Page 81 of Rebels and Roses

“A blue car passed us about ten minutes ago,” one of the bikers said. “They turned down the lake road as we went by them.

“The lake road? Are you sure?”

That didn’t make any sense. That road went to…well…the lake. There were no restaurants or anything. Were they planning some sort of picnic? Was Jane taking them there to see the lake?

“Very sure,” the man assured them. “We even talked about following them, but we decided that with the chance of more rain, we wouldn’t risk it. We didn’t want to get caught in a storm.”

Cooper thanked them while Tate sent Finn, who had stopped a ways ahead when he’d seen them pull over, a text that they were turning around to take the lake road.

“Can I ask why they would be going to the lake?” Tate said. “Does this make any sense to you?”

“No, not a clue as to what they’re thinking. It is a nice day like that guy said. Maybe they wanted some fresh air? Jane might have convinced them to go someplace and talk it out instead of getting a judge involved. She could have suggested the lake because if they start to yell at each other, no one will hear them.”

“It’s not the worst idea, although I would have brought them to the tavern and got them a little liquored up.”

“Erica is pregnant.”

“Oops, right. Then the lake might be the right call.”

Tate had turned down the old dirt road that led to the lake. The trees made a shady canopy on the narrow lane that eventually opened up to a large clearing and the lake. Finn was right behind them as they came out of the shade and into the sunshine.

Cooper squinted against the bright sunlight, spying a dark sedan parked near the banks of the lake. It looked like Fiona was climbing out of the driver’s side as the vehicle lurched forward. She jumped clear of the tires, rolling on the ground, and then to Cooper’s absolute horror the car kept moving forward.

The world stopped for a moment, his own heart ceasing to beat, too. His brain was trying to make heads or tails of the scenebefore him, but it was as if he couldn’t quite believe it was all happening. By the time he realized it was, the nose of the car was in the water.

He didn’t have time to think about what he was going to do. Running on pure, raw adrenaline, he pushed open the car door, and fumbled with the buckle of his seatbelt in his haste.

“Easy, let me stop the car,” Tate said. “If you kill yourself, you won’t be able to help.”

Fiona’s head whipped around, her eyes round with shock, when she heard the motor of Tate’s vehicle and then the crunch of tires on gravel as he slammed on the brakes about a foot from where she was standing.

Just watching. Watching. As the car slid into the dark, cold water. Time had slowed down to a crawl, everything happening in the most frustrating slow motion.

Jane and Erica were nowhere that Cooper could see. He could only assume that they were in that sedan. Were they trying to get out? What had Fiona done?

That was a question to be answered later.

As he leaped from the car, Fiona took off running into the trees surrounding the back side of the lake. If she thought he was going to chase her, she didn’t know him at all. Even if there were two strangers in the car, he wasn’t going to let them drown.

Not bothering to kick off his shoes, he jumped straight into the water, the cold hitting him hard like knives to his lungs and taking his breath away. He heard Tate’s own splash on the other side of the vehicle, but his attention was on the interior of the car. Only half of the vehicle was submerged so far, and he was able to get a look inside.

Jane and Erica were slumped over unconscious, still held in by their seatbelts. The car was still sinking slowly, and the window of opportunity to save the women was also inexorably closing as well.

Pulling hard on the back handle, he heard it click open, but the door wouldn’t budge. The pressure from the water was keeping it closed.

“It has to equalize,” Tate yelled, also grasping the handle on the passenger door. “It’s going to take a minute.”

That meant that the water would rush into the vehicle. Then - and only then - would the door open all the way allowing him to get inside.

Jane and Erica hadn’t moved at all, but he could see their chests rising and falling. They were still alive, but they didn’t have a clue as to what danger they were in.

Just as the pressure would have equalized, the rear of the car lifted upward and the nose pointed straight down as the vehicle began sinking, but far more quickly than before. Cooper had managed to open the door, but now the car was underwater.

Sucking in a breath, he dove down into the murky lake, the vehicle now completely filled with water. Tate had also dived down and was working on freeing Erica while Cooper fought with Jane’s seatbelt.

His lungs ached, and his fingers were thumbs in his haste, but somehow, she was suddenly free. Wrapping his arms tightly around her body, he swam to the surface, coughing and sputtering as he finally took a huge breath of oxygen. Exhausted, he dragged himself and Jane to the edge of the lake, pulling her out and laying her on the ground where he also collapsed next to her.

She was beginning to moan, and he turned her on her side as she vomited a mouthful of water, coughing and gagging afterward. Seeing her puke was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. She was alive, and she was breathing.

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