Fear shot through him. Travis dropped the chain saw to a nearby rock. “You don’t think...”
“Calm down. I think if there’s one it would’ve shown up by now.” She kept moving. Closer to the black hole she slowed. Turning on the flashlight, she crawled nearer the opening.
When he could no longer see her Travis held his breath, his muscles tensed. If there was a bear and Dana got hurt, could he get her to help fast enough? He didn’t even want to think about the possibilities.
He released the breath he’d held as she backed out of the hole. “I’m fine. It’ll hold both of us, but just barely. At least it’ll block the majority of the rain.” All of her disappeared briefly again before she back out and called, “All clear. Home sweet home. For the night.”
Travis carried all the supplies he could up and handed them to her. While she took them inside he returned for the rest.
Dana had already stored what she could at the back of the cave and had their sleeping bags spread out.
“Hurry up and settle in. The show is about to begin.”
He couldn’t miss the delight in her voice. “Show?”
“The light show.” She pointed toward the sky.
A flash of lightning in the middle of the black cloud at eye level was nothing like he’d ever seen. He sat on his sleeping bag, hunched over because he couldn’t sit straight.
Dana turned around and lay on her stomach propping her chin on her folded hands like a kid watching her favorite cartoon. He followed her example.
As he relaxed, she handed him two packages of MREs. “If you eat all your meat and vegetables then you can have dessert.”
He wished that included her but he wouldn’t push. Anything further would be up to her to suggest.
Thunder rolled, clouds thickened making it more difficult to see. Lightning flashed, and a second later the next flash came. He grinned at her. “I get it now. Dinner and a show. Dana, you do know how to show a man a good time.”
She opened one of her bags. “What can I say? The vantage point can’t be beat.”
They ate in silence. It would’ve been hard to talk over the noise of the storm anyway. The tempest slowly worked its way toward him. The first fat drop of rain fell in front of them and quickly turned into a deluge. The air drew damp.
They watched for almost an hour before the rain turned steady. “I think this might be one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.”
“It never grows old. My grandfather used to say the gods were arguing.”
“That’s a nice way to think about it.”
“It’s an amazing show of nature but it can be rough on the people below.”
Even in the dim light he could see the sadness in her eyes. “That sounds like you have some experience with that.”
Dana didn’t say anything for a while. “My grandfather’s barn caught fire. He’d run inside to save the cow and horse. They made it out but a timber fell on him. For the rest of his life he walked with a limp and had horrible scars. I learned to respect the weather.”
“The hard way I’d say.”
“Why did you live with your grandfather?” He’d never asked that summer and she’d never said. He wanted to know more about Dana. Understand her.
“My parents left me with him when I was five. Time for me to start school. See, my parents were wannabe musicians. They left me with Grandpa to go on the road. They were in a bus accident and killed when I was eight.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal. I think I was an accident anyway. They didn’t need a kid hanging around. I didn’t see them but once or twice a year and only for a day or so. I didn’t really know them.”
“Hey, they’re the ones who missed out.” Travis placed a hand on her back, gently rubbed it. She had more than her share of loss in her life. He couldn’t imagine not having his parents to help support him when times were bad. They’d certainly been there for him when he’d gotten a divorce. Even if they weren’t together, they still cared about him.
“That’s a nice thing to say.”
Another flash of lightning let him clearly see her face. It was angelic. The talk of her parents hadn’t taken away from her enjoyment of the moment. She understood the majesty of the world she worked in and her place in it. Could he say as much about himself? What a nice place to be in life. “Thanks for sharing the show with me. I’ll remember it always.”
She smiled. “You are welcome.”
“In many ways this has been an amazing trip.”
“I’m going to get some sleep on that thought. Good night.” She turned around, opened her sleeping bag and slipped inside. “See you in the morning.” Dana positioned her personal bag as a pillow, then removed her pants and placed them nearby. She rolled to her side putting her back to him.
Just like that she forgot about him. For some reason he didn’t like the idea. Why it bothered him he didn’t know. He wanted her as flustered by him being near as he was by her being so close.
Everything about Dana spoke of home, family, forever. He’d tried that and it hadn’t gone well. He wasn’t interested in taking a chance again. Didn’t trust his judgement. His discussion with Dana about love had proved he didn’t understand that feeling. Still he didn’t like Dana not noticing he was alive.
Last night he’d believed she did, especially when he kissed her. She responded. Acted as if she enjoyed it. Wanted more. But he’d misread women before. He’d certainly thought his ex-wife had been something she wasn’t. Could he be doing the same with Dana?
Since Dana had settled in for the night it was more difficult for him to maneuver. Trying not to disturb her, he worked himself into his bag and out of his pants. His body would stay warmer by putting on clothes in the morning.
Clasping his hands behind his head as a pillow, he listened to the rain. His mind returned to Dana who lay so close. Thankfully he was exhausted and soon drifted off to sleep.
