Rescuing the Texan's Heart

by Mindy Obenhaus

  * * *

  Taryn reached for the cell phone on her nightstand and pressed a button to illuminate the screen: 6:55. Later than she expected.

  Scout snored under the covers, pressed against the small of Taryn’s back, where she’d been most of the night.

  At least one of them had slept. Whether her eyes were closed or open, all Taryn could see was Cash. And the look on his face when she’d turned on him last night.

  Ugh! What had she been thinking?

  She’d been thinking about Brian, that’s what. Suddenly she was eighteen again, and very foolish.

  Rolling over, she adjusted the down comforter and tugged Scout against her chest.

  The dog groaned.

  Taryn responded with a sigh of her own. “Scout, your mommy is losing her mind.”

  Cash was not Brian. His attempted kiss was born of nothing more than gratitude. He was simply thanking her for the fun they’d had together.

  Yet she’d made him out to be a bad guy. Ruining what had been an otherwise wonderful evening. It had been a long time since she’d felt so...wanted. Pretty. Vulnerable. Like maybe someone could love her.

  Her dog stretched and licked Taryn’s face.

  She owed Cash another apology. But he was on his way back to Dallas.

  And probably thinking she was a crazy woman.

  Her pager beeped, interrupting her thoughts.

  Tossing the comforter aside, she snagged the device as she sat up.

  Vehicle off road near Red Mountain Pass. Meet at barn.

  Familiar with the routine, she dressed quickly. Members of Ouray Mountain Rescue were available 24/7 for call-outs that ranged from high-and low-angle rescues, to swift water emergencies, and searches.

  Pausing at the window, she opened the blinds. Even though the sun wouldn’t top the peaks of the Amphitheater for another hour and a half, the thick clouds reflected off the fresh snow, illuminating everything. With this much snow in town, no telling how bad it was in the mountains.

  She turned to grab her pack. Too bad this hadn’t come a day or two earlier. Cash would have loved it.

  Her heart dropped. Cash. He’d have driven over Red Mountain Pass.

  She looked back to the window, to the house next door. The rented SUV was gone.

  Oh, dear Lord, please let Cash be okay.

  * * *

  Taryn stared out the window of the rescue truck, watching the snow grow deeper and deeper. All the while, her heart pounded faster. She took a deep breath, tried to level out her pulse. She was a professional. What were the odds that Cash was involved in this accident anyway?

  He’s from Dallas. He doesn’t know how to drive in this kind of weather.

  Red-and-white lights flashed through the cloudy haze as they approached the scene.

  “Looks like Silverton Fire beat us.” Nolan Dickerson, the team captain, eased the truck to the side of the road.

  Taryn exited and hurried across the snowy road to survey the wreckage. A white SUV lay at the bottom of the canyon. Not a blue SUV like the one Cash had driven.

  While her anxiety eased, there were people who still needed their help.

  She joined Nolan and the other dozen or so team members as they talked with one of the firefighters.

  “There’s a husband and wife and a couple kids. Not sure the extent of the injuries. A passerby saw the whole thing and stopped to help. Good thing, too. A white vehicle like that might not have been spotted for days.”

  Passerby?

  “Yeah, especially now that they’ve closed the pass.” Nolan scanned the surrounding peaks, each heavy with snow. “From the looks of things, no one will be coming through here for a few days.”

  “You said someone stopped to help?” She eyed the firefighter.

  “Some fella on his way to Durango. I think he’s still down there.” He pointed to the wreckage, but it was too far away and with the snow still falling, she couldn’t tell who was who.

  Stepping away from the group, she rounded the fire truck and stopped.

  How did she know?

  Because Cash is a good guy.

  His blue SUV sat covered with snow, red taillights flashing in warning.

  She hurried back to the group as Nolan made assignments. “I’ll go down.”

  Everyone looked at her.

  “He said there are kids, right?” Cash wasn’t the only one she had a soft spot for. “You know I can get down there faster than anyone.”

  “All right,” said Nolan. “Matt, you go, too.”

  They donned helmets, vests and harnesses and each grabbed a hefty length of rope. As soon as everything was secured, they began their descent.

  * * *

  Cash had never been so cold in his entire life. Snow had come up to his hips in places. He had no hat and his jacket definitely wasn’t made for anything below freezing. Still, he couldn’t leave this poor family until he knew they would be okay.

  The father, who’d been driving the vehicle, was unconscious when Cash first made it to them, blood seeping from a small wound on the man’s forehead. The woman in the passenger seat had teetered between dazed and completely freaked out, while the two kids had cried in the backseat. Thankfully, both had been strapped in their car seats.

  Through sometimes chattering teeth, Cash had done his best to talk to them, keep them calm and assess the situation. What he couldn’t do, though, was get to them. The windows, while cracked, were still intact and none of the doors would budge. It was going to take the Jaws of Life to get these folks out.

  “Mountain Rescue’s here.” The EMT who had joined him not more than ten minutes ago nodded toward the road.

  Mountain Rescue? “Would that be Ouray Mountain Rescue?”

  “Only one I know of.”

