by Ciana Stone
“I wish she would.”
“No reason for her to stay.”
“Unless she sets her sights on Cooper’s father.”
Cody shrugged. “Whatever. I saw him the other day.”
“You did? What does he look like?”
“Well, Coop favors him and honestly he’s not bad looking for his age. Has that air about him that rich folks have, that look down your nose at the common folks thing.”
“I wish he and Mr. Pursell hadn’t gone into business together. It really makes Cooper unhappy. Pressley and Wes, too.”
“But they did, so we deal. And you know they had to do it. Had to prove to Wes and Coop that they could do better.”
Hannah took a seat at the table. “Don’t you find that strange? I mean, Mama and Daddy always said they wanted us to do better than they did. Cooper and Wes’ fathers seem threatened by the idea that their sons could succeed on their own.”
“They probably are. I mean, if Wes and Cooper are just as successful, then what power do their dads have left over them?”
Hannah sighed. “I just don’t see why they need power.”
“Because it’s all they have. Me and you had it good. We have parents who love us and all they want in return is love. Wes and Coop—well, their family life was different. I don’t imagine their dads rolled around on the floor with them, or had water gun fights, or tea parties in the tree house, or any of the things we had.”
“That’s what I want.” Hannah sipped her coffee and smiled. “I want children I can give the same things we had as children.”
“You’d be a great mom.”
“You think?”
“I do.” Cody looked toward the door at the sound of feet in the hallway. A second later, Cooper walked in, sporting a pair of loose boxers and no shirt.
“Oh shit. Sorry.” He started to back out of the room.
“No worries. I was just leaving.” Cody stood and gave Hannah a smile. “Enjoy your day off.”
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes’um.” Cody gave Cooper a smile as she headed out. “See ya, Coop.”
Once outside, she got into her truck. For a moment she sat there, looking at the house. She was glad Hannah and Cooper had worked things out and they didn’t have to cook up some elaborate plan to try and get the truth from Devina.
She was glad Hannah was happy and hoped it continued.
Cody pushed back the niggle of envy. Okay, so she hadn’t found anyone. Well, she had, but the one she wanted didn’t appear to want her. That didn’t mean she’d always be alone.
At least she prayed it didn’t. And she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Cade and Roxie had taken some time off and left last night for parts unknown. Thankfully, Dini and Callie had both volunteered to pitch in, and Cody’s dad had offered to help as well.
Cody looked forward to the nights her dad worked the bar. He brought happiness and laughter to the place with his stories, easy laugh and ready smile. It made Cody smile just to think about it and that reminded her that she had a lot to be grateful for.
So rather than wallow in misery over what she didn’t have, she was going to swim in the water of gratitude for all she did have. Like a bar to run that was making her money hand-over-fist, so much that by year’s end, she could pay off the rest of the ranch and her folks’ place in town.
And that, she decided, was something worth being happy about.
Chapter Thirteen
Cody was walking down the sidewalk toward her truck when she saw Wes and Cooper haul ass out of their office.
“Hey!” she yelled as she broke into a run.
Wes slowed to allow her to catch up. “Where are ya’ll off to like scalded dogs?” she asked when she reached him.
“There’s been an accident.”
Cody felt a big ball of tightness form in her gut. An accident at an oil drilling site was no joking matter. One that had both Wes and Cooper pale faced and running for their cars had to be major.
“What happened?” She ran alongside him as he followed Cooper.
“A rig collapsed.”
They reached Cooper’s car. Cooper was already inside the car, waiting for Wes. “I have to go,” Wes said as he opened the passenger side door.
“I’m going with you,” Cody announced.
“No. It’s best—”
“I’m going with you.”
Wes shrugged and opened the back passenger side door for her. As soon as she was in the car, she started asking questions. “What happened to make the rig collapse? Was anyone hurt? Have you called for ambulances? What about the fire department? Has anyone—”
“Cody, we have it covered,” Wes answered, then looked back at her to add, “A couple of men were hurt, but not seriously. One is trapped under the rig. He saved two other men.”
“Oh god. Who?” As horrible as it was, she hoped it was not anyone she knew.
“Riggs.”
Shocked speechless, Cody sat back and stared out the window. This couldn’t be real. She didn’t want it to be real. “Is he…?” She couldn’t form the rest of the words, couldn’t ask the question because the answer scared her.
“He’s alive.” Cooper cut a look over his shoulder at her. “But we’ve got to get him out.
Cody nodded and remained silent the rest of the drive. She felt sick. Physically sick. Sure, she hadn’t known the man long, but what she’d told Riley was the truth. She believed Riggs was the man for her, the one she was supposed to meet.
Now he could die.
Angrily, she swiped at the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She would not cry. She wouldn’t give in to that possibility. They were going to rescue him. He was going to be okay. He had to be.
The moment Cooper stopped the car and they got out, it was bedlam. Cody could see the overturned rig. Men were clustered all around it. Wes and Cooper shouldered their way through the crowd and she followed.
When they reached the rig, she saw Bronson and Jasper Weathers. “What’ve we got?” Wes asked.
