by Tessa Layne
Parker shut his eyes, face taut. “I know. Stay calm, you hear? As soon as the roads are clear, we’ll get you out of here.”
Warren struggled to an elbow, but lay back, exhausted. “Don’t worry ’bout me, son. You’re in a mess of trouble here. People need you.”
Parker reached out and patted his uncle. “I’ll be right back, Uncle Warren. Promise me you’ll hang on?” Warren nodded, and Parker stood and hurried back across the street to the building. Everyone knew there were still people inside to rescue.
Haley stroked Warren’s head, hoping that she was at least a comforting presence to a very injured old man.
“You can stop that.”
Even in dying, he was an ornery cuss. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass?”
A small smile curved his mouth up before he grimaced again. “No need to. We all knew.”
She let out a small laugh. “You’re a pisser.”
“I’ve earned it.” He clutched Haley’s wrist in a vice-like grip. “I got a second chance at life. Got to see Maddie Jane married, and Henry.” His eyes lasered into her, as if he could see clean through to her soul. “Make the most of your second chance. Life’s too short to spend it alone.” He coughed again, more blood gathering at the corner of his mouth. Haley wiped it away.
“Spent too much of my life alone. Shoulda had more pie.” Warren’s eyes began to flutter. The morphine was finally kicking in. His hand grew slack in hers. “I’m gonna shut my eyes a sec. You be here when I wake up?”
“Of course,” Haley answered thickly, through a curtain of tears. “I promise.”
CHAPTER 28
“Calm down, man,” Gunnar growled when Axel cursed impatiently at the downed tree in front of them on the road. “Give your woman a little credit. She’s a trained professional.”
Ha.
As if that helped calm the inferno of worry consuming his body. Every tree that stood between him and Haley only added to his agitation. Gunnar hopped out of the truck and reached for the chainsaw, firing it up for the third time in a half-mile.
Ben and Hope pulled up behind them, then Brodie, Jamey, and Blake in another truck. Eddie brought up the rear with the interns. Martha had stayed behind with Maddie and Henry. Nobody wanted to be alone right now. In less than a minute four chainsaws were at work breaking down the tree.
“Think the power company will give us a break on our bill?” Brodie asked with a grin as he tossed a large branch to the shoulder.
“Faster we clear this, faster the real aid can get to town,” Axel grunted, rolling a piece of the trunk out of the way.
Hope’s voice came small and frightened behind him. “What do you think we’ll find when we get to town?”
Dread shivered down Axel’s body and he swallowed hard. “Nothing good.” If debris had fallen clear out at their places, it had to have been sucked up from somewhere. And the closest somewhere was Prairie.
The group worked silently and quickly, attacking the tree with a fervor rooted solely in fear. As soon as they’d cleared it, everyone returned to the trucks and caravanned to the next obstacle. The closer they drew to Prairie, the muddier and more debris-filled the road became.
“Holy fucking shit.” Gunnar’s voice sounded shocked. Disbelieving. He slowed the truck to a stop where the light at Main Street should have been. Instead, it looked like they’d entered a war zone. Buildings stood torn apart, roofs collapsed, windows blown out, an upper floor gaping open, cars and metal tangled like they’d been in an explosion.
Axel’s body went numb as he took in the devastation. Prairie was gone. Destroyed by a ferocious, merciless tornado. Everything he knew and loved lay in broken bits and pieces in the road, or had disintegrated entirely. He blinked rapidly, trying – and failing – in the attempt to ward off the burst of emotion that pummeled his chest. Squeezing his eyes shut didn’t work either. You couldn’t unsee this.
Beside him, Gunnar’s breathing grew ragged. “Where’s Dottie’s?” Gunnar gave him a wild-eyed stare. “Fuck, Axe. There are probably people in there.” He yanked on the steering wheel, pulling through the intersection and screeching to a halt where the diner should have been. He hopped out and ran toward the pile of rubble.
“Wait, Gunn.” Axel threw off his seatbelt and chased after his brother, who was scrabbling at bricks and metal, not even wearing gloves. He briefly registered another truck skidding to a stop behind theirs.
