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Water splashed up from the street, and he slowed his pace. He wouldn’t do Marie any good if he got his car stuck in high water. He scanned the streets. Streetlamps shone down on empty sidewalks and deserted roads. Not many people were crazy enough to be out on a night like tonight.
A beam of light bounced to his left. On instinct, he turned toward the headlights. He inched forward as fast as he dared. The car in front of him drove recklessly toward the bridge.
It had to be Bill.
Owen clenched the muscles in his feet to keep from pressing the gas pedal to the floor. The roads were too dangerous to drive too fast. He just needed to keep the car in sight. The roads out of town should be closed. The position between the river and the manmade lake on the other side of the road always made the main road the first to flood—and the first to be blocked off.
Pushing as far down as he could on the gas pedal, he kept his gaze locked on the taillights in front of him.
The back end of the blue car spun, then turned toward the river, plummeting down the ravine and plunging into the water.
Terror squeezed his chest. He grabbed his phone and pressed redial. The line clicked on, and he didn’t wait to hear the woman’s voice to speak. “Wells again. Suspect found, and the car’s gone into the river. I need emergency personnel to the bridge off Main Street now.”
Owen jumped out of his car and strode through the calf-high water. He had to get to her, had to save her. He couldn’t lose her—not like this. Not before telling her that he loved her.
He ran as fast as he could to the river’s edge. Water swarmed up the side of the riverbank, crashing against trees. Deep rivets tore up the ground, marking the path of the tires to the river. Waves washed over the top of the car, reaching out like strong arms to force it to the bottom.
He fisted his hair in his hands. The rescue vehicle needed to get here now.
A muffled thud reached his ears. He shifted his gaze over the surface of the water. Come on, Marie. Get out of there.
Her dark hair and oval face came into view. Relief shot through him.
She sputtered and bobbed along with the current, the water slamming against her as it carried her further from him.
He jumped in, his body numb from the cold rain and fear. The current tried to pull him under, but he fought the raging rapids. He had to get to Marie.
She turned toward him with wide eyes. She reached out her hands, breathing heavy. A wave swelled over her, dragging her under the water.
Sucking in as much air as his lungs allowed, he dove beneath the surface. The mud and debris made it difficult to see. The tangled strands of Marie’s long hair flowed in his direction. He secured his arm around her waist. His lungs burned and his muscles ached, but he kicked his feet with all his strength. He broke through the surface, pulling Marie up with him, then swam for the riverbank.
Gasping for air, he dragged her motionless body to the muddy ground. He felt her pulse and almost collapsed with relief when her weak heartbeat throbbed against his fingers. He rolled her on her back, wiped the sopping hair from her pale face, and sealed his lips on hers. He breathed his air into her then pumped his hands over her chest. Sirens wailed in the distance.
Her eyes remained closed, her pulse slow and thready.
Owen kept working, kept going through the motions even as his heart splintered. “Marie! Stay with me! Help is coming.”
Her chest spasmed beneath his hands, her mouth slack and her eyes sealed shut.
22
Adull ache pulsed behind Marie’s closed eyes. The desire to keep her eyelids sealed shut almost beat the need to know who clasped her hand and whispered in her ear. She opened her eyes and blinked several times, taking in her surroundings.
A soft glow filtered in from the uncovered window across the room. A steady beep, beep, beep beat along with the rhythm of her heart—a monitor measured her heartbeat and who knew what else. The heavy smell of antiseptic would have clued her into where she was if the medical equipment hadn’t.
Turning her free hand, she studied the IV that pierced her vein. Dizziness floated in her brain, and she shifted her gaze from the tubing to see who clung to her other hand.
Owen sat in a chair next to her hospital bed. His fingers nestled between hers, and he rested his chin on his forearm that nuzzled along her side. He grinned, flashing his adorable dimples, and stared into her eyes. “You’re awake.”
Alarm shot through her, making the machine beside her beep like a slot machine. “Where’s Nora?”
“She’s at the shelter with Laura and Mrs. Collins. Safe and sound.”
Gratitude tightened her aching chest. Nora was in good hands. She licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. “What time is it?” The words burned her esophagus. “Is there any water?”
Owen leaned toward a small table beside him and grabbed a plastic cup. He angled the straw toward her mouth. “It’s morning. You were brought here last night. You fell asleep as soon as we got you settled in a bed.”
She sipped and the room-temperature water tasted as good as ice-cold liquid from the Rockies. Leaning back against the plump pillow, she studied the red scratches slashed across his stubbled cheek. “What happened to your face?”
