Celine screamed.

Fear barreled through her like the wall of brown water bearing down.

The phone flew from her grasp as she grabbed the steering wheel with both hands.

She punched the gas. Her sandal slipped off the pedal.

The wall of muddy water slammed into the Mercedes.

Terror expanded in her chest in a cold ball that grew ever larger as the water lifted the car at least five feet off the bed of the arroyo.

She caught sight of the bumper of Rod’s car a moment before the car twisted and she screamed again.

On the opposite side, she saw a flash of Starlight tearing down the road with Jayson, heading straight for the raging flashflood.

Meredith’s frantic shouts came through the receiver of the phone sliding around on the floor as Celine was jostled.

The vehicle bounced against rocks and boulders lining the arroyo. Metal creaked. Water sloshed across closed windows and sprayed into the car. The river-sized flashflood roared around her.

Celine felt as if her heart would explode. The car flipped again and raced backward with the flood.

Water started to fill the Mercedes, the flow growing faster and faster as the vehicle sank. The flood had to be at least five feet high.

The vehicle slammed into an embankment and came to a jarring stop.

Celine’s pulse raced, adrenaline pouring through her.

She had to get out of the car.

Had to get out before she drowned.

She unfastened her seatbelt and pressed the button to lower the window. It buzzed two-thirds of the way down and stopped.

She looked up at the sunroof. She found the button and managed to get it a few inches before the car moved and her fingers slipped.

She was flung against the partially opened driver’s side window.

Water the color of chocolate milk sloshed over the lowered window and slapped Celine’s face. The fluid went up her nose and she coughed and sputtered as dirt and debris filled her mouth.

She pressed the button repeatedly to lower the window, but it wouldn’t budge.

More floodwater rushed into the car.

She had to get out. I have to get out. Now!

Could she squeeze through the window opening? She could be trapped if she got stuck.

She’d be trapped if she didn’t.

The car sank faster and faster. She didn’t have time to think about it. She had to try.

She turned back to the window and pushed her upper body through the opening.

Water roared past and covered most of her. If—no when—she got out, she might be swept along with the power of the flood.

The water slapped her brutally as she wriggled through the partially opened space.

Debris hit her shoulder and a branch punched her back, nearly knocking the breath from her at the same time pain lanced her body.

She squirmed harder. Her hips stuck in the opening. She tilted her head back to keep the rising, thundering water from covering her face.

Celine pushed and wriggled and got her hips through. She freed herself and surged to the top of the water outside the car. She frantically grabbed for something to hold onto then grasped the partially lowered window. Then her fingers slid from the glass.

She screamed then grabbed the mirror before she could be swept along with the flood. Her hands slipped.

Something caught her ankle and jerked her below, submerging her completely.

Muddy water obliterated her vision as it covered her. She would see nothing even if she tried to open her eyes.

What held her ankle? A root. Had to be.

A log rammed the back of her head. Stars sparked in her mind. She struggled to maintain consciousness. She couldn’t pass out or she’d be swept away.

Celine fought the feeling and forced herself to ignore the pain. She grasped the driver’s side mirror again and struggled against the root holding her under.

Her lungs burned. How much longer could she hold her breath? Panic nearly overrode her.

She fought to have some semblance of calm as she tugged and yanked and twisted.

The root gave way.

Celine shot up. She lost her hold on the mirror and immediately slammed against a long tree branch. She broke the surface and sucked a deep breath into her burning lungs. She grabbed onto the branch before the floodwater swept her down the bank.

Rain came down in a torrent.

Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed.

A branch scraped her temple.

The car shifted and started to move.

Celine screamed, terror overriding every other thought.

Get on top of the car.

She held the branch with one arm, shoved herself up, and managed to get her knees on the Mercedes’ lowered window. The narrow glass bruised the skin below her knees.

The car shifted against the bank again. It started to move.

She grasped the crevice of the partially opened sunroof.

With all her might, she dragged herself onto the top of the Mercedes. She’d lost her sandals and crouched barefoot on the metal, precariously close to the small opening of the sunroof.

Celine had only a moment to catch her breath before the car jerked away from the bank.

She lost her hold on the branch.

Her fingers slipped as she tried to cling to the frame of the partially opened sunroof window. She held on as tightly as possible. What if she lost her grip? Water rushed around her and the car. She’d be dragged under and carried away with the floodwater. She’d never make it.

No.

Celine gripped the opening tighter with both hands and pulled herself to her knees. She didn’t let go, wouldn’t let go.

