by Annie Rains
He shook his head and reached for her hand. “Whatever lie you need me to tell you, I will, because I don’t want you to say goodbye. You are the best thing in my life.”
Emma shook her head. “Jack…” She was done people pleasing, done pretending. Jack deserved to know why they couldn’t be together. “The truth is, when I had my appointment the other day, I took a test.”
“What kind of test?” he asked.
She noticed how his eyes widened and realized what kind of conclusion he might jump to. She wasn’t pregnant.
Emma blew out a breath. “I took a test to see if I carried the genetic mutation for breast cancer. It predicts my chances of getting sick like my mom and grandma.” She pulled her hand away. “I have the mutation.”
Jack stared at her. “Okay. So? Are you telling me you’re just going to resign yourself to the same fate they had?”
“No.” Emma folded her arms across her chest. “No. I’m going to fight, of course. I’m going to live.”
“Seems to me you’re going to hide. Breaking up with me is not living, Emma. Shutting yourself off from people just because of some crazy gene that may or may not even result in cancer is just…”
Emma lifted her chin. “Just what? Say it.”
“Well, it’s not something I would do,” he said. “Why would you do that to yourself? You’re healthy now.”
“Maybe, but if I’m going to get an illness, I want to know about it. I want to do everything I can to prevent it or catch it early. Maybe if my mom had gotten that chance, she would still be here.”
“Yeah, well if she was, she wouldn’t be turning her back on the people who love her. I remember your mom, Em. Friends and family were everything to her. Your mom was amazing. She wouldn’t deny those friends and family out of fear. She wasn’t a coward. She was strong.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “A coward? Is that what you think I’m being by breaking up with you?”
“No, I think you’re trying to play the hero by breaking up with me and telling yourself that you’re saving me by keeping me from this distant possibility that you’ll die someday. Guess what, Emma? We all die. Everyone.” His voice softened. “But not everyone loves.”
He reached for her hand again but she pulled it away. “I need some time alone. I’m overwhelmed right now, and you’re just making it worse.”
“Emma?” His voice softened.
She held up a hand. “I mean it, Jack. I want you to leave. Now.”
* * *
For the last hour, Jack had been driving around aimlessly with his thoughts. He slowed at his house but didn’t pull in. Amanda and Sam were in there, and he didn’t want to grace them with his bad mood. Heck, Amanda might change her mind about staying if she saw him right now.
Instead, he kept driving, finally pulling in at the Tipsy Tavern. It was Saturday night so the bar was crowded. Music accosted him as he walked in. He wouldn’t be able to hear himself think, which was exactly what he wanted right now.
His thoughts were muddled and dark, just like the gathering clouds in the sky above. A summer storm was brewing.
He headed straight for the bar and sat down, nodding at Skip, the bar’s owner.
“Hey, Jack. How are you?” Skip asked.
“Good. I haven’t seen you working the bar here in a while.” Jack regretted his decision to sit at the bar now. He liked Skip, but he wasn’t in a social mood at the moment.
“Yeah, well. A couple of employees called in, and I’m not too good to pour drinks and shine glasses. What’ll you have?”
Jack stiffened. His gaze moved beyond Skip to the selection of drinks behind him. The regular bartender knew that Jack took a Coke on the rocks. Nonalcoholic. One of those bottles behind Skip would definitely take the edge off though. It would make all his feelings disappear. Temporary relief for what ailed him. “I, uh…I’m not sure,” Jack said.
Skip’s smile slid away. “How about what’s on tap?”
Jack knew his answer should be no. No, he didn’t want anything alcoholic. A simple Coke would do. The feeling alcohol provided was only temporary. It wouldn’t help anything. Jack was strong, and he’d been sober too long to fall off the wagon now.
He lifted his gaze to the wall of alcohol again and then looked at Skip. “Nah, man. I’ll just have a Coke with ice.”
“You sure?” Skip’s brow furrowed.
