Terri Reed - Buried Mountain Secrets

“If it helps, you can lean back against me.” His voice rumbled from his chest, making his invitation inviting.

When was the last time she’d ever leaned on someone else? For anything? She couldn’t remember.

Slowly, she eased back until he took her weight against his chest, reducing the pressure from her bad arm and shoulder. Tiny shivers of shock and adrenaline slid through her. She took deep, calming breaths. Alex’s warmth enveloped her but did nothing to ease the boulder-size fear for her brother sitting in the pit of her stomach.

They headed down the trail until they reached the trail kiosk. She squinted against the flashing lights of the ambulance and the sheriff’s department vehicles.

Two paramedics rushed forward. With Alex’s help, she was taken from the back of Truman and laid on a gurney. The jostling sent streaks of fiery pain through her shoulder.

As the EMTs carried her to the ambulance, Maya nodded at Riley and his son and was grateful to see her friend Leslie Quinn.

The other woman stepped close and grasped her hand. “We’ve all been so worried about you.”

“Brady?” Maya hoped her friend would have good news.

Leslie shook her head.

Disappointment and fear clogged her chest. A crowd had gathered, and Deputy Daniel Rawlings was keeping the townsfolk back. She searched the throng, praying she’d see Brady’s sweet round face. But he wasn’t there.

“Stop,” she told the paramedics. Biting her lip against the aching in her shoulder, she propped herself up on her good arm. “Alex!”

He stood a few feet away and turned at the sound of his name. He handed Truman’s reins to Chase and strode to her side.

“We have to find Brady. I’m not leaving here until we do,” she told him as she swung her legs over the side of the gurney and attempted to stand. The whole world tilted on its axis and a fresh wave of agony from her shoulder crashed through her but she gritted her teeth and rode it out.

Alex held up a hand. “No. You need to let Jake and Gabby see to your injury,” he said, pointing at the two paramedics.

Fighting through the dizziness, she protested, “It’s getting dark. He’ll be frantic. He doesn’t do well in the dark.” Hysteria bubbled within her. She fought for composure. “I’m going back out there. He’s my responsibility.”

She steadied her feet under her and stood. “You coming with me or not?” She turned to the paramedics. “You can put me in a sling or something but I’m going back up the trail.”

The EMTs looked at Alex whose gaze shot to the sheriff before settling back on her. “I’ll go. But you need to stay here.”

“No, I’m going with you.” Her baby brother needed her.

Alex’s strong jaw set in a determined line. “We can stand here and argue about it some more. But the best thing for Brady is for you to let me do my job and let Jake and Gabby do theirs.”

His chastisement stung, but she understood. If she went up the trail, she’d only slow Alex down. And if she stumbled or fell in the dark, she’d do more damage to her shoulder.

Though it grated on her nerves and her pride, she acquiesced. “Fine.” She sat back on the gurney. A leaf dislodged from somewhere on her and landed in her lap. She slapped it away with her uninjured hand. “Only I’m not going anywhere until you return with Brady.”

She could only hope her trust in Alex was well placed because she didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to her brother.

* * *

Alex shook his head, half exasperated and half admiring. Maya was a fiercely loyal, protective and loving sister. She was also determined and stubborn and so pretty, even with sticks and leaves clinging to her long wavy dark hair and her big brown eyes a little wild with worry. He could only imagine what it would be like to have someone care about him with such devotion. A strange yearning clamored for his attention. He ignored it.

“Chase, find a couple of headlamps,” he called to the other deputy while he led Truman back into the trailer. It was too dark for the horse to attempt the trail.

Within a few moments, Alex and Chase moved to the trailhead. Alex paused. “You go up Pine Ridge Trail. Keep your wits about you.”

“Yes, boss.” Chase saluted and hurried up the trail to the left.

Shaking his head at Chase’s insistence on calling him that, Alex took the Aspen Creek Trail at a fast clip. His headlamp provided a large circle of light on the path. He swung the light into the forest on both sides of the trail, hoping Brady would see the glow and seek the source.

“Brady!” Alex called as he went. He was near the summit when the sound of pounding feet coming at him jackknifed his heart. He sent up a quick prayer that he’d found Brady as he stepped to the side of the path, keeping the glow of his headlamp focused in the direction of the person racing toward him. He rested his hand on his gun.

A man came into view, shielding his face from the light trained on him. “Help,” the man said. “We have an injured hiker.”

Alex moved the headlamp enough to keep the man in the glow but not blinding him. “I’m Deputy Trevino. Your name?”

The man held up his hands. “Roger. Roger Dempsey.” He lowered his hands. “I’m with a group of hikers and we found an injured teenager. He’d fallen down a ravine and twisted his ankle.”

It had to be Brady. Relief and worry mingled, tightening Alex’s chest.

“The others are trying to make a sled or something to get him back up the hill,” the man continued. “But it’s not going so well. There’s no cell service up here. I was going for help. What are you doing out here?”

Ignoring the question, Alex thumbed the radio’s mic on his shoulder and quickly called in the situation. The sheriff promised to send up the EMTs, and Chase responded he was on his way.

“Show me where.” Alex gestured for Roger to take the lead. No way would Alex turn his back on a stranger.

“Right.” Roger retraced his steps.

“Do you know if the teen you found is named Brady?”

Roger drew up short, forcing Alex to step to the side. “Yeah, that’s his name. How did you know?”

“We’ve been looking for him. He didn’t return home when he was supposed to.”

Roger nodded. “That makes sense, considering...”

Alex understood what the man wasn’t saying about Brady’s Down syndrome. It was a part of Brady, but it wasn’t who he was. Alex knew Brady was smart and kind and loved his sister.

They reached the summit and started toward the trail on the back side of the mountain when Roger stopped and called, “Sybil! Greg!”

“Here,” a female voice called back.

“This way.” Roger trudged into the dense forest.

Before following him, Alex relayed his location to the others. Keeping his headlamp trained on Roger, Alex descended into the steep ravine. Finally, they came to a spot near the creek where two women and two men crouched around Brady, who sat on the ground, his hands wrapped around his right ankle. As Alex and his escort arrived, the four strangers stepped back.

Thankful to have found the other Gallo sibling, Alex knelt down beside Brady. Alex positioned his headlamp so that it didn’t blind the young man but rather reflected on the creek water not too far away. “Hey, Brady. I hear you hurt yourself.”

Brady blinked at him, and then a slow smile curled his lips. “I know you. You come to the store.”

“That’s right. I’m Alex. Can you tell me what happened?”

Brady’s gaze bounced away. “Maya’s gonna be so mad at me.”

“She’s worried about you, Brady,” Alex said. “She sent me to find you. What happened?” he asked again.

Brady’s mouth closed, his lips pressed together tight.