by Rita Herron
“Take Rebecca down first,” Nina cried.
Slade’s gaze met hers, and he knew that she was afraid the branch was going to catch on fire. The flames were inching out the window toward her.
“I’m going to get you both down,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Please, Slade, take her,” Nina whispered.
“Mommy, I don’t want to leave you,” Rebecca sobbed.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Nina said softly. “I promise.”
Rebecca’s fingers tightened around her for a second, then Slade stroked her hair.
“Rebecca, honey, listen to me. I’m going to save you and your mommy, but you have to trust me.”
Terror darkened her eyes as she clung to Nina. “Mommy…”
Nina lifted her daughter’s chin and forced her to look at her. “You can trust Slade, honey. I’ll be right behind you, I promise. But we have to hurry.”
Rebecca bit down on her lip. “’Kay.”
Slade smiled at her. “That’s good, honey. Now I want you to climb on my back, and wrap your arms around my neck like a monkey. Then put your legs around me, too, and hold on as tight as you can.”
“Remember the little engine,” Nina said softly.
Nina helped her daughter wind her arms around his neck, then Rebecca squeezed her little legs to his waist, and he began climbing down.
The fire engine finally arrived and careened to a stop, and he shouted for them to help him. The men jumped into motion. Two men dragged a hose to douse the flames while another spotted him as he dropped to the ground with Rebecca and raced over with a ladder.
“I’ll get Nina, you try to save the house,” Slade shouted. He didn’t wait on a response, but gripped the ladder and began climbing. Nina was trying to make her way down, but slipped and dangled from a branch above him. Rebecca screamed, and Nina looked down, hanging on to the branch with one hand and clawing to reach it with the other.
“Hurry, I’m slipping,” Nina cried.
“Hang on, honey.” Slade grabbed her just before she plunged to the ground.
Fear shot through him as he pulled her to him, and he silently vowed never to leave her again. Then together they climbed down the ladder.
The firefighter helped her off the ladder first, then Slade jumped to the ground.
Nina pulled Rebecca into her arms, and the little girl clung to her, both of them trembling. He ushered them away from the heat of the burning house.
Another siren screeched, and suddenly the sheriff’s car roared to a stop. Sheriff Driscill climbed out and strode toward them. Slade saw someone in the back of the squad car and frowned.
“You all okay?” Sheriff Driscill asked.
Slade nodded. “It was close, but yeah.”
“I know who started the fire.” Driscill jerked his thumb toward the car. “The same person who kidnapped the baby.”
Nina pressed her daughter tighter into her embrace, and glanced at the police car. Slade saw the woman beating at the glass, screaming and crying.
“Mitzi…” Nina said in a stunned voice.
“I caught her racing away around the corner. She was hysterical, screaming that she had to do it. That she was afraid William would want you back now you found the child.”
“William gave up his rights a long time ago,” Nina said stiffly.
The sheriff nodded. “She also admitted that Hood’s mother was in cahoots with her. Mitzi actually kidnapped the baby from the hospital, but Hood’s mother paid for the adoption. They’ll both serve time for this.” He paused. “And one of my deputies found Mansfield. He’s bringing him in, as well. He’ll be charged with conspiracy.”
Nina glanced at her house, the flames bursting higher.
“I’m sorry you lost the house,” Slade said.
“It doesn’t matter.” Nina scooped Rebecca into her arms and hugged her. “I have all that’s important right here.”
Slade’s resistance completely shattered. How could he not love a woman like her? She knew her priorities and fought for them.
“Thank you for saving us, Slade,” she whispered.
He hesitated, remembered that he’d accused her of gratitude instead of love before, and shame filled him. He’d been a coward, had thought by punishing himself by being alone and denying himself happiness that he could atone for his guilt.
But Nina had taught him about courage. About really loving… “I don’t want your gratitude, Nina.”
Fire crackled and popped, illuminating her beautiful face. But a puzzled look darkened her eyes. “Then what do you want, Slade?”
His throat thickened, and he knew he was taking a chance. Knew that he still might fail sometimes or lose them one day.
But he didn’t want to lose them now.
“I want your love,” he said in a husky voice.
A slow smile softened her mouth, and she placed a hand against his chest. “You have that already.”
“And you have mine,” Slade said gruffly.
Nina smiled, a radiant look that he knew would be imprinted in his mind forever. A look filled with love and hope and promises of a happily-ever-after.
Then she glanced down at her daughter, who was watching them with big eyes.
Slade gently stroked Rebecca’s hair. “You have a mommy now, Rebecca. How would you feel about having a daddy, too?”
Her eyes lit up and she nodded wildly. Moved beyond speech, he wrapped his arms around both of them.
“I love you, Nina,” he said against her hair. “And I will love you and your daughter forever, I promise.”
“I love you, too,” Nina whispered.
Then she closed her mouth over his and kissed him.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6052-2
UNBREAKABLE BOND
Copyright © 2010 by Rita B. Herron
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