“I’m sure.” The woman Jack loved had just broken up with him. If he could resist drinking tonight, then he could stay sober for the rest of his life.
Jack watched Skip prepare him a soda and slide it in front of him. “Do you, uh, do that whole bartender thing where I spill my guts and you tell me how to fix my life?”
Skip laughed as if that was the funniest thing he’d heard all day. “That’s only what happens in the movies. But go ahead. I’ll do my best.”
Jack nodded, folding his arms on the counter in front of him, his fingers curled around his glass. “There’s this woman…”
“Every story starts with a woman,” Skip said, leaning against the counter.
“I think I’ve fallen in love with her this summer. I know I have.” Jack took a sip of his Coke, enjoying the zing on his tongue. “She broke up with me tonight because of some crazy fear she has. She thinks she’s doing me a favor, I guess. Saving me from a bunch of anguish if something were to happen to her.”
Skip reached for a glass and started polishing it. “I see.”
Jack slumped. He could see too. He understood Emma’s reasoning even if it didn’t make a lick of sense. “So what do I do?”
Skip looked thoughtful as he continued polishing. “She loves you. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be so hell-bent on sparing you. When you love someone, you don’t want to be the reason for their pain.”
Jack held out his hands. “I’m in pain right now, and she’s the reason.”
“Touché,” Skip said. “My advice: If you love her, you gotta fight for her.”
Jack shrugged. “How do I do that?”
Skip shook his head. “No idea. I’ve never heard a problem quite like yours. It’s one that an apology, chocolate, or jewelry won’t fix.”
Jack laughed dryly. His pocketful of Hershey’s Kisses wouldn’t make a dent in this problem. “No, neither of those things will fix this. The only thing that will fix this is changing her genetics.”
Skip frowned as he put one glass down and reached for another. “Are you talking about Emma?”
Jack looked up. “Yeah. But there’s a bartender confidentiality rule, right?”
“Your secrets are safe with me, buddy. And I guess hers are too.”
Jack sat up. “What’s that supposed to mean? Has she been sitting here talking to you?”
Skip lifted his gaze from the second glass he was polishing. “Why do you think that stool was empty when you walked in? She left right before you got here, buddy.”
“What did she say?” Jack asked.
“Bartender confidentiality, remember? She was pretty heartbroken too though.”
“Where she’d go? Do you know?” Jack asked.
“I guess she was going home. I hope so at least because I think the storm that’s coming is going to be a nasty one.”
Jack pushed back from the bar and stood. He laid some cash down to cover his soda.
“What are you going to say to her?” Skip asked.
“I have no idea,” Jack said, turning to walk out of the bar. All he knew was that he was going to find Emma and say something. The last time he’d seen her, he’d said all the wrong things. This time he hoped he said something right.
* * *
Emma had searched her entire house for her mom’s bandana. It wasn’t there. Then she’d searched the café and ended up at the tavern, hoping to forget her troubles. Instead, she’d figured out where her bandana must have fallen off.
Blue Sky Point.
After the event, she’d hiked up there to think. If this was where she’d lost the ba
ndana, she needed to find it soon. Otherwise it would be ruined by the rain and mud. Or worse, it would blow off the cliff and she’d never see it again.
It was just a silly bandana, but it meant something to her. Her mom had worn it with grace and courage. Emma needed to get it back.
She aimed the flashlight on the path and kept walking, climbing higher and higher into elevation. Everyone who lived in the mountains knew not to hike at nighttime for a million justifiable reasons. For one, there was wildlife out here. Two, it was easy to get lost if you strayed off the path.
But Emma knew how to deal with wildlife. She had a flashlight and a knife in her side satchel. She also knew to stay on the path. She’d just get her mom’s bandana and turn back, making it home ahead of the storm.
At least that was the plan.
Thunder rumbled overhead, and Emma picked up her pace, moving faster. Her breaths were labored as she climbed higher. When she was almost there, her cell phone rang. Once again she was surprised that she had reception out here.
