Dana continued moving out over the water.
A crack of sound barely reached his ears before the snap of the log breaking echoed across the prairie. Dana yelped, falling in the water backward. If the situation hadn’t been dire, the look of surprise on her face would’ve been comical. Instead she went under. The weight of the pack on her back holding her down.
Travis didn’t hesitate to jump in. By the time he managed to get to Dana she’d rolled over but still fought to get her feet under her. He grabbed her around the waist. “Stop struggling. I’ve got you.”
Dana relaxed.
They continued to float down the river.
“We’re going to slowly make our way over to the bank.” They kicked and paddled in unison without Travis letting her go toward the grassy edge. There he pushed Dana with a hand to her bottom while she pulled herself upward until she lay on her stomach. With what energy he had left, he grabbed a handful of grass and tugged his way out of the water beside her. They both lay there heaving.
“Are you okay?” Travis asked fearing she’d hit her head or worse while struggling.
“Yeah. But now we’re both wet.” She sounded disgusted.
“Should I have just let you drown?” He sat up.
“No. I do appreciate you helping me. The pack weighted me down and falling backward made it worse.”
“We still have to cross over.” Travis rolled to his knees and hands, then stood. He took her by the elbows and helped her stand. “This time it won’t matter if we get wet or not. This time I think I’ll be the outside boss and we’ll try it my way.”
Dana’s hands went to her hips. “Which’ll be?”
“Find a shallow place to cross. Our feet are already wet. Let’s go pick up my stuff and see how fast we can get to some place where we can take off these wet clothes.”
They walked back up the bank. Travis picked up his supplies and they kept moving. The river remained wide for a way but he soon found a rocky area.
“This should do it.” He looked at her. “We’ll go across together this time. Take my hand.”
She gave him an indignant look, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can handle myself.”
“Why do you always have to be so independent?” He pumped his hand offering it again. “It’s not a sin to accept help.”
“Maybe it’s because I’ve always had to take care of myself.”
His look met hers. “Then this time let me help take care of you. Grab my hand. I promise not to let you go.”
Her gaze locked with his. Her eyes flickered with surprise, questions and possibly hope. Slowly she placed her hand in his.
Something significant had happened but he wasn’t sure what. He stepped into the water. “I won’t let you fall.”
Her gaze met his. “I know you won’t.”
Travis got the idea her words meant more than the obvious as if she were giving him a vote of confidence she hadn’t given another man. He didn’t wish to disappoint her.
Dana joined him in the water and they slowly worked their way across. When her foot slipped he held her hand tightly and placed a hand at her underarm steadying her. They looked at each other. He would’ve kissed her if they hadn’t been standing in the middle of a river. “We need to keep moving. We’re almost there.”
She nodded.
At the bank, he climbed out then helped her.
Dana removed her big pack and set the saw down. “Time to empty our boots.”
“Now? Can’t we do that when we get to the tower?”
“I recommend you don’t wait. Take them off and dump out as much water as possible. Also ring out your socks. You don’t want your feet to get unhappy.”
“I’ll be okay.”
She put her hand on his arm. “I promise you won’t be if you don’t do as I say.”
Travis took a seat on the ground beside her. “It’s hard for me to believe my feet could be any more uncomfortable than they already are.”
“You get foot rot and you’ll find out different.” She pulled off one of her boots and turned it upside down.
He did the same and water tricked out.
“Hand me the shirt slash towel.” He dug through his pack and found it. She picked up one of his feet.
“What’re you doing?”
She dried his foot making sure to get between the toes.
“Hey, that tickles.” He pulled back on his foot.
She hung on. “I can’t take a chance you don’t get them dry as possible. I’m responsible for getting you back in one piece.” She put that one down and started on the other. “We’ll dry everything out the best we can tonight. By the way, thanks for saving me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I hope you brought a change of socks.” She put his foot down.
Travis patted his bag. “Right here.”
“Good. It’ll be important you wear them tomorrow.”
He shifted so that he could dry Dana’s feet, placing one on his thigh. She had such a trim ankle. “If I didn’t know better I’d think this was some erotic foreplay.”
Her cheeks pinked. She lowered her head. “You’d think that until the skin started peeling off.”
“I’ve seen trench foot. It’s not very attractive.” Travis had never been a foot guy but he liked Dana’s. They were long and narrow. To his surprise her toes were polished a bright pink. “Hot pink, uh?”
Those rosy spots on her cheek grew.
He continued to dry her foot giving each toe special attention. Finished with that one, he picked up the other. Taking more time than required, he gave it the same devotion.
Dana cleared her throat. “We should be going.” She picked up one of her socks and rung it out, ready to put it on.
“Don’t.” Travis reached inside his pack and pulled out a plastic bag. He removed a pair of socks and handed them to her.
“I can’t take your socks. You won’t have any dry ones.”
