When It's Right(110)

“Yes, you can. You have t-­to. You can’t t-­take us b-­both. He’s freezing.”

She had no idea she was in just as bad shape as Justin. She loved him so much that she wasn’t thinking about herself. No changing her mind. Blake hated to do it, but he picked up Justin. Nothing but pure adrenaline and Justin’s condition got Gillian up on her feet. She swayed, but managed to pull herself upright. He admired her strength and determination.

Gillian carefully walked from the boulders to the smaller rocks. She tried desperately not to show Blake how hard it was just to stay on her feet. Each step took all her focus and willpower. She trudged through knee-­deep water to get to the shore. She faltered again and fell to her knees.

Blake held Justin in his arms, but managed to lean down, grip her arm, and haul her back up to her feet. “Wrap your arm around mine and lean on me. I’ll get you back to the horses.”

She did what he asked, but no way could she ride. Her body wanted to give out. She shook so bad her bones ached. Her teeth chattered so much she was surprised she didn’t chip a tooth.

She hadn’t realized how far downriver they’d gone. Once she was warm and had her wits about her, she’d realize just how lucky she and Justin were to be alive. At the moment, her mind wanted to shut off. All she could do was put one foot in front of the other and follow Blake where he led.

Feet from their picnic, unable to hold on any longer, she slid down Blake’s arm and body. He couldn’t grab her with Justin in his arms. She hit the ground hard and struggled to put her hands down to push herself back up. No use. Energy zapped, she lay in the soft grass, exhausted.

“Grab the blanket. Take Justin’s coat and shirt off. Wrap him in the blanket and take him home,” she pleaded.

Blake laid Justin beside her in the sun. “Sweetheart, you’re shaking so hard. I need to get you warm.”

“Justin,” she said weakly. “Please, Blake.”

He tore Justin’s wet clothes off him, grabbed the blanket, and dragged it out from under their picnic. The basket and food tumbled to the ground in a heaping mess. He wrapped Justin, hoping the little guy woke up.

Justin’s eyes fluttered open. “I’m so cold, Blake.”

“I know, buddy.” Blake scooped him up and held him in his arms, rubbing his hands over his back to try to warm him up and get his blood flowing.

“Take him, Blake.”

Blake leaned over with Justin in his arms and kissed Gillian’s forehead. “God, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave you.”

“Go.” Her eyelids fell closed.

He considered laying her over the saddle and tying her on, but he couldn’t take the chance that she’d fall off and get trampled. He wished he’d brought one of the two-­way radios. His cell phone didn’t work out here. Damn. No other options, he took Justin. He’d get him home and rush back to get Gillian. No way he lost her now.





Chapter 29



Gillian heard the horse coming, its snort and hooves walking across the meadow from the direction of the trees. Anxious for Blake to rescue her, she opened her eyes, wondering why he’d come from the wrong direction. Her hopes sank to dread when Ken dismounted beside her.

A jolt of adrenaline hit her. Trouble haunted her life and had come calling again. Ken smiled without a hint of kindness, his eyes filled with fury. She’d avoided that something stupid he was bound to do until now.

“I thought those two would never leave, though I thought Blake would be the one to jump in after the kid and they’d both wash away.”

“You pushed Justin in?”

“You got me fired, you fucking bitch. Blake’s made sure I can’t get a job anywhere. You owe me, and I came to collect.”

“I thought you left.” She tried to get up but fell back to the ground. She scooted away, but he took a menacing step closer. No way she’d get away this time. Ever since he’d left weeks ago, she’d stopped carrying the wrench around. Not that it would do her any good now, when she had the strength of a baby in her condition.

“I followed you out here. A touching moment, really. That’s a big-­ass fucking ring. You, on the other hand, look like a drowned cat. That river is colder than a witch’s tit. The wind blows any harder, you’ll freeze to death before Blake gets Justin back to the ranch. Guess it’s up to me to warm you up right.”

The relentless wind felt like razor blades slicing against her skin.

Ken leaned down, grabbed her arms, and pulled her up and over his shoulder. She dangled down his back as he walked to his horse and swung up in the saddle. He had to rein in the dancing mount as it shied from their combined weight and Ken’s awkward rise into the saddle. Mostly dead weight, she lay over his shoulder limp as a rag doll. He brought her down in front of him with a grunt, settling her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her to hold the reins and set out across the meadow toward the tree line with the horse going at a fast trot.