She pulled out her phone and checked the ID. When she saw Jack’s name, she considered not answering, but in her haste, she’d forgotten to tell anyone where she was. And in the unlikely case that something did happen out here, someone should know where to locate her.
“Hi, Jack.”
“Emma. Where are you?”
“What makes you think I’m not at home?” she asked, already suspecting his answer.
“Because I’m parked in your driveway and you’re not. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just taking a nice, long hike,” she said sarcastically.
“What?”
“I’m going up to Blue Sky Point. I left something important up there earlier today. I don’t want the storm to ruin it.”
“Emma, it’s dark, and the sky is about to break open. It’s not safe—”
“Which is why I don’t have time to argue with you. I need to hurry. But please don’t be at my house when I get home, Jack. I’m not up for any more lectures tonight on how silly you think I am, or stupid, or whatever else you think about my train of thought.”
“Emma,” Jack said, “you shouldn’t be going to Blue Sky Point alone right now. That’s crazy.”
“See? You’re already lecturing me. Save it, Jack. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Damn it, Emma. You don’t have to do everything on your own. You could’ve called me. I could’ve come with you if you insisted on going. I can be with you for it all, come what may.”
“We’re not talking about my hike right now. And I’m not talking about anything else. I’ll text you when I get back to my car, Jack. Now go home.”
She disconnected the call and stopped for a moment to gain control of her breath and her emotions. A light sprinkle began to fall as she stood there.
Crap. She needed to keep moving. More thunder rumbled and then Emma’s flashlight flickered and cut off.
“No. No, no, no.” She hit it against her palm, but the light didn’t come back on. This was bad. She reached for her phone in her pocket and turned on the flashlight app. The battery was only at 30 percent, and using the app would drain the rest of it fast. Hopefully it would be enough to get her to Blue Sky Point, find her mom’s bandana, and get back to her car.
Hopefully.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jack would grant Emma’s plea to leave her alone. But not until he found her and made sure she was safe.
Jack reversed out of Emma’s driveway and sped toward Blue Sky Point. He made what would’ve been a fifteen-minute drive in ten minutes despite the rain, which had started to come down harder by the minute. By the time he pulled up beside Emma’s car, the rain was falling fast enough to make her car just a blur of red paint.
Jack pulled his rain jacket out of the back seat, slipped it on, and grabbed a bag that he kept under his middle console. Inside he kept a flashlight, a knife, and a few first aid items. Jack knew this trail like the back of his hand, the same way he knew all the trails in Evergreen Park. He’d taken it many times, and it climbed to the highest peak in the park.
She must’ve come up here right after the event. After he’d professed his love for her. Somewhere in between she’d found out she had some genetic predisposition to get sick like her mother.
Jack headed up the path, lighting the way with his flashlight even though it did little to clear his vision because of the rain. The soil was wet and he didn’t want the wheels of an ATV to tear up the ground. Hopefully Emma was already on her way down the path, and he wouldn’t have to walk far.
After about ten minutes of walking, when he was over halfway up, he began to worry. He’d spoken to her at least half an hour ago. They should’ve crossed paths as she headed back down. With the rain coming down as hard as it was, she wouldn’t waste any time. Something felt wrong.
“Emma?” he called out in the rain. “Emma, where are you?” He slipped on the wet ground as he took a step higher, and his flashlight went flying into the darkness. Jack cursed softly under his breath. He could see the light somewhere off the path. He needed it, and Emma needed him.
He stepped off the path, swiping back bushes and tree branches. Then he bent to grab the flashlight and drew his hand back quickly when something snapped his flesh. Or more accurately, bit him. He knew a snake bite when he felt it. He also knew that this kind of rain filled up the snakes’ dens, forcing them out, searching for higher ground. He should’ve been more cautious sticking his hand into the brush.
