Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Best Friends: Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 3)

by Carol Moncado

  But she wasn’t certain she’d be able to react properly if there was any emergency.

  So she wasn’t driving yet. Or back at work.

  Which meant she was bored at home all day long, though she was doing her school work.

  At least she’d been able to move out of the chair and into a recliner as long as she rested more on her side than her back.

  Gray glanced at the wall cloud headed toward the farm. He needed to get home in case they needed to go to the shelter. Tessa likely wouldn’t be able to handle the door on her own. He needed to look into getting the door replaced or a new shelter that wouldn’t require so much oomph to open.

  His phone buzzed, and Gray tapped the Bluetooth in his ear. “This is Gray.”

  “Hey. It’s Grant. I’m not home, but just got a call from your neighbor that a couple of cows got out. Any chance you can get them in the field before the storm hits?”

  “Don’t want cows flying across the road?” Gray chuckled as the scene from Twister played in his head.

  “Not today.”

  “Sure. I’m almost home. I’ll get them rounded up somewhere. They’re branded?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ll try to get them into one of your fields.” He leaned forward and eyed the cloud again. “I’ve got a little bit before the storm gets here, but if they’re too far, I’m putting them wherever I can.”

  “That’s fine. Mrs. Davis won’t mind, but she can’t do it herself.”

  Gray turned down the dead-end road leading to the farmhouse and Beach House beyond. “I see them. Hopefully I can just herd them down there with the SUV. There’s four that I see.”

  “Thanks. I owe you.”

  “I’ll remember that when your lease is up.” Gray chuckled. “Might add ‘wrangler fees’ to your rent.”

  “How about a gift card for dinner for you and your wife? I know how well you both cook.”

  “Deal. I’ll let you know where they are.”

  Down on the end of the road in their own field would be best. He needed to go down there and figure out how they escaped, too. Before the storm came in.

  The wind already whipped around him as he waved his arms and tried to get the animals to go back down the road. If he could get them past Pop Pop’s house, it should be fairly easy to keep them going. There were fences on both sides of the narrow lane.

  Eventually, he left the SUV near Mrs. Davis’s house and grabbed his rain coat. He hesitated over his new Maryland Heights Crimson Knights ball cap, but decided against it, though he did grab a flashlight. It took longer than he wanted, but he made it down there with them, having used voice-to-text to let Tessa know what he was doing. The clouds were nearly on top of him, but Gray didn’t stop until he’d driven the cows back through the unlatched gate. He’d worry about how it got that way later. For now, he was grateful the rest of the herd hadn’t discovered it.

  He’d grown up traipsing all over Pop Pop’s land and helped him from time to time, but Gray never claimed to be a rancher. To his untrained eye, these animals seemed small. Maybe they were calves who wandered off. The bovine equivalent of staying out past curfew. Would calves born in the spring be old enough to do that yet?

  With the gate latched and bits of rain starting to pelt him, Gray turned for the SUV.

  As he did, something else caught his eye.

  Was that another cow? He pointed his dimming flashlight that direction. It looked weird.

  He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

  Once in the field, he saw the animal headed for the woods.

  Something definitely looked off.

  The wind picked up as did the rain. At least he was wearing his boots since they’d been doing team building exercises outside for half the day. The rapidly deepening mud sucked at them as he hurried through the pasture.

  Was that a rope wrapped around the animal’s neck? Had some kids been playing cowboy and gotten scared off? Most kids in the area would know better, but teenagers could be stupid.

  He kept going, farther from the gate, farther into the field, and into a wooded area he hadn’t explored in over a decade. It would have been worth it to ruin his new ball cap. He should have grabbed it anyway.

  It became a struggle to keep the hood over his eyes and the rain from obscuring his vision even more than it already was.

  Finally, he managed to catch up with the animal to discover his guess was correct. Fortunately, he always kept a pocket knife on him. Unfortunately, it had been a while since he’d sharpened it, and it could take him longer than it should to cut through the rope.

  Fortunately, the rope had snagged on something.

  Unfortunately, the cow was a bit freaked out.

  Talking softly and praying he could be heard over the claps of thunder rolling in, Gray managed to get close enough to put a hand on the animal’s neck.

  Would it be better to yell sweet nothings so he could be heard?

  It took more tries than he would have liked and the cow jumped a few times, but didn’t try to come after Gray.

  The wind picked up further, howling around him as the rope snapped free. Gray gathered it then smacked the cow on the rump.

  A growing sense of unease filled him. He needed to get back to his vehicle. Get back to the farmhouse. Probably get Tessa to the shelter fifty yards outside the back door. They’d mentioned the possibility of tornadoes, but Gray thought it was only a slim chance.

  This storm wasn’t playing, though.

  What was that?

  With a flash of lightning, he caught a glimpse of something else, deeper in the woods but not living this time.

  The shed.

  Gray had never known what it was originally used for, but right now, it could offer a bit of shelter until the storm let up enough for him to get back the quarter mile or more he’d walked into the field.

  He debated starting the trek back toward the gate, away from the woods where the shed was.

