Читать книгу A Love Worth Waiting For - Jillian Hart - Страница 11

Knowing the flooded creek was powerful enough to knock a man down and keep him there, Julie grabbed the rope from the saddle and ran. She could feel her lungs straining—they were still tight—and air gasped in and out of her throat, but she pushed harder.

She wasn’t about to let him drown.

The water pulled at her shoes as she secured the rope to a fence post. Her fingers felt clumsy as she tested the knot, but it held. The creek licked at the rope, sucking it out of her hands. She wrestled it back, held tight and leaped into the rising creek.

The shock of the water turned her skin to ice. Lightning flared so close she could feel the crackle in the air. Thunder crashed, rattling her very bones. Above the hammering hail, she heard the thin wail of a frightened child.

“It’s okay, Hailey,” she called to the little girl, but the wind snatched her words and tore them apart.

“Where is he?” The current pushed like a bulldozer at her ankles, then her knees. He’d fallen in right here. Where was he? What if she couldn’t find him? What if the current had swept him downstream? Lord, please help me find him….

“Toss me the rope!” a deep voice boomed above the roaring storm. “I can get across, I know it.”

Julie stumbled. Thank God! There he was, climbing out of the water onto a snagged stump in the middle of the creek. The powerful current buckled around him. He looked muddy, soaking wet and blood oozed from a cut on his forehead, but from where she stood, he looked invincible.

Since she wasn’t a blue-ribbon roper for nothing, she tossed the line, watching it uncoil as it sailed through the air and into the man’s outstretched hand.

“Good throw!” he shouted. “Stay there where it’s safe.”

One thing about this stranger was really starting to annoy her. He was bossy, and she wasn’t staying anywhere. “If Hailey’s hurt, you’ll need my help.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. Through the driving wind and thick hail, she could see surprise flash in his dark eyes.

Handsome guy. She didn’t get the chance to think on that any further because the current knocked her feet out from under her. The rope held her as she kicked her way across the swollen creek. She surfaced just in time to see the big man kneel on the ground beside the fallen child.

“Are you all right, little girl?” His voice was kind, and it was amazing to watch how calm he was, how steady. “I’m Noah. What’s your name?”

“H-Hailey,” the child sobbed.

Julie secured the rope and dropped to the girl’s other side. “Hi, there, cutie. What are you doing out here in the storm?”

“Miss Renton!” Hailey flew off the ground, burrowing into Julie’s middle. “I wasn’t supposed to be riding Bandit, but I didn’t know it was gonna storm. Honest. He fell real hard. Is he hurt?”

“He looks perfectly fine to me.” Julie soothed the little girl who’d been in her kindergarten class two years ago.

“Are you hurt anywhere, Hailey?” The man— Noah—leaned close, dripping mud and creek water on Julie’s sleeve. “Tell me what hurts.”

She cried. “My arm.”

“Sounds like it’s pretty bad.” He leaned close, and even though he’d been at the bottom of a creek, he smelled wonderful—like an expensive aftershave, spice and molasses rich. “Let me take a look.”

“Are you a doctor?” Hailey sniffled.

“No, but I broke my wrist once, so I consider myself an authority.” Noah gently cradled Hailey’s thin forearm and pushed her sleeve up over her elbow.

“Ow,” she cried again.

“That could be a break. Look at the swelling.” Noah’s eyes met Julie’s and there was concern in them. “It would be best if we can stabilize it.”

“Just what I was going to say. We can use small branches from one of the cottonwoods.” Julie cradled the girl in her lap, protecting her from the wind and hail. “Do you hurt anywhere else, Hailey?”

“Nope.” She snuggled closer, whining a little in pain.

“Good. We’ll get you home soon, I promise.”

“Here.” Noah reappeared with two fairly straight branches, stout-looking enough to stabilize Hailey’s arm.

They worked together, as the wind strengthened and the temperature dipped. The hail turned to ice. Freezing wherever it fell, it turned the landscape to a white wintry world.

