Chapter Nine
Wearily, Deborah struggled to keep her eyes open as Nolan carried her across the unforgiving landscape.
Each step he took sent a gentle bounce through her body, and the repetitive motion nearly lulled her into sleep.
The relentless heat weighed heavily on her, sapping her strength and making it difficult to stay alert.
Yet, what exhausted her most was being so close to Nolan.
Despite her reluctance to admit it aloud, Deborah had to acknowledge that he possessed remarkable strength. She found herself wondering how he managed to carry her for miles without uttering a single complaint. It was a quality she couldn’t ignore, even if she wasn’t quite ready to tell him so.
They’d traveled in silence for a while, giving her time to think clearly.
She had reason to be miserable since she’d fallen off the train, sprained her ankle, and had to be carried like a child through no-man’s land.
And yet, she realized she should be grateful that she wasn’t dead.
She should be grateful that she wasn’t alone.
Nolan had voluntarily jumped off the train to help her.
The least she could do was to be nice to him.
Although she fought to touch him in any personal way, it was necessary, considering their positions.
This was the first time a man had touched her stocking-covered legs.
And earlier, when he playfully swatted her bottom, that was a first for her, too.
It hadn’t taken long for her to relax and lean against him.
Of course, that made her more tired, so she rested her forehead on the back of his shoulder... his very muscular shoulder.
She squeezed her eyes closed. She must stop thinking of his body like that. It didn’t matter if he was big and strong, Nolan Avery’s smug attitude could drive a woman to drink.
And speaking of drinking...
Swallowing had become most difficult and almost painful at times. Her mouth was so dry, and she was so thirsty. If they didn’t find water soon, they were both going to die.
Suddenly, Nolan stopped, and his body stiffened. “Do you see what I see?”
She blinked herself out of the daze the heat had put her under and tried to focus on what he was looking at. No-man’s land didn’t seem as dry and rocky. More trees were in the distance, as well as... Water? “Is that a creek?”
“That’s what I’m thinking, but since it came out of nowhere, I’m wondering if I’m not delusional.”
“Of course, you’re delusional. I knew that when we first met. However, I do believe that’s water amongst those trees.”
He resumed his walking, and his pace began to go faster.
Soon, what looked like a small stream had grown into a bigger stream.
Excitement bounced inside her, eager to splash water on her face and drink to her heart’s content.
Hopefully, the water tasted good, but then it didn’t matter. She was thirsty.
He stopped beside the stream and carefully helped her off his back. She tested her ankle, and the pain was gone. However, her legs were weak since he’d carried her for so long. But she still wobbled to the edge of the water and dropped to her knees.
Nolan knelt beside her. They splashed water on their faces and necks. She cupped her hands and dipped them into the water before bringing them to her mouth. She repeated the motion several times, but still didn’t think she could get enough to drink.
Finally, she felt as though she wasn’t shriveling up into a fig, and she lay on the patch of weeds near the water, and sighed, throwing her arm over her head. Staring up at the blue sky, she relaxed. It was nice not to be carried. Her legs ached from being in that position for so long.
“Where do you think we are?” she asked.
“I wish I knew. Let’s hope we are getting closer to civilization.”
“I’m wondering if we are in South Dakota yet.”
She rolled her head on the ground and looked his way. He was also lying on the ground next to her, looking up into the sky.
“I really think we are.” He rolled his head and met her gaze. “I’m hoping that someone on the train has noticed our disappearance by now. I chatted with several people sitting around us.”
“I hope we were missed, as well. Do you think they will stop the train? Or at least send out someone to look for us?”
Nolan shrugged. “I know the trains have a schedule to keep, so it makes me wonder if they’ll have to wait until the train reaches a stop before they can come find us.”
She hoped he was wrong, because that meant it would take longer for someone to search for them. She released another sigh and rolled onto her side, facing him. “What are the odds that we’ll find something to eat out here?”
“I suppose we can follow the creek in hopes that it’ll lead us to a larger body of water that holds fish... or a town.”
She crinkled her forehead. “Why would a town be in a creek?”
