Page 6 of Snowed in with the Rancher

“You sure as heck did,” he said with a grin. “You're a superstar.”

She nodded, her expression still completely serious. “Are you going to get Jackie out now?”

“Your mama first, then your sister. I promise. Now, let's get you out of this rope.”

As he loosened the slip knot and had Lissa step out of the loop, he turned and looked back down at Olivia.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Are you sure we can't send her up first? I really don't want to leave her down here alone.”

He gave her an encouraging smile. “We need one able-bodied adult at each end for this rescue to work. I can't come down there to take her up if you're down there, too. I need you up here to help out. Trust me, it's all going to be fine.” He lowered the rope. “Slip this on, and let's get moving so we can get all of you inside somewhere warm.”

Olivia nodded and caught the end of the rope.

Her ascent was faster than her daughter's, but she needed more help from Tate. He could see she wasn't as confident as Lissa was pulling herself up hand over hand, so he hoisted her at the same time, giving her more vertical pull with each step up the embankment.

“Let me know if you feel like the rope's going to cut you in half,” he joked. “I know it's not the most comfortable thing in the world.” She gave him a quick smile and kept on climbing.

Once she was at the top, Tate tied the rope around his own waist and grabbed a harness device that he slung over his shoulder.

“Okay, let me show you a few things before I go down,” he told Olivia. “This is the radio—you press this button to talk. If something happens to me and you need more help, you tell them you're about a mile north of Blind Man's Pass on logging road six.”

“But nothing's going to happen to you, right?” Olivia asked warily.

“No, nothing is,” he promised. “But part of search and rescue is preparing for all contingencies, no matter what.”

She nodded.

“You know how to drive one of these things?” he pointed to the ATV.

“Yes, a friend's brother took the girls and me camping once and had one.”

He noticed she had yet to mention a husband or the girls' father. He couldn't help wondering if she was still single. Not that it mattered, he told himself. He had plenty on his plate with the ranch and his search and rescue work. He’d long since decided that romance wasn’t for him. Even before the cruise where they’d met, he hadn’t been very enthusiastic about trying to get a relationship going. And after the time he’d had with Olivia…well, dating someone else just hadn’t held much appeal. He hadn’t been with anyone since her. Partially because he’d been hurt by the strange, unexplained end to their relationship but also because he couldn’t imagine feeling that connection with anyone else. And if he couldn’t have that, what was the point in dating at all?

“Good. It's best to stay put and wait for help, but if you have to…” He gave her a look that hopefully said it all—leave me here and go.

“Be careful,” she said softly, and he felt something tighten in his chest. Lobster, cuddled with Melissa in the trailer hooked to the ATV, gave one sharp bark, and Tate smiled.

“Be right back,” he said before he rappelled off the edge of the embankment.

* * *

Olivia held her breath as Tate hoisted himself the last bit to land on his knees next to the ATV with Jackie securely on his back.

Melissa mumbled something that sounded like, “Yay,” then closed her eyes again, burrowing into Lobster's big body. Olivia rushed over to help get Jackie out of the harness. Tate knelt patiently while Olivia fussed with the straps and extricated the four-year-old, pulling her into her arms and squeezing her tight.

“Mommy, you're suf'cating me,” Jackie complained.

“Everyone's okay, now, Mom,” she heard Tate say in reassurance. “Let's get her set up in the back, and then we'll head to where it's warm…” he said, adding, “and there's hot chocolate,” for the little girls' benefit.

The snow was falling faster now, and both girls were obviously cold and exhausted. Olivia set Jackie up as comfortably as possible in the little trailer while Tate put away his gear.

She heard him on his radio, telling the search and rescue coordinators that everyone was safe.

He put the radio back in the holder on the ATV dash, then got the girls two of the crinkly silver blankets rescuers always used, while Lobster faithfully lay between them to share his warmth.

“He's such a good dog,” Olivia said as she slid into the seat of the ATV and wedged herself against Tate.

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