“Here, give her to me.” Noah took the child in his arms as easily as if she were a doll, and tucked her beneath his jacket. Snug against his chest, at least Hailey would be as warm as possible.

The creek had risen to a dangerous level. There was no way to go around, so they went straight through. Noah held on to the rope, and Julie helped him keep Hailey out of the water. Julie fell once and Noah slipped, but the taut line kept them both upright. Exhausted, they made it to the opposite bank.

“Is there a hospital nearby?” Noah shouted to be heard over the fierce storm. “She’s cold. Too cold.”

“Her grandmother lives just up the road. We’ll take her there.” Julie slipped and slid through the icy field until the pavement was safely under their feet.

She took one look at the sedan off to the side of the road, taillights flashing eerily through the thick white curtain of snow. “Let’s get her into my truck. I’ve got four-wheel drive.”

“Something tells me we might need it.” Noah cradled the child out of the wind.

Julie yanked open the door, threw the seat back to grab a couple blankets stashed there.

“You get the truck started.” He stole the blankets from her. “We’ve got to get her warm.”

That was what she was about to do, but she didn’t waste time arguing. She ducked her head into the wind, scrambled across the snow and ice to the driver’s side, and turned the key in the ignition. The engine leaped to life and tepid air puffed out of the vents. Julie turned the heater on high. At least the engine hadn’t cooled off completely—she was thankful for that.

Hailey’s tears echoed in the cab. Wrapped in two blankets, shivering in Noah’s strong arms, she looked small and vulnerable. But safe.

Julie smoothed the girl’s tangled curls. “You’re going to be warm soon, I promise.”

“Want my d-daddy.”

“We’ll get you to him, I promise.” Julie tugged the cell phone from her purse and tried dialing. “With the luck I’ve been having, I should have known this wouldn’t work. It’s the storm. I’ve got to scrape the windshield—”

She got out of the truck and slammed the door shut, not needing his instruction. Cold had settled like pain in her midsection and, being wet to the skin, she actually couldn’t get much colder. As she dug the scraper into the stubborn frozen mess on her windshield, she fought the driving ice with each swipe. Her hands were numb and she kept working until she’d pried the windshield wipers free.

The truck was mildly warm, but she couldn’t feel the heat or her feet as she pushed in the clutch. “Hailey, how are you doing?”

“Still want my d-daddy.”

“We’ll find him for you, don’t you worry.” With a prayer on her lips, Julie backed onto the road. She couldn’t see much, but there were no headlights coming her way.

Everything she’d fretted over and worried about today was insignificant now as she clenched her teeth to keep them from rattling. She wrapped her numb fingers around the steering wheel and peered through the veil of white hiding the road from her sight.

All that mattered was getting Hailey home.

Over the rasp of the wipers on the windshield and the whir of the heater, Noah’s low, melted-chocolate voice seemed to drive away the fury of the storm. He was talking to Hailey, assuring her that her horse would be all right, and asking her questions about the animal. What was his name? How old was he? Was he a good horse?

Hailey answered quietly in a trembling voice. As the minutes passed and warmth filled the cab, the girl stopped shaking and climbed onto the seat between them. She told how she’d been racing Bandit for home to beat the lightning, but he got real scared.

Out of the corner of her eye, Julie couldn’t help watching the big man who seemed to fill up half the cab. He had to be well over six foot, by the way his knees were bent to keep from hitting the glove box. It had been something how he’d taken care of Hailey.

“I had a pony once, too,” Noah told the girl. “I rode him to play polo.”

“Polo?” Julie had to question him on that. “No respectable Montanan plays polo. Rides broncos, maybe, ropes calf, definitely. But polo?”

“I was only a kid at the time, so don’t hold it against me. Now I like baseball. Do Montanans like baseball?”

“What kind of question is that?” She nodded toward the minor league cap on the dash. “Okay, so I won’t toss you out on your ear, but only if you never mention polo again.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Miss Renton.” He winked at her.

