Soul Deep Read Free Page A

were out of the car, then slowly stood, her hip and pelvis
screaming after yesterday’s exertions and so many hours of
immobility. She couldn’t help the catch in her breath or keep
herself from wincing.
    “Easy does it. It’s deep and slick out here.”
He caught her arm at the elbow.
    The contact sent a strange awareness arcing
through her, and she jerked her arm away so abruptly that she
surprised even herself. She tried to think up an excuse. “I … I
need to grab my things.”
    “I’ll come back for them. Let’s just get you
to the truck. I’m concerned that you might be hypothermic.”
    She couldn’t argue with that. She’d been
forced to turn off her engine and her heater with it when she’d
realized that snow was blocking the tailpipe and she’d risk carbon
monoxide poisoning if she left it running. The night had been
bitter cold. “Okay.”
    He turned toward the embankment, put himself
on her left side. “Why don’t you wrap your arm around my shoulder?
Let’s try doing this three-legged-race style.”
    Cane in her right hand, she did as he’d
suggested, then drew back, contact sending that same uncomfortable
awareness through her. “Can’t you just throw down a rope and pull
me up?”
    “You want me to winch you up like a cow?” The
expression on his face told her that was not going to
happen. “Come on. I won’t bite. I promise.”
    “You did last time.”
    “Last time, you were playing federal agent on
my land. This time, you’re a stranded friend in need of my
help.”
    That was news. “When did we become
friends?”
    He glared down at her. “If you want me to
leave you here—”
    “No! Please. Thank you.” She put her arm
around his shoulder.
    He caught her around the waist. “Step off on
your right foot.”
    She took a step, felt herself begin to
slide.
    Strong arms steadied her, kept her from
slipping. “Don’t put weight on your left leg. Let me do the work on
this side.”
    She hopped, his arms holding her fast, his
boots gripping the snow, the embankment so steep that if she had
leaned out, she would almost have been able to touch it.
    Hop. Hop. Hop.
    Slowly, they moved upward. She didn’t know if
it was exhaustion or the cold or the altitude, but it was hard
work, her left foot dragging in the snow.
    Hop. Hop. Hop.
    “That’s it. We’re almost there.”
    “I have to stop.” Janet had been a track
champion in high school and college. She wasn’t used to feeling so
weak—or needing anyone’s help.
    He wasn’t breathing hard at all. “There’s no
rush. My truck won’t go anywhere without us.”
    She fought to catch her breath, her heartbeat
slowly returning to normal, the icy air burning her lungs. She
found herself leaning against him and jerked herself upright. “I’m
good to go.”
    Hop. Hop. Hop.
    Up they climbed, Jack somehow managing to
keep the two of them from slipping, his body moving with the
confidence and agility of a man who’d lived his entire life in the
outdoors.
    The low growl of a diesel engine and the
scrape of a plow on the road announced the approach of another CDOT
plow.
    “Oh, great.” Janet had heard that sound many
times during the night, each pass resulting in another wave of snow
that had buried her deeper. “Get ready.”
    “Shit.” In a single move, Jack pivoted to
stand in front of her, turned his back to the road, and drew her
against him, using his body to shield her from the brunt of the
snow and slush that rained down on them. “Damned idiots.”
    She looked up at him, her head filled with
his scent—pine, fresh air, a hint of spicy shaving cream.
“Thanks.”
    He took his place at her side again.
“Ready?”
    Hop. Hop. Hop. Hop. Hop.
    And then they were at the top of the
embankment, the road an icy ribbon between them and Jack’s
pickup.
    Again Janet had to stop. “Please … I just …
have to… catch my breath.”
    With no warning, Jack scooped her off her
feet and into his arms.
    She gave a little shriek.