by Lynn Collins
Cash shook his head. “Not if you want this pie done anytime soon. Turn that oven to 450 degrees.”
“So what do I do with the food?” She folded her arms in front of her, watching him.
After dusting the granite counter top with flour, he rolled a ball of dough out of the bowl. She wanted to kill him.
“Throw a couple of towels over the bags. When I get this pie in the oven, you can serve the turkey. Your dessert will be ready in an hour.”
“That soon?” June pulled two heavy bath sheets out of the dryer.
“I like pumpkin better chilled, but it’s good warm, with whipped cream.” His smile was warm and sexy. She ran her finger absently over her own lips, imagining tasting whipped cream melting between them as they kissed.
June swallowed and pushed the image away. She folded the towels over the food and smiled. “We’re a Cool Whip family.”
“Heathens.” Cash quickly rolled out a perfectly round circle. June held her breath as he lifted the dough up and onto the pie plate. “When I get back, I’ll bring you one of our French Silk pies.” He nodded to the bowl filled with pumpkin filling. “That ready?”
June nodded. “I used the recipe on the can.”
Taking a spoon to taste the mixture, Cash raised his eyebrows. He opened the cinnamon and added a few shakes, tasting the custard again. Nodding his approval, he poured the pumpkin into the pie pan, and then slid the pie onto the rack. She grabbed the bowls and set them in the already crowded sink. “You don’t have to drive back here in this weather. Grandma and I can stop in next week.”
Cash wiped his hand on the dish towel as he leaned against the counter, watching her. “What are you talking about?”
Heat filled her face. “About the French Silk, I mean, you don’t have to give us a pie.”
A smiled curved on Cash’s lips. She’d seen that smile before, when he’d been talking to the cheerleaders in the hallway. She’d almost crashed into the freshmen lockers because she’d been watching him back then. “I won’t be bringing the pie today. As soon as I get down the mountain and into Boise, I’m out of town for the next week. An all-inclusive Mexican resort. I’m planning on swimming, and drinking, and sunning, and drinking, and eating--”
“And drinking,” June finished.
“Oh, you’ve been on one of those vacations.”
Actually, she hadn’t. When the other kids had gone off to Cancun on spring breaks during college, she’d gone home to be with her mother. She was almost going to lie and tell him she was a natural at the drinking part, when she heard a noise.
“Cash Dillon, are you trying to tempt my granddaughter?” Grandma stood at the doorway, her walker in front of her. She’d dressed for dinner in a Santa Claus patterned muu muu with elf slippers. A Santa hat sat crookedly on her gray hair.
“Widow Palmer, you know you’re the only woman in my life.” Cash moved a chair out at the dining table and helped her transfer from the walker.
“You’re a lying sack of doo.” The widow pulled Cash down and planted a kiss on his cheek. “But I love you for saying it.”
Cash smiled at June. “She orders a lot of food.”
June watched the two of them banter. Then remembered Cash was on his way somewhere. More precisely, Mexico, and he needed to leave. “Thanks for your help. I’ve got it from here.”
Cash glanced at the oven. “When the buzzer goes off, don’t open the door, just turn down the temperature to 350 degrees. Then reset the timer for fifty minutes. You know how to set the timer, right?”
Her grandmother laughed.
“I’m not an idiot,” June replied, glaring at her, softening the look with a smile.
Her grandmother pointed a finger at June. “Did you tell him how you ruined my good Vision-ware pans when you decided to surprise me the first week you moved in? Those are supposed to be unbreakable, yet we were picking glass out of the walls for a month.”
Cash chuckled. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
Putting her hands on her hips, June faced both of them. “Teasing time is over. The pie is baking and dinner’s getting cold.” She glanced at him and hoped her face didn’t reveal what she was thinking. Like how amazing he appeared, standing there, watching her. “You’re welcome to stay and eat with us. I mean, before you have to drive to Boise, you might want a good meal.”
June cringed as the words came out. The man had always gotten her tongue-tied.
