Soul Deep Read Free Page B

“What—?”
    “I’ve got you.” He crossed the highway and
went around the back of the truck to the passenger side door.
Somehow he managed to open it, then lifted her into the seat. “I’ll
be right back.”
    In another few minutes, he returned with her
suitcase and handbag, stowing the former in the back of the cab and
handing her the latter, before climbing into the driver’s seat.
“Where were you headed?”
    He started the engine, merged back onto the
highway.
    “I have a reservation for a week at the
Forest Creek Inn in Scarlet Springs. I wanted to see the
aspens.”
    “We can call them from the ranch, let them
know you’re okay. I know Bob and Kendra Jewell. They’ll be worried
about you.”
    “You’re... you’re taking me to the Cimarron?”
She’d thought he’d been offering to take her to Scarlet
Springs.
    “Scarlet Springs is a good two hours up the
road, and there’s more snow in the forecast. I can’t see it would
do you any good to be up there without your vehicle. How would you
get back? Besides, I doubt you’re up for the drive.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him
that she didn’t want to go to his damned ranch, but she knew he was
right. She wasn’t up for the drive, and if he did take her to
Scarlet Springs, she’d be stuck there.
    “We’ll get you fed, warm you up, and you can
get some sleep. I can’t imagine it was comfortable sitting in that
car for 24 hours.”
    Was this the same Jack West she’d met last
February?
    “Why are you being so nice?”
    He glanced over at her. “I know our first
meeting was confrontational, but let’s just say you don’t know me
very well if you think I’d let a woman who’s cold, hungry, tired,
and in obvious pain deal with this situation by herself. If that’s
not good enough for you, then know that my family owes you a great
debt. Javier Corbray is my son’s best friend. He dragged Nate out
of a burning vehicle in Afghanistan and saved his life. That makes
him and his bride, Laura Nilsson, family.”
    “I see.” Because that sounded cold and
ungrateful, she added, “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    The truck’s heater pumped delicious warm air
through the cab. Within minutes, she found herself fighting to stay
awake. It couldn’t have been more than a half an hour when they
turned off the highway and another five minutes after that when the
ranch house appeared in the distance. The sight of it roused her
from her stupor.
    It was even more beautiful than she’d
remembered. Its steep, multiple gables made her think of Swiss
chalets, while the stone and log construction was western. Several
stone chimneys rose up from the roof, dozens of windows stretching
skyward, making her think of European cathedrals, the glass
reflecting the mountains that surrounded them. The front door was
set back from a portico driveway that was accented by a colonnade
of polished logs. Off to the west stood several corrals and large
outbuildings, including what looked like a riding hall.
    “It’s beautiful.”
    Jack smiled. “My grandfather bought the land
to run cattle. My father took over from him. He expanded the
holdings, added horse breeding, built most of the outbuildings.
Theresa and I rebuilt the house.”
    Janet had just assumed the West family was
made of money and had bought the ranch recently—a mountain trophy
house. She hadn’t realized it was part of a true ranching legacy.
“Is Theresa your wife?”
    “Yes—or she was. She passed on about seven
years ago.”
    Janet didn’t miss the note of sadness in his
voice. She hadn’t meant to tread on sensitive ground. “I’m
sorry.”
    # # #
    Jack drove the pickup to the side of the
house and pulled into the five-car garage. By the time he’d climbed
out and reached the passenger side, Janet had already opened her
door and begun to climb down, her right foot reaching for the
concrete.
    He took her arm, steadied her. “I’ll bring in
your stuff. You just head inside