Maddy hesitated, knowing she should probably leave now if she wanted to miss the worst of the storm. But there was clearly a problem. “You’d better tell me what’s bothering you.”
Margaret continued her task, methodically forking hay into the stall. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Maddy repeated. “Why am I having trouble believing that?”
Margaret shoved the pitchfork into the bale of hay, her shoulders heaving. Her eyes clouded with pain as she cried, “I thought you were my friend!”
“I thought you were mine,” Maddy replied without hesitation.
Margaret blinked, taken aback by Maddy’s accusation. “What do you mean by that?”
“Apparently I’ve done something to upset you, although I don’t know what. If that’s the case, then we should talk it out. That’s what real friends do when one has unintentionally upset the other.”
Margaret considered that for a few moments, then nodded. Sitting on top of a barrel, she removed her gloves and shoved her bangs away from her face. When they’d first met, Margaret’s hair had been as short as a man’s. Maddy had advised her to let it grow. Every week since, Margaret had complained about it.
“Matt Eilers told me he asked you out!”
“So?” That was it? She’d received two or three invitations from him in the past couple of weeks.
“You know how I feel about Matt,” Margaret cried. “My knees go weak every time I’m around him. I’m just crazy about that man.”
“I know.” Matt was all Margaret talked about. He’d come into the grocery store on several occasions and Maddy had to admit he was good-looking in a Clint Eastwood kind of way—a younger Clint Eastwood. Tall, sandy-haired, whipcord lean. He was handsome, all right. And he knew it. Maddy wouldn’t have gone out with him even if she hadn’t been Margaret’s friend. He wasn’t her type. He was a little too sure of himself, a little too cocky. A little too aware of his good looks and the effect they had on the opposite sex.
Maddy feared Margaret was setting herself up for nothing but heartache when it came to Matt and secretly hoped that once she started acting and dressing in a more feminine way, other men would take notice. If that happened, maybe Margaret would forget about Matt.
“Are you going out with him?” Margaret asked, her dark eyes pleading with her to deny it.
“No,” Maddy assured her. “Did you honestly think I would?”
Margaret blushed and nodded. “Isn’t he the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen? Whenever he looks at me, my stomach starts to do funny things. Then I think of what it would be like to have him touch me and kiss me and…oh, damn, I just go all mushy.”
“There are other men, Margaret, more—” In the nick of time, she stopped herself from saying “more suitable.”
“Not for me. I want Matt.” Her eyes sparked with the fervor of her words. “He’s the one for me, and if it means letting my hair grow and wearing a dress, then I’ll do it. I’d do anything for Matt.”
Oh, dear. Maddy longed to warn her, longed to steer her in some other man’s direction, but knew it wouldn’t do any good. Margaret Clemens had set her sights on Matt Eilers, and it would take an act of God to change her mind.
They chatted a few minutes longer. Then, conscious of the snowstorm howling outside, Maddy left. The wind had grown stronger, plastering her coat against her as she tried to run to her truck. She slipped several times but managed not to fall. The temperature must have dropped ten degrees in the short interval she’d spent in the barn, and the cold was so intense that it hurt to breathe. Snow stung any skin that was exposed, and it felt as though tiny needles were pricking her cheeks and face. Her eyes started to water.
Inside her truck again, Maddy felt safe and warm. However, by the time she was back on the road, she wasn’t so sure she should have left. To be on the safe side she pulled off and reached for her cell phone. She punched out Jeb’s number and waited five rings for his answering machine to click on.
“Jeb,” she said, feeling awkward talking to his machine. “It’s Maddy, and I wanted you to know I’m leaving the Triple C now.” She pushed her glove aside in order to check the time. “It’s ten after three, so I should be at your place within fifteen minutes. It might take a little longer because of the weather. I thought you should know I was on the road. See you soon. Bye.”
