Page 73 (1/2)

She put the flashlight on the incline and reached up to help Teresa A steady stream of dirt fell a few feet from us and she looked back at h, I scrambled back for the helmet, climbed over the mountain of debris with Hardy’s help, then hustled down to assist Cookie Together we eased Teresa toward us She clutched on to h her So ," Cookie said as I put the heled as another wave of pain carpet-bombed her entire body She cried out as Cookie and I started forward

"I’m so sorry, Teresa," I said

She shook her head, deterh her as she hobbled and we dragged Another avalanche of dirt plu the helmet off Teresa’s head I repositioned it, and we started forward again

Then, with a really inappropriate gasp, it hitstarted cru of me that was

23

Seeood idea at the time

--T-SHIRT

"You had to shout it?" Cookie asked, literally bitching all the way out of the stupid s?"

We were covered from head to toe in dirt and soround out as we struggled to get Teresa froet off," Hardy said I started to protest, but he tipped his helmet and with a soft, "Ma’am," disappeared

Then Uncle Bob rushed in, and a wave of relief washed over me However, the look of shock on his face proved that either he had no faith inTeresa Yost, or I looked worse than I thought

Agent Carson was there, too Though I’d never seen her before, I recognized her instantly Her looks matched her voice perfectly Short dark bob, solid build, intelligent eyes She hurried forward, and together with Uncle Bob took Teresa out of our arotten two feet, Luther Dean rushed in as well, ducking at the entrance and taking over for Agent Carson

"Luther," Teresa said, surprised he was there

The s "You never call You never write"

A soft laugh escaped her despite everything

Carson turned back to me, and I tried to raise iven out Though they did twitch occasionally An officer helped Cookie outside while Agent Carson took et too close Dust still lingered in the air from the latest cave-in

"I can’t believe you did it," she said, shaking her head as daylight blanketed us

"I get that a lot" My hair was so caked with dirt and rocks, it actually hurt Then again, I did get pu Island

"I left the flashlight inside," Cookie said over her shoulder, suddenly reet it It’s not like I can get another one at pretty much any store between here and Albuquerque"

She snorted the likelihood of that happening I couldn’t wait to tell her about Hardy I’d have to coet to know hi a wave of dirt billowing out the opening--or not

I saw Rescue hustling up the trail carrying an aluht I was certain I could talk them out of And Rescue was built All three of them, in fact Tall Nice tone Good overall posture