  That meant Taryn would likely be with them. A wave of both apprehension and excitement ran through him.

  “We won’t know for sure until we get them out—” the EMT stepped closer, keeping his voice low “—but these are some lucky folks. I wasn’t sure what we’d find.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Cash had prayed the entire way that no one would be seriously injured. Or worse. Once the father came to, though, Cash felt better about things.

  “Here they come.” The EMT nodded behind Cash.

  The rattle of carabiners grew louder as the two helmeted people wearing red jackets pushed their way through the snow. One much shorter than the other. With extraordinary blue eyes.

  His heart thundered. A part of him was ecstatic to see her, while the rest of him filled with dread.

  Her gaze bore into him, yet instead of the playfulness he’d grown accustomed to seeing, she was strictly business. Nothing that indicated she was mad at him. Was she surprised to see him? Did she even care?

  “We’re going to need an extraction team,” said the EMT. “These doors ain’t budging.”

  “How are the kids?” Taryn looked from the EMT to Cash.

  “Scared,” said Cash.

  “I can imagine.” She moved to the vehicle. “Matt, radio topside. Tell them what we need.”

  “Their names are Bobby and Jenny,” Cash told her.

  She smiled back. “Thanks.”

  “You the one who stopped to help?” Taryn’s counterpart stood in front of him.

  “I think anybody would have done the same thing.”

  “Oh, you’d be surprised.” The fellow held out a gloved hand. “Thanks, man.”

  Over the next several minutes, more people descended into the ravine, carrying basket gurneys and various other equipment.

  Cash was given a harness and instructed which rope to use for his ascent. If he thought he was cold before, now he was downright frozen. His muscles were weak and his legs refused to co
operate at times. But with the help of those on the other end of his line, he made it and was greeted with a blanket and some hot coffee.

  “That your SUV?” Another member of the rescue team pointed to his snow-covered rental.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thing’s probably stone cold by now. You look like you could use someplace warm.”

  “I think you’re right.” Cash couldn’t stop shaking.

  “I’m Nolan Dickerson.” The man escorted him to the rescue truck.

  “C-Cash Coble.”

  “You did a good thing today, Cash.” Nolan opened the door and helped Cash inside the cab. “If it weren’t for you, we might not have found those folks.”

  Nolan held up a metal thermos. “There’s plenty more coffee in here, so help yourself.” He started to close the door.

  “I was on my way to Durango. I’m supposed to catch a flight back to Dallas.”

  “Afraid you won’t make it, Cash. They’ve closed the pass.”

  “Closed? When will it be open?”

  “Three days. Maybe more.” Nolan’s gaze skimmed the sky. “Depends on Mother Nature.”

  Sitting in the rescue truck, Cash let his head drop against the headrest. Three days? Dad was not going to be happy.

  Cash stared out the window. He’d definitely gotten his wish for snow. Though it didn’t look like he’d be enjoying any of it with Taryn.

  * * *

  Taryn watched the ambulance pull away, grateful that everyone involved in the crash had only minor injuries. Had Cash not witnessed the accident and taken action, she had no doubt this would have ended as a recovery instead of a rescue. And she was a sucker for happy endings.

  She was on her way back to the rescue truck when the door opened and Cash emerged.

  A giant lump formed in her throat.

  His face and ears were still red, though not as bright as they’d been before. But against that blond hair... He looked a little wobbly, too, reaching for the door to steady himself.

  “You gonna be okay to drive there, Cash?” Nolan’s brow knit with concern.

  Concern she shared. Cash wasn’t used to this kind of cold. Nor was he dressed for it. Yet he’d spent who knows how long down there, watching over total strangers. Anyone would have been spent.

  “I’ll drive him.”

  Nolan looked at her with a smirk.

  “He’s Art Jenkins’s grandson. He’s staying right next door to me.”

  “Ah.” Nolan’s gaze went to Cash. “Well, I’m sure your grandfather will be very proud of what you did today.”

  Silverton Fire pulled away from the scene at the same time Mountain Rescue headed the opposite direction. The snow was still coming down and Taryn found herself having to hold on to Cash as they made their way to his rental.

  “The cold can really zap your strength.”

  “That’s for sure.” He smiled weakly. “I feel like a wet noodle.”

  “You were the one who wanted to see snow. Guess you got your wish.” She held out her hand. “Keys?”

  “Hmm? Oh.” He dug into the pocket of his jeans and handed them over.

  Emotions had run high today, as they did for any rescue. But they usually didn’t involve someone who had the potential to steal her heart. Standing here now, looking at Cash, fear, anger, relief and something she wasn’t even going to try to name blended into one overwhelming reaction.

  “What were you thinking, attempting to drive to Durango?” She shoved him against the side of the SUV, emotions getting the best of her. “You know nothing about driving in weather like this.” She whacked his arm. “You’re lucky it wasn’t you who went over that cliff.” Tears welled in her eyes as she poked her finger into his chest.

  Then, before she could stop herself, she thrust her arms around his waist and fell into his embrace. He smelled like coffee and hard work. And despite the cold, he was warm.