Leaning as far as she could over the steering wheel in an effort to see, Maddy went maybe another mile. She couldn’t be far from the turnoff to Jeb’s ranch, but landmarks were obliterated in the storm and it was impossible to tell. The snow was coming so fast and thick now that she could no longer see the road.
Soon the snow completely blinded her. Afraid she was about to drive into the ditch, she stopped and picked up her cell phone again. She wasn’t sure who to call this time, then decided on Jeb. He was the closest. He could advise her, tell her what to do, send for help if necessary. But when she tried her phone, it didn’t work; either the battery was dead or the storm had disrupted the satellite transmitter.
There was nothing Maddy could do but sit and wait, and hope against hope that someone would find her soon.
With the wind moaning and the frenzied whirling of the snow, Jeb hurried from the barn to the house, stumbling forward and catching himself before he fell. Even now, after all these years, he found it hard to remember that he couldn’t run the way he once had. His thoughts had been on Maddy and he prayed she’d had sense enough to stay in Buffalo Valley during the storm.
He experienced no small relief when he saw his bare counter. The thought of her being trapped somewhere on the road in this blizzard terrified him. He noticed the blinking light of his answering machine and knew without checking that it was Sarah. His older sister made a habit of calling him frequently, and always during storms. Thanks to Maddy, he had more than enough supplies to see him through. He’d left plenty of food for his herd and wouldn’t worry about them unless the blizzard lasted more than a couple of days.
The wind had nearly cut him in half and he was cold to his bones. Rather than take time now to listen to his sister’s concerned voice, he went into the bathroom for a long hot shower. If the storm continued like this, he’d probably lose electricity and he wanted to take advantage of the hot water while he had it. Luckily he had a fireplace and a generator that would kick in to keep his appliances going.
Warm from his shower, Jeb walked past the answering machine on his way into the kitchen and pushed the message button. At the sound of Maddy’s voice, he stopped abruptly. When he realized she was trapped in the storm, his heart went into a tailspin.
Maddy was on the road, somewhere between his place and the Clemens ranch. The thought of her driving in blizzard conditions was enough to chill his blood. Having lived in the South, she had no experience driving in snow. Dear God in heaven, Maddy, stay in your car. Please stay in the car. He wasn’t sure he could even find her. If he did, he could only hope it wouldn’t be too late.
Maddy had never been colder in her life. Every time she tried to move, it was agony. Snow and cold, especially a cold this intense, was virtually alien to her. A little more than one hour had passed, and the road was completely nonexistent, the landscape indistinct. Desperate, fearing she’d freeze to death, she turned on the engine and started inching forward. But she hadn’t gone more than a few feet when she felt the tires slip down an embankment. Helpless to do anything, Maddy clung to the wheel as the Bronco slid into the ditch.
She wasn’t going to die, she told herself repeatedly. Jeb would hear the message; he’d find her. He’d come for her if he could. All she needed to do was wait. She dared not leave the vehicle, but she’d never been very patient and it was so incredibly cold. On Hassie’s advice, she’d kept a blanket and bottled water in the car, but the blanket added only a little warmth. Every few minutes she restarted her engine and let the warm air revive her, but she was running low on gas.
After another hour, her eyes were so heavy she couldn’t keep them from closing
. She wanted to sleep, to sleep…. But her fears multiplied and she forced her eyes open, fearing if she did allow herself to fall asleep, it would be the end of her. She tried singing, tried talking to herself, but the effort drained her.
Just when she was sure she really was about to freeze, she started the engine once more. Eventually the air grew less frigid. Despite everything she’d done to keep warm, she was so terribly, terribly cold. She let the engine run far longer than she should have. After a while, it coughed, sputtered, and then stopped entirely. The gas gauge told her what she already knew. She was out of fuel.
Maddy fought off sleep as long as she could. Against her will, her eyes would drift shut and then she’d jerk herself awake.
“Hurry,” she prayed, hoping Jeb had gotten her message. Someone. Anyone. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall forward until her forehead hit the steering wheel and she snapped to attention again.
