Seth walked for what seemed like hours until his phone pinged.
Spotted nothing overt, Jude messaged, but Farmer Zane couldn’t explain why there’s fresh oil drops on his driveway and yet his truck engine’s cold. With a warrant, I can check in the barn and outbuildings for Nora’s vehicle. Calling for one now and I’m watching the house. Report?
Nothing, Seth reluctantly texted back.
And that’s when he noticed a rut in the soft earth outside the gate to the property. He shone his phone light over the ground, but there was no sign of any other disturbance. His imagination? Or perhaps other marks had been brushed away? A light rain had begun to fall, muddying the ground.
Checking something, Seth texted.
What? Jude demanded immediately, but instead of replying, Seth used the light, shielded by his cupped fingers. It was a gouge in the earth, as if something substantial might have been dragged along. He decided to walk west, away from the gate, and he texted Jude, but the swirling “sending” dots indicated he was in a dead zone. Should he go back and report to Jude or keep going?
Urgency drove him forward. A few broken branches begged him to come closer and he pushed through, wet leaves splatting his forehead.
“Nora?” he whispered. Had he heard something or was it the hammering of his heart against his rib cage? “Nora?” he called again.
A faint reply, high-pitched and quavering, made his whole body prickle. “Down here.”
“Nora,” he shouted now, plunging into the bushes, heedless of the grasping branches. He almost fell into the hole nearly concealed by a lip of jutting rocks. Catching himself, he crashed to his knees and shoved his head into the opening. “Are you down there?”
Maybe he wanted it so badly his mind was supplying what he wanted to believe. How could it actually be her? He shone his light into what appeared to be a bottomless rocky chute, the flicker unable to penetrate the darkness.
But the word that drifted up to his straining ears lit him up like the brightest torch.
“Seth.”
Swamped with relief, he shoved his head and shoulders in as far as he dared. “I’m going to get you out.”
“There’s a ladder hidden somewhere up there.”
A ladder? He tore himself away and prowled the bushes, checking again to see if he had a signal. More twirling dots, but he sent the text to Jude anyway. His boot whacked into the bottom rung of a ladder lying flat on the ground underneath the bushes.
Muscles quivering, he dragged it free and lugged it to the edge of the shaft. It took some time and maneuvering, but he lowered the unwieldy thing into the darkness.
He heard her cry of pain. “What’s wrong?”
“I hurt my ankle,” Nora said. “I don’t think I can’t climb up.”
“Then I’m coming down to get you,” he said, even as he was tackling the first few rungs. His arm and upper thigh were tremoring but he pushed that from his mind. Get to Nora. Get her out. The words played a deafening drumbeat in his mind.
He hit the bottom rung and stepped into a pile of squishy debris. Whirling, heart beating as if it would explode, he turned and found her. His Nora, he thought as he embraced her.
She leaned against him, choking with sobs, her body quaking.
“It’s okay now. We’re going to get out of here.”
“Zane...” she half whispered, half sobbed. She could not say the rest, so he shined a light in the direction she pointed.
Seth saw the booted foot protruding from the mess of debris. He stifled a groan. “Kai will pay for what he’s done to his brother. But right now, we need to get out of here.”
She wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands. “No argument, but...” She tried again to put weight on her ankle. The pain made her unable to sustain it. Climbing would be out of the question.
“No problem. Hold on to my waist.”
She did and they made it a few rungs up before Seth’s compromised side began to give out. He continued on doggedly, his limbs heating with the effort, but he knew he would not make it. He had no choice but to return them to the bottom. Distraught, he tried again to send a text with no result. He had no idea if Jude had gotten his last texts.
There had to be a way to get out of the shaft. Why would God have brought him so far only to leave him unable to get Nora out?
To get his attention, she touched his cheek, her fingertips freezing cold. He caught them between his palms, desperate to warm her. “Just need to rest a minute,” he said.
She shook her head. “No you don’t. It’s too much, dragging both of us.”
“Nora,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’m not giving up until you’re safe and out of here. Understand?”
“Yes,” she said with the barest gleam of a smile. “But I was thinking, you’ve got an injured right side and I’ve got a tweaked left ankle. That means between us, we should be able to rustle up all the arms and legs we need.”
