Surely, she would have seen the danger and stayed back.
But then, why hadn’t she returned to the cabin?
Lord, keep her safe.He breathed the prayer over and over as he raced onward. The distance had not seemed this far before. Now, he wondered if he’d ever get to the conveyance.
He crested the rise and looked down on the scene. His heart slammed into his ribs and refused to give another beat. His head echoed with his thunderous thoughts.
Addie crouched on the roof, clinging to the railing.
“Don’t move,” he called.
At his call, her head jerked up. And the coach rocked.
He remained motionless as he considered how he would rescue her. It would take only one wrong move—or one too many deep breaths—to send it crashing to destruction.
“I’ll talk. You listen. But don’t move so much as a muscle.” He uncoiled the rope and tied it to the harness on the horse. “The horse will stay here while I tie the rope to the coach. He’ll hold it in place so you can get off. It will be all right. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.” This was one promise he meant to keep at whatever cost.
“I’m coming down. Don’t be alarmed at any noise I make. Stay still.” He had to get the rope around anything solid without upsetting the precarious balance. Even the jarring of his boots on the ground could be enough to do so. With that in mind, he held tightly to the rope as he eased down the slope. “I’m almost at the bottom.” He kept on talking in an effort to keep her from startling. It also helped him stay calm.
“Be careful.” She kept her head down, muffling her words on her arms.
The wagon creaked.
He held his breath until it settled. “Don’t move. Don’t talk. Don’t do anything until I tell you to.”
His boots were on the muddy trail. He lifted one foot and put it down with extreme caution. He paused. When nothing adverse happened, he took another step. The pounding of his heart was enough to send the coach crashing over the edge. He had only to reach out to grab the step, but tying the rope there would not stabilize it well enough. So he cautiously moved closer. It might work if he eased the rope around the doorposts. He prayed they were strong enough to hold the entire weight. Inch by careful inch, he dragged the rope forward and slipped it through the doorway and out the window. He drew up the slack and tied a knot that would take three strong men to undo.
“I’ve hooked up a rope. Now I have to get the horse to back up. Back,” he called to the horse. But plainly, the animal hadn’t been taught voice commands. “I have to go to the horse, and then I’ll come get you. Don’t move.”
Every nerve urged him to rush up the slope, but he used his head and moved slowly and carefully. At the top, he urged the horse to back up, drawing the rope tight. Would the animal be able to hold it if it began to slide? He had to trust that it would.
Still moving with caution, he returned to the stagecoach and Addie.
“Addie, can you crawl to the driver’s box? I don’t know how secure this contraption is, so go slow and careful.”
Vibrations as she moved warned that things were still unstable.
She reached the driver’s seat and crouched there.
“Jump. I’ll catch you.” He braced himself.
She leaped from above him, straight into his arms, sending them reeling backward. He almost went down but managed to keep his feet under him. She clung to him, her arms around his neck. He leaned against the cool, damp embankment and held her. He never wanted to let her go.
With a muffled groan, he pressed his cheek to her hair and tightened his arms around her. Their hearts beat in frantic unison. Fear still raged through his veins. Slowly, it gave way to relief.
“You’re safe. Thank God that He protected you.”
“It was so scary.” Her words were spoken into his chest. She shifted, lowered her arms, and wrapped them around his back, clutching at the fabric of his shirt. A shudder twitched across her shoulders. “If you hadn’t come along…”
If he hadn’t… He closed his eyes and willed away what would have happened. “Addie.” He cupped his hand to her head and snugged her more firmly to his shoulder. “Addie.” Her name was sweet on his tongue. “Addie.” No other word came.
“Nash.” Her voice carried a smile.
His chest expanded with the first deep breath he’d taken since he’d seen her precarious situation. “If something happened to you…” He couldn’t finish.
“It didn’t.” She tipped her face toward him. “Thanks to you.”
Her movement caused him to lower his hand. He trailed a finger along her jaw to her chin.