“Hold the fuck up.” Travis’s voice boomed. “What the hell are you doing? Trying to get more people killed?”
More people?
Axel’s heart leaped between his throat and his toes so fast he thought he’d puke. Prairie was small enough, chances were, he knew whoever it was. His hands grew stone cold. Don’t let it be Coop, don’t let it be Coop, don’t let it be Coop, his brain repeated over and over. As if thinking it on endless repeat would make it so.
“Just trying to help, Kincaid,” Blake’s calm voice answered.
How the hell Blake Sinclaire could be calm in this kind of crisis, Axel would never know. The guy must have balls of ice.
Travis’s face was stern and tight. A muscle throbbed at his temple. “Then hike down half a block and check in with Chief Castro. We’ve got to be methodical about this. It’s chaotic enough.”
Axel had never seen Travis look that way, not even on the night he’d had to throw Brodie in the drunk tank. But Axel had heard the occasional rumor, and suspected this wasn’t the first disaster area Travis had seen. Of course, it had to be harder when it was people you knew in trouble. Hell, he was barely keeping his shit together.
“Brodie and I brought the big grill. And jugs of coffee and water,” Jamey offered. That was Jamey. Always making sure people were fed. Even in a disaster.
Travis’s eyes softened for a split second. “Of course you did. Check in with Chief. He’ll tell you where to set up.” His eyes swept over the group, then shuttered as they landed on Eddie, who’d caught up with them. “Hansens, I need you to come with me. You can catch up with the Sinclaires in a minute.”
There was something in Travis’s voice – a hard edge – that set off alarm bells in Axel’s head. He opened his mouth to ask, but the words died on his tongue.
“What’s going on?” Gunn asked.
“Follow me.” Travis swung around and led them down the street through the debris.
As they followed, Axel tried to remember the shops. He could walk to Anders’ Feed ’n Seed in his sleep, and now he didn’t know where it was. As they approached what he suddenly recognized as the T-REX, he broke into a run.
“HALEY.” A shout burst from his belly. He grew hot and cold all at once, and his feet seemed to slow as if he was wading through molasses.
“Axel, WAIT.”
Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew it was Travis calling after him, but his body had a mind of its own. He had to find Haley. See for himself. Oh God, no. Please God, no. Axel careened around the car, slipping on the mud and stumbling. Three bodies lay under sheets next to her car. “Noooooo,” he cried out, blindly sinking to his knees. “Noooooo.”
Haley’s face floated before him. Dark eyes sparking in laughter, her full, sweet mouth pulled into a smile. And then hands were on him, a body wrapping around him, a voice reassuring him. “It’s me. Axe, I’m here.”
He sagged in relief, wrapping his arms around Haley in a vice-like grip. Hot tears pricked his eyelids, and he didn’t care who the hell saw. She was here. Beautifully alive. He buried his face in her neck, inhaling her warm floral scent. “Oh, God. I thought- I thought–”
“Shhhh. I know. I’m okay.” Her voice slid over him like healing balm.
He thrust his fingers through her silky hair, cupping her face. “I was so scared.” He kissed her tear-streaked cheeks, then crushed her in a claiming, desperate kiss, pouring all his emotion into her. Everything he couldn’t say with words, mingled with salt and sweet.
Her hands were everywhere. Touching, sque
ezing. She broke away, burrowing her head under his chin. “Oh, Axel. I was scared too. I’ve never…” she stopped, choked up.
“Shhhh. It’s okay baby, we’re okay.” He stroked her back, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
Haley pulled back, eyes dark pools of grief. “We’re okay…” She pulled in a deep shuddering breath, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “But Warren…” she shook her head, a fat tear sliding out and rolling down her cheek. She shook her head again, and covered her mouth, letting out a sob.
Axel sat back on his heels, shock rolling through him. “What? What do you mean?”
Travis spoke behind him, his voice clipped. “Warren went after Daxton Ryder… made sure he was safe… he needed immediate medical attention.” He coughed and cleared his throat, then continued. “Parker gave him morphine… kept him comfortable.”
