"Run for high ground! The dam's going!" he yelled across the streambed to Genie.
Genie looked toward him like she didn't understand what he'd said, so he yelled louder, "The dam on the stock pond! It's breaching! Get to high ground!"
The water was widening fast. Already it spanned the creek bed and was rising. Rushing for Abby, he grabbed her around the waist and raced for the canyon wall. Grasping her hands he maneuvered her around behind him and pulled her arms around his neck, and said, "Wrap your legs around my waist and hold on. We're going up the hill." Abby clamped on, and with her legs and arms wrapped around him, Josh launched himself onto a boulder. Grasping a fistful of roots he pulled himself up, with Abby clinging to his back like a monkey, while moving from boulder to boulder as he struggled to find his next handhold.
He glanced back momentarily to see Genie attempting to get up the opposite wall of the canyon but not having the strength to pull herself up, and already water was up to her knees. Once high enough to escape the rising water, he grabbed Abby's arms from around his neck and pulled her off him, then removed his shirt, and said to her, "I'm tying you to a tree with my shirt so you'll be safe while I go get Genie."
"No," Abby cried, while grabbing his legs.
Prying Abby's arms from around him, and ignoring her panicked cries, he braced her against the tree so her back was to it and quickly wrapped his shirt around her and tied the arms together. "You'll be safe," he said, then turned and raced back. But as he descended the sidewall of the canyon, he saw that the water was up to Genie's waist and she had no place to go, so she remained trapped in front of a steep wall with her arms around a tree, and was holding on for her life as the water rushed around her, but he could see that she was slowly losing her grip.
And then came the sound he'd only heard about, like the rumble of thunder accompanied by the loud rush of wind. He'd read that canyon walls could amplify sounds as water from a flash flood rushed in, but he'd never imagined it could sound like a freight train.
Knowing he had only seconds to get to Genie before she could be swept away, he launched himself into water that was black and swirling with debris, and struggling against the current, maneuvered around limbs, and twists of roots, and matts of sage and other debris as he fought his way toward Genie. Grabbing her arm, he tightened his hand around it and started for the opposite side of the canyon while shoving his way through limbs and debris to get to where he'd scaled the canyon wall with Abby, their only means of escape.
The water continued to rise as he fought his way across, while pulling Genie along with him, but the current wasn't as strong as before. The water was also carrying with it greater masses of debris, including huge limbs and vast tangles of roots, and he realized the reason the current had slackened was because the mouth of the canyon was blocked, and in minutes the water could be fifteen feet high. But the moment the dam of limbs and debris would give way to the deepening water, a current he'd never be able to fight would be strong enough to carry them miles away.
Feeling strength he didn't know he had, he tugged himself, with Genie clamped against him, through the debris-strewn water to where he'd scaled the canyon wall with Abby, but when he went to release Genie's arm to help her up, she looked disoriented and confused. By now the water was up to the top of the lowest bolder and rising, so dragging Genie's arm around his neck, he clamped his other arm around her waist, and hanging onto her with all his strength, managed to get up onto the next boulder up. Grabbing fistfuls of roots, he continued pulling himself and Genie upward, gradually making his way to where the rocky canyon wall broke into a wide terrace before merging into a gentle slope.
Once up on relatively flat land, he flopped onto his back, while holding Genie against him, and tried to catch his breath. When he realized Genie wasn't moving, he looked over and saw that her eyes were closed, and her head was turned sharply, like she was unconscious.
"Genie?" Her eyelids fluttered, and she opened her eyes and looked at him in confusion then shut them again.
"Honey, open your eyes," Josh said.
Again Genie opened her eyes, and this time she looked at him, bewildered. "I don't know what's happening. My head…." Her eyes shut.
Josh saw a gash on her head and the dampness of blood where she'd been hit with moving debris. "Don't close your eyes babe," he said. "You need to stay with me. Come on, keep those pretty eyes open and talk to me."
Genie opened her eyes again, but this time Josh found himself looking into the eyes of someone stricken with fear. Then her eyes sharpened, and she said in a frantic voice, "Abby! Where's Abby!?"