A moan and the chatter of teeth woke him. Dana had shifted beside him and now curled into him. Still she shivered. The temperature had dropped after the storm.
He unzipped his bag and then hers, pulling her against his body. She lay on her side turned into him. Her nose snuggled into his neck. A hand came to lie across his chest and a leg wrapped one of his, her feet nestled with his. Working slowly and carefully, he managed to get her bag over them and tucked around her.
Placing an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer, if that was possible. With a sigh and warmth circling in his chest, he fell back to sleep.
The next time he woke the palm of her hand circled his middle and a soft moan brushed his neck. His manhood instantly came to attention. Feet rubbed against his, then cool toes were stuffed beneath his calf. The hand stopped over his heart. Dana stilled. He drifted off again.
The shove of a hand on his chest and a knee in the side of his thigh brought him awake. He grunted and opened his eyes to see snapping eyes glaring down at him.
“What’re you doing in my sleeping bag?” Dana demanded.
Raising a brow, he kept his tone even. “You’re in mine.”
She blinked, then looked down at their combined bodies as if to confirm his statement. “How?”
“You were cold. Shivering. You crawled over to me. You sure do have cold toes.”
She jerked them out from under his calf. “We better get up and get moving.”
“It’s not light enough yet. Calm down. I’m not going to attack you. Close your eyes and enjoy listening to the world come alive.”
Dana eased down but remained tense beside him.
He squeezed her waist slightly. “Stop thinking. Just be for a change.”
It took a few minutes but Dana relaxed against him. Her breathing even. She’d gone to sleep. They stayed like that until he could easily see the area outside. He gave Dana a gentl
e shake. “It’s light.”
Her lips brushed his neck.
He went motionless. “Dana?”
That touch found the curve between his neck and shoulder. “Mmm...”
Her hips moved along his.
She couldn’t possibly know what she was doing. “Dana. We need to get up.”
“I’d rather stay here.” She nestled against him.
“Sweetheart, I sure as hell want to, but we’re not going to. I won’t have you regretting anything that happens between us ever again. This isn’t the time or the place.” He reached across her and picked up Dana’s pants. He laid them on top of her.
He pushed the bag off him, picked up his pants and pulled them on, trying not to think about the warm, desirable Dana so nearby. Had he lost his mind? Sexual attraction had hummed like a live electrical wire between them since her boss’s office. When they came together he wanted them to have more than a hurried meeting in a tiny cave in the middle of nowhere. He needed to know Dana wanted it, as well. Give her time to think. Not take her in the heat of the moment.
He dared a glance at her. She had dressed. Together they worked to pack up their supplies. They were ready to leave when he took Dana’s hand.
“What?” she said not looking at him, as she tugged on her hand.
Travis held it and led her out of the cave to where they could stand up. Brushing a strand of hair back from her face, he waited until she’d looked at him. He gave her a light kiss on the lips. “I don’t know for sure what’s going though that head of yours right now but I’ve a pretty good idea. So I want to make it perfectly clear that when I have a chance I’m going to kiss you, all over. Don’t doubt for a minute that I want you.”
* * *
Dana had no idea what to say so she said nothing. She couldn’t believe her own actions. What had she done? She’d been keeping Travis at arm’s length for days and this morning she woke to his heat and lost her mind. She spent the entire day before thinking about kissing him again, wanting him. Snuggled against Travis, she couldn’t resist acting on her desire.
This trip would be a short amount of time so why shouldn’t she enjoy Travis while it lasted? Their summer together was temporary, this trip would be, as well. But with a better ending. They’d return to civilization and life would go back to normal. They’d enjoy each other for a while, then have nice memories and move on.
She watched Travis for a moment as he led the way down to the path. Her chest filled with the hope of what would come. Travis hadn’t said no. Instead he was postponing. He wanted her. He hadn’t rejected her. Instead he promised her soon. That’s what she needed to remember.
On the path she said, “I need to check in. It’ll determine which way we go.”
“Okay. I’ll do the same.” He shrugged off his large bag and fished out his phone before he stepped away.
A couple of minutes later Travis rejoined her.
“What’s the word?” He took out his water bottle and drank.
“The good news is the rain put the majority of the fire out. Bad news, we still have a long walk out. How’s Mr. Gunter doing?”
“The same. They’re preparing to transfer him today or tomorrow.” Travis picked up his bag. “What’s our plan?”
“We’re headed for the tower off Bessie Butte Trail. We’ll stay there tonight. If all goes well we’ll hike out tomorrow and someone can pick us up.”
Travis nodded. “Good deal. That sounds promising.”
“The downside is we’ve got a ten-mile hike today.” She started along the trail.
What she didn’t say was she hoped they could remain on the path for as long as possible. They’d soon have to get off and create their own again which would make the going harder and slower. If weather deterred them they’d be in further trouble. Being responsible for Travis added to her concern. Yet they had to push on if they wanted to make the tower by nightfall.
“We can’t stop to eat today. Sorry.”