“Don’t go to sleep,” she reminded herself. “It’s the worst thing you can do.”
But it was impossible to remain awake. Soon it would be completely dark. Soon it would be too late. She swallowed a sob, not wanting to face the thought that she might die. Her death would devastate her mother. Her father was so self-absorbed these days, she wondered if he’d even notice she was gone. A weak smile turned up her lips.
Her eyes closed again and she didn’t have the strength to keep them open any longer. She hadn’t really lived, hadn’t done any of the things she’d always dreamed were part of her future. Hadn’t married, hadn’t borne a child.
Please, God, she prayed, please don’t let me die.
She repeated the desperate prayer over and over, moving her lips, trying to believe in the possibility of rescue.
The next thing Maddy knew, the car door was yanked open. The action was abrupt and shocking, and it frightened her so badly that if not for the restraint of the seat belt, she would have toppled out of the vehicle.
“Maddy…thank God, thank God.”
Jeb. He’d come. She’d known he would, but his voice seemed so far away. She saw his lips move, but the words didn’t reach her until several seconds later. Her lashes fluttered open and she attempted to smile, but she was too cold and weak to manage even that.
“…get you out of here.” He reached across her and unfastened her seat belt.
She tried to help, but all her efforts were useless. Try as she might, all she did was get in his way.
The cold inside the car had been horrific, but now with her door open, the snow and wind lashed her unmercifully. The numbness she’d been feeling was gone, replaced by pain. Half dragging and half carrying her, Jeb managed to get her inside the cab of his pickup. He wrapped her in a heavy blanket and made her drink something vile-tasting. Whatever it was burned her throat. She protested and twisted her head, refusing to take another sip, but he forced her, yelling at her.
“Drink!” he shouted. “Drink, dammit.”
He gripped her chin and poured the burning liquid down her throat. Then he turned the pickup and started to drive, slowly, carefully, peering out of the windshield. The cab of the truck was warm, so warm. How he managed to see the road was beyond Maddy. Her head kept falling from side to side as she battled off waves of sleep and unconsciousness. All at once, she started to shake violently but whether it was from reaction or cold, she didn’t know.
Jeb didn’t say one word. His entire concentration remained focused on the road. Maddy tried to help, to stay awake and watch with him, but it was too difficult with the uncontrollable shaking that had overtaken her.
She could see the tension in Jeb and longed to tell him how sorry she was, but she couldn’t find the words, couldn’t make herself speak.
An eternity passed before Maddy realized that they were on his ranch. He pulled the truck up close to the house.
“Everything’s all right now,” he assured her.
She rolled her head to look at him and this time was able to manage a small smile. “Thank you,” she mouthed, uncertain the words were audible. “I knew you’d come…I prayed you’d come.”
He hurried around to her side of the truck and helped her out, but her legs refused to cooperate and once again he had to half drag, half carry her. Once inside the house, he took her directly into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He removed her coat but didn’t undress her. He put her under the water, the warm spray hitting her face and drenching her clothes. Maddy cried out at the pain of it. The water was barely warm but it burned her skin. With her back to the wall, she slid to the floor and buried her face in her hands, pressing her head to her bent knees.
“Maddy, Maddy.”
That was when she started to weep. Deep, shaking sobs racked her body, making it nearly impossible to breathe. If he hadn’t arrived when he did, she’d be dead by now. Dead. The sobbing went on.
“Maddy.” Fully clothed, Jeb stepped into the shower stall with her, and tucking his hands beneath her arms, brought her to a standing position. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
Then they were clinging to each other, and Maddy felt a massive shudder go through Jeb and knew instinctively that it was one of relief. Steam rose from the water, swirling around them, creating a fog.
Jeb had found her. He’d risked everything to search for her. She was safe now—they both were.
