Montana Wild by Roni Hall Read Free Book Online Page B

and the other arm outstretched, searching for a rock to grasp, the whitewater took charge. She remembered the instructions given earlier and kept her feet in front of her to kick herself away from jagged rocks. As she kicked off one large rock she ricocheted toward another that had enough of a ledge to grab hold.
    With almost supernatural strength, she grasped the cold distinct edge of the rock with her right hand. She felt a push from behind as she pulled herself and Tommy around to the back of the rock. Once behind the boulder, they were somewhat shielded from the brutal force of the foaming water and she pulled Tommy in toward her. He looked dazed and she worried he might pass out so she tried to get his attention, tried to get him to focus on her.
    “Tommy! Tommy!” She had to shout even though he was only inches away. “I’m going to push you up on top of this rock. Help me.” It took a moment for his face to register comprehension. His eyes were glazed over and he looked stunned but finally he made eye contact with her and his blue lips mouthed, “Okay.”
    Still holding on to his life jacket, she pushed him up the rock, and then shoved his small behind to get him up higher. “Pull, Tom! Pull yourself up on the rock.” Again she felt as if someone had control of her arm and after a few pushes, Tommy laid on his stomach, hugging the rock. A little guy like him wouldn’t survive for long in the frigid temperature. The rock was not big enough for both of them so Jamie couldn’t chance climbing up with him. She hung on to the rock with one arm and on to Tommy with her other. The glacial waters were numbing and she had to concentrate to keep her wits.
    “Hang on, Tom. They’ll come to get us,” she assured him and herself, though she had doubts of how and when. “Hang on. You’re going to be okay.”
    As Kevin ran toward Tom, he heard Rick’s scream of horror as it echoed in the canyons. “Nooooooooooo!” Rick froze for a nanosecond in mid-climb then leapt down and ran toward the river’s edge.
    “Oh my God!” A knife-like pain pierced his gut as Kevin saw Tommy’s grip slip and the child fall into the water.
    Horror turned to hope as he watched Jamie’s heroic actions which anchored them both, at least for now. Kevin had never experienced such a mix of emotions simultaneously. Hope that Tommy now had a chance and terror deep in his gut that not one person dear to his heart, but two were in grave danger.
    As soon as Kevin realized that Jamie had secured her rock, he knew he had to work fast and shouted orders. Since the river ran around a peninsula here, the pair did not travel far from their rescuers and there was a real chance of saving them. Ben was already running to them with lines of rope. Kevin got as close to Tommy and Jamie on the shoreline as he could and began to tie the ropes around his waist.
    Rick caught up to them. “Kevin, I’ll go. I’ll get them.”
    “No, Rick. I’m already roped up, and I need you to guide and secure the ropes tight from shore. You have the strength for the anchorman.”
    Rick didn’t argue, and there was no time to waste. With two ropes secured around Kevin’s waist, Rick took hold of one rope and Ben took the other.
    “Kevin, bring my boy back,” Rick pleaded to Kevin with tears in his eyes.
    “I will,” Kevin answered, looking him square in the eye.
    Kevin made his way into the water. Damn, it’s cold! Rick and Ben positioned themselves on shore to help stabilize Kevin as he waded out.
    The force of the water battered Kevin around like a toy but the ropes kept him on course. The anchormen on shore tightened and gave more slack in the lines as needed to direct Kevin to his precious targets. Stumbling repeatedly, the slippery rocky bottom hampered his progress and he went under again and again. The dunkings slowed him and Kevin cursed out loud, trying to regain his balance. Time was his enemy since he was already numb from the icy water. He had to get