Summer Rose

by Bonnie K. Winn

“No.”

  Robertson continued. “Because that was one job he couldn’t hire out and be sure it stayed a secret.”

  “But if he tried to get you to…”

  “I didn’t have a reason to stop him neither.”

  Slowly Cassie picked up the incriminating evidence. Turning it in the light, she saw the engraved initials. Her voice was low as she glanced up. “But why didn’t you at least tell the sheriff when you found it? Especially if Fredericks wanted you to—”

  “Like I said, I didn’t have no use for your uncle. I couldn’t kill him, but I was glad he was dead.”

  She shook her head sadly—so much hatred and deceit. And what had any of them gained?

  Jacob opened the door and peered at the water sluicing in wind-blown sheets against the timbers of the porch.

  “Move fast, lady. In better’n an hour, nothin’ll be left of that canyon.” Or the boys.

  “I could send Jensen—” she began.

  “Who the hell do you think’s been doin’ Fredericks’s dirty work?” Robertson stared at her as if she were crazy.

  Cassie swallowed convulsively. So Shane had been right about him, too. She rushed to change from her dress into breeches as soon as she heard Jacob slam the door shut. Pulling on a poncho and hat, she wondered which was worse, facing the raging storm or looking into Shane’s face knowing she’d wrongly accused him.

  She found Shane in the Lazy H stable, quickly readying his mount. The rain dripped from her poncho and pooled around her as she stood in the shadows of the barn. Hearing her, Shane whirled around, his face a perplexed mask of relief and disappointment.

  “I thought you were Evan.” He turned back to the horse and continued saddling it.

  “I wish I were right now.” Her voice sounded soft, but it betrayed the myriad emotions she tried to stem.

  He turned around slowly. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning Evan took Andrew and Zack down the arroyo.”

  Shane’s lips formed a word, but no sound emerged.

  “We have to blow the dam, Shane.” His head snapped up, and his eyes narrowed. “And I’ll need your help.”

  “Now’s a hell of a time to admit that.”

  “I’d say now’s a hell of a time, no matter what I admit.”

  Shane’s flinty eyes challenged her statement, but he quickly finished saddling the stallion. Without further words he gathered up the blasting materials, tucking them into his saddlebags.

  “Stay in the house and get dried off. I’ll be back when I find the boys.”

  “I said ‘we,’ Shane.”

  “You gonna argue now? Doesn’t anything ever slow you down?”

  “Can’t say as you ever will. Are you going to waste time arguing, or are we going to blow a dam?”

  Shane could hardly believe he was still standing there, arguing with her while the storm raged in fury around them.

  “Well, if you’re coming, let’s go,” he finally muttered, leading his horse to the big double doors.

  The rain hitting their faces stung painfully. Lowering the brim of her hat, Cassie hung on tightly as they rode quickly toward the dam. Great whorls of water cascaded over the low-lying creek banks, creating a frightening panorama of land and sea. The jarring reality that this sea of water should all be flat, dry ground hit them both as they turned toward one another. A new sense of urgency propelled them forward.

  Approaching the path to the dam, Shane reached out to grab the reins of her horse. Shouting to be heard above the rain, he stilled the mare. “We need to find a place to cross or we’ll have to ride all the way up and around.”

  Cassie nodded to show him she understood, doubting he could hear a reply in the overpowering din. They picked their way carefully along the sodden banks of the swollen creek. Shane still held her reins and started to cross. Just as abruptly he pulled back, taking Cassie with him. He pointed into the roiling water, and Cassie’s eyes followed the direction of his arm. Floating quickly down the muddy rapids was a hat—a black bowler—the distinctive hat that Fredericks sported.

  They immediately looked across the bank. Fredericks’s palomino was struggling to climb up the bank. They watched in horrified fascination as the great beast’s flanks heaved with exertion as it finally conquered the fast-disappearing bank.

  Feeling sick, Cassie felt Shane’s hand close around her arm as they watched Fredericks bob to the surface, struggling against the treacherous current. Shane handed her the reins to both horses and dismounted quickly, grabbing the rope from the pommel of the saddle. Forming a quick loop, he threw the lasso toward the river.