His body shook with silent laughter. “No, I was pointing out that following the creek might lead us toward a town.”
“Oh.” She chuckled. “That makes more sense.”
As she stared into his eyes, she realized how very handsome he was.
He had remarkable blue eyes, and he looked rather rugged with the whiskery shadow covering the lower half of his face.
His brown hair was tousled, making him appear as if he’d just awakened from a deep sleep.
He must have lost his hat when he jumped off the train to save her.
She licked her suddenly dry lips, and his gaze watched. It was oddly disturbing, and yet, her heart raced with excitement. The heat must be melting her brain. That could be the only excuse for feeling this fluttery around him.
“I should have told you this before, but...” She cleared her dry throat. “Thank you for jumping off the train and trying to help me.”
His expression softened as a twinkle lit his mesmerizing eyes. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“Why did you really jump off the train, Nolan?”
He reached over and took a lock of hair hanging by her face. His gaze lightened slightly as a smile moved across his mouth. “Because it’s not in my nature to let a woman fall off the train and fend for herself... especially somewhere she’s never traveled.”
“Well, although it’s been a little hard to tolerate your attitude,” she said jokingly, “I’m glad I have someone to talk to.”
He nodded. “Two people stranded are better than being alone, even if one of us has an irritable attitude.”
“True.”
His gaze dipped to her mouth again. Her heartbeat jumped up to her throat, making it difficult to swallow.
He shifted and leaned up on his elbow, nearly towering over her.
She rolled onto her back but held his gaze.
From the look on his face, she thought he was going to kiss her.
But why would he do that since he made it clear that he couldn’t stand her?
As he started to move toward her, she quickly decided that she must be insane, because now she wondered what it would be like to kiss this handsome, rugged man. However, he must have changed his mind because he sat up instead.
Disappointment washed over her, yet at the same time, she was relieved that he hadn’t taken advantage of her desert-melted brain.
He blew out a gush of air through his lips as he threaded his fingers through his hair, looking around them. “I think if we walk toward the direction where the trees grow thicker, we might find a town, or at least a house. People like to live closer to trees and water.”
“Uh, yes. You’re correct.” As she sat up, she swept her hand over her hair, removing a few twigs and some weeds.
“How is your ankle?”
Without asking, he reached for her foot. The moment his large hands circled her calf, warmth spread through her.
“I... I think it’s better.” Slowly, she pulled her leg away from his heated touch.
“Splendid. Let’s start walking, shall we?”
She nodded. “But after I do something first.” She crawled closer to the water and splashed it over her face. It was important to cool down a little before looking at him again.
“Good idea.” He crawled beside her and cupped his hand in the water, taking a drink.
She shouldn’t have watched him, because now she couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth as he sipped the water. Then, to make it worse, he turned and met her stare... and grinned. The dirty dog must know what she was thinking.
Shaking the improper thoughts from her head, she splashed her face again before taking another drink. She needed to find something to get angry with him about, that’s the only way to return to her old self, because kissing him was out of the question!
* * * *
Nolan walked a little taller than he had before. Of course, not only did it help that he wasn’t carrying a woman on his back, but now that he detected her attraction toward him, it boosted his ego. It also made him want to act on it.
When they were lying by the water, he’d wanted to kiss her just to see how she responded, but then he quickly changed his mind. He didn’t want her to accuse him of taking advantage of her. Knowing Deborah, she’d do that.
Thankfully, his gut feeling had been correct. There was a cabin out in this neck of the desert, and he hoped they were friendly and that they understood his and Deborah’s predicament.
When she spotted the cabin, she released an excited squeal and grasped his arm. “You were right, Nolan.”
Smiling, he gave her a nod. “It was a lucky guess.”
He gazed over her and shook his head. The poor woman was covered from head to toe in dirt.
And once she washed the dirt off her face, he knew her face would be red from the sun.
His face felt chapped, too. And of course, their clothes were ripped in a few spots.
They definitely looked like two lost waifs out here in the desert.
If the people living in the cabin had any ounce of kindness, they’d let them stay the night and feed them.
“Let me do the talking,” he said as they walked up to the front door.
“All right.”