Flirting with Destiny

by Christyne Butler

  “Yes, sir.”

  “How old are you, Jacoby?”

  “Nine, sir.”

  “So you weigh about fifty-five or sixty pounds?”

  “We just had our physicals for baseball and I’m almost seventy. I’m big for my age.”

  The boy sounded proud, and he had every right to be considering the condition he’d been in when he’d come to town a few years ago. Justin Dillon had certainly turned his son’s life around once he’d found out the boy existed.

  Still, the kid’s weight wasn’t going to make this any easier. This time last year, it would’ve been no problem for him to haul up that much, but now? Dev wasn’t sure he and Tanya could do this together, but they had to try.

  Then he had an idea.

  Tanya hurried to him when he waved at her. “My keys are still in the Jeep. Back it up to us, okay? But don’t come any closer than that rock where the girl is.”

  “Why? What are you planning?”

  “I’m going to use the Jeep’s towing hitch to create an improvised pulley system. Once we get the boy secure, I’ll feed the line while you slowly drive forward, and we’ll pull him out of there.”

  Dev read concern in Tanya’s eyes, but she turned away and headed for his Jeep. He then explained his idea to the two kids while creating the lasso. Minutes later, Tanya arrived, stopping when Dev signaled.

  “Anna why don’t you go sit with Tanya? You’ll need to be her eyes as she drives forward because she’ll be watching for my signals.”

  The girl nodded and raced for the vehicle. Dev looked at Tanya, knowing she understood that he didn’t want the girl to watch this, just in case something went wrong.

  “Okay, we’re ready to put this plan into action, Jacoby.” Dev moved as close to the hole as he dared, then tossed the lasso down inside. He prayed the earth around the ragged edge of the opening would hold up against the pressure. “Here comes the lasso. Do you see it?”

  “I see it.”

  Dev slowly fed the rope down into the hole. “Give a tug when you have it in your hands.” The jerk came seconds later. “Now, do as I instructed and make sure you slide the slipknot as tight as you can around your chest.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The rope moved in Dev’s grip. He tried to picture the kid doing as he’d asked when a sharp cry rose out from the hole. He wanted to race over there and see for himself what was going on, but the ground was so unstable.

  “Hey, buddy, you all right?” Dev called out.

  “No, it’s my shoulder. I can’t lift it.” The boy’s voice faltered. “I can’t move it.”

  Meaning it was probably dislocated.

  “I’m sorry, but it hurts too much.”

  “That’s okay, Jacoby. Don’t worry. I’ve got another idea.” Dev waved at the Jeep, getting Tanya’s attention. She turned off the vehicle, said something to Anna—probably telling her to stay put—and then raced to him.

  “Jacoby’s hurt. Probably dislocated his shoulder. He can’t get the rope tied securely around himself,” Dev quickly explained to her while trying his cell phone again. Still nothing. They were going to need more help and they had to either get to the Cartwrights’ or within cell phone range. “You and Anna take my Jeep and head the rest of the way down the mountain. Keep trying your phone until you can get through. I’m going to stay here with Jacoby until you get back.”

  “Mr. Murphy!” The kid’s voice called out, now with an edge of panic to it. “There’s water down here now.”

  Tanya’s eyes grew wide. “What does that mean?” she whispered.

  Dev could guess, but he didn’t like the answer. “How much?”

  “I’m standing in a puddle that wasn’t here a few minutes ago. My sneakers are soaked.”

  Dammit! “Is there anything solid down there you can climb on or stand on?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  There was only one solution. “Jacoby, I need for you to let go of the rope, okay?”

  “You’re not leaving me, are you?”

  Dev’s heart went out to the kid as the line went slack. “Of course not. My friend Tanya and Anna are going to get help, but I’m staying right here with you.” He looked around and spotted the closest tree that was sturdy enough for the job. “In fact, I’m coming down there to wait with you.”

  “You’re what?” Tanya whispered, following him as he headed for the tree. “Are you crazy?”

  “That’s something we don’t have time to debate at the moment.” Dev wrapped the end of the rope around the tree, securing it, but leaving plenty of length for him to use. “You need to get going.”

  “Dev, I can’t leave when you’re about to do something—”

  “What I’m about to do is my job, Tanya.”

  He turned to face her, seeing that same panic in her eyes as earlier when she’d lectured him about the competition. “This isn’t a game or about showing off. There’s a kid in a bad situation that’s getting worse by the minute and it’s my job to rescue him or keep him safe until enough help arrives to make that happen.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “This is who I am. This is what I do. Can you try to understand that?”

  Tears filled her eyes, but she nodded.

  “Now go. Give your phone to Anna so she can keep trying to reach someone while you drive. Take the blanket with you, and when you get back out to the main road, lay it flat with some rocks to keep it in place.”

  “As a place maker for where you are. Got it.” Wrapping her hand around his neck, she pulled him down for a quick kiss. “But I’m not leaving until I know you two are okay down there.”