The car banged against the opposite bank before bouncing off a tree and spinning backward.

Rain poured down. The lightning seemed brighter. Thunder louder.

Her fingers slipped on the window opening and she clenched tighter.

Celine searched the bank as the car bounced against it. Could she grasp a branch or bush and hold onto it?

She had to try something. The car was still sinking at the same time it was being shoved along in the flood barreling through the arroyo. Only a portion of the roof was above the water.

“Celine!”

A male voice barely carried over the rush and roar of the flash flood. A dog barked repeatedly.

Celine jerked her head around, frantically trying to find who had yelled at her while praying that person could help her.

Jayson.

He rode Starlight along the bank, keeping up with the car. Thor was on the bank, barking, encouraging her to hang on.

The Mercedes came to a hard stop.

Celine slipped and screamed as she slid off the roof.

She gripped the window opening.

Debris pelted her body.

Another crack of thunder.

Her muscles ached and burned. She didn’t know how much longer—

No. She had to fight as long as it took. And Jayson was here.

But her body was so tired.

Tired, so tired.

“Celine,” he shouted again.

She looked up to see she and the car were now facing the bank and Jayson.

He held a rope and shouted. “Grab the rope!”

She barely had the strength to hold on and raise one hand. The car was almost under water.

He whirled the rope into a lasso over his head. He released the rope.

The lasso settled over her head and dropped over her shoulders

Celine shifted so the rope slid to her waist.

“Hold on,” Jayson shouted as the rope tightened around her.

She grasped the rope with both hands.

He pulled, dragging her off the roof.

Fear slammed into her as the last bit of sanctuary vanished below the surface of the water.

She clung to the rope as Jayson dragged her through the raging water, closer to the shore. Starlight walked backward, helping Jayson bring her in. Thor clamped the rope in his jaws as he helped pull.

More debris. More foliage. Scratching her, hitting her, covering her.

Closer to the bank. Closer.

The rope caught on a branch.

Celine struggled to pull the rope off the branch but her energy was rapidly fading and the rope wouldn’t come free.

Thor bounded into the water and swam toward her. He grasped the rope and tugged until it finally came free.

Jayson reeled her in, closer to shore. “Come on, honey,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

Thor released the rope and swam beside her. She flung her arm over his neck as he and Jayson worked to get her to shore.

A few feet more and they reached the bank.

Celine collapsed onto the earth. She’d used every bit of her strength. Her muscles would no longer work.

Jayson dismounted the same time she reached shore. He pulled her the rest of the way up and brought her into his arms.

She struggled, feeling as if the current was dragging her down again. The flashflood continued to roar as she coughed and spit out muddy water.

“I’ve got you.” Jayson’s voice soothed her as he wrapped her in his embrace. “I’ve got you, Celine. You’re all right.”

Lightning seared the sky. Thunder rolled.

She stared up at Jayson, barely able to comprehend or understand. She blinked then slipped away.

Adrenaline pumped through Jayson’s body as he gathered Celine tighter. She looked so damned pale and cuts bled on her arms.

A hard thump in his chest caused a powerful ache as he stood. He had to get her home, assess her and treat her. No way could he get across the arroyo now. The massive strength of the flood had disintegrated the road from his ranch to the outside world. What was left was a mini-canyon, and the flood continuing to rage.

Jayson held Celine tightly as he dodged debris that had been flung onto the bank from the churning water.

On the opposite side of the raging flood, he heard shouts from Celine’s people.

The ground shook as lighting flashed a network of bolts across the sky and thunder boomed. Rain fell even harder, partially obscuring Jayson’s vision.

Celine shifted and her eyes went wide as she regained consciousness. She started fighting to free herself. “No.” She coughed and struggled. “Help.”

“Relax, honey.” Jayson’s heart hadn’t stopped thundering, even as he held Celine’s wet, shuddering body. “I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay.”

She went limp again, but when he looked at her, she was still conscious.

He glanced at the flashflood. A rattlesnake was swept along with the current like a stick. “We’ll get you warmed up,” he told Celine.

Her teeth chattered and body trembled, as if her body would never stop reacting to the trauma. He gripped her tighter, wanting to share his body warmth with her, even as rain continued to pour from the skies.

The wind snapped a branch from a tree and it landed in Jayson’s path. He nearly stumbled over it, but made it over the thick branch. He wanted to stop and check her for any serious injuries, but he had to get her warm and to the house.

He hurried to Starlight. When he reached the horse, he looked at Celine. “Can you ride?”

