Manfax (Winter Brothers #2) - Jacob Chance Page 0,18

to get on my hands and knees and you're gonna use my back as a step. Dani will help you the rest of the way.” I don’t wait for confirmation from her before lowering to the ground. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

The sole of her sneaker lands on my back and then I feel pressure urging me downward as she shifts her weight to one foot, boosting herself. I fight the urge to bend my elbows or fall face-first in the dirt. Vi’s not very big, but I’m hot, hungry, and tiny pebbles beneath me are digging into my legs.

“Grab my hands, Vi,” Dani directs. Once I feel her weight leave my back, I scramble to my feet and help raise her the rest of the way.

Now it’s my turn. Brushing my hands on my shorts, I clear them of debris. It takes all my upper body strength to get my torso to clear the top of the boulder and then it’s a matter of swinging my legs up.

Dani points to a tree directly next to the rock. “We’re going to lift Vi up onto this first branch and then I’m going to get up on that second branch. And then you’re going to climb up too.”

“Are you sure this is necessary? It seems like overkill, unless the bear is overly ambitious.”

“I’m not sure if this plan will work or not, but we can’t waste time arguing over bear motivation levels. Even though we’re off the ground, I’m not confident it’s high enough to avoid a swiping bear paw or a bear standing on its hind legs,” Dani explains.

“Good point.”

Dani places her hand on Violet’s shoulder. “Reach for the branch. We’ll raise you until you can grab on. After that, you’ll have to swing your lower body up.”

“No way. I’m clumsy with solid footing, never mind suspended from a tree.” Vi’s reply is panicked, and there’s a glassy sheen to her eyes. I know she’s scared, but we can’t take a chance with our safety.

“We’ve got you.” I squeeze her other shoulder before Dani and I each grab one of her legs, lifting her. She cries out before she wraps her hands around the tree limb. We continue to assist her until she’s out of our reach. Seconds later, she’s straddling the branch and hugging the tree with her eyes squeezed shut. She’s terrified of heights and it shows.

“Pretend the tree is Larsen and you're climbing him.” I try to inject a little humor, but it falls on deaf ears.

“Okay, my turn.” Dani athletically leaps, catching hold of the limb above her head. Swinging like a gymnast on the uneven bars, she climbs onto the shaky perch. Rising to her full height, she reaches for the higher branch. Standing on her tiptoes, she drags herself upward. Once she’s safely situated, I hear the bear approaching once more, his mammoth size bulldozing over anything in his path.

“Get a move on, Rox,” Dani rushes the words out. I know she can see him, and I need to get my ass in gear.

I bounce on my toes a few times for momentum before I jump. My hands grip the rough bark as I somehow successfully perform the first pull-up of my life.

The bear roars below us, and I shriek. His knife-like claws scrape against the rocks I just left, and thank fuck he can’t find a way to get on top of the smooth surface.

Once I’m safely straddling the branch next to Violet, I exhale a long, relieved sigh. Soothingly, I rub her back. “We’re safe for now.”

8

Adam

A shadow appears, blocking the sun. Opening my eyes, I find Rex standing in front of the chaise lounge I’m lying on. “Hey, the girls left hours ago, and I’m starting to wonder if they got lost.”

I sit up. “Did they say how long they’d be gone for?”

He shakes his head. “Dani said they were going for a walk on the trail. I don’t think they planned to be gone through lunchtime.”

“Probably not. Do you want to go look for them?”

“I think I’d better,” he replies.

Swinging my legs to the side of the chaise, I rise. “Let me throw on some clothes, and I’ll go with you. Why don’t you find Larsen and fill him in on where we’ll be. He can stay here, in case we run into trouble.”

“Our phones won’t work on the trail.”

“I know. But if we don’t come back, he can send help, at least.”

Rex grimaces. He obviously hadn’t given much thought to