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“The question is how areyou? Everyone has been worried sick. You should call your mom, Ruby.”
“I will. I’m just…I couldn’t talk to anyone yet.”
“Are you hurt?” His voice breaks. “Hang up and call an ambulance. I’ll call a few friends to get there right away.”
“No, no, it’s okay. I’m not hurt, Uncle Pierre. Really.” I try to inject lightness into my voice so he doesn’t panic. “I’ll be okay until you get back. I might just need some help getting out of this snow so I can get to your place.”
“Oh dear. I didn’t leave a set of keys there. Oh, honey. The thing is, I’m supposed to fly from Provo to LA on Monday for a conference, but I can come home and see about you and then fly out from there.”
“No,” I insist. “Don’t change your plans for me. Do what you need to do.”
“It’s almost a week. I was supposed to be there until Thursday.”
“Do it. I’ll be okay…I’ll figure this out.”
He clears his throat and his voice is authoritative when he speaks again. Uncle Pierre in action is something to be seen. “Tell me exactly where you are.”
I describe where I turned off and the lights I see in what seems to be a house not too far away.
“I’ll call you back in two minutes,” he says. “Get back in your vehicle until then.”
“Okay,” I say, but he’s already hung up.
I don’t get back in the vehicle. Dolly’s too shaken up to leave her right now. And Uncle Pierre does call back in two minutes.
“Help is on the way. I was able to reach Callum Landmark. You’re on his property and he’ll help you. You can trust him. His sister owns a resort and they’ll be able to set you up until I get back.”
I start to tell him I have a little more than just myself to consider in staying somewhere overnight, but a truck pulls up behind me, lights shining bright.
Dolly’s chirps turn into a drumming sound, and I pet her reassuringly. When the truck door closes, a tall man strides toward me. When he steps into the light from his truck, it’s just bright enough for me to see that he might also be extremely good-looking.
At least from what I can tell, I think…maybe…oh yeah, he is. He’s also wearing the biggest scowl I’ve ever seen.
Fierce.
Yikes.I giggle and cover my mouth.
I stand up taller and forget to hold onto my veil. It flies out in front of me and brushes across the man’s face.
He dusts it off, his frown deepening, and stalks closer. I feel a rush of nerves and adrenaline.
Uncle Pierre said I can trust him, I remind myself, shuffling my feet in the freezing cold.
My mom’s motto plays on repeat. It’s like she’s perched on my shoulder saying it:Ruby Sunshine Jones is afraid of no one. Love, light, and sunshine, baby!
“Ruby Jones?” His voice is husky and wraps around me like a cozy blanket.
How that’s possible with his grumbly voice and deep glower is beyond me. Fascinating.
“Callum Landmark,” he says a little louder. “Your uncle called.”
Dolly moves quickly and steps protectively in front of me, the drumming sound intensifying from her chest. Callum shines a flashlight on us and she startles, getting louder.
“The hell?” he says under his breath.
“Uh, hi! Yes, I’m Ruby,” I say, peering around Dolly. “And this is my emu, Dolly.”
CHAPTER TWO
