Chapter 17
Seventeen
EVERETT
In the distance, leaving the business of the town behind him, Everett drove like a madman to reach his farm.
His truck barrelled through the empty streets of Fate, grateful that the Jamboree was this evening, if someone was going to do something as crazy as parachuting at sunset.
You could land in a tree, break a leg in a field somewhere, or drown if you landed in the water…
and he had a large pond with a dock on his property.
The last thing he needed after breaking off the engagement with Becky Sue was to find a body floating in the water, tangled up in a parachute – and then he saw it.
There was someone flailing in the headlights of his truck – in the water.
The words he swore would make anyone blush, including a salty sailor.
He threw the truck in park, left it running, and made a mad dash through the fields toward whoever was struggling to stay above the water.
He could see that they were wrapped in the lines, just as he feared.
“Hang on,” Everett shouted hoarsely and leaped fully clothed into the water. He began working his arms frantically to reach whoever it was – and trying not to get entangled himself.
“Help…”
A woman’s voice.
There was a woman sinking under the surface of the pond – and he was either about to witness someone die, possibly join her, or hopefully drag them both out of the water safely.
“I’ve got you,” he promised, yanking his Bowie knife out of the holster – grateful he kept his hunting knife on him at all times. He used it for everything – fishing, dressing a deer, whittling, you name it… and this time, it was being used to free a woman from a watery grave.
He cursed again – and then felt her grasping for him. “I’ve got you,” he repeated several times, pulling her upward so she could suck in a breath. “I’ve got you. I’m here… I promise, I’m here.”
She was gasping and choking, her hair was everywhere, as she clung to him.
He felt around blindly in the dark water, realizing that one of her arms was wrapped tightly in the line and bound to her leg.
Yeah, she was trussed up like a Christmas goose in this mess…
and he might not be able to get her freed in the water.
Putting the knife in his mouth, he bit down and began dragging her bodily to the bank of the pond.
Panting, exhausted, and muscles aching, he finally laid her out on the shallow bank, in the muddy grass, and looked at her. Everett’s dark eyes met crystalline blue ones in the moonlight – and he swallowed.
“You saved me,” she whispered tearfully, her voice hoarse and aching. “Oh my… oh my gosh, I almost died and…”
“Shhh,” he breathed as his heart staggered wildly from the adrenaline rush. He just saved someone’s life – on his freakin’ property. “You’re gonna be okay. I’m gonna get you free and…”
She leaned up – and kissed him.
He’s always done the right thing… until now.
Meet Everett and Amelia (and more characters) in A Sweet Promise.