Texas Heat

by Barbara Mccauley

  “I’ll talk to her, Jake. She’ll be fine.”

  “She’ll hate me,” he said quietly.

  “No. She’ll get over it.”

  His single swear word was earthy and to the point. Jaw tight, he walked stiffly away.

  Savannah watched him go. She had no idea what she was going to say to Emma. With a weary sigh, she turned and went to find her niece.

  * * *

  The moon was no more than a slice of silver late that night. One wispy cloud hung beneath the brilliant crescent like a filmy garment on a closet hook, and stars, more than anyone could count, lit the midnight blue sky.

  It never ceased to amaze Savannah how beautiful it was here. She stood at Emma’s open bedroom window, staring out into the darkness. It was quieter out here, calmer. Certainly less complicated than the city.

  Less complicated, that was, if you didn’t count her falling in love with Jake and Emma’s losing Betsy.

  Emma had refused to talk to Jake on the ride home from town and had run to her room the minute they’d pulled up at the ranch house. Jake had knocked on her door once, but Emma told him to go away. And he had. He’d gotten back in the truck and torn off, spewing dirt and rocks with his back tires. It was almost eleven o’clock and he still hadn’t come back.

  With a sigh Savannah turned and crossed to Emma’s bed. Her niece had cried herself to sleep, and even now her slumber was troubled. Savannah had told Jake that Emma would get over it, but he hadn’t believed her any more than she’d believed it when she’d told herself she’d get over Jake.

  A quiet knock at the door startled her. It opened slowly.

  “Emma” came a quiet whisper. “Are you awake?”

  It was Jake. Thank God. Relief swept through her. The way he’d left here, she’d worried that he was lying half-drunk in a ditch somewhere. She moved toward him, a finger to her lips. “She’s sleeping.”

  “Wake her up.”

  “She just got—”

  At the sound of a bell ringing, Savannah stopped. She realized that Jake had a rope in his hand. He swung the door open wide.

  Betsy!

  Savannah’s hand flew to her mouth and she smothered a gasp. The calf, obviously tired from its busy day, stood in the hall, head drooping, but no worse for wear. Savannah looked sharply at Jake. “But...how? Where...?”

  “Betsy!”

  Emma’s cry of delight shattered the quiet. She flew across the room and wrapped her arms around the calf, hugging the poor animal until it grunted with annoyance.

  Through the moisture in her eyes, Savannah looked at Jake. He stood back, hands in his pockets, a grin on his face as he watched Emma. She knew he’d done this for his sister at tremendous cost to himself and the ranch. She wanted to speak, but the emotion swelled in her throat and words were impossible.

  “Emma,” Jake said softly as he moved closer to her, “I’ve got to put Betsy in the barn now.”

  Emma let go of the calf and flung herself into Jake’s arms. “You saved her,” she said, her voice breaking. “Thank you.”

  He knelt, hugging her back, then cleared his throat and stood. “Get some sleep. You’re going to need to get up early and feed that calf.”

  Emma nodded eagerly and jumped into her bed, crawling under the covers with a giggle. Jake’s gaze met Savannah’s for a heart-stopping second, then he picked up the calf and left.

  “Jake is the best brother in the whole world,” Emma said proudly.

  Savannah smiled and smoothed Emma’s hair away from her face. “Yes, he is.”

  “Aunt Savannah, can we come live here with Jake?”

  Savannah felt as if her heart had leapt up into her throat. She shook her head. “No, sweetheart, we can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Why not? Such a simple question. Such a difficult answer. “Lots of reasons. We have our own home, for one. You have school, for another, and I have to get back to work.”

  “You could get a job at Amy’s school. She says it’s really neat. They have lots of animals everyone takes care of and she gets to ride the bus every day. They don’t have to wear stupid uniforms, either.”

  St. Mary’s Academy was rigid, Savannah realized. Not to mention snobbish. Maybe she would look into a new school when they got back. It would be easy enough to find another job. And besides, maybe a change for both of them would be good. A fresh start. Anything that might ease the pain of leaving Stone Creek.