  Knowing it was useless to argue, Dev grabbed the rope and headed back for the hole. He emptied what he could of the first-aid kit into his pockets, tucked the flashlight into the waistband of his jeans and then lay flat on the ground, distributing his weight as evenly as possible.

  “Jacoby, I’m crawling toward the edge of the hole. Then I’m going to swing down inside. Move as close to one side as you can and keep your head down.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Dev inched forward until he reached the edge. From the looks of it, the hole was about thirty feet deep. Roots and sticks jutted out from the walls, but nothing substantial that would assist with climbing down.

  Nope, this was going to be all on him.

  He looked back over his shoulder and found Tanya standing a safe distance away. “Approximately thirty feet deep, three feet wide.”

  She nodded.

  He focused his attention back on the crevasse and saw the boy pressed against one wall in the shadows. “I’m coming in, Jacoby. I’ll be right there. Keep your head down until I tell you otherwise.”

  The tiny head bobbed. Dev swung his body around and went in feet first, using his upper body strength to hold himself steady as he slowly moved, hand over hand, deeper into the crater.

  At the last moment he glanced up and saw Tanya watching him.

  “Go,” he said.

  She mouthed something in return, but he couldn’t be sure if she’d asked him to be careful or just said she loved him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  By the time the Destiny Fire Department arrived, the water level was waist high on Devlin.

  Once he’d gotten safely to the bottom of the hole, he’d used his T-shirt to create a splint for Jacoby’s shoulder. Then he’d done what he could to patch up some scratches on the kid’s hands and face. Handing over the flashlight for him to hold, Dev had hoisted the boy into his arms, trying to keep him as dry as possible.

  The water must have come from an underground spring because it was freezing cold. Bad enough when it soaked through his jeans and filled his boots, but when it came in direct contact with his skin, Dev had hissed. It had felt like a million t
iny toothpicks jabbing him.

  Or needles.

  Yeah, he’d been second-guessing his decision about allowing Tanya to play stick-the-needle wherever she wanted on his body long before they came across the two kids needing their help.

  Long before his mind must’ve played tricks on his heart.

  She loved him?

  No, there was no way that was what she’d said just before he’d slipped into the hole.

  Pushing that thought out of his head had been easy because after he’d done all he could for Jacoby, they’d chatted about baseball and comic books, anything to keep the kid’s mind off their situation.

  And the rising water.

  By the time it reached Dev’s backside, he’d handed over his cell phone to the kid, checking the time and noting that almost twenty minutes had passed since they’d heard the honking of the Jeep’s horn as Tanya had driven away.

  He’d been busy trying to calculate how much longer they had before he really needed to worry about the rising water, figuring Jacoby could sit on his shoulders if it came to that when the sounds of galloping horses told them someone had arrived.

  The kid had gotten upset when he’d first heard his dad’s voice, but then he calmed down when his father reassured him he wasn’t angry. It turned out Justin Dillon and Landon Cartwright had been out looking for the kids when they came across Tanya and Anna. After they’d exchanged information, the men had sent the girls farther down the hill to continue their search for a cell phone signal, and they’d ridden away to find the crevasse.

  Dev, Landon and Justin had been debating how to create a sling for Jacoby—or if they should even attempt hoisting him out—for a good half hour when the decision was taken out of their hands.

  Tanya had returned, the sheriff and the fire department only minutes behind her.

  Things had moved quickly then, with the civilians pushed back and the professionals taking over.

  “We’ve just about got the tripod rigging secure up here.” The chief’s booming voice easily carried over the noise from above. “You two doing okay?”

  “Roger that,” Dev called up, shielding his eyes.

  He figured he and the kid had been down here for over an hour now. It was still light outside, but the sun had moved, so they needed an electrical spotlight to see in the hole.

  Thankfully, the water hadn’t risen any higher than Dev’s belly button. “But I went numb from the waist down a while ago.”

  “Funny, I always figured you for numb from the neck up.” Zip stuck his head into the opening, grinning at them. “How’s the shoulder holding out, Jacoby?”

  “It’s numb, too, but I’m okay,” the boy said, looking up, the protective helmet they’d lowered for him slipping off the back of his head. “Tell my dad I’ve changed my mind about playing baseball when I grow up. I want to be a firefighter. Like Mr. Dev.”

  “You hear that, Zippenella?” The kid’s words warmed his heart, even though he wasn’t a firefighter—volunteer or otherwise—anymore.

  “Yeah, I heard. Kid, we gotta talk about role models once we get your butt out of there.”

  Dev was about to tell Zip where he could stick his role model when the man backed away from the edge under the chief’s orders. Things moved quickly then as the team got into place and the motorized pulley lowered a sling into the hole.

  It took a few moments to get Jacoby into the contraption, and Dev admired how he never said a word even though his arm had to be killing him. Dev held on to the boy as long as he could, raising his hands over his head, silently cursing a blue streak at the pain racing through his shoulders.

  A cheer went up when Jacoby was captured in a firefighter’s arms.