“Riggs is under there,” Bronson answered. “He’s answering but he’s trapped. We don’t know if or how bad he’s hurt. We’re moving cranes in to right the rig, but we need to get someone under there to set some bracing and to be prepared with a med kit once we start to raise the rig. Just in case—”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Cooper asked. “How long until the cranes are here?”
“Five minutes,” Jasper said.
“So let’s get someone under there with Riggs.”
“That’s the problem,” Jasper said. “We’ve got no one small enough to get through.”
“Damn,” Cooper looked around at the men milling about. “There has to be someone.”
“There is,” Cody spoke up.
Wes, Cooper, and both Weathers brothers looked at her and she continued, “Me. I’m small enough.”
“No.” Bronson was the first to argue against it. “We can’t let you—”
“You’re not letting me do anything. I’m volunteering.”
“Cody, no.” Jasper took hold of her by her upper arms and leaned so his face was even with hers. “Listen to me. It’s not safe. I mean we’re going to do everything we can to get him out, but we don’t know how much damage there is to the rig. When we start lifting, anything can happen.”
“I understand that. But you can’t leave him alone under there so I’m going.” Her voice grew in volume and she emphasized her words by slamming her hands on her hips.
Jasper looked at his brother, then Wes. “You talk some sense into her.”
Bronson shook his head and Wes blew out a loud breath. “Cody, what’s Jasper’s saying is that there’s no guarantee we can get Riggs out alive. If you go under there, you could be killed.”
“I know.” Her hands dropped from her hips and her voice lowered. She did understand and she was terrified, but she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t just stand by and let Riggs die. “I�
�m going so tell me what to do.”
Everyone looked around at one another. Finally, Bronson stepped up in front of her. “Okay, here’s what you’re going to need to do…”
*****
Hannah was headed out the door when Cade and Roxie pulled up behind the bar. “Where’s the fire?” he asked as he got out of the car.
“The drill site.”
It was clear that Hannah was upset. Her face was wet as if she’d been crying and her skin was pale, like someone who’d just received bad news.
“What happened?” Roxie hurried over to take one of Hannah’s hands.
“Cooper called. A rig collapsed and Jaxon Riggs is trapped under it. They’ve got equipment coming to try and right the rig, but they need someone under there with Riggs in case—” Her voice broke and she put her hand to her mouth to stifle a little sob.
Roxie squeezed her hand and looked at Cade fearfully. He hurried to put his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “I get it,” Cade said. “They don’t know what has him pinned and how hurt he might be.”
Hannah nodded and swiped at her eyes. “They don’t have any men small enough to get under the rig so Cody’s doing it.” She looked at Cade. “My sister’s going under that thing. Cooper said it’s not safe. They tried to talk her out of it.” She turned her eyes to Roxie. “She could be killed.”
No sooner was the last word out of her mouth than she broke down and sobbed. Roxie looked at Cade. “Call Stella and Billy and tell them to get to the site. We’ll take Hannah and meet them there.”
“What about the bar?”
“To hell with the bar. It can stay closed one night. Make the call, Beckett.”
Cade nodded. As Roxie got Hannah situated in Cade’s car, he called Billy Sweet and filled him in. Two minutes later, he, Roxie, and Hannah were on their way. Cade hoped when they got there, it was not to more bad news.
Jaxon was an old friend, someone he’d met nearly twenty years ago. They’d kept in touch over the years and while they didn’t see one another often, Cade had always known that if he’d ever needed to call on Jaxon, he’d be there. He would have done the same, and right now he was. He’d do whatever he could to help save Riggs.
*****
As the men worked to set up the cranes and get bulldozers positioned, Cody stepped away from the crowd. She’d not admit it to anyone, but she was scared. They called out to Riggs five minutes ago and hadn’t gotten a response. She didn’t know if she could handle finding him dead and being confined beneath that rig. And losing her shit could get her killed.
She knew she was doing the right thing, but damn if she couldn’t use a hug right about now.
As if to answer that thought, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Cody whirled around and gaped in surprise.
“Joe?”
“Yessum.” He smiled at her.
“I haven’t seen you since you saved Annie’s son the night the tornado hit the bar.”
“Been a mite busy.”
“Yeah, you were there with Callie weren’t you?”
“No ma’am. But some friends were.”
“Friends?” Cody’s gaze moved momentarily to the rig, then back to Joe. “You mean?”
“I do indeed.”
“Are you here to save him? Riggs, I mean?”
“More like lend a helping hand.”
“You going under that rig with me, Joe?”
“Yessum. In a manner of speaking.” He took her hand in his hand and kissed her forehead. “You’re a good soul, Cody Sweet, and a brave one.”
“And stupid? Is this going to work?”
“Child, you can do whatever you set your mind to. Just like your mama and daddy taught you. Everything you want is in reach. You just have to stretch out your hand and take hold of it.”
“You sure about that?”
“Most assuredly.”
“Well, I hope you’re right. I—” She stopped as she heard her name being yelled. It was Hannah. “Hannah! Hannah!” Cody waved both arms. When Hannah spotted her, Cody turned toward Joe. Only Joe was gone.
“Oh my god!” Hannah nearly tackled her. “Oh my god.”
“I’m okay, Hannah.”