With his hair wet and slicked away from his face, and his jacket clinging to every contour of his remarkable chest, he looked like a dream come true.

He’s trouble, Julie. Big-time, one-hundred-percent trouble. A sensible woman would keep the Continental Divide between them—and that’s exactly what she was going to do.

As soon as she got Hailey home.

Heaven was kind to her, because she spotted the Coreys’ driveway and eased off the road. The tires churned up the steep lane. No sooner had she slid to a stop in front of the carport, there was Mrs. Corey, arms outstretched, taking Hailey from Noah’s arms.

“I can’t believe you found her. Praise be, Julie, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Not me. I just did the driving.” Julie gestured toward the strong man, holding the back door open for Mrs. Corey. “Noah here is the hero. He saw Hailey fall from her horse and stopped to help.”

“No! Say you didn’t.” Mrs. Corey paled as she set Hailey down on the chair in front of the pellet stove and turned to stare at the handsome stranger. “Aren’t you Noah? Of course, I’ve heard of you. Goodness, won’t this be a story to tell. Hailey, my girl, you’re hurt.”

Noah knelt down, carefully taking the wet blankets. “We splinted her arm just to be safe. She should see a doctor.”

“I’ll call my nephew. He’s a medical doctor and he’s out looking for this little one, right along with the others. I’ve got to run and get hot water started. Julie, be a dear and call them on the radio.”

“Sure thing. I’ll send someone after Hailey’s horse, too.” As she left the room, she smoothed wet locks of hair out of her face and tucked them behind her ear.

A graceful gesture, and Noah couldn’t look away as she crossed the room. Her jeans and sweatshirt were baggy and stained with mud from the creek.

She was no fashion statement, but there was something that made him look and keep looking. She was simply beautiful. Not made up or artificial, but genuine.

“Miss Renton’s awful nice,” Hailey whispered to him while they were alone. “She got a broken heart.”

“A broken heart?”

“Cuz she had to give the ring back. A really pretty one. It sparkled and everything.”

Hmm. A broken engagement, huh? Noah couldn’t help turning his attention to Julie. She stood in the kitchen, visible above the countertops, where she was signing off on a handheld radio.

“Mrs. Corey, do you mind if I borrow your phone?” she called down the hall. “I’ve got to get a hold of Pastor Bill. I’m guessing that the party is canceled.”

“What? You can’t let the storm get in the way of an important celebration.” Mrs. Corey marched into view, with a warm blanket outstretched. “Look, the snow’s already stopping.”

Julie Renton. Noah thought about that. She had to be related to Harold Renton, the man he’d met today. The man ready to marry his grandmother and her money.

“I’ve got a bath running.” Mrs. Corey tapped into the room and scooped Hailey from the warm chair. “We’ll warm you up and get you into some clean clothes, and by that time the doctor will be here. Thank you again, Mr. Ashton.”

“No problem, ma’am.” He straightened. “Just make sure Hailey’s going to be all right.”

“She will be. Thanks to you and Julie.”

Julie appeared, frowning. “Pastor Bill has promised to clear the walkways right away. I guess the party is still on.”

“We’ll try to make it, dear. You drive safely now, and thanks again.” Mrs. Corey gave her a hug and, carrying Hailey deeper into the house, disappeared from sight.

“Did I hear her right?” Julie asked the minute they were in the truck. “Did she call you ‘Mr. Ashton’?”

“Some people have been known to do that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s my name.”

The gleam of the dash lights showed the shock on her face. “You’re Nora’s grandson, the billionaire.”

“True.”

“James Noah Ashton the Third.” She closed her mouth and put the truck into reverse. “What should have been my first clue? That you know how to play polo?”

“You’re Harold’s granddaughter, the one he kept calling his angel.”

“I’m no angel. Granddad is just—” She wiped the fog from the rear window and backed up. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s simply wonderful. And I’m telling you right here, if you don’t treat him with respect, you and I are going to have serious problems.”