"Tied to a tree," Josh said. "Hold on, honey, I'm picking you up." With Genie in his arms, he ran toward where Abby was tied to the tree, and when Abby saw them coming she reached out with both hands and started crying hysterically, like the relief of seeing him released all her fears. After setting Genie down, he rushed over to Abby and said, while untying the shirt, "Honey, you're okay, Genie's okay, we're all safe."
Hastily he unwound his shirt from around Abby, then lifting her in his arms, he held her little shaking body against him, and for a few minutes let her cry it out. Then carrying her over to where Genie lay, he lowered himself to the ground, but when he set Abby beside him, she crawled up against him and burrowed her head in the curve of his arm. Placing his hand on the side of her face, he stroked her cheek and gave her a little kiss on the forehead, and she settled against him. On lying back, he opened his other arm to Genie, who moved close against him. He felt brush and sharp prairie grass digging into his bare back, and he wanted to go over to the tree where he'd tied Abby and get his shirt, but he was too keyed up to do anything but lay with his arms around the two most precious people in his life and stare up at the darkening sky while trying to let some of the adrenaline subside.
After some minutes had passed, he felt a palm gliding over his chest.
Turning his head, he looked at the beautiful, pale, wet, woman in the curve of his arm, who looked back at him and said, "Thank you for saving Abby and coming back for me. You're an amazing man."
Josh moved his arm further around Genie and she snuggled closer to him and tightened her arm around his chest, like she needed to be in close contact with him after the terrifying ordeal.
For a while he lay silent while trying to figure out what to do next. They were on the wrong side of a canyon filled with water, and they couldn't chance swimming across because at any time the debris dam at the mouth of the canyon could break through and take them and a canyon full of water with it, so the only way back was a long hike across the Double J Ranch, but before they'd get half there it would be dark, and they had no flashlights. If it was only him, he'd hike back, but he wouldn't leave Genie and Abby alone, and he couldn't take them with him. Genie got a hard enough hit on the head to knock her out, which concerned him.
"How is your head?" he asked.
Genie raised her hand to her scalp above her temple, and replied, "I feel a big knot and my head's throbbing."
"Then we'll stay here," Josh replied. "My guess is that the horses took off for the ranch when they heard the dam burst, but if they didn't run off, when we don't return tonight, Matt and the others will know something happened and come looking for us. I told them we were riding out to see the petroglyphs so they know where we are. They just won't know if we survived when they find out about the dam. Meanwhile, we'd better stay here and rest some until they find us."
Genie settled against him and closed her eyes, but he could see that she hadn't passed out again, but was exhausted. He looked at Abby, who had her eyes tightly shut, like she wanted to block out the world, and kissed her on the forehead, and said, "Think about your birthday party, honey, and try to rest." She said nothing, but he could feel her relax against him.
Sometime later, as darkness began to close in around them, Josh heard Abby's easy breathing and knew she was asleep, so he gave her another little kiss and cuddled her close. But when he turned to Genie to
do the same, she spread her palm against his chest and raised her lips to meet his. It was a long, extended, open mouth kiss that stripped him of all logical reasoning, leaving his mind muddled with thoughts of keeping this woman and her little sister in his life, he didn't know how long. Maybe… forever. That thought was okay for now because tomorrow his mind would be clear again, but between now and tomorrow would be a long, restless night.
CHAPTER 7
Genie awakened confused and disoriented, and with a throbbing headache. Still, she was certain she'd heard a shrill whistle. After a few minutes, her mind began to focus on what had happened and where they were. It was dark, but there was a half moon, and in the dim light she made out Josh beside her. His arm was stretched out, like it had dropped away from her while he slept, but for the longest time he'd held her close. She raised up slightly and saw that his other arm was still around Abby, who was nestled against him with her head tucked into the hollow of his shoulder.
The whistle came again. Looking into the darkness, she was certain she saw lights bobbing up and down. Placing her hand on Josh's chest, she shook him and said, "Wake up." Josh rolled his head back and forth, like he was coming out of a deep sleep, so she shook him again.