He seemed not to notice her stammering and slipped his coat on over his shoulders. “Sorry, meeting an old friend for drinks before I leave.”
“Thanks for the help,” she said as she walked him to the door. He smiled.
“All part of the delivery service. What’s dinner without dessert?” He nodded to her grandmother. “You take it easy, Mrs. Palmer, and enjoy your visit.”
Then he was gone. Just like in high school, she’d screwed up her one chance to talk to the football star. She watched him walk out to the truck, sliding on a slick spot just before he reached the four-by-four.
“The road is going to be pure ice,” she said more to herself than her grandmother. When the truck started and he headed out of the driveway, she turned away from the window.
Dishing out the mashed potatoes, she’d just poured the creamy gravy over the pile on her grandmother’s plate when she heard the crash. Fear reverberated through her body. June’s hand shook and the gravy boat fell to the table. She ran to the door, stopping at the foyer to pull on boots and a coat. When her grandmother followed her to the door, June waved her back toward the kitchen while she snapped on snowshoes.
“Stay here. I’m going to see if he’s okay.”
2
The truck sat turned sideways on the edge of the road. She squeezed her eyes closed for a minute before looking at the front grill buried into the craggy mountainside. Her breath came in short bursts and her lungs were on fire, but she had to reach him. She clicked off her snowshoes and ran to the driver’s side of the truck.
Cash was still in the truck, barely conscious. She jerked open the door, hearing the metal scream as she bent back metal that had been blocking the opening. He raised his head to look at her when he heard the noise.
“Damn deer,” he mumbled turning his head to survey the damage.
“He’s probably in the forest cursing your truck.” June bit back a smile. She hesitated, but then ran her hands over his body, checking for bones out of place just like the truck’s metal frame. Satisfied, she pushed the air bag out of the way, jumping back when a woman started talking.
“Sir, your vehicle is reporting a crash. Are you all right?” the truck's emergency service operator asked.
Cash groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.
June called out, not sure where to aim her voice. The operator had to be sitting miles away in some office. Her compact didn’t have these kinds of gadgets. “He’s hurt, but I don’t feel any broken bones. Can you get an ambulance up here?” Her voice trembled as she spoke.
The operator asked, “Were you in the vehicle as well?”
“No, I came from the house. He’d just left when we heard the crash.” June pressed her hand to Cash’s forehead. “He doesn’t feel hot.”
“I’m not sick,” he grumbled.
June shrugged. “Sorry, I’m kind of out of my element here.”
The operator came back on the line. “Shawnee Rescue has been called but there is a two-hour wait due to the storm conditions plus the number of people ahead of you. Can you get someplace safe to wait out the storm?”
June examined Cash. He looked pale and from the grimace on his face, he was in pain. “I don’t know. He might have internal bleeding or be going into shock.”
The voice from the dashboard responded. “I’ve got an EMT on the line, hold on, I’ll patch you through.”
“I don’t need an ambulance.” Cash tried to sit up and immediately slumped back into the seat.
June put her hand on his shoulder. “Good try, tough guy.”
/>
“Hey, it’s Rick Adams, who am I talking to?” A deep voice echoed in the cab of the truck.
“Of course I’d get the rookie. How’d you pull the short stick, Rick?” Cash rolled his eyes.
“Cash? Is that you?” The man chuckled. “I heard you were in Mexico lying on the beach looking for a bikini babe. What are you doing still here?”
“Obviously I had a little trouble.” Cash coughed, closing his eyes from the pain.
“He’s hurt. I think he broke a rib or something,” June called into the dashboard.
“Who’s that? Are you on site?”
June raised her voice more. “June Palmer. Cash had just left my grandmother’s house when we heard the crash.”
“Hey, June, I don’t know if you remember me. We were in freshman English together. I heard you were in town. How are things going?”
“Freaking Shawnee High reunion here,” Cash muttered. “Can we get back to my little problem?”
“Sorry, bro. Anyway, we can’t get up there for at least a couple hours. Both rigs are down the mountain. Bad accident on the highway. The roads are ice.”