“What?”
“Can I have a piggyback ride? I’ll be your right arm and you can be my left leg.”
He gaped. He would have believed her to be joking, if he didn’t hear the determination in her voice. “Let’s get out of here, Seth. Together. It’s the only way.”
Together. How he loved the sound of it. She climbed onto his back, looped her arm around his neck and held on. Together he hauled them up one step, holding on with his good hand and Nora clasping the rung tightly with hers. Awkwardly, ungracefully, with excruciating effort, they advanced up the rungs.
The top one was the hardest since they were both exhausted.
“Let go and climb out,” Seth commanded.
“Together,” Nora panted.
“This is the finish line, Nora. You cross first.”
“No.”
“Allow me to be a gentleman here,” he rasped. “Ladies first.”
With a sigh, she climbed out, immediately turning around on her knees to grip his arm as he tried to follow suit. His muscles were at their limit but Nora tugged for all she was worth and Seth managed to crawl from the shaft. They knelt together, gasping for breath, but only for a few seconds.
He was struggling to his feet when a shot blasted over his head. With his last strength, he pulled Nora behind him and rose to face their attacker.
Nora read the desperation on Kai’s face and in the way he gripped the shotgun. He shook his head. “All right. Plan B. I’m not going to jail, do you hear me? Zane got what he deserved and I’m not going down for that.”
Seth did not move from his position in front of her. “Jude’s here.”
“I know. I snuck out the back door. I only need a few minutes.”
“It’s over,” Seth said quietly. “You can’t get away.”
Kai shrugged. “Guess hostages are my only option now. But I only need one,” he said. “So looks like Seth dies.”
“No,” Nora shouted.
Kai took aim anyway.
“Get down, Nora,” Seth said as he dove for Kai.
Both Kai and Seth tumbled to the ground.
Nora was too terrified to scream, to move. She stumbled, collapsing on her bad ankle, crawling toward Seth, trying to grab for a rock or tree limb she could use as a weapon.
Seth rolled over and delivered a punishing punch to Kai’s chin. He went limp and still just as Jude stepped out of the brush, revolver gripped in both hands. “Move back, Nora. Now.”
Nora did, her blood still iced with fear.
Seth rolled over and worked to get his knees underneath him. Kai lay on his back, groaning, blood trickling from his mouth.
Jude edged forward and kicked the shotgun out of reach. Seth rolled to his feet and checked Kai’s pulse. “Ambulance?” he said.
“Rolling.” Jude grinned. “Not bad for a contractor turned cowboy.”
Seth’s gaze went to Nora. The question was silent, the same one mirrored in Jude’s quick glances.
Are you all right?
It took all her energy to nod.
Jude was still watching Kai but he flicked a glance at her.
“Sis?” he said.
I’m safe, thanks to Seth, and you. Those were the words she wanted to say.
But the only thing that came out of her mouth was a muffled sob. She thanked God from the depths of her soul as Seth took her in his arms.
On Christmas Eve two days later, Nora finished packing and tidying up the trailer. She wandered out to the corral, limping slightly. Bubbles and her little one, whom Seth had insisted should be called Pinky for the pink splotch on her muzzle, stood like silver statues in the moonlight. Nora’s heart was full as she watched the leggy foal nurse from her mother. She didn’t think she had room for more joy, since she’d also heard that Felicia was out of her coma, though she’d have a long road to full recovery, but the donkey duo lifted her spirit.
Felicia would need to be told about Zane, but not just yet, not while she was still so fragile. Olivia had begun to text updates, which was also an encouraging sign. Maybe since she’d heard that Kai was behind the attacks, she’d moved Nora out of the enemy camp.
A car pulled up and Jude hopped out, opening the passenger door for their mother. He gave her his arm and she walked painfully to join Nora at the corral fence.
“She insisted on seeing the new addition,” Jude said.
Kitty cooed and admired the donkey baby for a moment before turning to Nora. “The foal is adorable, as expected, but actually, I wanted to see you. What do you think of my offer?”
