His Hometown Cowgirl (17 page)

"Kelsey!"
Austin lunged for the door
handle, but Pete grabbed hold of his arm to still the motion.

"Don't!"
he said. "You might cause it
to collapse even further, and that would make it harder to
rescue--"

"Shh. Did you hear something?" Austin jerked
his arm free from Pete's grasp. "That! There it is again."

"What?" With all his might, Pete listened.
For a long moment, all he heard were the sounds of the receding
storm, the dripping of raindrops off the branches, the now gentle
breeze rustling the damp underbrush. Then he heard it, too . . . a
weak, soft voice calling from beneath the pile of muddy rubble that
had once been the dugout.

"Pete? Daddy? Somebody help me . . .
Please!"

Ranger whimpered and continued frantically
with his excavation, his white coat mud-splattered, his paws wet
and dirty from digging.

"Kelsey! Thank God!" Pete said. "Hold on,
honey. We're going to help you."

"Don't move, baby!" Austin called. "Pete and
I will get you out of there in no time. I don't know how, but we
will even if we have to dig with our bare hands."

"We won't have to do that. I have a shovel in
the chopper," Pete said. "We'll have to remove the debris
carefully, so as not to upset the balance of the tree and rafters
and dirt."

"Well hurry up, damn it." Austin said, his
voice gruff with worry. "God only knows how long she's been trapped
under there."

"Daddy, don't be mean to Pete," the tiny
thread of Kelsey's voice commanded. "Be nice."

Clamping his jaws together to keep from
smiling at Austin's stupefied gaze, Pete signaled to the older man
with a swift shake of his head. "He's just worried about you,
honey. A father's prerogative. Sit tight, okay?"

"As if I have a choice," she said, showing
some of the spirit Pete had always admired in her. "Hurry it up,
will you?"

Pete grinned at Austin. "Like father, like
daughter, huh?"

He didn't wait for a reply, but ran to the
helicopter for the lantern and shovel he kept with his emergency
supplies. The rain had passed, and the moon was playing hide and
seek with the remaining clouds. He hurried back and handed Austin
the lantern.

When Austin protested, Pete shrugged. "Sorry.
I only have one shovel. We'll have to take turns. Move over,
Ranger! It's my turn now."

Ranger backed away and stood panting, intent
on the excavation, muddy tail flying high.

Pete shoveled dirt out of the way, while
Austin talked to Kelsey, reporting on the progress. Austin took his
turn with the shovel, and Pete pointed the lantern to illuminate
the area.

After they'd removed a good portion of dirt
and debris, they finally reached a place where they hit empty
space. "I think we're there!" Austin said.

Pete squatted on his haunches. He peered into
the dark gaping hole, poking the handle of the shovel in as far as
it could reach. "Kelsey, honey. Can you see the handle of the
shovel? Can you see the light from the lantern?"

"Yes. I see it. Thank God!"

"How far are you from it?" Pete asked.

"Um . . . about four feet to the left. I . .
. I can't reach it."

Austin pushed Pete out of the way, and he
couldn't really blame the man for his impatience. "Sorry, son.
Father's prerogative, like you said. I'm sure you understand."
Austin went down on his knees and gazed through the hole. "Kelsey?
How bad are you hurt, baby?"

There was a moment of silence, as if she were
taking a mental assessment of her condition. "Not too badly, all
things considered. I can't move though. My leg's stuck under a
rafter."

Austin straightened and moved back, grabbing
the shovel again. "We'll just have to dig some more until we reach
her."

Pete unfolded his lanky frame from the
crouched position. Before he was on his feet, Ranger brushed past
him and crawled through the opening.
"Ranger, no!"

But it was too late. The Husky was already
out of sight.

****

Kelsey lay on the dirt floor of the dugout
surrounded by darkness, the only light a small round glow from
Pete's lantern outside. Just like the light at the end of the
tunnel, she thought drowsily. How long had she been trapped beneath
the wreckage?

Suddenly, the light disappeared, and she was
lying in pitch-black darkness. She could hear Pete's far-off voice
calling her name.

She blinked, but the black nothingness
threatened to swallow her up. She gulped back a sob.
Courage,
Kels.

"Pete!" she called, slamming a lid on her
fear. "Are you there? What happened?"

