I studied Garth toeing the ledge, adjusting the rope just so. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he had a streak of hero running inside of him somewhere. “I have to say, you’re pretty much the last person I would have thought would come save the day,” I said.
Garth cracked his neck and continued examining the rope. “I’ve ridden this ridge dozens of times.”
“So it isn’t really Suicide Ridge?”
A corner of Garth’s mouth twitched. “Only at night during a torrential downpour.”
“Ah, fantastic,” I muttered. “I feel so much better.”
“Ready down here, Garth!” Jesse shouted.
“All right!” Garth headed toward his horse, then looked back at me. “You ever wondered if cows could fly?” He flashed a wink. “Well, you’re about to see it with your own eyes.”
“How about a little less talking and a little more working?” I called after him as I looked over the ledge. I couldn’t tell how long I had taken to get up the face, but I wanted to be ready for that little thing whenever it got there. I already heard it crying its little calf cry.
“Gid’ up, boy,” Garth said, clucking his tongue. The rope starting moving up the face, around the tree, and down the trail. The calf was really giving her vocal chords a workout. I wasn’t sure if she was bouncing her way along the side as the rope pulled her up, or if she was trying to climb, but either way, she didn’t sound very happy about the entire situation.
“I can see her!” I shouted at Garth. “She’s almost over the ledge.”
“As soon as she is, give me a shout!” Garth yelled back.
The calf was making so much noise I wanted to cover my ears, but as soon as I grabbed her and pulled her up onto the trail, she calmed.
“Stop!” I yelled.
The rope went slack, and Garth rushed toward us.
The calf wasn’t even struggling. Thank God, because she was a sturdy little thing, and I’d have my work cut out for me if she did decide to put up a fight.
“She’s safe, Jesse! I’ve got her! She’s safe!” And then, for reasons I wasn’t sure I’d ever understand, I started crying. Almost sobbing.
Garth couldn’t have looked more uncomfortable if he was wearing eyeliner and a tutu. After giving me a quick pat on the back and mumbling good job, he made quick work of untying the knots Jesse had fastened around the calf.
I sat in the trail, holding the calf, crying like the idiot I was, while Garth wrapped the rope around his arm again.
“All right. Two down. One more to go,” Garth said before leaning over the edge. “Rope’s coming down, Jess. If you don’t make it to the top of this thing quicker than your girlfriend and a baby cow, I’m never going to let you live it down.”
Jesse’s chuckle rolled up toward us.
“His arm’s broken, Garth. Not to mention his ribs, too,” I said, giving him a small scowl.
“So?” he said before tossing the rope over the side again. “He can take a few pain relievers when he gets back to the ranch. You’re not dealing with your wussy city boys, Rowen.”
“That’s right,” I said, rolling my eyes even though he had his back to me. “I forgot you all are invincible gods.”
Garth looked over his shoulder, “Nope, we’ve even better than that.” I could see his smile gleam. “We’re cowboys.”
“Set your timer!” Jesse hollered up. “Because I’m climbing!”
Garth gave another cluck of his tongue, and the rope snapped tight. I closed my eyes, held the calf tighter, and said a silent prayer. I’d never prayed before. I’d never known who to pray to. I didn’t know who I was praying to now, but I sensed someone was listening.
“Get ready for him, Rowen!” Garth shouted at me. “That crazy S.O.B. really is going for some kind of a record.”
My eyes snapped open and, sure enough, that rope was gliding up at least twice as fast as it had when the calf was coming up. I moved the once-again-asleep calf off of my lap, made sure she was tucked away from the ledge, then crawled toward it. Toward him.
Even in the dark, his white shirt cut right through the black. That, and his smile. He was climbing, using his legs and one arm in an odd looking but efficient way, toward me. His eyes locked on mine and his smile stretched.
A few seconds later, Jesse’s hand dug into the dirt over the ledge. I grabbed it, dug my heels into the ground, and pulled. Working together, we pulled him onto the trail.
“I’ve got him!” I called out to Garth, cradling Jesse to me. “I’ve got you,” I whispered before kissing the top of his head.
“Yeah,” he said, winding his arm around my waist, “you sure do.”
We rested that way for a minute, holding each other as we both regained our breaths.
“You found me, Rowen.” He lifted his head. His eyes were shiny. “You came and found me.”
I grabbed his hand and lifted it to my face. “Just returning the favor.”
Chapter Nineteen
We were back at the bus station. Back at the beginning.
Another month had gone by. Another month that was too good to be true. Another month with Jesse and the family I’d adopted as my own.
After making it back to the ranch the night of the storm, Jesse had been taken to the hospital to get splint up, cast up, and sewn up. He’d gotten his way, though. We’d crawled into a warm bed together later that night, although it was almost morning by then.