12 Gifts for Christmas. Джулия Кеннер

Bonner might have charmed Miguel’s family, but Des had no illusions about her or any woman. Never again.

      As he drove, he noticed Allison taking in the scenery. A true nature lover would find nothing more breathtaking than the beauty of the snow-covered peaks towering above them. They’d left the village behind and were alone on the road. Des shifted gears and they arrived at the road’s summit. He rounded a corner where everything opened up.

      “Oh!” she cried out.

      They’d come to the massive amphitheater of frozen waterfalls falling from great heights for which Puerto d’Ara was renowned. By the awe on her face he could see she was dazzled by the sight. The sun glinted off the ice as it cascaded over the boulders, giving the illusion of bride’s lace.

      “I’ve never seen anything so spectacular in my life!”

      Her reaction sounded genuine enough, but he hardened his resolve to remain unmoved by her.

      “I’ll grant you this is a unique place.”

      She flashed him an enraptured smile. “Thank you for bringing me here. I can’t wait to try climbing one of these ice cascades!”

      He studied her animated features with a dubious glance. “The treacherous surface of a waterfall is slick and textured. Have you considered the danger?”

      “Of course I have. Let’s see … I could fall in an icy crevasse, or get frostbite, or an avalanche could come out of nowhere. But it’s the risk of the unknown that fuels my need to push the envelope. You of all people should understand what I’m talking about.”

      Des made a sound in his throat but didn’t respond. He got out of the car and opened up the back to retrieve their gear. “We’ll climb a little on that cascade to the left of us where the sun won’t be shining directly in our eyes. The lower portion isn’t too steep.” He handed her a helmet. “This is Inez’s. Try it on for size.”

      She settled it on her head. “It fits perfectly.”

      “Bien.” He handed her some crampons and she put them on. Within minutes they were outfitted and ready.

      “I’ll put my helmet on once we start climbing.” He was still feeling nauseous, and the thought of putting on the confining helmet made his stomach churn. “Let’s drop the formality. I’ll call you Ally.” He picked up the axes and ropes and started toward the ice. “Follow me along this flat portion for practice. I’ll stop when we reach the place where you’ll need to start using your ice tool. If you feel nervous, let me know.”

      “I promise.”

      “Then let’s go.”

      As they made their way across the frozen waterfall, Des looked over his shoulder several times to make certain she was all right. She’d gotten the hang of it in minutes. “I’m impressed how well you’re handling yourself on the ice.” It was only the truth.

      She half laughed. “We’ll see how long it lasts.”

      They soon reached the area where the ice started to angle upward. Though it wasn’t steep, it made the going more precarious and he helped her into her harness. He also attached the rope and belay in case she fell. Her moves on the ice were instinctive, indicating she knew what she was doing.

      By the time he’d shown her how to throw the ax and kick her foot so the front of the crampon dug into the ice, he was starting to admire how quickly she was catching on. He also had to admit she was in great shape.

      “Now grip your tool while you push yourself up with your legs. Do it a couple of times to get the feel.” He gave her a few pointers as she tried the motion out. With each effort she made, he found himself impressed by her grit. “I think you’re ready to scale this a ways.”

      She flashed him a nervous smile. “I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”

      He stared at her for a minute, respecting her courage and spirit of adventure that called to something inside him. He’d been unfair to her. “Forgive me for being abrupt with you earlier, Ally. I’m afraid I haven’t been on my best behavior today.”

      “Forget it. If our situations had been reversed and Miguel had roped me into helping you, I would probably have told him I had a headache and walked away.”

      In spite of himself, he found Ally Bonner’s rare honesty appealing. “Are you ready?”

      “Yes.”

      She threw her ax and began to mount the ice in increments, making certain the point at the front of her crampon was embedded. With each try she gained another foot. So far so good—until he saw the ax fall out of her hand. She’d thrown it wrong.

      “Uh-oh!” She had to grab the notch she’d made because the leashed tool was just out of reach.

      “Hold on.” He gauged the distance between them and figured she was about eight to twelve feet above him. “I’ll get it for you so you can use it to come back down and take a rest. When you think you’re ready again, we’ll do a short climb together.”

      “Okay.”

      Her legs were set in the proper stance. She was doing everything right, but she was new to ice climbing and would need a short rest. It took a lot more energy than one would imagine, even for somebody in great shape. If she hadn’t done a lot of climbing back in Wyoming, she could never have accomplished as much as she had.

      Des reached her in a few seconds and handed her the tool. “You’re doing fine.”

      “Thanks.”

      After she took it, he swung back to his foothold. As he started to climb down, he was suddenly seized by nausea and a blast of dizziness. His vision blurred and he lost his grip. Then everything went black.

      “Des!” Ally cried out, watching in horror as his body suddenly slid down the ice and his head hit the hard surface—his bare head. He hadn’t stopped to put on his helmet. She moaned in anguish.

      His body came to rest facedown at the bottom of the ice waterfall. It had all happened within seconds. “Des!” she cried out in panic. No answer. “Des?”

      He was out cold, possibly injured. She had to help him. She pulled out her ax and found the former hole she’d made with it. Slowly she eased herself down in increments until she reached his body. She removed her harness so she wouldn’t be hampered and crouched beside him.

      She was trained in first aid, and did a quick assessment.

      His face had gone the color of ash but she found a pulse, though it was a slow one. He wasn’t bleeding and he didn’t seem to have a spinal injury, thank heaven.

      Something must have happened to him after he’d handed her the tool. Something that had caused him to lose consciousness.

       Oh, Des … I need to get you to a hospital, fast.

      Just the day before Miguel had told her there was no cell phone service in this area to call for assistance. So she’d either have to leave him here and go for help, hoping hypothermia didn’t set in in the meantime, or drag him to the truck. She chose the latter.

      After removing his crampons, she turned him over, grabbed hold of his harness and began pulling him toward the car. They were still on the ice, and she had to dig her crampons in with every step, slowing her progress and draining her strength.

      Ally prayed every inch of the way over the flat cascade of ice. Several times she heard a moan from Des. Relieved for even that much response, she finally reached their vehicle. After removing her crampons and helmet, she went through several of his pockets and found the keys.

      Once she’d opened the rear door, she grabbed him in a fireman’s lift the way she’d been trained in the Tetons and managed to get him inside. He had to weigh at least two hundred pounds of hard muscle, but she couldn’t stop to rest. Frantic to reach help, she raced around and got behind