Axel heard his father’s quick intake of breath. “I want to see him,” Eddie choked out.
“Of course,” Travis answered, then stepped forward and motioned to one of the sheets. “He didn’t die alone. Haley stayed with him.”
Eddie moved stiffly past them to where Travis motioned. Gunnar followed close behind.
“You wanna see him?” Haley asked softly, still squeezing him tightly.
Grief speared through Axel’s chest, like a burning arrow. “I- I just saw Warren before he headed into town. I talked to him… right before, right–” before they’d made love and he’d found out Haley was pregnant. The burning arrow twisted in his chest.
“Take as long as you need,” Travis offered. “I have to get back. I… I’m real sorry.” For a split second, Travis’ eyes softened as he glanced over the group. Then the hard mask of professionalism slipped back into place.
Eddie turned to them, face stricken with grief and resignation. He looked shaken to his core… and twenty years older. “Get your gloves, boys. Can’t help the dead. We need to need to make sure no one else–” he stopped, and swallowed.
Axel struggled to his feet, still holding Haley, and took a ragged breath. “Pops is right. Uncle Warren would tell us to get out there.”
Eddie handed them work gloves, then turned to Haley, his eyes swirling with emotion. “Thank you… for staying with him.”
What happened next shocked Axel. Haley launched herself into Eddie’s arms, voice thick with tears. “I’m so, so sorry. I never wanted… I tried…”
Eddie’s face crumpled as he hugged her back, patting her on the shoulders. “I know, I know. We’re going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”
Gunnar shot him a questioning look, but Axel just shrugged. He’d never seen his dad like this either. Maybe a sliver of goodness could be found in this nightmare. He’d cling to it with everything he had.
Haley stepped back, wiping her eyes, and giving them a watery smile. “Go check in with Chief Castro. I’m going to make myself useful.”
By the time Axel, Gunnar, and Eddie checked in with Chief Castro, the line of volunteers was half a block long. All of them wore the same look – shock, grief, fierce determination. Pride for his community surged through Axel. Never let it be said that the people of Prairie didn’t care about each other. They were a family. A family that gossiped and sometimes disagreed. Just like his own. But come hell or high water, they looked out for their own.
When it was his turn, Axel signed in at the table. Chief Castro’s eyes lit in gratitude. “So glad to see you men. The buildings on the west side of Main have been cleared and checked. Except for the Diner. Dottie’s got a cellar, but we’ve got to remove a lot of debris to get to the door. Travis is down there right now.
Eddie stepped up next to him and extended his hand to Chief. “Put out the word that anyone who needs shelter can stay with us. We can use the horse arena for as long as we need.”
Chief Castro nodded. “Good to know. Sinclaires offered up their rooms as well as the hunting lodge. How many people you think could sleep in the arena?”
Eddie shrugged. “With cots? Hundred. Maybe two. We’ll make it work. Nobody goes without tonight.”
Hearing his dad like this warmed Axel to his toes. Eddie didn’t make offers lightly, and the fact that he’d been so quick to offer, moved Axel. Unraveled a knot he’d been carrying for far too long. Whatever their differences, Eddie Hansen was a good man, and he was proud of his father.
Axel clapped his dad across the shoulders. “C’mon Pops, let’s go rescue Dottie.”
Together, father and sons trudged up the block, picking their way through the debris. The images burned themselves into Axel’s mind. As long as he lived, he’d never forget this. Travis met them where the front door of the diner should have been. The diner had been obliterated. Pieces of the long formica countertop were flung everywhere. The walk in was standing in the back, but everything else was a heap of brick, glass, wood, and metal.
“Cellar door is by the back. But it’s too dangerous to go through the building.” Travis motioned for them to follow, and they walked through what would have been the parking lot to the back. “Start by clearing the stand alone objects. Stay away from anything that looks like it might be supporting the wall.”
The stairwell was filled with debris, but bit by bit, they managed to clear it. “Dottie,” Axel hollered out, when he got close to the door. “You in there?”