June’s heart sank. She couldn’t leave him in the truck for two hours, he’d freeze to death. And as the storm worsened, the road to the cabin would become impassable. “Tell the ambulance to come as soon as they can and meet us on the highway. I’m going to cart him down with my snowmobile trailer.”
“June.” She heard Rick’s hesitation. “Are you sure he’s safe to move?”
She sighed. “Not really, but if he stays here, he won’t be safe either.”
“I’m right here you know. I can make my own decisions.” Cash turned his head and pointed a finger at the dash. “Can you hear me, Adams? Talk to me.”
The EMT laughed. “I hear you, buddy. You’re just not in charge right now. I don’t like the idea, but I agree, we need to get you down the mountain.”
“Idiot,” Cash muttered, glaring at June. “You two figure this out and let me know what we’re doing when you’ve decided.”
“The martyr act doesn’t become you. June, are you still there? Can you help me assess his condition first?” He walked her through a list of questions and she poked and prodded Cash’s body. She was aware of his gaze on her as she followed the EMT’s directions. After a few minutes, Rick left them on hold while he checked with a doctor at the hospital.
“Sorry if I hurt you.” June shifted on her feet feeling the chill through her jeans.
Cash studied her. “You’re freezing. Why don’t you climb in and shut the door?”
“I don’t want to scramble over you and the other door is blocked by a tree.” She nodded toward the passenger side.
Cash followed her gaze, shaking his head when he saw the damage. “Crap, I liked this truck.”
“Yeah, but you’ll get to go truck shopping when you’re better. Don’t men love that?” June watched his eyes droop and shook his arm. “You need to stay awake.”
“Your professional opinion, lawyer?”
She wanted to slap him, but laughed instead. “I guess so.” She looked into his eyes and saw the humor dancing. Even hurt, the guy could get to her.
“Hey, guys? Hate to interrupt this sweet moment, but the doc agrees you need to get him down here ASAP. I’ve got a van. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes?”
June thought for a minute. “Give us forty-five. I’ve got to run back to the cabin and get the snowmobile and a sled.”
Rick paused. “Look, I’ve got another call coming in and I’ve got to get someone to cover dispatch. We’ll see you then.”
The OnStar woman came back on the line. “What else can I do to help?”
“Can you keep talking to him until I get back? Ten, fifteen minutes tops? He needs to stay conscious.”
“No problem. Mr. Dillon, can you hear me?” The voice perked up.
He blinked his eyes. June watched as he tried to sit up then winced, the pain pushing him back down into his seat. “You’re going to drag me down the hill?”
“Got a better idea?” She waited as he glanced around the cab of the truck.
“Mr. Dillon, can you talk to me?” the voice asked.
Cash closed his eyes. Then he said, “Hold on a second.” This time he pulled himself up, placing his hands on the steering wheel for support. June watched his grip tightened on the leather cover and wondered if it would hold. “Go get the sled. I’ll stay here with the voice.”
A chuckle came over the speaker. “Amy. The voice’s name is Amy.”
June pulled Cash’s coat closed, zipping it up. “You got a blanket in here?” She leaned over and peeked in the truck’s back seat.
“Under this side. There’s a bottle of water there too. Bring it up for me.” June found the items and covered his legs with the blanket.
“I’ll be back soon. Just stay awake.” June patted his arm, immediately feeling embarrassed at the action. Cash on the other hand, hadn’t seemed to notice the touch.
“So, Amy, how long have you worked in your job?” Cash smiled at June as she gently shut the door. She looked under the truck and sniffed. No gas leak. Ten minutes tops and she’d be back here to get him out of the wreck.
June clicked back on the snowshoes and started moving as fast as she could on the clumsy footwear. Too bad she’d ignored her grandmother’s suggestions to learn to use the things. Instead, she’d taken up skiing, perfect for the mountain weather, but not very practical going uphill. Her body shook as she trudged toward the cabin. Whether from the cold or the exertion, she couldn’t tell.
Her trek finished, she reached the cabin where her grandmother waited at the door.