  At least that’s what he considered. Since it was too dark to see much after his flashlight batteries died, maybe he should stay where there was shelter.

  Another lightning flash showed him the shed. He breathed a sigh of relief when it was still standing and still fairly intact. It wouldn’t be completely dry or wind free, but significantly better than being in the open.

  As soon as the door closed behind him, he breathed a sigh of relief. Pushing his hood back, Gray pulled his phone out of his back pocket.

  The first thing he noticed was that he had no signal.

  The second was a tornado warning issued for a location just west of him twenty minutes earlier - and moving his way.

  He needed to get home. To make sure Tessa was all right.

  His own safety didn’t matter, though he knew she’d argue that all day long.

  Before he could head back out, the wind picked up again.

  It was too late.

  It had taken everything in Tessa to open the door to the shelter, but she’d managed.

  She’d also managed not to let it blow away from her so it would simply bang shut once she was in the shelter.

  Now the question was whether or not to slide the bolt into the concrete.

  If she did, Gray wouldn’t be able to open it from the outside. With the sounds of the storm raging above her, would she hear him pounding on it, or would he be like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and find himself locked out?

  The forecasters didn’t seem to think the twisters that would spring up out of this series of storms would be bad ones. Mostly EF0 or EF1, with a side of EF2 maybe.

  She could ride it out in the far corner, even if the heavy door was unlatched, couldn’t she?

  Tessa found the lamp and turned it on, grateful for the flashlight on her phone as well as a battery-operated lamp rather than the kerosene or whatever it was her great-grandfather had used.

  She looked around the small room. It had been years since she’d been down there, but Pop Pop kept it sup
plied. She turned on the weather radio to hear that there was a hook in the area outside Trumanville.

  “Those of you near Highway UU, east of Highway P, need to be in your shelters. This hook looks to be going just north of where those two roads meet. Out near the Beach House or east, be in your shelter.”

  Elliot Roberts, the most popular local meteorologist, was well-known for his ability to pinpoint roads and landmarks only locals would normally know about.

  This time, Tessa was both thankful and not at the same time.

  It was good to know they were in the path of this part of the storm, but would be better to know it was a mile away.

  “None of our spotters in the area have confirmed the presence of a funnel cloud or a touchdown, but there’s already significant rain in the area so any funnel could be rain-wrapped, making it more difficult to see. Again, if you’re near Trumanville and the UU and P intersection, get in your shelter.”

  He continued, describing locations that could be used for shelter if one didn’t have access to an actual shelter like Tessa did.

  She sank onto the bench built into the back wall. Where was Gray? She’d thought about getting up to watch him herd the cows down the street, but decided not to waste the energy standing up until she needed to. His text hadn’t said where he was driving them too either. It could be Mrs. Davis’s field or the one down near the Beach House.

  Either way, she prayed he’d taken shelter at one of those houses. Both had an underground room much like the one she was in.

  The wind continued to howl outside, rattling the heavy door.

  Her phone buzzed with an incoming text, but her signal wavered underground. Occasionally, she had a bar, but more often she didn’t. They needed to get a signal booster anyway and put it on the list of things to grab when they came down here.

  The text was from Lani asking if they were all right. Tessa tapped out a reply and prayed it would send.

  I’m in the shelter. Gray was rounding up strays. Not sure where he is.

  She stared at it, willing it to find a split second of signal to get through. A sigh of relief caused her shoulders to slump when it went.

  “All right. Those of you near the UU and P areas, the worst is past you for now. If you’re in the...”

  Tessa tuned the man out. It didn’t affect her now.

  Should she go back to the house? To better reception and a landline bound to get through?

  Deciding that was the best plan, Tessa turned off the lantern, but left it sitting where she could reach it. Grateful she’d thought to grab her jacket when she hurried out of the house, Tessa zipped it up and pulled the hood over her head.

  It was almost easier to open the door this time. She put her shoulder into lifting it rather than having to pull and use her arm and back muscles. They’d improved, significantly even, since the fall, but she still wasn’t nearly back to normal.

  As soon as she was able, she let the door drop back down. Grateful Pop Pop had installed a concrete sidewalk, Tessa moved as quickly as she could back to the house.

  Her jacket landed on the floor in the kitchen as she reached for the phone. Shaking from being wet as the air conditioner kicked on, she closed her eyes.

  Gray’s phone number.

  She’d had it memorized for years, but hadn’t dialed it in ages.

  Then it came to her.

  But the phone rang once then went to voice mail.

  Not good, but not necessarily a sign she needed to be overly concerned.

  Tessa tried again.

  Same thing.

  Then again.

  When it went to voice mail once more, tears spilled out of her eyes. She grabbed her cell phone and called Lani.

  “I don’t know where Gray is,” she told her sister-in-law without waiting for her to say anything. “He was rounding up strays for the neighbor, but I don’t know which field or even which neighbor. I haven’t heard from him.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” Lani rushed to reassure her. “My brother is too stubborn to let a little wind bother him.”