He dug around in his bag again and pulled out a bag. “I have another pair.”
“What’re you, a Boy Scout?”
He raised his chin and gave her a cheeky grin. “No. I’ve just learned from experience to be prepared.”
“You’d think I’d know better.” She accepted the socks from him.
“I know you do just fine on your own but every once in a while we all need help.” He suddenly wished she did need him. But could he be that guy?
“Look who’s dishing out wisdom now.”
With their socks and boots back on, Travis helped Dana with her pack and picked up his bags. “Which way, oh, great leader?”
“Are you relinquishing the bossing duty to me again?” She grinned.
“I am?”
“As it should be.”
He gave a loud huff.
She smiled and pointed off to the north. “See that second peak over there?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you make out that tiny dot above it in the sky?”
“Yep.” He stood beside her.
“That’s the top of the fire tower and our destination tonight. Do you think you have it in you to make it?” Her eyes held a dare.
Travis pushed his chin out. “I’ll try not to hold you back.”
She smiled. “I’ll let you know if you do.”
Travis nudged her with an elbow. “I’ve no doubt you’ll point it out when I do.”
They started across the flat plain with the knee-high grass wrapping their legs so dry bits of shaft blew in the wind around them. An hour later they reached the tree line and started their climb.
“Talk to me, Dana. Tell me about your ranch. How big is it?”
“You really want to know about that?” she asked over her shoulder.
“I do.” He wanted to know all he could about her.
Dana wasn’t sure how much of her life she wanted to share with him. But if she answered his questions then she had the right to ask some of her own.
“I have almost ten acres just south of Redmond with a small house and barn.” It was her heaven when she wasn’t working. “It needed a lot of work when I inherited it. I’ve spent most of my time redoing it.” She wove through the trees. Thankfully the space between the wide, tall trees made it easier to walk.
“Does the house have a porch?” Travis asked from close behind her.
Why had he asked such a specific question? “It does. A large one across the front with a swing.”
“From the sound of your voice you clearly love the place.”
“I do. It’s my home.” It belonged to her and couldn’t be taken away. Wouldn’t leave her.
“Sounds much nicer than my condo with the thin walls. Any animals?”
Travis really was curious. “I board a few horses for a friend. Have two barn cats.”
She thought to invite him for a visit but stopped herself. What they had would end when they returned to town. She didn’t expect more. She couldn’t count on it being different.
They came to a dense stand of timber where the ground was covered with moss and ferns. Dana took a seat on a fallen log. “Let’s rest.”
“I didn’t know you could.” Travis sat beside her. “Down here it’s hard to believe it can burn.”
Dana looked up to where the dappled light came through the trees. “The tops of the trees are often not so lucky. All it takes is a lightning strike and they go up.”
“Still here it looks like elves should be jumping out at us.”
His words said he missed little in his observations. That no doubt made him a good doctor. What did he see in her? She chuckled. “I had no idea you had such an imagination.”
“Hang out with me and you might learn a lot more things. How’re your feet doing?” Travis stretched out his legs.
“Pretty good. What about yours?”
Concern filled his eyes as he looked down at her.“They’ve been better. But I have to admit dry socks were nice. For a while.”
“We should get going. We’re losing daylight. I’d rather not climb the staircase of the fire tower in the dark.”
Travis stood and offered her his hand. She placed hers in it. So strong and warm. Secure. Her problem when they returned to their own world wouldn’t be having taken his help but with letting it go. Yet she had to. They weren’t meant to be. The only reason he was still here was because he had no choice. Otherwise he’d have been long gone.
They walked for another thirty minutes before they came to an opening where they could see the valley and the river they’d just crossed.
Travis took her hand. “This has to be the most spectacular view. Just gorgeous. This extra hike might not have been our choice but I’m glad I get to share this with you.”
She looked at him instead of the view. A honeyed feeling filled her middle making it flutter. Heaven help her, Travis had started to get to her. She wanted a little of what might have been.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TRAVIS FOLLOWED DANA’S lead and kept the pace. They had started downhill again. Thankfully it was more of a meandering walk then before. Soon they were starting back up again.
“When we reach the top we only have a little ways to go before we get to the fire tower.”
Sweat ran down the center of his back. His overgrown facial hair itched. Every once in a while he tugged on his damp pants, pulling them away from where they stuck to his legs. His pack grew heavier with each step. He could imagine Dana felt much the same discomfort. Since her bags were wet they must weigh more yet she didn’t slow or let him carry them.
Finally they reached a rise and he could see the fire tower clearly. Without breaking her pace, Dana continued along the winding path to the top of the mountain.
The sun lowered. Light had become limited. What started out as a medical mission to help a deathly ill patient had turned into brutal days of hiking. Dana hadn’t uttered a single complaint and he didn’t intend to either. Despite the fact that his feet were killing him and he’d worked up a blister that hurt like the devil.