“What happened?” she asked, handing June a cup of coffee.
June took the hot mug, the warmth seeping into the frozen fingers as she wrapped both hands around the cup. She drank half of the warm brew before she talked. Shivering, she slipped off her coat and sat on the bench her grandmother kept in the foyer. Finally trusting her voice, she spoke. “It’s bad. I’m taking him down the mountain where the ambulance may be able to reach us.” She glanced at her grandmother wanting to reach out but knowing her hands were still too cold. “Are you going to be okay for a while? It might be a day or so before I can get back. The roads are pretty slick.”
Her grandmother headed to the kitchen without another word. June switched to a heavier coat, hat, and scarf. Then she opened the linen closet and grabbed a couple of the blankets her mother had sent the last time she’d visited the reservation. The thick cloth would help keep the snow and wet off Cash as they sped down the mountain. She was lacing up dry boots when her grandmother appeared with a backpack.
“Some things you might need. Protein bars, jerky, bottled water. I put a pint of whiskey in case that boy’s in pain. Hug the mountain on your way down. Sometimes the banks can appear solid when they’re really only packed snow. Don’t worry about someone coming up the mountain. Besides the emergency trucks, no one would be stupid enough to try.” Her grandmother smoothed a wayward lock from June’s face. “I’ve been snowed in for months before. I have everything I need. A few days isn’t going to be a problem.”
The buzzer on the oven went off and a smile curved on her grandmother’s face. “I guess I get to enjoy the pie myself.”
“Leave me a piece. I’ll be back sooner than you think.” June pulled the small fragile woman into a hug. “Love you, Grandma.”
“Love you, too.” Her grandmother gave her a hard squeeze then pushed her away, her steel blue eyes narrowing on June. “You can do this. Go save that man. He needs you.”
June nodded. Swallowing her fear, she went to the snowmobile shed. Thank God, she’d gone out playing a few days ago because then she’d had to work to get the machine to start. Today, she filled the tank, hooked the sled onto the back, and strapped the supplies on the sled.
Pulling out onto the snow packed driveway, she played with the feel of the sled behind the machine. With Cash strapped to the back, the
weight would change the feel, but if she could handle the snowmobile now, she should be fine for the trip down.
The roar of the engine blocked out any other thoughts than getting to Cash.
“So do you have kids?” the voice now known as Amy asked, apparently trying to keep him talking. Instead, he was wallowing in self-pity. He’d blown his vacation. There would be no Mexican resort tonight or anytime soon. No gallons of frozen anything to sip while his white-on-white body relaxed on the beach, soaking up the sun. He would have burned the first day, even now, he could feel the itch of the sunburn on his arms. He didn’t care; he’d wanted to go somewhere that didn’t remind him on a daily basis how alone he felt. He craved the fantasy of having that one person to talk to – who would be waiting for him to come home.
June’s face popped into his mind. Before when he had a few too many beers watching whatever game was on television, it had been a different face. Lizzie with her son, JR, made a premade family. What he’d thought he wanted not so long ago. At least before she’d dumped him. While he pondered the change, the voice roused him from his musing.
“Cash? You need to keep talking. Do you have kids?” This time Amy sounded concerned, not friendly and chatty like she had been since June had run off toward the house.
Cash took a long breath in, pushing past the shooting pain. He had to have cracked a rib. He’d done the same thing in college when the practice linebacker thought he’d be funny and full tackled him right before a rival game. He’d still played that afternoon, the ribs wrapped tight and his coach watching him carefully. Right now, Amy sounded more and more like Coach Tillus.
“No kids. I guess I’ve been too busy to find the one.” Cash thought about his life since he’d moved back to Shawnee. Hours filled with people, yes, but mostly customers and employees. He had tons of friends, but most of the people he hung with now had wives and babies, so he hadn’t been out for a guys’ night for months. “A lot of my friends have rug rats, so I’m a great fake uncle.”
She chuckled. “Play with them, then send them home. Best of both worlds I guess.”