  Dev dropped his hands, splashing at the water gathered around his hips. Now that Jacoby was safe, he tried to move his feet, but his boots had sunk into the mud and muck beneath him.

  “Hey, Murphy, you’re next. Heads up.”

  Reaching out, he grabbed the sling as it was lowered again, this one a much bigger size. He still had to extend the straps as far as he could before slipping it over his head and shoulders. Securing it tightly beneath his arms, he signaled he was ready.

  “I’m at least ankle deep in the mud down here so this could take a few minutes,” he said, warning the crew.

  “Get ready. We’ve lifting you now.”

  Dev braced himself and tried to stay relaxed at the same time. The motor above roared to life again and for a moment it was machine versus mud, but finally the machine won and Dev’s feet slipped free of his boots as he was slowly lifted out of the hole.

  “Welcome back, cowboy.” Zip smiled at him and held out his hand.

  The air was fresh and sweet across his skin as Dev latched on to his buddy’s hand, using the leverage to swing himself over to solid ground.

  Which didn’t feel too solid beneath his wet stocking feet at the moment.

  The crew got him out of the sling in record time, and everyone except those working now to dismantle the heavy duty rigging moved away from the danger. A blanket was placed over Dev’s shoulders as Zip and another firefighter directed him toward the rescue truck, where he could see Jacoby was getting looked over, his father, Justin, right there with him. Anna and Landon Cartwright were right by their side, too.

  Where was Tanya?

  Dev looked around, finally spotting her on the outskirts of all the craziness, standing next to the driver’s side of his Jeep. She stared at him with one arm crossed over her middle, a hand pressed to her mouth as if she was holding back calling his name.

  He wanted to wave, to let her know he was okay, but his arms felt like lead weights after holding Jacoby for so long.

  The desire to go to her, to feel the heat of her body against his, almost dropped him to his knees. Settling for a smile and wink that he hoped she could see, Dev then headed for the EMTs, knowing he wouldn’t be allowed to leave without at least getting a preliminary check, despite the fact he didn’t have a scratch on him.

  Ten minutes later, cell phone back in hand and his wet jeans stuck to his lower half like glue, Dev got the all clear to leave. He accepted Jacoby and Justin’s thanks, gave the same to the chief and the crew for everything they did and then headed straight for Tanya.

  Everything would be okay once he got her in his arms again.

  As he got closer, he could see a mixture of relief and fear in her eyes. “I’m good. We both are. Jacoby is heading into town to get checked out for a dislocated shoulder at the clinic, but other than that, the loss of my handmade boots to Middle Earth and needing a hot shower, everything is good.”

  She exhaled and closed her eyes, reaching out to lay a hand on the blanket he still had wrapped around him. “I was so...worried.”

  Her other hand joined the first, her fingers curling into the blanket. Ignoring how his muscles screamed at the movement, Dev wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest.

  Damn, he hurt everywhere.

  In a way he hadn’t since his first physical therapy session back when the casts were removed three months ago, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

  “I’d like to get out of here. Do you mind driving?” he asked.

  Tanya let go of the blanket and stepped back. He already missed her warmth. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  He liked the sound of that.

  Walking around to the passenger side of the Jeep and not falling flat on his face or showing his total discomfort took just about all of his strength. What little he had left was used up crawling into the Jeep. Tanya got behind the wheel and they headed back toward town.

  As soon as he got a signal, Dev called the house, thankful when his father answered the phone. The chief had said he’d notified his family about what was going on, but had told them to stay away from
the accident site. Dev quickly explained everything that had happened and reassured his dad he was okay.

  Tanya drove through the center of town and headed toward the Murphy homestead, but when she put on the blinker to turn down the main road, Dev waved her off and ended the call.

  “I thought you’d want to go home,” she said, taking her eyes off the road for a moment to look at him.

  “I want to be with you.”

  His words hung in the air between them. Tanya only looked at him for a moment longer, then put her gaze back on the road ahead.

  When the Jeep slowed, Dev honestly didn’t know if she was going to turn the thing around and take him back to his place or not. Then she put the blinker on again but made the left turn that took them toward Mac’s farm.

  Minutes later, she pulled to a stop in front of the cabin and shut the engine off. He was out of the passenger’s side and on the porch by the time she joined him there. Tanya stepped aside to let him enter first. Dev waited until she closed the door behind her before hauling her into his arms.

  The blanket floated to the floor at their feet as he backed her up against the closest wall and devoured her mouth in a kiss that was frantic, primal and passionate.

  It was the way he’d wanted to kiss her up on the mountain. The way he’d wanted to kiss her the moment he’d crawled out of that hole and found her waiting for him.

  And she kissed him back.

  She was right here with him, matching his desire, his need with her own. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, bringing their bodies even closer together. Then she grabbed his neck as she moaned against his mouth, the moist heat of her lips sending shivers throughout his body.

  Shivers that turned to tremors, tremors he couldn’t control as his entire body shook with the power she had over him.

  “Dev...” She dragged her mouth from his. “Dev, you’re shaking.”