Holding her against him, his strong arms circled her waist and leaned her against the shower wall. Even with his clothes on, with the water from the shower pelting down on them, she could feel the strong, steady beat of his heart.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to kiss, although she was certain neither of them intended it to happen. His chest lifted with a deep intake of breath and his grip on her tightened as their mouths strained toward one another. The kiss was urgent, intense, and once they’d started they couldn’t seem to stop.
They kissed again and again, their need frantic. Steam rose around them and seemed to cloud all reason, all inhibition. When at last he raised his head, Jeb looked down at her, his face intent as if he needed reassurance that this was truly happening.
Maddy gave him a slow, sweet smile. She could immediately see that it flustered him. With his back to her, he turned off the water.
“Stay here,” he instructed as he stepped out of the shower. His boots squelched and made puddles on the floor as he walked across the bathroom. “I’ll be right back with some clothes for you.”
While he was gone, she stripped out of her wet clothes, but had trouble doing it. She was extremely weak. The worst of it was pulling off her boots and then getting the heavy wet sweater over her head. By the time she’d finished, she was exhausted. Breathing erratically, she leaned against the back of the stall, standing there for several minutes in order to regain her strength. When she could, she reached for a towel, wrapping it around her. She grabbed another towel to at least partially dry her hair. Piece by piece, she wrung out her clothes and draped them over the shower door.
When he returned, Jeb had changed out of his own wet clothes. He handed her a stack of neatly folded items, including a set of thermal underwear. “They’ll probably be too big,” he said, doing his best not to stare at her wrapped in a flimsy towel—and not succeeding, she noticed. “But it’s the best I can do.”
“Thanks,” she whispered. “I’m sure that’ll work out nicely.”
He was right, almost everything hung on her, but she rolled up the shirtsleeves and the bottom of the pants. Borrowing his comb, she tugged it through her blond tangles and pulled the hair away from her face, securing it with a rubber band she’d found in her pants pocket. The wool socks felt wonderful.
Maddy heard the wood fire pop and crackle as she walked into the living room. Jeb knelt on the floor with his back to her, in front of the fireplace. “I expect we’re going to lose electricity any time now,” he told her.
Sitting on the edge of the sofa, she brought her knees up and slid her arms around them, watching him work.
Jeb gl
anced over his shoulder. “That cup of coffee there is for you.” He pointed to a side table next to the sofa.
“Thank you.” She picked it up, letting the hot mug warm her hands. Her first sip told her this was coffee with something added to it. The same something he’d given her in the truck, she suspected. Even diluted, it was potent enough to bring tears to her eyes. Brandy, perhaps? She inhaled a sharp breath and blinked furiously.
He fed the fire for several moments, then stood awkwardly. He picked up his own mug and sat down beside her on the sofa. “How do you feel?” he asked.
“Cold.” It wasn’t true anymore, but it was all she could think of that would bring him closer. Saying it had the desired effect, and he moved near enough to put his arm around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and her voice cracked with emotion. Without him, she didn’t want to think what would have happened.
“You should never have been on the road,” he said quietly.
She wasn’t going to argue with him. “I know. You’re right, of course.”
“The first lesson you need to learn about living in North Dakota is to respect the weather. Another ten or fifteen minutes and it might have been too late.”
“The storm—it came on so fast….” With splayed fingers she cradled his jaw and turned his face to hers. “I know I keep saying this, but I can’t help it. Thank you, thank you so much.”
She knew he was going to kiss her again, and welcomed his mouth with a soft groan. As if they both realized at the same moment what a narrow escape they’d had, they clung to each other. Soon their kissing became a frenzied need, his mouth slanting over hers, their tongues finding and stroking. Her hands were busy unfastening the buttons to his shirt, and at the same time, his fingers unfastened hers.
Pushing aside the thermal underwear, he cupped her bare breasts and stroked each nipple with the pad of his thumb. Gently bunching them together, holding them in his palms, he administered detailed attention to one nipple and then the other, first licking them to hard peaks and then sucking each in turn, until Maddy sighed with the intensity of the pleasure.