The touch of a cold wet nose on her cheek,
and she knew what had happened.
"Ranger! Good boy!"

The dog crawled closer and licked her face,
panting heavily, whimpering softly then barking. He kept low
beneath the small empty cavity that surrounded Kelsey. When the
tree had crashed through the roof, she'd been knocked halfway under
the old oak table, with the rafter falling down and landing on top
of her leg. The leg she couldn't move.

Again, Ranger barked, then nudged his nose
under her hand.

"Shh . . . not so loud." She reached out and
rubbed the dog behind the ears. With him lying beside her, not
blocking the way, she was able to see the light from Pete's lantern
once again. Not a whole lot of light, but enough to chase away the
blinding darkness. "What a clever boy you are. Good dog."

"
Kelsey?
Send that damned dog out
again before he causes more damage. Pete and I are going to dig you
out. Hurry now!" She heard the near-frantic tone in her father's
voice and knew she'd caused him the same kind of anguish he'd felt
when he'd lost her mother in childbirth. Kelsey knew she was her
dad's last link to the woman he'd loved so much all those years
ago. He'd tucked those feelings away deep in his heart. Deborah
would always be her dad's first love, but there was no doubt he
loved Theresa just as fiercely.

Just as she would always love Chris and keep
his memory in a special place locked deep inside. Now her heart
belonged to Pete; part of it had always belonged to Pete.

Kelsey shook away the thoughts and patted the
dog's neck. "You heard him, buddy. Go on. Go back to Pete and
Dad."

Ranger whimpered again and clamped his teeth
on one sleeve of Kelsey's jacket, pulling and tugging with all his
might. He was strong enough to jerk her from her position, only
instead of moving her clear of the obstacle, the powerful tug
stretched her leg, which was still trapped beneath the heavy wooden
rafter. Pain stabbed through her leg, and tears burned her eyes.
"Stop, Ranger. No, no. My leg's caught, and you're hurting me.
No!
"

Kelsey shook her head. Yeah, right. Like the
dog could understand what she'd said. But when he backed off, she
had to smile. Ranger was a smart dog. Pete had taught him a few
commands and several tricks, and the Husky was quick to learn.
Could he perhaps dig into the dirt floor and relieve the pressure
of the rafter that was pinning her leg in place? Could he help her
crawl out of the dugout?

It was worth a try. Even as the thought
entered her brain, a rumble of thunder shook the earth around them
and a shower of dirt fell on her and Ranger. Kelsey blinked and
Ranger barked, as if urging her to get a move on.

"Kelsey! You still there, honey?" Now Pete's
dear voice held a sliver of fear.

When you loved someone, you put your whole
heart at risk. Life was a crapshoot, wasn't it? Who would've
thought that her youthful crush could turn into a love so strong,
she was willing to chance it again. Only . . . could Pete ever
learn to love her as she loved him? She certainly hoped so.

"Kels?
Answer me, damn it!"

"Baby! Are you all right?"

Kelsey gritted her teeth, as her leg throbbed
with pain. "I'm okay, but we'd better hurry and get me out of here.
I'm going to try to get Ranger to dig around my leg, then maybe I
can pull it from beneath the rafter and crawl out."

"Be careful, Kels."

"Yeah, be careful, baby."

She lifted herself up and leaned her weight
on one of her elbows, taking Ranger's muzzle in her hand and
looking into the intelligent blue eyes. "Dig, Ranger. I need you to
dig."

Kelsey grabbed a broken chair leg lying
nearby, and leaned toward her trapped leg. She began to dig the
dirt with the makeshift shovel. "Dig like this. Come on, boy.
Dig!"

Ranger licked her face, then sat on his
haunches, watching her hollow out the dirt under her leg. Kelsey
prayed for patience, then patted the ground where she'd dug. "I
know you can do it. You dig out of the dog run often enough. Dig,
Ranger. I need you to dig."

She tried to move more dirt with the broken
chair leg, but she was fast losing strength. The cramped position
made her leg ache unmercifully, and even though it was cold, she
felt sweat dripping down her neck. She fell back, closed her eyes
and tried not to cry. She couldn't help sniffling a little.

Again she felt a warm tongue licking her
cheek. "Good boy, Ranger. I know you'd dig if I had time to teach
you. But we're running out of time."