  Cassie watched in terror as Shane almost slipped into the water. But he backed away and ran along the bank, throwing the rope in for another try. Once again the rope floated uselessly in the water. Cassie pressed her knuckles to her mouth. She saw Shane’s lips moving and guessed he was shouting to Fredericks to grab the line. But since the rain obliterated any other sound, she doubted that Fredericks could hear Shane’s voice.

  Fredericks went under, and Cassie held her breath as he struggled frantically to surface. Fredericks continued to struggle, but as Cassie watched, he flailed more weakly, finally going limp. Just as he did, Shane tossed the rope for the third time and it connected, but Fredericks remained still. Shane tried to reel the rope in, but as he did it caught on the roots of an upended tree trunk. He struggled fiercely with the snagged rope. Cassie counted the minutes as they dragged by, watching Shane’s exertion, almost feeling his pain as the rope dug into his hands. The tree trunk finally burst loose as a large wall of water rushed by. Pulling against the fast-moving current, Shane hoisted Fredericks’s inert body up the bank.

  Cassie dismounted, leading the horses behind her. When she reached Shane, he didn’t have to tell her. The frustration in his eyes spoke for him. It was too late—Fredericks was dead. She felt no taste of victory in knowing her uncle’s killer was dead. Just another useless death, she thought, shaking her head. Her fear for the boys’ safety, however, now overshadowed any other feelings. The horrible image of pulling three other bodies out of the water spurred her into action.

  Swiftly they mounted and rode at a hard pace, without caution, because now they knew they had to take the long way around. Trying to cross the swollen river wouldn’t save the boys; if Shane and Cassie didn’t make it, the boys would lose their only hope of rescue.

  Frantically they fought the driving rain that threatened to make them lose their course or plunge them off the ever-changing banks of the creek. Cassie could feel the exertion of her horse beneath her: white flecks of spittle formed around the mare’s mouth and was lost in the never-ending flow of water that poured around them. Holding on tightly, Cassie prayed the horses wouldn’t lose their footing.

  When she sighted the dam, Cassie could have cried aloud in relief. Instead she glanced at Shane. His face reflected determination and, as he turned to her, a measure of hope she shared.

  When Shane reined in, she instantly took charge of the horses while he unpacked the blasting equipment. The rain plastered her sodden poncho to her body as Cassie searched for a place to hobble the horses. Finding a tree, she tied both horses and then ran after Shane. Shouting to be heard, she tugged at his arm.

  “I want to help!”

  He shook his head, but she tugged relentlessly on his arm. They could blow the dam faster if she helped.

  “All right,” he shouted in return. “But don’t get the charges too big.” He showed her how to set the charges, and she nodded in agreement as the rain bit into her face, carefully accepting the dynamite and blasting wire. They separated and started placing the charges. Each moment that ticked away reminded them of Evan and Andrew.

  Perversely, each moment seemed intolerably long yet sped by unbearably fast. When they neared the middle of the dam, they met. Swallowing the fear that constricted her throat, Cassie stepped back as Shane placed the final bundle. Making their way quickly to the edge, Cassie felt herself slipping. She gasped in r
elief as Shane’s strong arms held her steady until they reached the end.

  Shane picked up the charger and after reaching a safe distance he prepared to push the lever down. Cassie’s fearful eyes met his, and he shot her a look of encouragement. She nodded and closed her eyes.

  The blast sounded incredibly loud, horrifyingly close, making her feel as though she were floating in the air. But when her body hit the cold shock of icy water, Cassie realized it was more than just a feeling. The blast had thrown her into the vortex of the river that was quickly filling with the debris from the dam.

  Struggling against the current that sucked at her and threatened to pull her beneath its deadly surface, Cassie grabbed at a limb that sped past. Frantically trying to kick toward the bank, she found herself swirling instead with the current. Fighting the fear that she knew could immobilize her, she hugged the limb closer and fought to keep her head above water.

