Fractured Memory by Jordyn Redwood Page B

everything out of me,” she confessed.
    Eli glanced around. How had she done it? He didn’t see anyone that could have assisted her.
    He stood on wobbly legs and bent over to steady himself with his hands on his knees until the jellylike feeling waned. Was it just that his strength was sapped or was it complete and utter relief that Julia was alive?
    Denial forced his mind to consider only the first option.
    “I guess we’re even.” He reached forward for Julia’s hand.
    “I guess so,” she said, allowing him to pull her up. She swooned, likely from the same light-headedness he suffered. Without thinking, he reached for her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
    Realizing his error, he eased her back and held her with his hands at her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
    “I’d just like to compare our rescues. All you did was call 911. I wrestled you unconscious from a crushed car in the middle of a raging river that, I might add, was freezing cold. Oh, and gave you CPR to get you breathing again.”
    Whatever it was now, it was not the time for him to question her about his take on her emotional state. She had just disclosed that she was the one to save his life. Without her, his family would be planning his funeral. “Yes. That whole lifeguard past is an added benefit to anyone in witness protection. You know we screen for lifesaving skills.”
    Eli hoped he wouldn’t have to even the score.
    The relief in her eyes replaced the troubled shadow when she saw Jace standing across the river. “Looks like Jace did okay when I forced him to jump from the car.” Her brown eyes engaged Eli’s. “Did you know he can’t swim?”
    Surely, there was something profound he should say to her in light of her actions.
    Thank you, Julia. You saved my life—and Jace’s life. I don’t know how I would have lived without you...how I have been living without you.
    He shook the thought from his mind. Already, he’d let his feelings cloud his judgment. It was time to put everything aside and do what he was paid to do—which was keeping her alive, not vice versa.
    The voices became louder.
    “Watch out below!”
    Two heavy red bags fell over the side of the rocky face, unspooling rope until they rested at the bottom a few yards away from where Julia and Eli stood. Then a man with a blue backpack began to rappel down the side. Once his feet made contact with the ground, he turned and waved.
    Ben. He grinned at the sorry sight of them.
    “Didn’t quite stick the landing, did you?” He approached them and swatted the top of Eli’s shoulder with his gloved hand. “Good to see you’re still standing, partner.”
    Eli gave Julia a reassuring smile. “Me, too. Though both Jace and I have Julia to thank for that. Jace is across the river.”
    She huddled herself. “Where did you get all this gear?”
    Ben motioned them to sit. “This is my other life. I volunteer with alpine rescue. I called a couple of friends who live close to here to help. Let me check the two of you out. Does anything hurt?”
    Eli refused to follow his command. “Just get us out of here. Neither of us broke anything. We’re just beaten up and cold.”
    Ben swung his backpack around and opened the smallest compartment. He pulled out a package that held a wound dressing and closed the distance between he and Eli. “Let me at least take care of that cut. All I need is for you to have some excuse to not be at work for the next couple of days.”
    “Let Julia. She’s the nurse.”
    It surprised him that he said it so quickly. He glanced Julia’s way, and she looked at him with faint surprise.
    “Let her rest,” Ben insisted.
    Eli relented and allowed Ben to apply the dressing. “What’s the plan?”
    Ben waved at Jace and motioned him to sit down. “There’s a bad accident a few miles downriver that’s tying up the fire department, but since you all are in one piece and able to walk, we can work to get you out of here and then an ambulance should be