  “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” Savannah tucked the covers around Emma. “Right now, I want to see those eyes close.”

  Savannah made her way to the barn in the darkness. The raucous sound of crickets crowded the hot night air, and the distant howl of a coyote reminded her of the isolation here. Strange how the same isolation that once frightened her, now comforted.

  Inside the barn, a single light burned, and she heard the rustle of hay as Jake tossed a handful into the end stall. Betsy was lying in the corner, her huge brown eyes drooping soulfully.

  “You bought her back from that man, didn’t you?” Savannah asked.

  Jake brushed his hands off against his jeans, then shut the gate. “Not exactly. I just tore up the check.”

  Savannah leaned against the stall, watching Jake as he secured the latch. There were dark circles under his eyes and exhaustion had formed creases beside his mouth. “You needed that money for the pump, Jake.”

  He stared at the sleeping calf. “Do you think I’d let Emma leave here thinking me a murderer?”

  “She has to understand sometime what it is you do here. I don’t think she’s ever really put it together.”

  “That reminds me.” He frowned. “What in the world was that comment Emma made about Betsy and patty?”

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “Myrna offered Emma some pâté when we went for lunch the other day, and Emma asked what it was.”

  Jake shook his head in disgust. “I swear, Betsy has more brains than that woman.”

  Savannah smiled, then, without thinking, she reached out and touched his arm. “Jake, let me loan you the money for the pump. I have a little put aside for—”

  “No.”

  “It’s taking you extra time every day to run that water manually. You’re already working yourself into an early grave with the hours you put in. Let me—”

  His expression hardened. “I said no.”

  She’d already known what his response would be, but she’d had to at least try. She dropped her hand away and sighed. “What are you going to do, then?”

  He shrugged. “I’ll manage.”

  “I expect you will,” she said softly.

  His dark gaze locked with hers and when he moved closer, she felt her heart begin to pound. A low steady beat at first, then harder, until it felt as if a fist was hammering in her chest.

  “I’d manage a lot better if you’d stay here, Savannah.”

  His voice was husky, the timbre as seductive as it was exciting. Lord, how she wanted to say yes. Yes. Even Emma wanted to stay. It would be so easy....

  She closed her eyes and felt the heat of his body as he leaned still nearer. His smell was completely masculine, and she responded at a level where she had no control. He cupped her chin in his hand gently and ran his thumb over her jaw.

  “Jake...” She sighed, opening her eyes. She lost whatever it was she wanted to say. His face was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek and see the intricate web of lines at the corners of his eyes. His thumbs moved down her neck with feather softness, promising pleasure she knew only he could give her.

  “I’ve never felt about anyone what I feel for you,” he whispered. “Stay with me tonight.” His lips brushed hers. “Every night.”

  Her body was screaming at her to say yes. She leaned into him, parting her lips breathlessly as his hands slid over her shoulders and down her arms.

  Could she have him for this one night? Or even a dozen nights? It wouldn’t be enough. Just having this part of him would never be enough. She l
oved him too much. She’d spend the rest of her life aching for a man who could never truly give himself to her. She’d seen what that had done to Angela, and Savannah couldn’t bear that. She might never love again as she loved Jake, but she would marry and she would have children. That would have to be enough.

  Her hand felt as if it were made of lead as she reached up and laid her fingers on his chest. Gently she pushed him away.

  “I can’t, Jake,” she said softly, turning her head away.

  He drew in a deep weary breath and backed away. There was no anger between them this time, just a yearning so strong it drained them both.

  “I have a few things to do here,” he said, turning away. “You go on and I’ll close up the house when I come in.”

  Hugging her arms to her, Savannah nodded. There wasn’t one step all the way back to the house that she didn’t curse herself for wanting more than Jake had to give.

