Page 22 of One Scorching Summer

“Shelter’s close.”

How the hell does he know? It’s impossible to see anything through this torrential downpour.

Rake slammed on the brakes and skidded to a halt. In front of them was a UTV. Behind it was a structure that was difficult to make out through the sheets of rain and the darkness that rivaled night.

“My harness released again.”

“I’ll look at it after this passes, Jorja.”

Three beeps pealed through the rumbling storm. The detector glowed purple-red.

“C'mon!” He grabbed Jorja’s hand and pulled her from the UTV, pushing her ahead of him and toward Cody who stood in the threshold.

Jorja resisted. “My bag.”

“No time. The compartment’s waterproof. Retrieve it after this passes.”

Cody held a detector similar to the one in their utility vehicle. “It’s closing in fast. Hurry!” It glowed bright red and emitted three loud beeps, then cycled again. Three more beeps.

Overhead, charred clouds buckled and writhed. Thunder blasted and cracked, and glittering-gold lightening ruptured in a sizzling display traversing the sky.

“Cellar.” Cody urged loudly behind Skye. “This promises to be a real gully-washer.”

“Power out?” Rake briskly steered Jorja toward the meager kitchen.

“Could be,” Skye said, right next to him. “I didn’t check before turning off the breakers and the main.”

They clamored down wood steps—with Rake bringing up the rear and shutting the door—and into a cool, small cocoon of hard-packed earth. On one side, canned food, large jugs of water, and emergency supplies filled the shelves. A half-dozen votives in jelly jars and the lightning detector provided just enough light to them to see. The cabin creaked and moaned as the storm raged above them and the detector cycled three beeps intermittently.

Soaked through, Jorja shivered in the small, cool space as she dropped next to Cody. “I’ll try not to get you wet,” she said,watching as Skye scurried to her equally saturated uncle, who snuggled her into his side.

“Don’t even worry about it. I should have grabbed a towel or blanket.”

“Cody, I’m thankful you remembered where the camp is.” He rubbed Skye’s arm. “You rarely come out this way.”

“Actually, it was Skye who remembered.” Cody shared. “That one massive boom had me as jumpy as spit on a hot skillet. I missed the turnoff.”

“Well done,” he said to Skye who had her face buried in his wet shoulder. “You’re okay. We’re safe down here.” Rake murmured. “The cabin has weathered worse.”

Jorja’s heart melted as Rake continued to comfort his niece. “How fortunate that it has a cellar.”

Thunder bellowed again, but with less energy.

“All of the cabins do. Storm’s moving out. We’re already back to blue,” Rake said, glancing at the detector. Its beeping altered to a pattern of two. “We’ll wait until there’s no risk of lightning.”

After the detector had been silent for thirty minutes, Rake turned his phone back on; the radar was clear. They exited the cellar. The cabin seemed no worse for the storm-lashing. The sun was out, the temperature was noticeably cooler, and nature was back to work.

Rake wiped down the seats of the utility vehicle with towels from the cabin, then reexamined the harness. He fiddled with it, shook it, then wiped it down with one of the towels. He tested it again. “All good. The retractor had enough shit in it that it stopped workin'. Happens.”

“So, I’ll no longer be in danger of flying out of my seat and into you?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. The corner of his mouth hitched upward. “Unfortunately no, but you will be safe.”

A thrill chased through her. “Thanks.” Not really. If she was being honest, a part of her was disappointed that being safely strapped-in meant she would no longer be jostled against him enjoying his intoxicating man-scent.

“We lost time with the storm. I’ve a lunch appointment that can’t be changed. We’ll take one of the ranch roads to the tract. Not as pretty of a drive but a hellava lot faster.”

During the overview of the parcels, Jorja noted the additional provisions Rake wanted in the lease, with the understanding that other considerations could come up during negotiations. Only one could be a sticking point.

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