Blaylock, Paloma had heard the earth rumble. She paused, frowning at the two horses in front of the cabin. Then Rio’s shout sounded in the vicinity of the old mine. At a run, she made her way through the red-barked pines and found a new cave-in. “Rio?”
“Stay back.”
“Are you hurt?” Her body frozen in terror, she prayed he wasn’t.
“A few bruises. Get my horse over here and—” A coil of rope surged up out of the cave-in and landed at her feet. “Tie this to Frisco’s saddle horn. He’ll pull me out. He is the gelding, the other is a mare,” he added very carefully. “He’s bigger and—”
“I know the anatomical difference,” she muttered, nettled by his male arrogance, and just that little need to torment Rio slipped out again. “You say you’re not hurt?”
“Uh-huh. I don’t exactly feel like wasting time chitchatting,” he answered daddy, returning her comment to him when they first met.
“You don’t? You say you’re not in any danger now?” She had to be certain before she set about provoking Rio, about making him pay for disturbing her thoughts and dreams and for her wanting that brush of his mouth to deepen into a very warm, hungry kiss. His silence provoked her and she grabbed a tree limb, easing closer to the cave-in.
He swore tightly, efficiently, as a small rock, dislodged by her foot, fell into the mine. “You’re a contrary woman. Muleheaded—”
“You don’t sound like a man who wants to be rescued, sweetie.” She eased closer, she had to see him to make certain he was safe, and to enjoy her upper hand at the moment,
“Just get the horse and—”
“Who invited you to my party? Don’t you know that this is private property? Stop ordering me—” The branch broke and the earth gave way. She slid on her bottom down to land at Rio’s feet. She scrambled to stand, terrified of the small dark space closing in on her, taking her breath away. When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Rio, hands on hips, his Western hat tipped back on his head, his chap-covered legs braced wide.
“You’re not hurt. You slid down all the way on that beautiful butt. Well, this is just great, Ms. Forbes,” Rio muttered in disgust. “My rope is upstairs and it’s a long way up. If for once, you could act like any other normal woman and—what’s wrong?” he asked urgently as she hurled herself against him.
She clung to his strong, warm male body, anchored herself to him, her arms locked around his shoulders, her head tucked into the safety of his throat. “Don’t let me go,” she whispered shakily as his arms enclosed her. “Just hold me.”
He stood too still, not moving, and terror clawed at her. If he didn’t hold her, she’d shatter into tiny pieces. Against her cold, damp temple, Rio whispered, “I won’t let you go. Honey, your heart is facing, you’re shaking and you’re perspiring. You’re terrified.”
She closed her eyes, holding on to Rio, listening to the safe solid thump of his heart. She wasn’t alone in the dark. She had to cling to that comfort. “You’re here...with me.”
“Yes. We’ll get out.” His voice was even, confident, wrapping around her like a warm safe cloak. His hands robbed her back, comforting her.
“You promise?” As a woman, she regretted the childish plea. But she couldn’t stop shivering, haunted by visions of the locked closets she’d been in as a child—cold, alone...but she wasn’t alone. Rio was here, his hands smoothing her hair, his body rocking hers, his murmur comforting.
“I promise, honey. Take a deep breath. That’s tight. Take another. That’s my girl. Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you and we’re getting out of here. But first tell me—”
That’s my girl. Boone had said that and she’d been so safe—She swallowed, clinging to Rio, panicked. Her terror came out in spurts—“My mother locked me in closets. I’m claustrophobic. I can’t breathe.”
Rio’s harsh curse sailed past her ear into the musty shadows. Then his tone softened and he bent to lift her into his arms. “Hold on to me. Let’s sit and talk for a while.”
“I want out of here. Now!” The earthen walls began to close in on her. She clung to him as he settled on the dirt floor with her on his lap.
“Just let me hold you for a while. rve got a plan, but you’ve got to calm down. Talk to me.”
The terror of her life spilled out of her. She dragged in air, forcing herself to breathe, though panic crushed her lungs and fear dampened her forehead and upper lip. “She’d lock me in closets if I didn’t perform well. When I was four, I broke my ankle and couldn’t be the ballerina she wanted. She was furious. Then the piano—one wrong note and—I can’t stand it!”
“But she isn’t here now, honey. I am.” Rio’s voice curled around her as he stroked her hair back from her face. He removed his denim jacket and draped it around her, tucking it beneath her chin. “And we’re getting out, but right now we’re just resting, okay? Here, suck on this. Suck, don’t chew. When you’re finished we’re leaving.”
He’d placed a candy in her mouth and offered her hope and comfort. Paloma curled toward him, shaking. “Don’t leave me. I’ve got to get out of here.”
“Why, honey, I came all the way to see you. I’m not leaving you. I said we’re getting out and I always keep my promises. See that timber over there. I think it will support your lighter weight, with me helping. All you have to do is to let me help you up on it and then you’ll be out, okay? Breathe, Paloma. There’s sunshine upstairs and that’s where we’re going... to the sunshine and wind and trees.”
“Hurry,” she whispered, managing to breathe more easily with hope in sight. She saw his rifle. “Shoot it. Someone will hear.”
“No. The vibrations could cause more damage.” He tipped her chin up and gave it a playful wiggle as he smiled. “You cheated. You chewed that candy, didn’t you? We’re going to take this nice and easy, and you’re going to do what I say. Okay? Can you stand?”
“Okay.” Paloma tethered her hand to Rio’s strong one as she stood shakily. He placed her arms in the jacket as though she were a child, and buttoned it to her throat. She hadn’t expected the tender look, the smoothing of her hair, his finger brushing away a bit of dust from her cheek. He reminds me of Boone. she thought. That same safe tone, as though he knows everything will be fine. She had to trust him... “What do I do?”
With Rio’s gentling voice directing her, his hand locked to hers, Paloma stepped up on the slanting timber. She eased her way upward to the end of it, and Rio placed another timber beneath her bottom, pushing her higher. At the edge, she grabbed a branch and pulled herself to the grassy surface, flattening against it.
From the depths, Rio spoke softly, his tone relieved. She hadn’t realized he’d been frightened; he’d made it seem so simple. “You made it.”
“Yes. I’ll get the horse.” She managed to get to her knees, then to her feet, nmning for the gelding. Within minutes, the horse was backing away from the cave-in, the rope tied to his saddle horn, and Rio was pulled to the surface.
He stood free, his scowl smudged with dirt, his legs braced against the earth, his leather chaps gleaming in the sunlight, his body outlined against the blue sky.