“How much farther?”
“Hour. Maybe a little more.”
He took another step forward.
Dana looked up. “We’re either going to have to push through or make camp.”
“This close I say we push through.” He wanted comfort and shelter. He had no interest in staying out in weather like last night’s.
“Agreed.”
Was Dana as determined in every area of her life? He suspected she was. He looked forward to getting caught up in that determination when he had her in his arms. And he’d have her there soon, especially after what happened this morning. He had been shocked at her clear want of him, but he would willingly accept it. Desperately wanted her. He would make the most of the time they had together. Even if he could only offer her now and no more. His heart would remain firmly behind a closed door.
Sooner than he’d expected, they reached a small building constructed on a metal frame that stood six stories high.
Travis had never been so glad to see something in his life. He’d seen pictures of fire towers but had never been up in one. Dark was almost on them. He was tired, hungry and damp and had had enough walking. They crossed the middle of the field.
He put his foot on the first iron rung of the stairs. It consisted of six steps then a platform and six more steps until it reached the top. Looking up, he considered the climb. “Do we stop for a rest or do we keep moving?”
“I’m afraid if I stop I won’t get started again. The only downside to that idea is the outhouse is all the way down here.” Dana glanced at the small building sitting thirty feet away.
“Both are good points.”
“Outhouse later. Wet clothes first.” He pulled himself up the first step. “I had no idea these were still being used.”
“Mostly they’re not for their original purpose. Many are not tall enough to see as large an area as necessary. And technology has gotten so much better they have become obsolete. We have so many better ways of detection now. Mostly they’re used by hikers or tourists as a place to stay.”
“A rustic hotel room.” He’d take any place with a roof and some semblance of relief.
“Yeah, something like that. I’m glad to see no one’s rented this one tonight.” Dana’s booted steps sounded behind him.
“They would’ve had to share.” Travis looked up to find they were only halfway to the top. “We’d have asked nicely.”
“Whatever way we did it, we at least have shelter for tonight and a chance to have some heat.”
He looked at her. “There’s never-ending fun with you.”
“Thanks, I think. Don’t tell me you’re tired of walking in wet shoes.”
“I’ve had enough for the day, the week and possibly the month.”
Dana chuckled. “If you need any encouragement there should be a cold shower, canned food and a not-very-good bed. But it’ll offer a breathtaking view.”
“I’m moving on.” He took another step.
“Oh, one more selling point. We won’t get wet if it rains.”
“All the comforts of home.” Travis grinned. He liked the banter between them. It was nice they had found this in their relationship. He hoped there was more of it to come. “Based on the sky, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna be a problem tonight.”
They were almost to the top.
Travis took the landing and started up the last six steps. Above his head was the catwalk that circled the twelve-by-twelve room, glass on all four sides. He climbed through the hole and kept moving until he stood on the catwalk waiting for Dana.
She joined him, then went to the doo
r in the middle of the wall. Turning the knob, she grinned at him when it opened. She pushed it wide and stepped inside.
He followed. “Looks like home sweet home.”
Dana chuckled low in her throat. “I think that might be an exaggeration but I’ll certainly take it.”
The entire building was smaller than his bedroom at the condo. In one corner was a counter, a stove with two burners, and a mini refrigerator. A table with two chairs sat nearby. In the opposite corner stood a bed of sorts made out of wood with an “iffy” mattress, but space enough for two people. In another area were two small, cushioned chairs with a shelf full of books. Simple, and everything they needed to survive.
In the middle of the room stood a round fixture, waist high on him, that had an eighteen-inch map on it.
“What’s this?” he ran his hand over the top of the clear covering.
“It’s an Osborne Firefinder. It is used to locate the position of a fire. The lookout would then radio in the coordinates. Each tower has one. Old-school stuff now.”
“Yeah, but there was some artistry to the old-fashioned way.” He continued to study the apparatus.
“Why, Dr. Russell, you continue to surprise me. You can appreciate the simpler times. I always liked the idea of the lone man waiting and watching for that puff of smoke and calling it in.”
“The alone part would take a special person. I’m not sure I could be here days upon end by myself.” He put his pack down. Unless he had her with him. Wow, where had that idea come from?
Dana unload her bags. “I’ve gotten used to being by myself so I don’t think I’d mind. Enough of that. We need to get busy before it turns dark. I’ll check on the propane. Why don’t you check on the rain barrel?”
Travis headed out the door and around the catwalk. He located the shower that was much like Mr. Gunter’s. He returned inside. “Plenty of water. My guess courtesy of the storm last night.”
“Good. We’ve enough propane too. I found a few canned goods that were left behind. Renters are supposed to take everything with them but some leave their extras behind for people like us. We’ll use it because I want to save anything we have in case we need it.” Dana picked up her bags and carried them to a chair.
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc Page 10