path. She dashed out of the bush and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“Thought you didn’t need me,” he said slowly. He sounded out of breath, and she wondered if he’d jogged up here. Knowing him, he probably had. Such an alpha male, and she was thankful for that today.
“I need your flashlight,” she said, pulling back to look at him. “And you, I guess.” She wanted to kiss him, but she’d just broken up with him, and she’d meant it. Watching someone you love suffer wasn’t easy, and if that was a possibility in her future, she didn’t want Jack to have to deal with it. “It’s pouring. Let’s get off this mountain.”
“Good idea,” Jack said as a slow smile slid across his mouth. Then his eyes rolled back, and his body dropped under her hold on him. She tried to catch him, but he fell as the rain beat down on them.
“Jack!” Emma dropped to her knees in the mud. She leaned over him and looked at his face. He was out. “Jack! Wake up!” She tried to lift him up, but he was too heavy. Removing her own jacket, she shielded them both as she slapped at his cheek. “Jack, what’s wrong with you?”
When he didn’t answer, she searched for his phone. Where was it?
She yanked on Jack again and then bent down to talk to him. “I’m going for help. I don’t want to leave you but I’ll be quick. I’ll be right back.”
“Promise?” he asked, opening his eyes just a touch.
“Jack! Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” he said.
“Stop it. What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Just a little snake bite,” he said, half groaning.
Emma gasped. “What? We need to get you to a hospital, Jack. You look awful.”
“You look beautiful.” He opened his eyes all the way. “I’ve always thought so. I’ve always loved you, Emma, long before today.”
“Jack, it’s not the time to talk about this. You’re hurt. You could be…” She trailed off, not wanting to go there. Bite injuries could be serious.
“I could die? Yeah, if you’d have known the summer would end like this, you probably wouldn’t have dated me, huh?”
Emma was starting to shiver uncontrollably as the rain fell harder. “That’s not fair and you know it. I’m going to get you help. Stay there.” She pointed a finger at him.
“You are not leaving me, Emma St. James.” He sat up slowly.
“You’re afraid of being alone with the wildlife?” she asked.
Jack laughed. “I can handle myself. I’m afraid of what might happen to you. Whether you like it or not, I’m in love with you and I don’t plan on leaving your side. No matter what.”
Emma wrapped her arms around him to help him stand. “Jack, we’re not going to—”
“Technically, I’m a dying man right now.” He looked over. “And having you stay with me is my dying wish. So you have to grant it.”
“This isn’t funny, Jack,” Emma huffed, wanting to hate him right now but loving him instead.
“I’m not joking. I’m pretty sure the snake that bit me was venomous. We probably need to get off this mountain.”
Emma gasped. “I’m so sorry you followed me up here. This is all my fault. If something happens to you, I’ll never—”
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” Jack said. “We’re going down this trail together. And then you’re going to make sure I get help. I trust you, Emma.”
Emma wished she had as much faith in herself. She started walking faster, nearly dragging Jack along. After a few steps in, she heard the sound of motors growing louder as utility vehicles traveled up the trail.
“I called Granger, and he called nine-one-one,” Jack said. His voice was barely audible. Then his knees gave way, and he fell to the ground once more. Emma watched helplessly as the guys who’d come to their rescue lifted Jack up and put him on a stretcher to load him onto an emergency vehicle. She got in beside him, and the vehicle turned back down the path.
All Emma could think as they rode in the pouring rain was that she didn’t want to lose Jack. She needed him; she loved him. And he loved her. If he died tonight, she wouldn’t regret a single second except all the wasted time she’d spent this afternoon pushing him away.
But he wasn’t going to die tonight. Jack was as stubborn as he was tough. He’d pull through, and when he did, she was either going to