Ranger moved away, and Kelsey sighed in
frustration.

"Kels? How's it going?" Pete called through
the small tunnel he and her dad had excavated.

"Not too well," she said. "I can't seem to
make Ranger understand--
Wait a second!
Oh my God, he's
digging. Good boy! Good boy!"

****

Pete exhaled a whoosh of the breath he'd been
holding ever since Ranger had disappeared into the hole leading
inside the collapsed dugout. As he rose to his feet, he looked at
Austin. The man actually smiled at him; it was a weak smile, but a
smile nonetheless.

"Looks like that damned dog of yours is
finally earning his keep," Austin said. "These past several months,
I've been thinking you were in over your head with that canine
escape artist, but right now, I'm thankful you adopted him."

"You and me both." Pete tried not to cringe
when another thunderclap shook the ground. "Damn it. That storm is
coming in again. Ranger better get on the stick."

"Pete? Dad?"

Both men dropped to their knees and peered
inside the dark hole. Pete held the lantern close, and he spotted a
white furry butt wiggling toward the opening. "He's got hold of
her," he said, relief flooding his system.

Austin elbowed him out of the way, and Pete
tried not to feel like he'd been dismissed and thrown aside. He
reminded himself that Austin was Kelsey's father, and the man loved
her dearly, naturally he was distraught with worry.

A father's love was strong. But so was
Pete's.

"Kelsey! Are you all right, baby?" Austin
called into the tunnel.

"I'm fine, Dad. Just trying to help Ranger
get me out of this mess."

Pete heard the ka-thump of her boot heels
hitting the dirt floor as she helped propel herself backward
through the narrow opening.

"I see her!" Austin moved backwards just a
hair when Ranger's backside came into full view. He pushed the dog
out of the way and grabbed Kelsey, pulling her the rest of the way
out of the hole. "I've got you now," he said, standing up and
holding her in his arms. "Thank God, you're safe."

Pete bent down to pet Ranger, fighting the
stab of jealousy he felt at the joyful reunion between father and
daughter. He knew the feeling was irrational, but he couldn't help
it. He wanted that unquestionable right to hold Kelsey in his own
arms. Of course, he hadn't told her yet how much he loved her, how
much he wanted her. Not only in a physical sense, but also in mind,
heart and soul.

Kelsey's musical laughter floated on the cool
breeze. "Dad, put me down. I'm fine."

"In a minute." He hugged her tighter. "You
know, this isn't the first time I've pulled you from a pile of
wreckage, young lady. Don't you dare make me do it a third time,
you hear?"

"Oh, Dad. As if I could've avoided either
situation. What were the odds of the dugout caving in like that?
And what were the odds of Uncle Tyler's plane crashing all those
years ago?" She looked around and caught Pete's gaze. His heart
jumped to his throat at the look of love shining in Kelsey's
beautiful blue eyes. "Life's full of risks and dangers," she said.
"No matter what you do or don't do, right?"

Austin looked from Kelsey to Pete then back
again. "Just be careful, okay?" He kissed the top of her head.

Pete rose to his full height and stepped
closer, gently rubbing a finger across one smooth cheek. "You okay,
Kels?"

"I am now." Her smile warmed him through and
through.

Austin cleared his throat and handed his
daughter over to Pete. "Here you go, son. She's all yours. I know
you'll take good care of her."

"Yes, sir. I promise I will." Pete held
Kelsey close to his heart and buried his nose in her hair.

Kelsey looped her arms around his neck. Her
touch felt so good, so right. He couldn't help hugging her
closer.

"What's this all about, Dad? You make it
sound like you're giving me to Pete. Don't I have a say in
this?"

Austin gripped his daughter's shoulder. "Of
course you do. But you told me you loved him. Don't you want to
marry him?"

Pete felt her arms tighten around his neck.
That was a good sign, right? "Damn, Dad!" she said. "Pete and I
aren't even in an official relationship yet."

"Yes, we are." Pete wanted to rectify that
small, but important detail immediately.

Kelsey looked at him with love mixed with
wariness. "We are?"

Austin snorted. "Of course, you are. I'm
telling you right now, Pete. No trade backs, okay?"

"Hey now!" Kelsey said, her eyes twinkling in
the moonlight.