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  His wife, Ruth, sat on the sofa, knitting. She said it helped her to stay calm. Vanessa was talking to her as if they were old friends and Ruth was showing his wife how to knit. He had to restrain himself from laughing. Vanessa evidently was on too much medication.

  Marisa sat on the love seat nestled against Colter. His grandchildren, Ellie and Jack, were staying with Tulley, who lived with them. The man had raised Colter and was like a father to him. The kids treated him like a grandfather and that annoyed Richard, too. But it was best the children weren’t here.

  Thelma served coffee and Richard noticed Sam’s hand shook as he took it.

  “Daddy, remember that time Cari fell out of the tree?” the younger son, Chase, asked.

  “Sure do. I told her a million times not to climb that tree, but she had to prove she could.”

  “When she got to the top she looked down and froze.” Sammy took up the story. “I was on my way up to get her when she lost her balance and fell.”

  “Right on top of me,” Sam said. “I broke her fall.” He stared into his cup. “After that she was always scared of heights. I…I…wasn’t there to break her fall this time.”

  “Daddy.” Kitty, the younger sister, hugged him. “Cari was always headstrong and independent.”

  “Yeah. Cari’s my middle child, the stubborn one.”

  “She was determined to conquer her fear of flying and she did.” Marisa joined the conversation.

  Ruth stopped knitting. “She said she was coming home for Sam’s birthday and I was going to make her favorite food, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy.”

  “You have a close connection to your children,” Vanessa remarked. “Sometimes I feel I barely know mine.”

  “Oh, Vanessa, I’m sorry.”

  “I am, too. When Reed comes back I’m going to cook him something.”

  “You don’t cook, Vanessa,” Richard reminded her.

  “Maybe it’s time I learned.” She glanced at Ruth. “Would you teach me?”

  “Sure I will.”

  “You’re losing your mind, Vanessa.” He turned and went back to his study. The ring of the phone had him hurrying toward it.

  Mr. Avery was on the line and everyone gathered at the door. Richard put the call on speakerphone.

  “A plane has located the wreckage. It’s on the far side of one of the Davis Mountains. One wing is clearly visible. We’re trying to get a helicopter in there to land, but it’s very treacherous. We should have more information shortly.”

  “Are there any survivors?” Richard asked.

  “It’s too early to tell. As soon as we get someone on the ground to investigate, we’ll know more.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Avery,” Sam said. “We appreciate all that you’re doing.”

  “Things will move quickly now.”

  “Call the minute you hear anything,” Richard said.

  “Will do.” The phone went dead.

  Richard glanced at his guests. “Thelma will serve food while we wait.”

  “You’ve been very generous, Mr. Preston,” Ruth said. “Thank you.”

  “Cari works for Dalton’s. It’s the least I can do.”

  Ruth nodded and walked out with the rest. Kitty lingered. She looked a lot like Cari with her dark hair and eyes, except she had some sort of streaks in her hair that seemed clownish to him.

  “Cari loved working for Dalton’s,” she told him.

  He had no idea why the girl was talking to him, but he had no choice but to respond. “She’s very good at her job.”

  “Yes. But she’s a little afraid of you.”

  He glanced up. “Really? I always thought Cari Michaels wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone.”

  Kitty looked at the window to the bright blue sky beyond. “I really hope that’s true.” Tears filled her eyes.

  What was he supposed to do? Comfort her? He felt totally helpless and that made him angry. His son was in a plane crash—he didn’t feel like dealing with other people’s problems right now.

  Marisa appeared in the doorway. “Oh, Kitty. I was looking for you.” Marisa saw the tears and put her arm around the girl. “Come sit with us. Soon we’ll have news.”

  “I’m so afraid, Marisa.”

  “I am, too.”

  Arm in arm they walked out.

  Richard stared at the empty space and wondered why his daughter didn’t feel a need to comfort him.

  BY MIDDAY Reed and Cari were hot, exhausted and thirsty. The plane had not made another appearance and Reed began to despair of the whole situation. They needed water.

  His throat was dry and all he could taste was dust. The scarf tied around his head was beginning to bother him. He removed it and stuffed it into the backpack. He didn’t need it anymore.

  A jackrabbit jumped out from behind a rock and hopped away.

  Cari gasped. “Did you see the ears on that thing?”

  “Yeah. Have you noticed we’re starting to see more birds and animals?”

  “So that means we’re close to water?”

  “I’m hoping.”

  Cari removed her lightweight suit jacket. “Is it hotter today?”

  Reed stared at her and she followed his gaze to the deep purple bruises on her forearms. “That must have happened in the crash.” She probably got them pulling him out of the plane. At that moment he realized she’d risked her life to save his. “You probably have more bruises.”

  “I’m too tired to look for them.” She stretched out on the hard ground and rested her head on her jacket.

  Reed stared at her and felt so many things, but above everything he experienced a deep sense of joy that he knew her and she was in his life. They were both getting weak and they had to have water or food. He had to do something. Suddenly he caught sight of the prickly pear cactus in front of them. They were seeing more cacti, too.

  He grabbed the backpack and rummaged through it. “Is there a nail file or something sharp in here?”