  Ten

  Lightning streaked jaggedly across the west Texas horizon. Dark, heavy-bottomed clouds billowed in, replacing sky that had been deep blue only minutes before. Frowning, Jake stared at the spectacular display, as much in awe of the magnificence of nature as he was annoyed by the unpredictability. There was only one sure thing about the weather in Texas: you could never be sure.

  Sort of like a woman, he thought sourly. At least, one particular woman, who plagued his thoughts and haunted his dreams.

  Savannah.

  Even her name drew the most erotic images to his mind: her incredible silky blond hair flowing over his hot skin, her soft seductive smile as she pressed her lips to his, her slender smooth fingers moving over his body...

  Jake shifted in his saddle, cursing his thoughts. Thoughts that would lead nowhere but to a cold shower and a big empty bed. She was leaving in three days. Taking Emma and going back to Atlanta. It was better this way, he told himself. If she stayed, she’d work her way under his skin so deeply, he’d never want her to go. And those feelings were more dangerous than the storm brewing overhead.

  Thunder rolled, and Jake’s horse, Saucy, tossed her head nervously. No creature, man or otherwise, wanted to be out in a Texas storm. Jake was no exception. He pulled the mare around, intending to head back to the ranch, when he heard the agitated bawling of cows. It was coming from a ravine a short distance away. He spurred his horse toward the sound.

  About a dozen steers were trapped at the bottom of the dry riverbed. How the hell they’d managed to break off from the rest of the herd and wind up here, he hadn’t a clue, but he knew if he left them here, they’d be dead. If the storm didn’t get them, then wolves most certainly would.

  With a heavy sigh, Jake eased his horse down the steep ravine. He just wanted to get this done and get back to the ranch. Quickly.

  “Easy, Saucy,” he crooned to his horse as she resisted the incline. “Take it slow, baby. That’s a girl.”

  Halfway down, lightning flashed again, this time no more than a quarter mile away. Saucy reared, then stumbled, tossing Jake straight over her head. His hat flew off as he landed on the hard ground with a grunt. Before he could even pick himself up, the mare had scrambled back up the embankment.

  Dammit! He rose slowly and snatched his hat off a scrubby bush. He’d had enough of skittish females to last him a lifetime, he thought irritably, brushing himself off. Thunder shook the ground again. The first drop struck him on the cheek; the second, on his nose.

  Then, as if someone had flipped on a rain switch, the sky opened up.

  “Hiiyah!” Jake yelled, running at the cows. Frightened, they broke to the left. Lightning and thunder was simultaneous; rain pounded the dry earth, running off before it had a chance to soak in. His visibility was poor, but Jake waved his arms, hollering behind the terrified animals as he chased them back up the steep ravine.

  It took three more attempts before the last cow managed to clear the incline. Drenched to the bone, furious as hell, Jake waded through the already ankle-high water. Mud sucked at his boots, while the increasing current pulled at his legs. He had to get out of here, and fast. Flash floods had surprised more than one unwary rancher, and once a current that strong got hold of a person, it could be miles before his body was found.

  Determined not to bring that thought to reality, Jake made his way to the incline. It was like walking through thick molasses. He slipped twice, and each time the soggy earth under his boots tried to drag him down. The third time he lost ground, his hat flew off and floated away like a raft over the rapids. Cursing fluently, Jake righted himself and inched his way to the embankment.

  The current was to his knees now, but the rain was coming down so hard and he was so drenched that it was difficult to tell where the water level started or stopped. He slipped again and went under this time, the current sucking him down as if he were a straw doll, instead of a 220-pound man.

  All Jake could see was black. Rocks and floating debris pelted his face, and a hollow rushing sound, like the underside of a waterfall, filled his ears. He lost control completely and tumbled several times, the current tossing him like a broken stick.

  Gasping for air, he came back up and desperately tried to gain a hold in the doughy ground. His boot hit a rock and he managed to right himself. The embankment was in front of him; all he had to do was get up it. He reached up, but his hands only sank into the sodden earth and came away with fistfuls of mud. A brilliant streak of lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the water and ground in vivid detail.