  With a deep breath, she pulled herself together and backed away.

  His green eyes searched hers. “What was that for?”

  “For being a hero.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I tried, Dad, but they’re saying the pass will be closed for two to three days.” Cash scrubbed a hand over his face and stared out the kitchen window at a sea of white. He couldn’t believe all that had transpired this morning. And while Warren Coble may be used to getting his way, even he couldn’t undo the forces of nature.

  “I hate winter. Slows down progress.” His father’s exaggerated sigh crackled through the line.

  “Things’ll be fine.” Cash moved toward the coffeepot for another cup. “I’ve got my phone and laptop, so I can work from here.”

  “What about the factory?”

  Cash rarely set foot in the factory. Manufacturing was Dad’s territory. “You’ll be fine.”

  Another sigh. “I’m getting too old for this.” He could imagine his dad scratching a hand through his neatly combed salt-and-pepper hair.

  “No, you’re not.” Leaning against the counter, he cradled the warm mug in one hand. “So we have to change things up a bit. Change can be good, you know.”

  “Since when?”

  The man was impossible.

  “I never should have let your mother talk me into letting you go.”

  If there was one opponent his father couldn’t stand against, it was Cash’s mother. Elise Coble knew her husband inside and out. The woman could talk him into making a bonfire in hundred-degree temperatures.

  “Well, we can’t change things now, so we’ll just have to go with the flow. I’ll get back there just as soon as I can.”

  “I think I’ll have Millie check flights out of Montrose first thing tomorrow. See if we can get you home a little sooner.”

  Cash shook his head. Dad’s administrative assistant wielded almost as much power over Dad as Cash’s mother. “All right, Dad. Talk to you later.”

  He tucked the phone into his pocket and took another sip of coffee, relieved to have that out of the way. Now maybe he could think about doing some work. With access to the Purcells’ Wi-Fi, he could set up a makeshift office at the house.

  Strolling into what had once been the dining portion of the living/dining room combo, he eyed the drop-leaf table tucked against the wall. Formal dinners had become a thing of the past after his grandmother passed away.

  A scraping noise drew his attention to the window just beyond the table. He shoved the sheer panel aside to investigate. The snow had stopped, but the weight had a large branch bowing across the driveway.

  “It’s that blasted pine limb rubbing against the house.” Gramps looked away from the basketball game on TV. “Happens every time we get a lot of snow. I keep forgetting to trim it.”

  “I’ll take care of it, Gramps.” He continued into the living room. “It’ll give me something to do tomorrow.”

  “I guess your father’s not too pleased with the situation.”

  “Of course not.” Cash steadied his mug as he eased into his grandmother’s old rocker recliner on the other side of the fireplace. “I mean, I’m not thrilled about it, either, but what am I supposed to do?” He started to take a sip then realized what he’d said. “No offense, Gramps.”

  “None taken. But let me ask you this—” Gramps muted the television “—why is it so important to get back? I mean, what’s a couple more days?” His green eyes held Cash’s as he sipped his own drink.

  “Because...it’s work. It’s what I do. People rely on me to be there.”

  “You ever hear the expression all work and no—”

  “Play...yeah, I’ve heard it.” He set his cup on the small side table. “More times than I care to.”

  “Ever think there might be something to it?” His grandfather’s scrutiny w
as a little unnerving. “You know, God often speaks to us in repetition. Especially when we have a hard time hearing.”

  “What are you saying, Gramps?”

  “I’m saying I don’t believe in coincidence. I think the good Lord’s keeping you here for a reason.” The old man dropped his footrest.

  “What reason?”

  “Maybe you work too hard.” His grandfather leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “When was the last time you went to church?”

  “Christmas.”

  “And before that?”

  Cash struggled to remember. “Easter?”

  Wow. When did that happen? He knew he’d quit going every Sunday, needing to work instead. But he didn’t think his visits had grown that few and far between. “I still tithe.”

  “Tithing isn’t just about money, Cash.” His grandfather leaned back again, hands folded across his belly. “It’s about our time, too. Giving back to God. Since you’re not giving, maybe He decided you needed a little nudge.”

  “I’ve been here since Thursday.”

  “True. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. But—” he held up a crooked finger “—and I want you to answer this honestly, not what you think I want to hear—where has your focus been?”

  Man, did he feel like a jerk. “On work.”

  Gramps winked. “Maybe not a hundred percent.” He poked a thumb toward the window. “I believe that little filly next door managed to steal some of your focus.”

  Thoughts of ice climbing and their time at the wedding reception had Cash unable to hide his grin. “She’s something special, all right.” Perplexing, too. After reading him the riot act both last night and on the mountain...she hugged him. Then remained quiet the entire ride home. And once they made it to the house, she seemed eager to disappear next door.

  Gramps grew serious again. “Tell me, Cash, how is your relationship with the Lord?”

  He retrieved his mug and sipped the now-lukewarm brew while he gave some thought to the question. He would like to think he was a good Christian, but when was the last time he’d really talked to God or sought His guidance?

  Today, of course, when the situation was completely out of his hands. But aside from that...?