  “I don’t know,” she mumbled and he watched her drift into an exhausted sleep. They needed nourishment so he kept searching. He unzipped an inside pocket and found fingernail polish, an emery board and a small metal nail file. Just what he needed.

  He moved toward the cactus and carefully plucked away needles. Damn. Needles pierced his fingers but he kept plucking until he had one stem bare. Then he did the same to another and his fingers were beginning to feel like a pincushion. With the file he managed to haphazardly cut the stems from the plant.

  Scooting back to Cari, he said, “How about lunch?”

  “Make it a double cheeseburger with a super-sized Coke,” she murmured. “And lots of ice.”

  “How about cactus?”

  She opened one eye and he wiggled the flat, fat stem in front of her. She sat up immediately. “Where did you get that?”

  He pointed to the cactus. “I believe it’s a prickly pear. It’s a little different than the others we’ve seen. I’ve always heard these plants have healing powers, so I’m hoping they’re good to eat. Are you game?”

  “You bet.”

  With the file, he split it up the center and pulled the tough skin away to reveal a succulent inside. He tasted it. “Mmm.” He licked his lips. “Not bad. It tastes like a cross between green beans and okra. Juicy, but a bit slimy. Of course, my taste buds might be numb from hunger.” He handed it to her. “Be careful, there still might be needles. I tried to pull off most of them.”

  “Wait.” He took her hand and rubbed the cactus onto the fading burn and then did the same to the other. “That should help.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cari sucked at the cactus greedily. He stopped and watched her. “Oh, this is heavenly.”

  “I wouldn’t call it that.” He cut open the other one and took a bite.

  “I’m pretending it’s ice cream. Homemade peach just the way my mama makes in the summertime when the peaches are ripe.”

  He stopped eating. “Your mother makes ice cream?�
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  “Sure. As kids we all took turns cranking the handle on the old ice-cream maker. We were excited when Dad bought her an electric one.”

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever had homemade ice cream.”

  “If we get off this mountain, I’ll make you some.”

  Out of the clear blue he wondered if Daphne would make ice cream for him. The thought was insane and he didn’t know where it had come from. Daphne didn’t need to make him ice cream. She just had to be in his life, sharing the highs and the lows.

  But she wasn’t.

  Cari was.

  The sun was hot on his head and he moved uncomfortably, not from the heat but from the thoughts running through his mind. Would Daphne have pulled him from a crashed plane about to burst into flames? Would she have risked her life to save his?

  He honestly didn’t believe Daphne was that strong, but he didn’t need her to be. She was perfect the way she was.

  Cari was different. Her strength and her confidence was always evident in everything she did, from helping Homer conquer his nervousness, to standing up to the board when she thought something was beneficial to Dalton’s. She was a fighter, a survivor.

  And he was grateful to her for his life.

  They continued to eat the cactus and then Reed went back to cut more so they could carry some with them. After a couple of attempts to cut the stem, the file broke.

  “Damn it.”

  “What?”

  He held up two pieces of the file. “It’s no good now. I can’t do anything with these tiny pieces.”

  “At least we had some nourishment.”

  He sat down next to her and offered her another piece.

  “May I ask you a question?” Cari sat cross-legged and sucked the last juicy bit from the cactus and slowly laid it on the ground.

  “Sure. I have all the time in the world.”

  She licked the remains from her lips and he watched the movement, almost mesmerized.

  Looking straight at him, she asked, “Why did you kiss me on the Fourth of July?”

  Maybe he didn’t have all the time in the world to explain that one. Mainly because he really didn’t know.

  He shrugged. “The happiness of the day, the moonlight, your beautiful face, I’m not sure.”

  “And.” She snapped her fingers. “Instantly regretted it. I believe you called it a mistake. The sun might be getting to my brain, but I want you to know that hurt my feelings.”

  He never dreamed he’d hurt her. “I’m sorry. It was just a friendly kiss.”

  “Yeah, well, what was I going to say after that?”

  He frowned at the tone of her voice. “Did you want me to keep kissing you?”

  She sprang to her feet, all her tiredness seemed to have disappeared. “I want you to be honest why you did it.”

  “I am.”

  “You’re a liar, Reed Preston.” She struck off down the mountain by herself.

  “Cari,” he called after her, not having a clue where all this was coming from. One minute she was content eating cactus and the next she was all steamed up about a kiss.

  “Cari.” He grabbed the backpack, her jacket, and caught up with her. “What are you getting at?”

  She turned to face him. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out on a date?”

  “What!”

  “Do you want me to count the numerous times we worked late and you never suggested going out for a drink? Do you want me to name the endless functions that required a date and you always asked someone else? Do you want me to point out the holidays and birthdays we were invited to and you always made a point of leaving early to make sure everyone knew we weren’t a couple? Oh yeah, Reed, you’re great for my ego.”

  He felt the color draining from his face. “I never…”

  “That’s my point. You never thought of Cari. Never! Yet one evening you suddenly kiss her and act as if you’ve been branded by fire. And a mere two months later you’re madly in love and engaged. Well, congratulations!” She turned and ran, tripped, and her body went rolling down the mountain.