Nora took a deep breath. “I would be honored to come home for a while. My room could use a good tidying up.”
Kitty enveloped her in a hug. Jude smiled and wrapped his arms around both of them. “About time my two favorite women were back together.” He gave Nora a squeeze. “Missed you, sis,” he whispered in her ear.
“Ditto,” she said, choking back the emotion. The magnitude of what God had done in her life robbed her of speech for a moment.
“Joining us for Christmas Eve dinner?” Kitty said, pointing to the bedecked tables outside the main house where a firepit cast a soft glow over the whole scene. “Afterwards we go to the late service at the church. It’s so beautiful with the lanterns and holly everywhere.” She swallowed, eyes brimming. “It will be even more beautiful this year.”
And Seth would be there, too, no doubt, with his whole family. The man had saved her life, but out of her stubbornness and fear, she’d made it clear she didn’t want a relationship with him. She’d served up a rejection, like Tanya had. And it had hurt him, hurt them both.
“I...” She turned to see Seth approaching, dressed in black jeans and a neat button-up shirt.
“Come on, Mom,” Jude said. “I’ll drive you closer to the house.”
Kitty allowed herself to be led to the car. They drove slowly away.
Nerves danced in Nora’s stomach as Seth drew near. What should she say? And how?
“I, uh, did I hear right? That you’re going to stay with your mom?” Seth said.
“For a while. Not long term.”
“Ah. Right.” His expression was troubled, though he hid it behind a slight smile. She knew him well enough after what they’d been through.
And you know yourself now too. So what’s it going to be, Nora?
She brushed her hair back from her brow. “I was thinking about what I said before.” She fought back a ripple of panic and rushed on. “When I told you I had no reason to stay in Furnace Falls.”
He nodded. “I remember.”
Courage, Lord. Give me courage. “I saw hurt in your eyes. Am I right about that?”
Now he looked at her curiously. “Yes,” he said after a beat.
“That made me think you...” She inhaled deeply. “That you had feelings for me.” Time ticked to a stop. “Did I get it wrong, Seth?” She sought the answer in his green eyes but the darkness shadowed them.
“No,” he said slowly. “You didn’t. But it’s not just regular feelings.” He rested his forearms on the fencing. “I’m no good at lying, Nora. I fell in love with you.”
Hope surged in her chest, prickling her skin with goose bumps. “You did?” Fell? Past tense?
He sighed. “Yes, but I’m not going to stand in the way of what’s best for you. You don’t want to be here, making a future with me. You said as much.”
The fear of baring her soul made her go cold, but she took his hand, his fingers twining with hers as if they belonged that way. “I was wrong.”
He stared at their joined hands. “Wrong?” He blinked. “I feel like I’m trying to eat a soup sandwich here. You made it clear. You needed my help but you didn’t want anything more.”
She shook her head. “I thought I wanted space and freedom and to blot out what happened here in Furnace Falls, but what I really needed was to forgive myself. God let me do that and, what’s more, He helped me understand I wanted the wrong thing. And now He’s giving me the courage to be completely honest with you.”
Bubbles whinnied softly but Seth didn’t turn his head. He was stock-still, as if he was afraid to move an inch. “And what’s that, Nora?” he murmured. “What do you want?”
Her whole body went suddenly shivery. This was the moment. She could risk everything or make an excuse and walk away. “The reconciliation with my family...”
He smiled. “Check that one off the list.”
She forced out a breath. “I want a man I can love without limits.”
He opened his mouth to speak but remained silent.
She rushed on. “I want and need a life partner, a faith partner, a man who isn’t afraid to be who he is, gentle, kind, strong and steady, and accepts me for who I am, a thistle, prickly with a tender middle.” She inhaled deeply. “What I want and need is you.”
He stared. “Am I dreaming this?”
“Not unless I’m dreaming it with you.” She pulled him away from the rail and traced a finger down his cheek. “I love you, Seth.”
He faced her full-on, but she wasn’t sure if she read shock or happiness in his expression. He pulled his mouth tight and tipped his gaze to the moon. She waited, feeling as if her heart had stopped.
