River was daydreaming about that nap Easton had recommended when the real headache hit, fast and with no further warning. The steady pressure abruptly turned into a sledgehammer, like someone striking her between the eyes. Midstep between her tent and the dining tent, River gasped and staggered.

Someone shouted in alarm as her knee hit the snow beneath her.

“I’m fine, I’m good,” she forced between her teeth, instinctively shoving back to her feet to cover the misstep. Instantly, the world spun as she sank back down again.

A hand caught her arm as Ben’s face swam in and out of focus in front of her.

“Whoa, better stay still until Easton gets here to look at you.” Ben pulled out his radio. “Hey, man, we’ve got a problem. River’s going AMS on us.”

“I don’t have altitude sickness,” she insisted, but the pain in her head made her words come out a whimper. “It’s only a migraine. I’m fine.”

“Any signs of HACE?” Easton’s voice was a hard snap through the crackling of the radio.

Ben frowned at her before replying. “She says it’s a headache, but she went down quick.”

“Get her to my tent,” he ordered. “Get fluids in her. I’m on my way.”

Using Ben as a support, River rose to her feet and staggered in the direction Ben led her. Voices spoke, asking if she was okay, but they blended together in one mass of noise, piercing through her brain. At least Easton’s tent was larger than the one she was using and was easier to accommodate both a reclining person and Ben’s helping hands. When Ben told her to lie down on Easton’s sleeping bag, River didn’t fight him. Never had her head hurt so much. The pounding of her blood in her ears grew frighteningly loud, so much so, she could barely hear the opening of the tent’s zipper when Easton arrived. She didn’t know how far away he’d been, but he must have rushed to get back so quick.

“Whisky girl. You slipped fast on me. Tell me what’s wrong.” His rumble was quiet and as gentle as his hands on her wrist, taking her pulse.

“I have a headache.” River’s teeth gritted together, unable to open her eyes to look at him. “It’s been building all day, but I didn’t say anything. I usually have a high pain tolerance.”

“I believe you,” Easton said. “Ben, her heart rate is elevated, probably because of the pain. River, do you have any allergies? Any problems with painkillers?”

“I’m in show business. We pop painkillers like popcorn.”

“You’re from the country, River. Don’t pretend you’re not as tough as nails. I already know better.”

She could hear the kindness in his voice, even though River wasn’t about to open her eyes to look for herself.