  “It wasn’t a little wind, Lani. I’ve never heard it like that. They said the hook was heading right for the Beach House.” She’d never understood why everyone called it that. It sat at the end of a dead-end road and hadn’t been owned by the Beaches in a century.

  Well, over ninety years at least.

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” Lani reiterated. “Do you want us to head out?”

  Tessa sank onto one of the kitchen chairs. “No. Not yet. You’re probably right. Now that it’s let up a little bit, I’m sure he’ll be home in a few minutes. I’ll let you know when I hear from him.”

  “Maybe his phone got too wet.” Her sister-in-law tried to be philosophical, but Tessa could hear the underlying concern, especially since everyone knew Gray had a heavy-duty case.

  “That’s probably it.” They both knew it wasn’t, but until they heard from him, it was easier to believe that than the alternative.

  “Let me know as soon as you hear from him.” Tessa could hear Harrison saying something in the background but couldn’t make out what it was. “He’s fine, Tess. I promise.”

  “I know. I’m going to try him again. I’ll call you back later.” Without saying goodbye, Tessa hung up on her sister-in-law and tried Gray’s phone again.

  Voice mail.

  Again.

  Voice mail.

  What about the GPS tracker? Could it pinpoint his location? Or at least let her know what field he was in?

  Tessa opened the app on her phone, grateful they used the same kind, and that she’d always known his passwords.

  The app thought for far too long before indicating a general location for his phone.

  From nearly an hour earlier.

  The green circle around the dot encompassed the farm house, but not much beyond. Tessa went out to the front porch, hoping she could see where he’d left the SUV. That might help.

  But it might not.

  The rain, combined with the thick cloud cover and setting sun made it difficult to see much beyond the yard in front of the house. Why had he been made to stay late at work? Just because they were doing some team building thing that ran long?

  Walking back out into the rain to look for the vehicle was too much for Tessa. She needed to know her limitations and only push them when she had no choice.

  For now, she still had a choice.

  The first thing she needed to do was pray a coherent prayer rather than the discombobulated thoughts running hither and yon through her head.

  As she sank back into the kitchen chair, that’s just what she did.

  17

  For over an hour, Tessa waited.

  And prayed.

  Called.

  And texted.

  But Gray didn’t answer.

  Wind still howled outside.

  Rain still pelted the siding.

  With an occasional side of hail.

  Just little pea-sized stuff. Barely more than glorified sleet. But enough that Tessa prayed harder.

  Prayed that Gray was just holed up somewhere and the weather was interfering with his cell phone reception.

  Pictures of him trampled by stampeding cattle or tossed into a tree by what may, or may not, have been a twister floated through her head.

  It could have been atrocious straight-line winds.

  It didn’t really matter.

  If she could pace, she would.

  Lani had texted her several times. Tessa tried to play it off like she wasn’t worried, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

  She whispered another prayer for his safety, though she hadn’t actually stopped yet.

  The house phone rang and she answered it without waiting for the Caller ID to tell her who it was. “Gray?” If it wasn’t Gray, maybe it was the neighbor whose cows were out, and he’d know where Gray had been headed.

  “No. It’s Lani. Still no word?” Her sister-in-law’s voice was sympathetic. />
  “Not yet, but it’s still storming pretty hard out here.”

  Another clap of thunder startled her.

  “Here, too.” Lani hesitated. “Listen, as soon as it starts to let up, we’re on our way. Mia and Eli, too. Mama and Papa Beach are already on their way.”

  “What about the baby?”

  “I’m not sure what the plan is with Celia, but let us know if you hear from him.”

  “I will.” She’d tried to keep the utter relief out of her voice. It wasn’t that she wanted others out in this mess, but she would be really glad not to be alone.

  A few minutes later headlights cut through the curtains of rain. For a split second she hoped it might be Gray, but the lights were coming from the road, not the Beach House where she suspected he’d gone.

  Mama and Papa Beach were on the porch in less than a minute. “Still no word?” Mama Beach asked.

  Tessa shook her head and went back inside. “No. I think he’s probably closer to the Beach House, but I don’t know that for sure.”

  “Sean’s SUV is parked a bit farther up the road.” Mama Beach wrapped Tessa in a gentle hug. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

  “I know, but I wish he was home.”

  “Of course. You love him. You want to know he’s safe.”

  The way Mama Beach said, so matter-of-factly, that Tessa loved Gray hit her funny. Did she really love Gray the way Mama Beach was implying? So soon? Or did she love him as her best friend since forever?

  Something had shifted the night of Brittany’s wedding. When he’d admitted he wanted to kiss her, then made sure she had a place to sit when very few spots were provided.

  And the hotel room.

  With two beds so she wouldn’t feel pressured in some way.

  The night hadn’t been quite as restful as it would have been if she’d been in her own bed, but she’d definitely appreciated not having to drive home.

  Tears finally snuck down her cheeks as she sank onto the couch. Mama Beach sat next to her. She’d held them at bay as long as she could. “What if something happened?” she whispered. “What if he’s hurt? When do we call the first responders?”