put his palms against the ground and pushed up enough to glance back at Joel. “I’d really hate for you to be wrong here.”
Hope shook her head. “But no one is standing over there to trip it.”
“There could be another one on this side.” Joel looked behind him, trying to find it.
“What are you two talking about?” Lance asked.
The other men wore similar confused expressions. Joel understood the frustration and need to know, but this wasn’t the time. And if his suspicions were correct, one of them might already know.
“I’m getting up.” Cam shifted as he spoke.
Joel wasn’t about to leave him out there unprotected. He pushed into the open, breaking the tree line and glancing back into the forest. He scanned the area for movement as well as riggings, just in case.
Nothing spiked his radar. “Go.”
He heard the pounding of feet and saw Cam race past him at full speed. Jeff jumped back and Hope tried to catch him. Cam ceased his momentum with a rather large tree. His hands hit the bark and his feet stopped.
Hope went right to him, running her hands over his back and arms. “Are you okay?”
Cam glanced at Joel. “Fine.”
“What is that?” Jeff cowered as a thwapping sound split through the otherwise quiet morning.
The helicopter cleared the trees and headed for the clearing. There was enough room to land, but it would take some skill. Good thing the Corcoran Team had plenty of that.
“The cavalry.” Forget panic. Other than the rain finally stopping, this was the first good news they’d had in days.
“Your team?”
The hope in her eyes nearly did Joel in. “Yeah.”
The helicopter kicked up wind, and the noise drowned out all other sounds. The trees around the open space swayed and the grass flattened. It felt like forever before it touched down and the propellers slowed.
Joel took one step into the clearing and held up a hand. After a few more minutes, the helicopter wound down.
Connor leaned out and yelled. “What’s wrong?”
Joel appreciated the boss’s caution. “We just took fire. Could be a rigged weapon.”
Connor nodded and then moved back inside for a second. When he came out it was with guns up and two men helping. Joel recognized one—Corcoran’s second in command, Davis Weeks, a man Joel would serve beside and trust with Hope’s safety any day.