  “Cari!” he shouted and half ran and half skidded after her.

  She lay on her stomach, so still and lifeless. Fear jumped into his throat. He gently turned her over. “Cari, Cari!”

  Moaning, she opened her eyes. “Oh.” She touched her head and winced.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What was in that cactus?”

  She made a face. “Truth serum?” She gingerly sat up and glanced down. “Why am I wet?”

  Reed noticed the knees of his jeans were wet. The ground was wet.

  “I’m sitting in water,” Cari said excitedly.

  “Yes. There has to be a spring or something close by.” He lifted her to her feet. “Cari—”

  Her words cut him off. “Let’s find the water.”

  He wanted to talk this out, but water was more important. As he trailed after her he kept thinking about the unexpected kiss.

  Why had he kissed her?

  Chapter Six

  Suddenly there was grass, green grass. Cari knew water had to be close. Pushing back some weeds, she stopped short. A pool lay before her. She blinked. Was it a mirage?

  She hurried toward it and fell down, her slacks greedily soaking up the water. Her reflection held her spellbound for a moment. Her hair was glued to her head from sweat. Not a pretty picture. She could care less. Water—life-giving liquid was before her.

  Cupping her hands, she dipped them into the water and brought it to her parched lips. She drank her fill and dipped her hands once again.

  Swallowing the cool water, she froze. A huge cat appeared on the other side of the pool, growling low in its throat. The tannish-brown fur rose on its back and strength and power was evident in the sleek muscled body.

  “It’s okay,” Reed said in a soothing, soft tone. “Don’t move or run. A cat will chase its prey,” he whispered to Cari, and then kept talking to the cat, “We pose no threat. It’s okay.”

  The big cat visibly relaxed.

  At that moment a deer appeared from the tall grass to drink. The cat immediately bounded after it and the chase was on. Cari looked away, not wanting to see if the cat caught the deer. She just wanted to feast on the water. Even though she was frightened, she desperately needed water. Without it they would die.

  She drank her fill while watching the perimeter closely. “It must have been a female.”

  Reed knelt and cupped his hands, drinking from the pool. He swiped a hand across his mouth and gave her a quizzical look. “Why do you say that?”

  “The cat responded to you. All women do.”

  He sat in the grass and she felt his eyes on her. “You never did. Or I never thought you did.”

  She raised her eyes to his. “Forget what I said back there. The sun made me light-headed.”

  “I think we need to talk about it.”

  Why had she been so forthright? The words had just come pouring out and she couldn’t seem to stop them. She’d said she’d never tell him how she felt, but what if they died out here in the desert? That kept running through her mind. This was really her last chance. The words stuck in her throat, though.

  Rejection was strong on her mind and heavy in her chest. She never wanted to experience that kind of pain again. But what did it matter now? They weren’t in Dallas. They were alone and might die that way.

  “Okay.” She plucked a blade of grass and studied it. “I’ve had a crush on you since the first time I saw you, so you see that makes me just like every other woman.”

  “You’ll never be like every other woman.”

  They stared at each other for endless seconds and something tangible, something real, passed between them. Cari knew they both could feel it.

  “You hide it very well,” he added.

  “Yes. Rule number one—Never let your boss know you’re in…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
r />   “In love with him?”

  “Maybe.” Admitting that out loud might take something stronger than prickly pear cactus followed by a couple of handfuls of water.

  “Cari…”

  “Like I said, let’s forget I lost my mind for a moment.”

  “I kissed you that night because I wanted to.”

  Her eyes flew to his, hardly believing he was admitting that. “But you’re Marisa’s best friend and you work for me. Those two things pulled me back. I don’t get involved with anyone who works for me. It’s bad for Dalton’s and my focus has to always be on Dalton’s and its future. If we plunged into an affair, it could not only be detrimental to the company but also to your career. And I know your career is the most important thing to you.”

  She played with the grass, each word bruising her tired soul.

  “The moment I kissed you I realized I was putting Dalton’s and your career in jeopardy. I backed off immediately.”

  Nice to know he had that much willpower. Or that she was less than tempting. She laid the blade in the grass, also looking for somewhere to tuck her pride.

  Glancing around, she saw an iridescent green beetle crawling in the grass, and there were big flies around the pool. Every creature out here, big or small, must come here for water. It was the big ones that bothered her. This was not the place to have a chat. Too many dangers.

  “We better move on before the cat comes back. What was it anyway?” She was eager to change the subject. The last thing she wanted was to expose her broken heart. Oddly enough, a broken heart was still painful whether you were in Dallas or out in the middle of nowhere fighting to survive.

  “Probably a cougar. I heard there were some out here.”

  They both heard the noise at the same time and turned to see a piglike creature emerge from the grass to drink.

  Cari wrinkled her nose. “Oh, heavens, it stinks. That has to be a javelina or is it called a musk hog?”

  “I’m not sure. Just be very still,” he replied. “With those sharp tusks he could rip us to pieces.”

  She held her breath as the pig slurped up the water and then quickly darted into the weeds, as eager to get away from them as they were for him to go.