“Oh thank god.” Hannah stepped back but kept a grip on Cody’s arms. “You can’t do this. You can’t.”
“I have to.”
“No you don’t. Someone else can do—”
“There isn’t anyone else.”
Hannah shook her head. “There has to be.”
“There isn’t.” Cody softened her voice. “I’ll be okay, Hannah and I do have to do this. If I don’t, Riggs could die.”
“And he’s the one.”
Cody smiled. “I thought you didn’t believe me?”
“I don’t. I mean I didn’t. Oh hell, I don’t know, Cody. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“It won’t.”
“You promise?”
“I do.” Cody saw Bronson headed her way and gave Hannah a quick hug. “I have to go. See you soon.”
She hurried away before Hannah had a chance to say more. Bronson took her arm and led her to the other side of the rig. They had this ear-piece communication set for her, a first-aid kit and a case with two jacks. Bronson quickly explained to her how to set the jacks, and then an EMT told her what to look for when she reached Jaxon. He’d be on the communication channel and would talk her through whatever she needed.
She listened, nodded her understanding
“Are you ready?” Bronson asked.
She sucked in a breath and answered, “As I’ll get. Let’s do it.”
He looked around and yelled loudly. “Are we set?”
After the yells of “ready” and “all set”, the entire site went silent.
“Okay, let’s make this happen people,” Bronson yelled, then said to Cody, “Have at it, girl.”
She nodded, slung the medical kit around her body so that it rested on her back, grabbed the case with the jacks, and knelt to peer into the tangle of metal that was the rig. Somewhere under there was Riggs.
It was time to find him.
*****
Hannah was waiting with Cade, Roxie, and Cooper when she saw her mother and dad working their way through the crowd.
“Where is she?” Stella asked the moment she and Billy reached them.
“I tried to stop her, Mama.” Hannah mentally kicked herself the moment the words were out of her mouth. This wasn’t about what she had or hadn’t done. It was about her sister, under that rig, trying to save a man’s life. “She’s trying to help them save Jaxon Riggs.”
Stella looked at Billy, then at Cooper. “And you just let her do that?”
“It wasn’t our decision Mrs. Sweet,” he said. “But yes, we did. We didn’t have anyone else small enough to reach Riggs and the EMTs needed to know his condition before we tried to move the rig.”
“If anything happens to her—”
Stella was cut off by the arrival of Herbert Pursell and another man, someone Hannah had never seen before
“Cooper,” the man with Herbert said.
Cooper turned and Hannah saw the shock on his face before he even spoke. “Dad? What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to help, son.” Lucas gestured to Herbert. “We heard what happened and we have two cranes in route.”
“We have two onsite we’re setting up.”
“Two more could make the difference,” Herbert said.
“I—” Cooper looked at his father, at Hannah, then at Wes, who was hurrying toward them. “Wes, our—”
“What are you doing here?” Wes demanded of Herbert.
“They’re here to help,” Hannah said. She saw the hurt on Herbert Pursell’s face and the anxiety on Lucas Quinlan’s face. Neither might have been a good father to their sons, but both were there with good intentions. “They’re trying to help, Coop. Let them. Please.”
Cooper looked at her, then put his hand on Wes’ shoulder. “She’s right W
es.”
Wes’ lips were pressed together in a tight line and his brows drew down into a scowl. For a few moments, Hannah thought he was going to refuse the help. Then he nodded. “What’ve you got to offer?”
“Two cranes just a few minutes out,” Herbert said. At a tap on his shoulder from Lucas, he looked behind them. “Here they are.”
“Let’s get ‘em into place,” Wes said and gestured to his father and Lucas. “Bronson and Jasper are in charge. Come on.”
Cooper looked at Hannah. “I have to go with them.”
“Can we…” She hesitated, but after a look at her mother, continued. “Can we go with you? We won’t get in the way but Cody’s under there and—”
“It’s fine. Come on.” Cooper took her hand and led them to the command post that had been hastily erected.
Bronson was standing at table that had a radio unit sitting on it along with hand drawn plans. Jasper was talking to the crane operators and the crew. Cooper led Hannah and her family over to Bronson. “I said they could wait here.”
Bronson looked around. “Could someone grab us some folding chairs from the trailer?”
Hannah watched as everyone went back to the task at hand. Time was of the essence and everyone there was focused on a common goal: get Jaxon Riggs and Cody out alive.
*****
Cody was short of breath and more than a little afraid. There was barely room to crawl under the twisted pile of metal. The light on her helmet helped her see, but seeing did nothing to ease her fear.
Please god, let me find him. She kept inching forward, turning her head from side to side. She looked to the right, turned her head back to the front, then froze and looked again. What was that?
When she realized she was seeing Riggs, trapped under a large metal rail, her heart started hammering. She crawled as fast as she could. When she reached his side, she released the case with the jacks.
His eyes were closed and along with what looked like a heavy metal beam across his chest, a metal rod had impaled his left leg.
Cody put her hand on his face. “Riggs? Can you hear me? Riggs. Wake up.”
She was beginning to think he wasn’t going to wake when his eyelids fluttered, then opened. “Well damn, I must be dead.”