This time he raised his head, glanced around, and seeing her, said, "What's going on?"
"Out there," Genie pointed. "Lights. I think they've come looking for us. I heard whistles."
Josh eased his arm from around Abby and pulled himself up. While standing and peering into the night, he said, "Looks like two lights." Raising his thumb and index finger to his mouth, he let loose with a high, shrill whistle that pierced through the night. Almost immediately, he received a whistle response.
"It's Ryan," Josh said. "Stay here with Abby. I'm walking out to where they can see me." Again Josh whistled, and again he got a response. "Helloooo," he called out. "Over here."
The lights were coming toward them faster now, and Genie heard hoofbeats. Moments later, the forms of two riders, one leading a horse, emerged from out of the darkness.
Josh waved his arms and called out, "We're over here."
One rider was off his horse and racing toward Josh. And then she heard Ryan say, "You scared the hell out of us."
Matt reined in and dismounted. "Is everyone okay?"
"Genie's got a bad knock on the head and Abby's pretty shaken, but otherwise we're fine," Josh said. "Did the horses make it back?"
"Yeah," Matt replied. "They showed up about the same time CJ called to tell us the dam broke and to stay out of the canyon. Someone in a private plane spotted it and reported it. Deke and Seth took off on the trail to the canyon. They found the horses halfway between the canyon and the ranch. Ryan and I brought along Mack. We weren't sure what we'd find here." He turned to Ryan. "I hope you brought your cell because I left mine behind."
"I did." While Ryan was calling the men to let them know what was happening, Matt said to Josh, "I've been after CJ to stabilize that dam. The thing's been seeping for months. Where are Genie and Abby?"
"We're over here," Genie called out. "We're okay."
"Thank God." Matt turned to Josh. "I'll take Abby in front of me and you and Genie can ride Mack. I didn't take the time to saddle him so you'll have to ride bareback."
"No problem," Josh said. "What time is it?"
"Around ten-thirty, I imagine. CJ called about nine-thirty and we started out right away."
"I guess we all drifted off some," Josh said. He walked over to where Genie was sitting with Abby on her lap, and said to Abby, "Come on, honey, you're going for a ride with Grandpa Matt. Genie and I will be right behind you." When he reached down, Abby raised her arms to him so he could lift her out of Genie's lap then clamped her hands around his neck and buried her face against his cheek, and said, in a muffled voice, "Will you stay wiff me?"
"Sure," Josh replied. "I'll be right behind you on a horse with Genie."
"Will you go away like Daddy does?" Abby asked.
When Josh didn't reply, Genie said, "Josh lives here, honey. He won't be going away." But even as she said the words, Genie knew that, although she and Abby would be returning to the ranch to visit Annie, Josh was only there for the short term.
It bothered her that Josh would probably be gone the next time they visited. She wanted him in her life. The episode with the dam breaking was a life-changing experience for her, whereas what Josh did was precisely who he was—a man who'd put someone else's life before his, which he did every time he entered the rodeo arena.
For her, when the dam burst and she was clinging to a tree for her life and waiting to be swept away, it was with the knowledge that Josh had carried Abby to safety, so in those terrifying minutes while she was slowly losing the strength to hold on, she felt an odd sense of peace that Abby was okay, and she was resigned to being swept away. And then, in the middle of a raging torrent of black water swirling with debris, she felt Josh's hand on her arm...
"Here you go," Josh said, while handing Abby up to Matt. Abby settled in front of Matt, and Josh walked back to where Genie was sitting on the ground. Reaching down he took her elbow in one hand, and slipping his other hand into the hollow of her armpit, helped her up with amazing gentleness, like she was fragile and he was afraid she'd break. It was a small thing, but it touched Genie deeply. But when she stood, she had to grab onto Josh's arms for stability. "Are you doing okay, honey?" he asked.
"Just a little dizzy," Genie replied.
"Can you stand by yourself while I go get my shirt?"