Jack grabbed his flashlight and shined it on the ground all around him, hoping to get a glimpse of the snake, but it was long gone. He stood and yanked off his T-shirt. He tied it above the bite site, hoping to keep the venom from traveling through his body.
Then he started heading back toward the trail, feeling light-headed already. He stopped walking to keep himself steady. Falling face-first on the path in the middle of the driving rain might not turn out well. And he needed to get to the hospital. Right after he located Emma.
Jack pulled out his cell phone, shielding it under his raincoat, and tapped on Emma’s contact. She didn’t answer. Then he tapped on Granger Fields’s contact. He lived close by on Merry Mountain Farms. He’d be able to get here quick.
Granger answered almost immediately. “Hey, Jack. What’s up?”
“Granger,” Jack said weakly. He’d been bitten by a snake before, and it hadn’t affected him this fast. That wasn’t a good sign for what kind of snake had bitten him. “I’m on the trail to Blue Sky Point, and I’ve been bitten by a snake.”
“What?” Granger said. “Are you okay?”
Jack couldn’t worry about himself right now. “Emma’s up here too. I’m looking for her. I need your help, buddy.”
“On my way,” Granger said. “And I’m calling nine-one-one.”
“Thanks. Might want to hurry,” Jack said. As he reached the trail, he began calling Emma’s name again. This time, she called back to him from somewhere in the distance.
* * *
Emma had never been so glad to hear Jack’s voice in her life. She’d also never been so glad for someone not to listen to what she’d said. The downpour had come just as she’d located her mom’s bandana in the dirt. At that same time, as fate would have it, her cell phone battery had died. She was stuck on this cliff, huddled under a large bush, which was providing some shelter. Even so, she was cold and wet, and a little terrified of the wildlife that she knew was up here.
“Jack!” she called out again, wondering what was taking him so long. He’d sounded close when she’d heard him call to her. Where was he?
“Emma?” he said after a moment.
She blinked past the rain and saw him standing on the path. She dashed out of the bush and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“Thought you didn’t need me,” he said slowly. He sounded out of breath, and she wondered if he’d jogged up here. Knowing him, he probably had. Such an alpha male, and she was thankful
for that today.
“I need your flashlight,” she said, pulling back to look at him. “And you, I guess.” She wanted to kiss him, but she’d just broken up with him, and she’d meant it. Watching someone you love suffer wasn’t easy, and if that was a possibility in her future, she didn’t want Jack to have to deal with it. “It’s pouring. Let’s get off this mountain.”
“Good idea,” Jack said as a slow smile slid across his mouth. Then his eyes rolled back, and his body dropped under her hold on him. She tried to catch him, but he fell as the rain beat down on them.
“Jack!” Emma dropped to her knees in the mud. She leaned over him and looked at his face. He was out. “Jack! Wake up!” She tried to lift him up, but he was too heavy. Removing her own jacket, she shielded them both as she slapped at his cheek. “Jack, what’s wrong with you?”
When he didn’t answer, she searched for his phone. Where was it?
She yanked on Jack again and then bent down to talk to him. “I’m going for help. I don’t want to leave you but I’ll be quick. I’ll be right back.”
“Promise?” he asked, opening his eyes just a touch.
“Jack! Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” he said.
“Stop it. What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Just a little snake bite,” he said, half groaning.
Emma gasped. “What? We need to get you to a hospital, Jack. You look awful.”
“You look beautiful.” He opened his eyes all the way. “I’ve always thought so. I’ve always loved you, Emma, long before today.”
“Jack, it’s not the time to talk about this. You’re hurt. You could be…” She trailed off, not wanting to go there. Bite injuries could be serious.
“I could die? Yeah, if you’d have known the summer would end like this, you probably wouldn’t have dated me, huh?”
Emma was starting to shiver uncontrollably as the rain fell harder. “That’s not fair and you know it. I’m going to get you help. Stay there.” She pointed a finger at him.
“You are not leaving me, Emma St. James.” He sat up slowly.