An answering thunk rattled the door, and the group let up a cheer. Axel handed a mangled chair to Gunnar, who handed it to Eddie, and up the stairs – like an old fashioned water brigade.
“All right. We’re clear. Open up.”
They heard a scrape on the other side of the door, then it opened. Elaine Ryder was the first to stick out her head, a look of sheer terror on her face. “My son, I have to find my son.”
Axel’s heart squeezed. He knew that terror. He’d felt it with Haley. How much more would he feel it if he was scared for their child? He held out his hand and helped her up. “I haven’t seen him, but I heard he’s okay. Ask Travis when you get up top. He can take you to him.”
She nodded, trying but failing to look brave. “Thank you.”
Two more people exited, then came Dottie, who paused at the door and stared up, eyes darting from the men on the stairs, to the sky, and back again. “Land sakes. Never in a million years.” She set her jaw, but her lower lip trembled slightly. “Seems like we’ve got a lot of cleanin’ up to do.”
“Yep, we do,” Eddie answered, voice clear. “We’ll manage.”
Dottie pulled in a deep breath. “Yep. We will.” She looked up at the men again. “Guess we don’t have power?”
“Nope.”
She nodded, eyebrows furrowed. “My walk-in still standing?”
“Yep.”
“Well, what are you standing there for? Help me up. There’s people to feed.”
She gripped Axel’s hand hard as she stepped up. The quickly squashed flicker of grief in her eye the only indication that she was as devastated as the rest of them.
CHAPTER 29
12 Days Later
Haley stood sipping a clear soda trying to settle her churning stomach while Axel and his family received visitors into the horse arena. The arena was now home to some six dozen families whose homes had been destroyed by the tornado. But today, the cots and personal belongings had been cleared away. In their place, tables and chairs had been set up for a memorial service and barbecue. Warren’s service would be the last, and possibly biggest, of the seven people who’d lost their lives in the tornado.
The governor had declared Prairie a disaster area, and with that, the National Guard and FEMA had boots on the ground, facilitating cleanup and the long, slow process of determining how to rebuild. Or if to rebuild, as she’d heard in occasional mutterings from townspeople.
Jamey Sinclaire and Dottie had teamed up to provide food every day in the town park, one of the first places to be fully cleared. Almost immediately, they’d set up grills and cooking stations for people to bring their perishable food. Millie Prescott, who
ran the organic grocery, cleared out her shelves. Her store had sustained some damage, but not the total devastation of Main Street. But without power, food would still go bad. In spite of the tragedy, and largely thanks to Jamey and Dottie, the park had an air of festivity. People would gather and stay well into the night, talking and connecting.
She and Axel had barely seen each other. Every spare moment was spent volunteering on cleanup or cooking crew. At night, they’d fall into bed and into each other’s arms, clinging to each other while they slept. Axel had made her promise not to do anything strenuous, and she’d willingly done so. At any other time, his protectiveness might have pissed her off. But after this ordeal, she understood why. Promising to take care of herself, and by extension, the baby, was easy.
The seats and tables filled, and Haley did her best to stay out of the way. She stole a glance at Axel in the receiving line. Her heart gave an erratic thump. They’d been too tired for lovemaking, and too sad. But seeing him clad in black denims that hugged his hips and thighs, tugged at something deep and low within her. He looked goooood. His reddish scruff stood out against the white of his shirt, and his hair peeked out from under his black Stetson, curling around his collar.
As the last person came through the line, Axel glanced over and grinned when they made eye contact. So what if he’d caught her staring? She needed a little eye candy in her life right now. They all did.
He motioned her over, and nudged Gunnar, tilting his head to whisper something in his ear. Whatever he said made Gunnar nod in agreement. When she got close, Axel wrapped an arm around her waist, hand settling possessively at her hip. The tight knot of anxiety that had been her constant companion these last twelve days, began to melt away. They might not have things worked out, but Axel always made her feel cherished… wanted.
Axel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and leaned in, brushing his mouth across the sensitive skin there. “Mmmm. You smell delicious, as always.”