“I’m not looking for trouble.” He did his best to sound innocent. “Not unless it’s already there.”

“What does that mean?” She jammed the gear-shift into first and held it while she eased out the clutch. “I knew it. This is what I’ve been afraid of all along. You’re going to cause trouble because you don’t think my decent, wonderful grandfather is good enough for a billionaire’s grandmother.”

“Where did you get an idea like that? I only want what’s best for Nanna.”

Only want what’s best? Julie didn’t like the sound of that. “Then you mean my granddad isn’t?”

“That’s not what I said. I’m trying to keep an open mind.”

“Trying?” She popped the truck out of gear on the steep slope, gripping the steering wheel so tightly, her knuckles were white. “Tell me you haven’t come to try to stop the wedding.”

“Why would I do that? I won’t break my grandmother’s heart unless there’s a good reason. If your grandfather is the decent man you say he is, there will be no problem. You have my word on that.”

Something troubled her, but Julie couldn’t figure out what as she applied steady pressure to the brakes and turned into the spin as the truck slid. “Then you’re here only to help celebrate this engagement? You’re not against it? You don’t dislike my granddad?”

“I came all the way from New York just to make my grandmother happy by attending her party. That’s all for now. You can’t blame me for wanting to protect her. Aside from my sister, Nanna’s the only family I have.”

“Then you understand how I feel about Granddad.” Julie’s blood pressure crept back down to normal, and she didn’t hold the wheel quite so hard as she pulled onto the main road. “All my life he’s been there for me. Supportive. Understanding. Someone I could depend on. I don’t intend to let anyone hurt him.”

“Then we agree.” The deep lines etched in Noah’s forehead vanished and he relaxed against the seat. “No mother or father?”

“No. Mom ran off when I was in eighth grade, and three years later my dad was thrown from a horse and killed.” She swallowed hard, but the pain after all those years was still there. Would always be.

“I’m sorry for your losses. That had to be tough.”

“With the Lord’s help and my granddad, I managed to get through all right.” She didn’t tell him how lonely she’d been, living with relatives, always feeling as if she didn’t belong. “Granddad’s guidance made all the difference in the world to me when I was growing up.”

“I know just how you feel.” He nodded once, his gaze pinning hers.

She felt an odd connection between them. Suddenly the truck’s passenger cab seemed to shrink and he was way too close. She was alone with one of the richest men in the country—probably on the planet—and he wasn’t at all what she expected or what she would have predicted him to be.

“There’s Nanna’s car. It’s a classic, she tells me. I think she’s fooling herself because a refrigerator would be warmer than that heater she has.”

Julie shifted into neutral and coasted to a stop. “If you want, I can give you a ride to her house. You’re as wet and cold as I am.”

“I’m tough.” He flashed her a megawatt smile. “I guess I’ll see you in a few. At the party. Save me a dance, will you?”

“Sure. No problem. I’ll fit you in between the corporate raider millionaire I’m seeing and my supermodel ex-boyfriend.”

He laughed, deep and rich, and there was something about him. He was like a flawless diamond and she was a cubic zirconia.

“Later.” He’d meant it as goodbye, but it sounded more like a promise.

The door slicked shut. The fog and ice on the windshield had completely cleared away, giving her a perfect view of Noah’s confident, powerful gait. As if the cold couldn’t touch him, he moved easily, without hurry, and stopped to fish the keys from his trouser pocket.

She waited until the car had started before she put her truck in gear. As she passed by, Noah rolled down his window and waved to her.

Her pulse skipped an entire beat. And why was that? she asked herself as she negotiated the icy road. What she felt was not attraction. She simply refused to be attracted. Hadn’t she learned her lesson? Hadn’t her heart been broken enough?

True love wasn’t God’s will for her, and she accepted it. Plain and simple.

As for that little skip in her vital signs, she’d simply forget it ever happened. She had a party to host. A grandfather to see married. For the first time in a year, she was standing on level ground. She was happy. She wasn’t going to mess that up by wishing for a man who was out of her league.