“You saved my life.” She slumped over her knees and sobbed.
“Dianne, don’t cry. Everything is going to be all right.” Her distress was more than he could bear, and he pulled her to his chest. “Everything is fine. We’re safe.”
She nodded against his shoulder, sucked in damp air, and sat up. “Thank you.”
“Just doing—” He’d been about to say his job, but that wasn’t accurate. “Just doing what anyone would have done.” The wagon! How could he have forgotten it? “I didn’t hear the wagon crash.”
“It didn’t. Look.”
It stood there, still balanced on two wheels. The horses strained in their harnesses. He sprang to his feet and hurried to the front. “Whoa. Good boys. You did an excellent job.” The soft words helped calm the horses. “Now, let’s see what we can do.” He caught their bridles and leaned back, coaxing them to pull.
Behind them, the wagon creaked. But it didn’t move. “Pull, boys, pull.”
They did their best. The wagon slid along the edge, but the wheel didn’t come to the road.
This wasn’t working. “Whoa!” He left the horses and circled the wagon.
“Jace?” The quiver in Dianne’s voice spoke volumes.
“You and Eddie stay back. I’ll figure this out.” He squatted at the back to assess how to force the wheel back to the trail. The incline was too steep for him to crawl down and do anything, even if he had any idea what to do. Only one thing came to mind, and he returned to the front corner, grabbed the highest corner of the wagon, and used his body as a counterweight. “Pull, boys, pull,” he called to the horses.
The wagon jerked, lifting him into the air.
“Jace!”
“Stay back.” If the wagon headed for the ravine, he had plenty of time to throw himself clear. But they needed the wagon and the horses, so he clung and called encouragement to the animals. The rattle of the wheels almost shook him loose, but he held on. He had to.
With a crash and a shudder, the wagon landed on all fours.
“Whoa!” The animals were likely shaking as hard as Jace. He collapsed on the ground, waiting for his body to settle.
Dianne rushed to his side, rested her head on his shoulder, and sobbed. “I thought you were going to die.”
As soon as he had enough strength to lift an arm, he wrapped one around her back. “I’m too stubborn to die.” Although he spoke gently, those words had a mocking tone in his head.
“This is one time I appreciate your stubbornness.” She sat up, her head downturned. “I apologize for using you to weep on.”
That’s all that was in her mind? Well, what did he expect? He forced himself to his feet. “We best be on our way.”
Dianne remained seatedon the cold rocky soil of the road. A riot of reactions raced through her—gratitude for safety, of course. Jace had risked his life for her and Eddie and again to save the wagon. Remnants of fear still dried her throat. And surprise and embarrassment over how readily she sought comfort with Jace. Reaction. That’s all it was.
“Give me your hand. I’ll help you up.”
She didn’t need help, but when she tried to stand on her own, she had to admit she did. She gripped his fingers as he pulled her to her feet and led her to the wagon. Eddie was already in the back, and she hadn’t even noticed. That didn’t seem possible. They reached the side of the wooden box that had almost killed them all. She patted it. But she didn’t know if the touch signified gratitude or scolding.
“I’ve never been so frightened. I thought we were all going to die.” Her teeth rattled. She clung shamelessly to Jace’s hand. Couldn’t let go. Might never let go.
“The mountains can be harsh. But beautiful. Look at the flowers by the stream.”
She blinked back tears so she could focus. Indeed, there were patches of pink and yellow. They were pretty. There was beauty in the mountains, but they were unpredictable. Her hungry lungs filled with the cool air. Cool? “It’s getting cold.”
“We need to hurry.” He lifted her to the seat, where she clung to Eddie.
When Jace took his place beside her, she eased close, her shoulder against his. He didn’t mention it, and she didn’t look at him to check for his reaction. Whether he welcomed it or not, she needed his strength. Both her insides and outside were wobbly. That’s why she clung to him.
They resumed travel.
“I remember you praying.” Surprise might have been evident in her voice, but there was no disguising how she felt about hearing him.