“Okay.” He pulled two bags of MREs out of the lower side pocket of his pants. He handed one to her. “Enjoy.”
Travis didn’t complain—she’d give him that. Dana took the package. She ate as she walked. Grabbing a limb to steady herself, she descended another rocky path. Over the next hour they concentrated on climbing down the mountain. They hiked out into a wide-open meadow with a stream flowing through it. Mountains created a beautiful clearing. Birds flew up in front of them as they walked.
“I have to admit I’ve enjoyed seeing a part of the country I’ve never visited. The beauty is amazing.” Travis moved up to stroll beside her. “I forgot what it was to walk for days to get home after fighting a fire.”
“I always find it ironic when we jump in and fight a fire for half a day then have to walk two days to get out.”
“Isn’t that still a score of pride for the smokejumpers? They walk out when the hotshots ride.”
“Yeah. They’re much weaker,” Dana said proudly.
“You never told me why you wanted to be a smokejumper. It’s an unusual job for a woman.”
“That’s pretty easy. My fifth-grade class went on a field trip to the base station. I thought it was the most amazing place I’d ever been. A couple of jumpers talked to us. Let us put on equipment. We even climbed in a plane. I decided that day I wanted to be a smokejumper. When my grandfather got hurt it sealed the deal.”
“And you never looked back.”
“And I never looked back. I wanted to be the best of the best.” Complete confidence surrounded her words. “To do something that really mattered.”
“There’re less dangerous ways to do that.”
“Sure there are, but I found a home with the smokejumpers. It took some major work on my part to prove myself but I have.” She’d worked out more, studied harder and done jobs no one else wanted. Had proven herself worthy. Found a place where she was valued and wouldn’t be pushed out. A place where she was wanted and needed.
“From what I can tell all that paid off.”
Her chin rose with pride. Travis sounded as if he admired her. “Thanks for saying that. I like to think so. High praise since this trip has been such a fiasco. I thought it would be more straightforward but that’s part of the charm of the job. You never know what’s going to happen. How about you? Did you feel the same about medicine?”
“I did, and do. All it took for me to know I’d found my place was the look on an older gentleman’s face when I told him he would be fine and could go home to his wife of fifty-five years. I just wish all my decisions had been as clear and correct.”
“We all make mistakes. It’s what we learn from them and do about them that matters.”
Travis made a sound of agreement. “That’s a deep bit of wisdom. Have you managed to follow it?”
“I’ve tried but haven’t always been successful. I’m still working on it.”
* * *
Travis looked at Dana’s profile as they continued across the wide meadow. Why did she seem to have it all together while he was still fumbling with life? “Why didn’t we ever talk about this before?”
Back during their summer together had he just been in his own world? Concerned only with what he planned for his life. It was just as well he hadn’t let their relationship go beyond that almost kiss. He hadn’t deserved Dana. Didn’t like the man he’d become since then as well. They had both changed. Her for the better. Him not so much.
“I don’t know. We were focused on training and having fun during our down hours. To talk about our dreams and plans maybe had been too serious.”
Back then he’d had his entire life mapped out, yet most of it hadn’t turned out as expected. He’d given up on plans and hopes. Now he just lived, took what came.
“There’s supposed to be a footbridge along here somewhere.”
Dana’s statement drew him out of
his musings. He looked around. They’d arrived at a wide stream.
“Since it’s the dry season the water is low. If it were spring this water would be high and rushing. We’d have no chance of crossing without getting wet.” She looked up and down the creek. “If we don’t find the bridge it’ll add an hour to our walk.”
“You do love a challenge.”
She strolled ahead. “There has to be some way across. There.” She pointed ahead. “It narrows.” Hurrying forward she called, “And look! A log.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. A log isn’t a bridge. You really expect us to cross on that?”
She grinned back at him. “I thought you liked a challenge.” Picking up a stick, Dana returned to the log. “Didn’t you say you wanted to work on your tightwire act?”
“No. And if I did I’d rather not start with a log lying across a cold creek in the middle of nowhere when I can’t build a fire.”
“Afraid to live dangerously, are you, Doc?” Dana placed a foot on the log to test it. Bounced it a few times. “It seemed sturdy enough. Look at it this way. If you go in it’s only a couple of more miles to the tower where there’s a propane heater. And if your boots get wet you only have one more day to walk in them.”
He stood on the bank watching her. “That’s all supposed to make me feel better?”
“I’ll talk to you on the other side. You’re distracting me.” Dana stuck the stick into the water using it to help balance as she moved farther out on the log.
She’d been distracting him for days and she expected him to feel sorry for her. “At least that’s a positive. For a while there I wasn’t sure you knew I was alive.”
She glanced back. “Oh, I knew you were alive. That was the problem. Now hush and let me concentrate.” She shifted her foot out another step.
With the next one, Dana rocked back and almost lost her footing. He sucked in a breath. She wasn’t going to make it. He dropped his packs and the chain saw. If he had to go in he didn’t want anything extra hanging on him.
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc Page 9