  The current was strong—and deadly. Cassie gasped and spit out a mouthful of water as she surfaced again. The heavy poncho was now dead weight that dragged her down along with the relentless current. Each breath she took burned a ragged path to her lungs, and the muscles in her arms and legs burned with equal intensity. The chilling water numbed her body, turning her skin blue and engulfing her in waves of shattering chills. The bank seemed to flash by as though she were being propelled faster than even the debris that threatened to cover her.

  Thinking it would be a relief to close her eyes and stop the awful cold and fear, Cassie was jolted when she felt something thump her head none too gently. As she tried to focus on what it was, she felt it again. Staring up through the rain continuing to pelt her face and arms, Cassie saw that it was a rope. Fighting certain death in the river, Cassie panicked as she reached out to grab it, but the elusive cord disappeared.

  Her fragile store of strength was almost spent when she saw the rope again. This time she willed a burst of energy and grabbed for it again, but her numb fingers refused to take hold. Feeling the heat of her own tears coupled with the water that sucked at her, Cassie fought the sobs of fear that threatened to drown her as surely as the rushing water. When the rope appeared again, she reached out, fingers outstretched, arms taut and extended. She had it!

  Grappling until she had a firm grip, she hung on to the rope. A swift strong tug on the other end started pulling her toward the bank. When Shane’s strong arms lifted Cassie toward him, she clung to him with the last of her ebbing strength. She needed to feel his control, his aliveness. The specter of death was too recent a visitor to be forgotten. Still sobbing, she vaguely felt him pull his poncho around them both.

  Tenderly his hand traced the contours of Cassie’s face. With each touch Shane felt the love that was so difficult for him to express, but the rain didn’t allow him the words he wanted to say. Instead he scooped her up and rapidly carried her over to the horses.

  Knowing the urgency of finding Evan and the boys, Shane fought his emotions, unable to resist holding her a moment longer than was necessary. Almost losing her had dissolved the dregs of the past he had clung to. Shane could no more stop his love for her than he could the water rushing by—water that gave life and now almost caused her death. His lips touched hers gently, almost reverently.

  “You’re safe now, Cassie darlin’, and I won’t ever let you come to harm again. You’re mine, and nothing’s ever going to keep us apart. Can you ever forgive me?” he whispered into her ear. He felt her weakly lace her fingers around his rain-slick neck.

  As the rain poured over their faces and carved its path over eyes, cheeks, and lips, Cassie’s face told him all he needed to hear. He could see the exhaustion overtaking her as she buried her face in his neck, her soft lips nuzzling the roughness of his stubble. When she raised her pain-filled, trusting eyes to his, he felt his heart being branded for all time.

  Shane quickly pulled a soggy blanket from his saddle and wrapped it around her, deeply worried as he saw the blueness of her limbs. Her eyelids drooped closed, and he knew she’d fainted. He held her fragile body close, willing his body heat to warm her frozen limbs.

  Torn, he knew he should take her home, make sure she was safe and warm, but the fates of their brothers were still undecided. He shook his head a moment as though to clear it. He could have sworn he heard shouting. Glancing across the river, he spotted three horses, and one was Evan’s! He uttered a quick but fervent prayer of thanks.

  Judging from their waving and shouting, he could see that the two boys and Evan looked safe—and that they were stuck on the other side of the river. Andrew and Zack kept pointing toward the Dalton spread. Apparently they intended to head toward Cassie’s place to wait out the storm. Grateful to see them safe, Shane waved back to show them he understood. Looking back at Cassie’s still shape, he was relieved his choice had been made for him.

  43

  Shane climbed the back stairs and pushed the door of the guest room open with his foot, balancing the tray of hot soup and tea as he did so. When the door swung open, he nearly dropped everything. The bed was empty, and Cassie was nowhere to be seen. Leaving the tray on the dresser top, he ran down the front staircase, taking the stairs two at a time, shouting for her as he ran. He reached the end of the stairs and saw that the great double doors had been flung open, and the pounding wind was driving sheets of rain into the hall.

  Startled, Shane saw Cassie as she ran toward the corral, looking like an apparition in the fulminating storm. Running to Cassie, he grabbed her and whirled her about. The terror in her face was painful to watch. He scooped her into his arms as she fought him, but her panicky struggles were no match for his strength as he brought her back to the house, pushing the doors closed behind him.