"Maybe." Genie shifted her hands from Josh's arms and braced them against his bare chest, and for a few moments she became absorbed by the feel of warm, solid muscles against her palms. She was no longer dizzy, but she didn't want to move away either. If it weren't for the fact that Matt, Abby and Ryan were only a few feet away, she would have put her arms around Josh's neck and kissed him in a way that would complicate her life significantly, because each time she kissed him she wanted to kiss him more, and feel his arms around her, and remain there for long periods, maybe indefinitely…
And fantasizing over what she wanted and shouldn't have was foolish and reckless.
Removing her hands from Josh's chest, she said, "I'm fine now. All I need is a hot shower to get all the crud off, a fistful of Tylenol for my head, and a good night's sleep."
"I'd take that headache from you if I could," Josh said. He squeezed her arm and left to get his shirt. On returning, he tossed the reins over Mack's head and launched himself onto his back. After scooting onto Mack's rump, he said to Ryan, "Give Genie a leg up. With that knot on her head I want her in front of me where I can keep an eye on her."
Saying nothing, Ryan grabbed Genie by the waist and lifted her up to where Josh could pull her the rest of the way. After maneuvering herself just behind Mack's withers, Genie sat up straight while Josh shifted forward.
Curving his arms around her, Josh said close to her face, while sending little puffs of air against her ear, "Lean against me and we'll take it easy on the way back."
After Genie was settled back, Josh said to Matt, "We're ready."
Matt snapped off the flashlight and he and Ryan urged their horses into a leisurely walk.
Tipping her head back, Genie said to Josh, "We're riding back in the dark?"
"Yes," Josh replied. "Light messes up a horse's night vision. They know the way back. Matt and Ryan only used the flashlights to find us and catch our attention. Meanwhile, close your eyes and try to sleep off that headache and we'll be home before you know it."
"I don't want to sleep," Genie said. "I like what's happening right now."
Josh tipped his head until his lips were close to Genie's ear, and said, "I'm not sure I'm getting what you mean. You like riding bareback or you like it that we're on our way back?"
"Neither," Genie replied. "I like being where I am. Things are different now. You saved Abby and risked your life for me and I'm a little overwhelmed. I feel things I don't want to feel and I don't kn
ow what to do about it."
"You feel things for me?" Josh asked.
"I did from the start," Genie replied. "That's the part I'm having trouble with, but what I feel doesn't have to impact you in any way because it's just feelings. They come and go."
"Oh man," Josh said. "You're hitting me with a lot of stuff I'm not ready for."
"I know," Genie replied. "I told you I was overwhelmed with what you did, but I also told you it didn't have to impact you in any way. I just wanted you to know."
Josh lowered his head and kissed her temple, and Genie tipped her head, while saying, as he kissed the side of face and along her neck, "I'm complicating things, and umm… I like that and… tomorrow things will be back to normal."
"I hope not," Josh said. "I'm not ready for Nurse Ratched again. I'm enjoying this much more, although there were some merits to my ice water bed bath, but maybe next time you could do what you did before, but we could dispense with the ice packs, the water and the wash cloth."
"No, we can't," Genie said. "Abby needs stability in her life and what I'm doing right now is foolish and it's getting you worked up, but tomorrow we'll start over."
"You know what?"
Genie turned her head slightly. "What?"
Josh kissed close to her lips. "You're sending me so damn many messages I'm having trouble keeping up."
"I know," Genie replied. "I'm having trouble keeping up too. I'm saying things I'll regret tomorrow, so maybe you'd better just ignore it and I'll be quiet."
"I have a better idea," Josh said. "Why don't you give this badass bullfighter a chance to show you that I'm pretty good at what I do and we'll see where it takes us?"
"It will take us to bed," Genie replied, "and I'm not ready for that right now."
"Babe, you can't be telling me things like that."
"I know. I told you I'd regret what I'm saying, tomorrow. I'm being totally illogical."
"Okay," Josh said. "Let me try to lay things out in a logical way. You're telling me that bullfighting's a badass profession but maybe the bullfighter isn't a badass man."
Dancing With Danger: Book 8: Dancing Moon Ranch Series Page 8