  Two feet away, Jake saw a tree root protruding from the ravine wall. The current attempted to pull him the opposite direction, but he lunged for the root and grabbed hold. Relief poured through him. Once he could pull himself out of the water, he knew he could make it up the incline. He lost his footing twice, but finally managed to drag himself from the raging waters. Muddy or not, Jake vowed, he was going to kiss the ground when he climbed out.

  He was nearly to the top when a loud rumble over his head caused him to look up. Rain battered his face and the earth began to shake. The single swear word he’d attempted was cut short as mud and rocks broke loose directly above him and crashed down.

  * * *

  Savannah stood at the living room window, chewing on a ragged fingernail as she watched the storm in its full fury. It sounded more like rocks were falling on the roof instead of water, and the rain was like a thick gray sheet of plastic. She’d certainly seen rough weather before, but nothing like this. This storm was violent, but worse, it was dangerous.

  At least Emma was safe in town with Jessica and Jared. Jessica had called a few minutes ago as the rain had started and said she would bring Emma home in the morning.

  But where was Jake? He never would have stayed out in this kind of rain. It was much too risky. He might be stubborn and mule-headed, but he wasn’t stupid.

  Something was wrong.

  She knew it. She could feel it, deep down inside. It was a feeling that couldn’t be explained, but it was real just the same. And it scared the hell out of her.

  She couldn’t just stand here and wait. She had to do something. But what? She knew the general area he was working in. Ever since the fire in the shed, he’d made a point to let her know where he’d be if she needed him. He’d also made a point to leave her the truck, just in case there was an emergency and she needed a vehicle.

  Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark sky; thunder rattled the roof. How would she ever find him in this storm? Savannah drew a sharp breath. She had to find him. And standing here wondering how was a waste of precious time.

  Decision made, she ran to the front door, grabbed the truck keys off the table with one hand and her coat off the rack with the other. Rain hammered at her as she sprinted to the truck and jumped inside. It had taken her less than twenty seconds and she was already drenched. Water dripped from her shaking hand as she turned the ignition key and shoved the truck into gear.

  The wipers had little effect on keeping the windshield clear, but somehow the staccato whish
-whish helped keep Savannah focused. She white-knuckled the steering wheel, splashing through the mud while she scanned the area for any sign of Jake or his horse. One mile passed. Then two.

  Nothing. Absolutely nothing but mesquite and mud and a few scattered trees. The truck bumped and clattered over the rough terrain.

  What if she missed him and he was back at the ranch already? Or holed up somewhere safe and sound, waiting for the worst of it to pass? He’d be furious with her for taking a chance like this. Maybe she should go back and just wait.

  No. He was out here. The feeling was too strong for her to ignore. He’d just have to be angry if she was wrong. She had to follow her instincts, and her instincts told her he needed her help.

  Another half mile passed with no sign of Jake. Savannah bit her lip, torn between going back and moving forward. If she got out too far, she might not make it back.

  Jake, dammit, where are you?

  There! Her heart caught in her throat as she spotted movement under a tree several yards away. Was it Jake? She drove closer.

  No. She gripped the wheel tighter in frustration. Just a few cows.

  She started to drive by, then slammed on the brakes and slid in the fresh mud.

  Jake’s horse.

  She’d almost missed it behind the cows, but his horse was there. Without Jake. That meant he was here, close by. He never would have left his horse. She honked the horn several times, then tugged on her jacket as she jumped out of the truck.

  The sound of rushing water drew her to the edge of a ravine. She’d ridden to this area several times and knew there was a dry riverbed here. But it certainly wasn’t dry at the moment. Water swelled through the ravine and, at the rate it was going, would probably overflow the banks before long.

  Dear God, what if Jake—

  Like a camera flash, another burst of lightning streaked across the sky, reflecting off the rushing water and outlining the landscape in brilliant silver.

  That was when she saw him. No more than a muddy shape a few feet from her, Savannah spotted a man’s figure, half in the water, his arms wrapped around a huge tree root.