No signal.
Shit.
She threw the phone down on the passenger seat. Maybe she could walk back to the gas station and get some help. Maybe she’d freeze to death on the way. Natalie glanced to her left. Or maybe she could walk up to the Malone ranch to see if anyone was home.
****
By the time Flynn and Emily exited the grocery store, it was snowing hard. Emily stuck her tongue out and let some flakes drop onto her tongue. She’d loved doing that since she was five.
They loaded everything into the back of the truck. Flynn got in and opened the door for Emily. He turned on the ignition and cranked up the heat. Emily leaned forward and rubbed her hands together in front of the vent as he pulled out of the store lot and made his way back to the main road.
“I want to learn how to knit so I can make baby clothes for Shane and Lacey’s baby,” said Emily.
“Count me out for that one. I think I remember your gran knitting when I was young, so you might want to ask her for some lessons.”
He smiled. When his sister-in-law had announced that she was pregnant, Emily had been more excited by it than the parents to be.
“I’m going to be a cousin,” he remembered Emily shouting all the way home.
He glanced over at her. She’d unwrapped one of the candy bars he’d bought in the supermarket and had already consumed half of it.
“Hey, when did you pull that out of the grocery bag?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, and now you probably won’t want much supper.”
He turned onto the road leading down the ranch. The snow was getting heavier and thicker so he switched the windshield wiper’s speed to high. Up ahead he caught the glimpse of what looked like a mid-sized car, blue if his eyesight was correct, sitting in the ditch.
“Looks like someone had a spin out on the slippery road,” said Flynn slowing the truck as they approached. As they got closer, he could see a woman standing by the front left headlight. “I think someone might need our help.” He pulled over behind the car and put the truck into park. “You stay here while I go see what I can do for this lady.”
Flynn jumped out of the truck, pulled his jacket collar up and made his way toward the woman. As she turned, his heart skipped a beat. Shit, she was beautiful. Snow had already frosted her long dark hair and some had even fallen on her eyelashes. Something about her seemed vaguely familiar, but he knew he’d never met her before. Maybe she’d been in one of his dreams.
“Can I offer any help?” he asked.
“I’m not used to driving in snow, and I hit the brakes when a deer ran out in front of me. The car is in too deep for me to get it out.”
“Don’t worry, it happens all the time. That’s my ranch up on that road. I can go get a rope and attach it my truck and pull you out. However, I suggest you don’t wait here because it’s cold and someone could swerve and hit you. You feel comfortable about riding up to the ranch with me and my daughter?”
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“No trouble at all. I’d be glad to help you.”
She smiled. She was so pretty.
“I’ll just grab my purse.”
He waited until she reached into the car and then slung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward him.
“My name’s Flynn Malone.” He stuck out his hand to her. She removed her glove and stuck her hand into his. Soft skin…lovely skin. Maybe he was dreaming.
“Natalie Stevens.”
He put his hand on the small of her back and encouraged her to head toward his truck. He opened the passenger door. “Emily, would you scoot over so this lady can ride up to the ranch with us.”
Emily, eating yet another candy bar, moved to the middle of the truck. He held Natalie’s arm as she climbed inside. Flynn closed the door and then ran around to the driver’s side and got in.
“This is my daughter, Emily. Emily, this is Natalie.”
“Hi Natalie, it’s nice to meet you.”
Chapter Four
How she’d managed to get out of his truck she didn’t know. Now her feet wouldn’t quite move. It had been one shock after another. Sliding off the road into the ditch. Flynn Malone stopping to help her. She’d expected him to be a rugged old man. She didn’t know why she’d assumed that, but he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Her heart had skipped a beat when he’d shaken her hand. She stomach hadn’t done flips like that since she’d first met Emily’s father.
And Emily.
While it had been a total shock to see her daughter in the flesh, she hadn’t quite expected to see a teenager with Down syndrome. She swallowed. The recollection of her pregnancy was rushing at her so fast now.