Page 78 of My Favorite Hero

“Okay, Casey,” I called up, keeping my voice calm. “Grab on.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

There was a moment of silence. “I can’t move,” she confessed.

“Fuck,” Mark muttered. “She’s frozen in fear.” He cleared his throat. “Want me to call it in? Get the truck and ladder here?”

“No. You hold this steady. I’ll go get her.”

“Are you serious? That’s not really protocol.”

“Nothing about this woman is.”

I swung myself up, ascending the rungs quickly. Given the dizzying heights we were used to, this was nothing. I reached Casey, who was clutching the trunk like a lifeline. I saw how badly she was shaking, and my anger abated.

A little.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to become the firefighter I was trained to be. In charge. Patient.

“Pixie,” I said gently. “I’m here.”

She didn’t move.

“Pixie.” I tried again. “Look at me.”

She met my eyes, hers terrified.

“I’m right here, and you’re going to be fine.”

“I can’t climb down. I can’t even let go,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to. I’m going to lean over, and you’re going to let me lift you off the branch.”

“No! You’ll fall! We both will,” she whimpered, clutching the tree even tighter.

“I won’t fall, and I won’t let you fall.”

“I don’t know if I can,” she whispered.

I took a deep breath. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me help you. I would never let you get hurt.” I waited for her to move, but she didn’t. “I promise.”

“Okay.”

“Put your right hand on my shoulder. That’s it,” I encouraged. “Slowly. Now the left. Good girl. Now lean forward, bracing yourself on me.”

Her breathing was rapid. “Are you holding the ladder?” she asked, panicked.

“Yes,” I assured her. “You’re doing so well. I’m coming closer now. Let me hold you.”

She allowed me to get my arm around her while I held on to the ladder with the other. I knew Mark was bracing it below, but I needed to do this fast before something gave.

It could be the ladder or me.