and turned on his heel to lead Rockfire from his stall.
As she watched the pair leave, disappointment clunked like a horseshoe to the bottom of Stephanie’s stomach.
“What is it now?” she hissed at Alec, popping the latch and exiting the stall. After securing it behind her, she set off after Wesley.
“Places to go?” asked Alec, falling into step.
“Things to do,” she responded, with a toss of her hair. She was going to watch Wesley’s practice session. It was part of her job as his coach. Plus, she’d be there when he finished. And by then, Alec should be long gone.
“I’m trying to help you, you know.”
“I can tell.”
“Is your sex life more important than your company?”
Stephanie increased her pace, stomping forward, ignoring Alec’s question.
Sex life.
Ha! She couldn’t even get a kiss.
She passed through the open barn doorway, squinting into the bright sunshine, focusing on Wesley who was across the ranch road, mounting Rockfire.
Too late, she heard the roar of the pickup engine, then the sickening grind of tires sliding on gravel.
She had a fleeting glimpse of Amber’s horrified face at the wheel before a strong arm clamped around Stephanie’s waist and snatched her out of harm’s way.
Alec whirled them both, sheltering Stephanie against the barn wall, his body pressed protectively against hers as the truck slid sideways, fishtailing out of control, roaring past to miss them by inches.
“You okay?” his voice rasped through the billowing dust.
She told herself to nod, but her brain was slow in interpreting the signal.
“You okay?” he tried again, louder.
This time, Stephanie managed a nod.
“Stay here,” he commanded.
And suddenly, he was gone. Without Alec’s physical support, her knees nearly gave way. She grabbed at the wall, mustering her balance, blinking the blur from her eyes while the world moved in slow motion.
As she turned, she took in two ranch hands across the road. Their eyes were wide, mouths gaping. Wesley struggled to control Rockfire, turning the big horse in dust-cloud circles.
Stephanie followed the direction of the hands’ attention. A roar filled her ears as Amber’s blue truck keeled up on the left wheels.
Alec was rushing toward it
Stephanie tried to scream. She tried to run. But her voice clogged down in her chest, and her legs felt like lead weights.
Then the truck overbalanced, crashing down on the driver’s door, spinning in a horrible, grinding circle until it smacked up against an oak tree.
The world zapped back to normal speed. Amongst the cacophony of shouts and motion, Alec skidded to a stop. He peered through the windshield for a split second, then he clambered his way up to the passenger door, high in the air.
He wrenched it open, and Stephanie’s body came back to life. She half ran, half staggered down the road, Amber’s name pulsing over and over through her brain.
Alec swiftly lowered himself into the truck.
Stephanie grew closer, praying Amber was all right.
Suddenly Alec’s sole cracked against the inside of the windshield, popping it out.
“Bring a truck,” he shouted, and two of the ranch hands took off running.
Stephanie made it to the scene to see blood dripping down Amber’s forehead. The realization that this was all her fault, made her stagger.
Alec met her eyes. “She’s okay,” he told her, his voice steady and reassuring. “Call Royce. But tell him she’s okay.”
Stephanie saw that Amber’s eyes were open.
She looked dazed, but when Alec spoke to her, Amber answered back.
His hands moved methodically over her body, arms, legs, neck and head.
But then Stephanie saw it.
Alec saw it, too.
People ran for fire extinguishers, while Alec fumbled with Amber’s seat belt.
While he worked, he spoke calmly and firmly.
Stephanie couldn’t hear the words, but Amber nodded and swallowed. She wrapped her arms around Alec’s neck, as the first flames snaked out from under the hood.
He spoke to Amber again, and she closed her eyes, burying her face against Alec’s neck. His arms tightened around her, and he slowly, gently eased her through the opening left by the windshield.
Stephanie held her breath, her glance going from the growing flames, to Amber and back again.
Wesley appeared by her side. “You okay?”
The question annoyed her. “I’m fine.” It was Amber who was in trouble. And Alec, who might get hurt or worse trying to save her.
The flame leaped higher.
Alec’s foot touched the ground outside the truck.
He gripped Amber close to his chest, rising to rush away.
“Get back!” he shouted to the growing crowd, just as the hood blew open, missing the tree trunk and cracking against the roof of the cab.
He staggered forward, but stayed upright and didn’t lose his grip on Amber.
Three hands arrived with fire extinguishers, aiming them at the engulfed truck.
Stephanie backed away from the heat. Remembering the cell phone in her hand, she quickly dialed Royce’s number.
Another pickup pulled up, and Alec lay Amber carefully across the bench seat.
“Don’t try to move,” he warned her.
“Hello?” Royce’s voice came into Stephanie’s phone.
“Royce?” Her voice shook.
“Stephanie?”
She didn’t know what to say.
Alec scooped the phone. “Alec here.” He took a breath. “There’s been an accident. Amber’s fine.” A pause. “No. No one else was in the truck.” He glanced at Stephanie, then down at Amber. “She’s conscious.”
He moved the phone away from his mouth. “Can you talk to Royce?”
Amber nodded, so Alec handed her the phone. Then he motioned to everyone else to back off. They obeyed, with the exception of Wesley who still hovered next to Stephanie.
When Amber put the phone to her ear and listened, tears welled up in her eyes. Stephanie instinctively moved in to comfort her, but Alec stopped her with his arm.
“Don’t touch her,” he whispered, keeping his arm braced around Stephanie’s waist.
He reached into his pocket, retrieving his own cell phone.
Stephanie looked at him with a question.
“Medical chopper,” he said in a low voice, turning away from Amber to speak to emergency services.
Stephanie’s attention immediately returned to Amber. Blood was still oozing from the cut on her forehead, and there was a wicked bruise forming on her right shoulder. Her blouse was torn, her knuckles scraped.
Was she really okay? Had Alec lied to Royce? And what did Alec know anyway? He wasn’t a doctor.
Okay, so he knew enough to pull Amber from a burning truck.
That was something.
That was huge.
While Stephanie, Stephanie had been stupid enough to march out in front of Amber and cause all this.
