Page 54 of The Cowboy's Promise

Though Courtney was screaming Heather thought she heard Blake calling her name. Panic-stricken and thinking she must be imagining things, she looked up and stared in disbelief. Hewas running towards her. Tears of relief and joy sprang from her eyes, but she was still scared. Looking over her shoulder at the monsters who had terrorized her, she saw Courtney was still pointing at her and yelling at Joe.

“Darlin’, are you okay?” Blake asked frantically as he hurriedly untied her wrists.

“Uh, yeah, s-sort of,” she stammered, but she couldn’t take her eyes off what was happening on the rock.

“My God, I’ve been so worried,” Blake continued, dropping next to her and bringing her into his arms.

“Blake…look.”

* * *

With his heart still hammering Blake darted his eyes across to Joe and Courtney. To his horror he saw the evil woman tilting backwards, flailing her arms in the air as she tried to steady herself. Joe suddenly lunged forward to grab her, but in his panic he instinctively used his right arm.

The arm with the injured hand.

Though he managed to grasp the corner of Courtney’s jacket he immediately let out a wail and it slipped from his fingers.

“Oh, my God, she’s lost her balance,” Heather gasped. “She’s falling into the lake.”

Jumping to his feet Blake raced to the rock but arrived too late.

“NOOO…COURTNEY YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME!” Joe bellowed, and before Blake could stop him he jumped in after her. Unable to leave without trying to save them Blake began pulling off his boots.

“Blake! No! Wait!” Heather cried, running towards him. “The sheriff’s here!”

“Dammit, boy, get down off there,” the sheriff yelled, climbing from his car.

“But Joe and Courtney fell in! I need to—”

“Leave it to us,” the sheriff ordered, cutting him off as three squad cars rolled in behind him. “We have the equipment and trainin’. Now get off that rock!”

Realizing the sheriff was right Blake jumped down, only to be met by Heather punching his chest.

“What were you thinking?” she demanded breathlessly. “You scared me half to death.”

“Sorry, darlin’,” he said, grabbing her wrists then hugging her. “I’m takin’ you home right now, and I’ll ask Doug to make you his amazing hot chocolate. Then I want to hear exactly how you ended up in this mess.”

“Excuse me,” the sheriff interrupted, walking up to join them as two of his deputies hastily donned wet suits. “Come on back to my car. I just need a quick recap. You can give me a full report after you rest up. Tomorrow will be fine.”

“What about Joe and Courtney?” Heather asked. “Do you think there’s a chance they’ll survive?”

“My boys know what to do and they’ll get them out as fast as they can and ambulances have already been called. Please come to the car and tell me how you ended up here in your truck with those two.”

* * *

Sitting in the sheriff’s car, Heather explained how she’d volunteered to take a lunch tray to Joe so she could ask him why he’d followed her. Then she’d stumbled across Courtney in the cabin next to his.

“I don’t believe it,” Blake grunted, but before she could respond a deputy strode up to speak to the sheriff.

“What’s the news?” he asked, lowering his window.

“Not good, Sheriff. Sorry.”

“Ah, I see. Well, the medics have arrived. Maybe they can work miracles.”

“Uh, no, I mean, the divers can’t find them. The spot where they jumped in is deep and really murky. I expect their bodies will wash up at some point.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” the sheriff said with a heavy sigh. “Okay, wrap it up.”

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