Chapter 15 #2
Diane’s heart stuck in her chest, lodging under her breastbone. She couldn’t lose Ethan now. Not when she had just found him and fallen in love with him. It wasn’t fair to take him away from her like this.
Rushing forward, Diane grabbed hold of the sinking leg of the frame and tried to hold it up. The ground shook, and the rope rasped in the pulley. She could see into the hole, and the stretcher was swinging wildly back and forth.
“Ethan, hold on!” she cried.
There was no answer. She guessed he was holding on with all of his might.
Another pair of hands closed around the frame’s leg and held on. And then another and another. The ground rumbled. Cracks started to appear in the dirt, snaking lines that spelled nothing but doom.
“Not yet,” Diane said to the ground. “You don’t get to crumble yet.”
The stretcher was coming up. It was almost at ground level.
The frame gave a shudder, a groan, and the leg Diane and the others were holding up began to slide into the earth.
“Okay, let go!” Troy yelled.
Diane and the others let go. The ground groaned, shuddered, and began to collapse inward.
Dust shot up into the air as the frame, and everything attached to it, tumbled into the hole along with the vestiges of the smelter.
Everything went tumbling into the darkness and disappeared in a plume of dust that gently showered down on them all.
“No!” Diane screamed as strong arms dragged her back from the growing hole.
It was as though some giant creature had opened its maw up extra wide, wanting to swallow them all.
It had swallowed Ethan. Diane was certain of it.
She hadn’t seen the stretcher. He had fallen to his death.
Tears poured down her face. Why Lord? Why?
“Diane?” a voice said. It was hoarse and raspy but oddly familiar. Turning around, Diane was about to tell the person to leave her alone when she stopped.
Covered in dust, soot, and blood was Ethan. He was limping and holding his ribs, but he was also smiling.
Diane didn’t think. She rushed to him, throwing her arms around him, kissing his face and his lips with tears streaming down her face.
“Gently!” Ethan said.
“Oh gosh! I’m so sorry,” Diane said. Then she stepped back and slapped him on the arm.
“What’s that for?” Ethan asked. “I’m the one who spent the day in a hole.”
“Yes, and whose fault was that?” Diane asked. Then she shook her head. “You know, I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re safe and sound. You scared me half to death today.”
“I did?” he asked. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but I kind of scared myself too.” He chuckled and drew her close. “You know, you were all I could think about down there.”
“And you were all I thought about up here,” Diane said. “I’ve been useless all day.”
“I doubt that,” Ethan said with a laugh and then he winced. “My ribs.”
Diane sighed. Then she leaned forward and kissed him lovingly on the lips. She wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to savor the taste and warmth of him.
Ethan kissed her back, and it was an electric moment, filled with longing and the release of tension and love.
When they broke apart, Ethan smiled. “So, just so we’re on the same page, I love you, Diane. I love everything about you, including how demanding and dedicated you are. How brilliant you are?—”
“And I love you,” Diane admitted, her heart thumping so loudly in her chest she thought that everyone must be able to hear it. “I love how loyal and selfless you are.”
Ethan smiled, but then winced again.
“Come on,” Diane said, letting go of most of him but holding onto his hand. “Let’s get you patched up.”
Ethan hobbled along with her into the first aid station, grinning the whole way.
Diane was quite excited. She and Ethan were trying to go to dinner again.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed that nothing happens this time,” Mrs. Odenkirk said as Diane headed for the door.
“I’ve got everything crossed,” Diane said, smiling. “Ethan and I don’t see much of each other as it is. We don’t need more disasters to get in the way.”
“I hear you,” Mrs. Odenkirk agreed. “Well, go on and have a good time.”
Diane opened the door and stepped out into the cool evening air. It was heading to April, and soon the temperatures would become uncomfortably warm and humid. But for now, everything was perfect.
She hurried down the street to Anita and Kevin’s restaurant.
Ethan had asked her to meet him there, saying he had something he needed to take care of before dinner.
What that could be, since the smelter was history and he was recovering from badly bruised ribs and a sprained ankle, she couldn’t even begin to imagine.
Just the prospect of a quiet evening together, with no one going into labor and nothing blowing up, was enough to make Diane smile all the way.
She had come to appreciate this little town and the man who had brought her to it. It was a fine place to live, and Ethan was a wonderful man to contemplate living in it with.
Reaching the restaurant, Diane opened the door and stepped inside. She found Ethan sitting at a table in the back. There was a bottle of wine waiting with two glasses and a bunch of beautiful wildflowers in a vase on the table. Ethan looked very handsome in his suit as he stood to greet her.
“You look fantastic. Is that a new dress?” he asked.
Diane shook her head. “No, it’s just one I haven’t worn before. I save it for special occasions.”
His gaze was soft, and he was smiling as he helped her into her seat. After taking his seat, Ethan just stared at her, grinning like a fool.
“Ethan, this is becoming odd,” Diane said. “Are you okay? Has something happened?”
He shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. And as to whether something has happened … well … I can’t wait any longer. I’m sorry. I was going to let us have wine and dinner and then ask, but I’ve been thinking about this for weeks.”
Diane tensed. This is so strange. What is he talking about?