  “I found Andrew,” he kept saying over and over as she pounded her hands against his chest, fighting to be released.

  “But he might drown!” she cried out, unable to believe he had given up the search for the boys.

  “Not at your house he won’t,” Shane answered, gently peeling her fingers away from his Adam’s apple.

  “My house? Andrew’s at my house?” His words seemed to penetrate at about the same time she realized she was trying to choke him. All of the emotions of the past twenty-four hours erupted with as much force as her dam had.

  “It’s all right, Cass. They’re alive and safe,” he said, tenderly stroking her rain-soaked hair.

  “Why do you think I’m crying, you big lout?” She sniffled into his chest as his hands rubbed comfortingly across her back.

  “Damned if I know, woman. Nearly getting blown to death with you didn’t make me understand you any better.”

  “What a surprise,” she retorted, regaining her equilibrium yet leaning closer into his embrace, savoring his strength.

  “With you everything’s a surprise.”

  “Keeps you on your toes.”

  “Lucky I have any toes left after the way the dam blew. I just can’t understand why it blew that hard.”

  Cassie raised her head and looked at him questioningly.

  “Shouldn’t it have?”

  “Hell, no. Small charges—”

  “Small?”

  “Sure, several small charges should have made it blow easily, but it blew like we’d set out to take half the countryside with it.”

  Cassie gulped, not knowing whether to be amused or horrified as he continued.

  “I know the charges I set were small, and I told you not to make yours too big.”

  Cassie’s voice was suddenly quiet as she answered, but her meekness was tinged with restrained humor now that she knew Andrew was safe. “I thought you said to make them big.”

  “You what?”

  She hurried to explain. “What with the rain coming down so hard, I could hardly hear. I thought you said to make them big.”

  “I said don’t make them too big.”

  “Details.”

  Shane didn’t know whether to strangle her or kiss her, but the latter was more appealing. “Tha
t settles it, Cassie darlin’. I’m marrying you for your own protection.”

  “You are, are you?”

  He started carrying her up the stairs, their sodden clothes dripping on the carpet beneath them.

  “Don’t you think you ought to ask me if I want to marry you?”

  “And start another fight? Nope. I haven’t got enough energy left to fight and make love to you. And I sure as hell plan to make love to you.”

  Her eyes twinkled as she gazed at the man she loved. “You do?”

  He answered in a mock growl. “Yeah, you got something to say about that, lady?”

  She smiled mysteriously as she twined her fingers through his hair. “For once I don’t think I’m itching for a fight.”

  Cassie’s mouth grew suddenly dry when she saw Shane’s amusement fade to be replaced by a steadily growing flame of desire. The heat blazed in her cheeks. Pent-up tension hung between them.

  “Shane, this gown—how…?”

  “You had to have warm clothes. I couldn’t let you stay in yours. The gown was my mother’s.”

  She lowered her eyes, suddenly unreasonably shy.

  “I want to ask you one thing, Cassie.”

  She swallowed and nodded.

  “Are you all right? I mean with the storm and all…”

  Her eyes deepened and widened, knowing what he was asking.

  Her voice was husky as she answered, “I’m perfectly fine, Shane.”

  Without further conversation Shane carried her quickly up the stairway.

  He pushed open the door to the great bedroom and then kicked it closed behind them. He laid Cassie down gently on the bed and stripped away his sodden clothes. Then he shook the remaining moisture from his firmly muscled body.

  Cassie met his eyes, her invitation painted in the recesses of her soul. It no longer mattered that he was a Lancer and she a Dalton. In that instant they became simply man and woman, a man and woman who’d fought frustration and desire. It was time now for the reckoning.

  Unable to tear her eyes away, Cassie watched in fascination as Shane moved forward, each sculpted thigh rippling as he walked. As he neared the bed, she let her bold gaze travel slowly downward. The remaining droplets of water trickled over his body and rested in the springy hair that revealed as much of his firm manhood as it covered.