Page 61 of Mountain Rescue
Rachel laughed as she joined Bella on the bed. “What little monster have you got under there, Bella Boo?” She tapped the sheet, and the lump darted for her finger.
Bella looked at Rachel, and Dallas could swear there was a grin on the dog’s face. He leaned back against the wall, his gaze going first to Bella, the dog that had been ready to give up on life not so long ago. He’d understood because he’d been there. Now her coat was shiny, she was gaining weight—her ribs hardly showing anymore—and the once dull chocolate eyes were alert and happy.
Rachel was moving her hand over the bedcover for the kitten to chase. His heart took a weird bounce as she played with Blue while carrying on a conversation with Bella. How could he keep them, all three of them?
He couldn’t. Well, maybe the kitten, but it would break Bella’s heart if he took her baby back to Montana with him. Bella belonged to Jack and would eventually become a service dog for one of their wounded brothers or sisters, so there was no keeping her.
As for Rachel...
There was no way around it. He was going to have to let her go. In the same way he wouldn’t be able to survive living in LA, she’d hate living out in the middle of nowhere on a ranch in Montana. If some asshole wasn’t out to kill her, he’d leave right now and go home before he fell for her. He was almost there already. Since he couldn’t do that, he needed to take a step back. No more falling for a beautiful wildcat.
He was halfway out the door when she said, “Show me what all this paracord bracelet does.” He turned toward her but didn’t step back into the room. The kitten was out from under the covers and curled up under Bella’s chin. Bella was looking at him as if also interested in his answer.
“You can google all the things.” He really needed to go somewhere where she wasn’t for a while, before he begged her for things she couldn’t give him.
“I want you to show me,” she said.
Eff him! He couldn’t refuse her, even though he totally should. She was going to be the biggest regret in his life. Cursing himself, he stepped back into the bedroom and took the bracelet from her. “Are you familiar with these at all?”
“Well, I know they’re made out of parachute cords and can be used for a lot of things.” She took it from him and studied it. “I see a compass, a small blade, and what is that?”
“A whistle. If you’re lost in the woods, it comes in handy. You can also start a fire, catch fish, and make a shelter among other things.” He showed her how to remove the blade. “If you’re tied up, you can free yourself or use it to clean the fish you caught with the paracord.”
“This is so cool, the best present I’ve ever gotten.” She slid the blade back in place.
He laughed. “You’re weird.”
“Put it on me.” She handed it him, then held out her wrist.
After snapping it on her, he traced a finger over the bracelet. “You know this means we’re engaged now.” Yeah, he was waving a white flag of surrender. There was no way he could shut her out while he was anywhere near her, so he was giving in. He’d enjoy being with her until it was time for them to return to their homes. He’d deal with missing her then, because he was going to.
“You’re ridiculous.” She grinned at him, then held up her bracelet and admired it.
“Is that any way to talk to your fiancé?”
“How about I show you my appreciation?”
“If you insist.”
“Oh, I do.” She tackled him and spent the next hour showing him her appreciation.
Someone sounded like they were in agony. Rachel first thought she was dreaming, but as the voice continued saying the same thing over and over, an edge of determination mixed in with the pain, she blinked open her eyes. It took a few seconds to realize Dallas was saying his name, rank, serial number, and birthdate over and over.
She reached over and turned on the lamp. Bella had taken to sleeping at their feet with her kitten, but now she was on her belly next to Dallas, her worried gaze on him. She glanced at Rachel and whined, as if wanting Rachel to do something.
Dallas was curled in a fetal position with his hands over his head, and it didn’t take a genius to know that he was having a nightmare of his time as a prisoner. In between his words, he flinched and made a tormented sound deep in his throat, and she sensed that he was determined not to cry out. Because of his scarred body, she knew, without him ever telling her what he’d endured, that his treatment had been brutal.
She hated that he was reliving that time in his sleep. Should she wake him? What if he thought she was one of his tormentors and tried to attack her? He would never forgive himself if he accidently hurt her. But she couldn’t bear to let him go on reliving his torture. Even though he was dreaming, the pain was real. She could hear that in his voice.
“Dallas, wake up.” She put her hand on his shoulder and shook it. He continued saying his name, rank, serial number, and birthdate. Bella’s whines grew louder, and she stood and went back to the foot of the bed.
Rachel wasn’t sure what made her do it, but she scooted over and wrapped herself around Dallas’s body and held him. It was as if the dam had broken, and she could feel him. The pain pouring from him was almost unbearable, but she didn’t let go. If he could endure it, so could she. It hurt, though, so badly. How had he survived weeks of this agony?
She’d never tried to send an emotion back to someone, and didn’t know if it was possible, but she had to try. She closed her mind to all but soothing calm and peace, then imagined sending it to him while she quietly talked to him.
“I’ve got you, cowboy. You’re safe with me.” As she softly talked to him, he shuddered and grew quiet.
“Are you awake?” she whispered. He answered with a soft sigh, and she realized he was still asleep but no longer dreaming.
