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He glanced back at Ivy and noticed her struggling to keep her weight off her bad ankle. It was becoming obvious it was causing her more trouble than she let on. The sooner he found her a doctor the better.
“Let’s get going.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
“No, I can’t!”
“You have to. Now is not the time to succumb to your fears.”
“Then just leave me,” she pleaded. “I won’t run. I promise, just don’t be making me cross that bridge.”
“I can’t take that risk.”
“I won’t cross.”
“You will.”
“No, I told you, I can’t—“
In a flash, he pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it at Ivy’s chest. “You will,” he repeated.
The blood drained from her face and he felt an unfamiliar feeling of remorse come over him. He hadn’t planned on this, but he had to get her across. And what Ivy feared most was death. “Now you can either die right here, or take your chances out there.”
Something momentarily flickered across her face. He almost thought it might have been sorrow, but it was gone before he could tell for certain. She stiffened and the blueness in her eyes literally drained, leaving them cold and lifeless. Then turning, she made her way over to the first railroad tie. He hated to admit it, but Sam was impressed with her false bravery.
“Here,” he said, reaching around her midriff with the rope. When she simply glared at him, he sighed and told her, “For safety.”
After he secured the other end around his own waist, she turned and began to make her way cautiously across. She moved slowly and trembled far more than he felt comfortable with, but he made sure to keep a short line between them.
Not surprisingly, the wind was stronger up on the trestles. Ivy’s skirts flapped against her legs and her cloak fanned out behind her leaving Sam no alternative but to add an extra foot of distance between them.
He kept his eyes strained on Ivy, though he had to squint against the cold wind. It stung his cheeks and caused his eyes to tear. The howling of the wind had become so loud in his ears, he found himself more than once glancing over his shoulder expecting to see a train bearing down on them.
It was a long way across and Ivy was moving at turtle speeds. Though he could appreciate her fear, he wanted very much to hurry her along. However, it was the obvious struggle she was having with her ankle that had him biting his tongue.
From beneath them, the sound of the currents rumbled far below their feet. He could easily see the chilly river through the tiers spanning the bridge as it rushed past. Glancing up, he realized Ivy had noticed the same thing. She seemed to wobble then halted altogether.
“Don’t look down.”
When she didn’t seem to hear him, he called out louder. “Ivy! Keep moving and don’t look down.”
He sighed with relief when he saw her head produce a small nod before she stumbled over to the next tier. For good measure, he wrapped the connecting rope a second time around his wrist.
They had managed to pass the halfway point and were slowly making their way toward the other side when Ivy suddenly stumbled over a tier. She cried out, trying desperately to right herself. But her fear and panic must have kicked into full max, because she was unable to get a good footing once again. She hit the tracks with a scream torn from the depths of her core.
Instinctively, Sam’s fingers tightened around the rope and braced his body to take the onslaught of her fall. He felt himself sway high up on the top of the trestle before; thankfully, he was able to gain control and right his balance. His eyes fell to Ivy sprawled out on the tracks, waiting for any sign that she had been hurt. But she remained frozen.
“Are you all right?”
There was a moment’s pause, and then she shook her head.
Surprisingly, he was slammed with a concern very alien to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go any further.” Her voice trembled with obvious tears.
“It’s all right. Go ahead and wait a second to collect yourself.”