“I fell in love with you over a computer screen,” he said, his voice husky, “and all that’s happened here has only cemented that. I thought it was not going to happen, that you’d leave and I’d try to forget the way you made my life better just by being in it.” He dropped his gaze to hers. “I love you, Nora Duke. And I will love you until God takes us home.”
He sank down onto his knee. “If you’ll be my wife, I can promise a life of laughter and love and lots of bumbling on my part.” His voice quavered. “I’ve got no ring to offer right now but...”
She laughed, a peal of happiness that went right up into the night. “I don’t need a ring, Seth. I just need you,” she whispered.
He jumped up, his arms went around her and her limbs trembled with the sheer pleasure of it. Seth was hers and she was his. He hugged her and swung her around as the donkeys watched, fascinated.
“There’s only one thing left to do,” he said, eyes damp with tears as he set her gently down.
“What’s that?”
“I’ll tell you on the sleigh ride.”
“A sleigh ride? In the desert?”
He grinned and kissed her. “You just wait, Nora Duke. The desert is full of surprises and so am I.”
Seth was still brimming with overwhelming happiness as he led the horses along. They were hitched to an old-fashioned sleigh that glided easily over the sandy path from the barn. They laid extra sand every year to ensure an easy trip for the horses. The route brought them by the corral on the way to the ranch house Christmas tree. Beckett and Austin had worked tirelessly to haul in a new tree and affix fresh ornaments and lights. It glittered in full glory as Seth guided the sleigh. The scent of bubbling stew and warm biscuits made his mouth water. The selection of Christmas pies would wait until after church.
He could hardly bear to let go of Nora’s hand, so he settled for having her sit next to him, holding the cluster of thistles he’d snagged earlier and wrapped in his scarf. In the back seat, Corinne held on to Peter, who was electric with excitement. Next year Mara and Levi would add their new baby to the proceedings.
Life was good. God was good. Seth knew he’d been blessed beyond imagining.
“I can’t believe I’m on a sleigh ride in the desert,” Nora said.
“There’s nothing better than a Death Valley Christmas,” Corinne piped up.
Bubbles and Pinky watched the pageant with curiosity as the sleigh jingled toward their destination. The family was assembled at the tables. He felt like a kid on Christmas morning as he pulled the sleigh to a stop at the Christmas tree.
“I have an announcement to make,” he said to the group clustered with mugs of cider at the ready.
“Have you finally finished remodeling the trailer?” Levi joked.
“Nah,” Jude put in. “He’ll be working on that until he’s ninety at least.”
“Pipe down, you unruly Dukes.” Seth pulled Nora up from her seat. “Nora and I are officially engaged,” he said.
There was a collective cheer. Jude’s whoop of enthusiasm was loudest of all. Kitty’s face was streaked with tears.
“Nora’s going to live with Aunt Kitty while we plan the shindig and she works on her idea to start a donkey sanctuary right here in Furnace Falls, but I want you to clear your calendars for early January.”
“I dunno,” Jude said. “I might be booked.”
Aunt Kitty elbowed him in the ribs. “You most certainly won’t be.”
“You’re right,” Jude said and his smile was wide and genuine as he raised a mug of cocoa. The family followed suit.
“Congratulations to the both of you,” Jude said. “And welcome home, sis.”
“I’ve got a present for the soon-to-be newlyweds,” Levi said.
“Already?” Seth said in surprise.
“Yep. Since you’re gonna stay local, how about we keep Bubbles and Pinky here?”
Nora’s gulp was audible. “Oh, Levi. Thank you so much. I’ve been trying not to think about them going to Colorado.”
“Thank you,” Seth echoed.
“Weirdest wedding gift ever,” Jude said.
Seth could not hold back any longer and he pulled Nora into his arms. He kissed her, wondering how his body could contain so much bliss. The horses shifted, setting their bells jingling, a sound that rose into the star-splashed night.
Yes, he thought. There really was nothing better than a Death Valley Christmas.
If you enjoyed this book, look for the other books in the Desert Justice series:
Framed in Death Valley
Missing in the Desert
Death Valley Double Cross
Death Valley Hideout
Keep reading for an excerpt from Hunted in Alaska by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.