I kick the paralysis out of my feet, then take the duffel bag from my shoulder and set to work. I secure a coil of reinforced climbing rope to an overhanging branch, test its strength and then throw the end down towards Lizzie.
“Use this to keep your head out of the water!”
Like a pro, Lizzie does just that. A hand at a time, she reaches for the rope. The muscles in her arms bunch hard to take her body weight. It won’t last forever but it’s better than relying on the sliding mud beneath her.
Next, I climb down the slope myself, using roots to keep a solid footing. It’s slow and every part of me wants to throw aside my wilderness training and dive for her instead. But I know I’m no help to Lizzie if I get myself into trouble.
“What are you stuck on?” I call over the wind as I reach her feet.
“A root! My left foot is—ah!”
My heart jumps into my throat as she screams. The wind is buffeting her from all sides, her rope swinging under the onslaught.
“You okay?”
Lizzie swallows. Her hair is the color of dirt and plastered to her skin. Her is face smudged with grime, and her clothes are soaked through. But she looks more beautiful than ever. Her eyes spark with determination and she wraps the rope around both wrists to hold on tighter.
“I’m good,” she says, the words lost but her lips easy enough to read.
Damn, my woman is brave.
I carefully inch forward into the water, ankle-deep, and then up to my knees. The water is rushing by fast, but the current isn’t the problem. The shifting mud beneath my boots is the danger. With one step, I’m nearly caught in place, sinking into the mud. With another, I can’t find a grip as the earth moves.
I calm my breathing, brace my weight, and keep my arms out wide so I can finally reach where Lizzie’s feet ought to be. I test my footing and crouch to reach beneath the water.
The cold water comes up to my chest, and is so intense it’s like my bones are on fire. My muscles are stiff, my fingers numb. I feel beneath the surface of the water in vain… until I hit Lizzie’s leg.
I follow her jeans, down to the laces of her sneaker, and find the root in question. It all feels odd. Lizzie’s foot is bent at an unnatural angle. It’s hard to find which bit is the tree and which is her shoe. Finally, I wrap my hands around what feels like the root in question. I look at Lizzie, spit water from my mouth, and call to her.
“You need to hold on to that rope, you hear me?” I tell her. “I’m gonna pull this free to dislodge your foot. You’re going to slip and have nothing pinning you down.”
“Okay!”
“I’m serious, Lizzie!” I scream over the gale. “Don’t you dare let go of that rope!”
If she lets go, she could be swept away. Carried under the water, out through the woods… Only to be found three days later, lungs full of water and glazed eyes staring at nothing.
My hands start to shake and I have to push down the urge to vomit.
I’m not going through that again. I can’t.
“Caleb!”
Hyperventilating, I turn to find Lizzie’s eyes on me. Despite everything around us, they’re calm. Full of confidence and trust. In me.
“Caleb…” she says again, letting the strength of her determination transfer to me. “Get me the hell out of here.”
Yes, ma’am.
With an almighty heave, I throw my weight back, pulling the root for all I’m worth. There’s a shallow give, then a screaming creak from the tree next to me. I keep pulling until eventually…
Snap!
The root breaks free in my hands, I’m thrown backward, butt hitting the water, back hitting the slope.
“Caleb!”
I brace my hands and legs, and breathe a sigh of relief when the earth doesn’t give out beneath me. I scramble carefully back to standing.