That strange stillness, then a nod.

“I’m going to put you in the saddle,” he said. “Hold onto the pommel. I’ll ride behind and make sure you don’t fall.”

She nodded again. “Okay.” The word sounded raspy.

He helped her up, and she slid into the saddle as if she’d done it many times before. She gripped the pommel as he unstrapped the blanket behind his saddle and wrapped it around Celine’s shoulders.

Jayson swung up and settled himself behind Starlight’s saddle. He grasped Celine around her waist with one arm and the reins in his left hand. He tugged on the reins slightly to calm Starlight who danced sideways from the extra weight.

He glanced across the water to the opposite bank and looked at the now silent crowd on the opposite side.

“Is she going to be all right?” Rod called out. The unearthly roar of the flood had lessened enough that Jayson could hear the man. “We can take her to the hospital.”

Jayson shook his head and pointed to the location Celine’s men had crossed. “The flood is too deep, and it also wiped out the crossing. Even when the flood dies down, you don’t want to attempt it.”

He went on, “She’s slipping into shock. I’m taking her back to the ranch and I’ll get her warm.”

“What should we do?” Rod shouted. “I can call the sheriff’s department.”

“Do it,” Jayson said. “Call me in twenty and I’ll we’ll trade updates. You have my number.”

He made a clicking sound to Starlight. “Come on, girl.” He guided the mare away from the bank and they headed back to the ranch house at a gallop. Thor ran alongside, barking, like he was encouraging Celine, telling her she’d be all right.

The ranch house wasn’t far from the crossing. When they reached the front yard, Jayson dismounted, looped the mare’s reins around a hitch and helped Celine down from the saddle. He swept her into his arms. Her entire body shook as he carried her to the house.

“Meredith,” Celine coughed then spoke again. “We were on the phone. Need to let her know I’m okay.”

“We’ll tell her.” Jayson hoped Rod would know how to get a hold of this Meredith Celine was talking about.

Jayson went in through the kitchen and slammed the door shut with his boot before he rushed through the house. Thor barked while he trotted beside Jayson as he took Celine straight to the master bedroom. Everything he’d need was in the adjoining bathroom.

Celine’s shivers had intensified. He took her into his bedroom, then bee-lined it to the bathroom and set her on the closed toilet seat.

Thor sat on the rug just inside the bathroom, concern filling his intelligent eyes.

He turned on the shower, bringing it to a slightly warm temperature before stripping her of her clothing. He cursed beneath his breath when he took inventory of her injuries. Scratches and bleeding cuts covered her, along with red marks starting to purple.

Thunder crashed and Celine’s body went rigid. Stark fear crossed her face.

“You’re okay, honey.” Jayson toed off his boots but left the rest of his clothing.

Her teeth chattered. “It sounds so close.”

“We’re safe in the house.” He scooped her up and took her into the shower, then set her on the smooth tiled ledge on one side of the enclosure. The water wasn’t too warm so that he could bring her temperature to normal slowly.

Water rained down on her as he searched her body for injuries. He examined her head as he spoke in a low, calming tone. It was nothing more than mindless chatter similar to what he used to calm an injured animal, or a foaling mare. The idea was to soothe her while he warmed her.

He talked about the Diamondbacks baseball game scheduled to play that afternoon in Phoenix—where they probably weren’t getting any rain—and their odds for winning. He told her about the branding in May for the February calves, then went on to tell her about the last roundup.

As he examined her head, she flinched when he skimmed his fingers across the back of her skull as he touched a good-sized egg.

“Ow.” It was a low groan. “That hurt.”

“Sorry, honey.” He asked her questions and she responded to everything in a normal but tired manner.

Slowly, her shivering lessened as her body returned to the right temperature. He relaxed and helped her to her feet but still held her. A feeling of relief flowed over him like the warm spray they now stood under.

He washed her hair with his shampoo. No doubt she’d want the dirt from the flashflood out of her hair, and this would help warm her from the scalp down. He took care not to graze the bruise on her forehead, near her hairline or touch the egg on the back of her skull.

The need to protect Celine and take care of her grew stronger inside him. He barely knew this woman, but it didn’t feel that way. He knew her. When he saw her being swept away with the flood, he’d felt as if some part of him had been ripped from his chest.

Somehow, on a soul-deep level, he had an incredibly strong connection with Celine.

Jayson wasn’t sure whether or not to question his sanity. He had never been one to believe in that kind of thing, but hell, who knew? If he thought about it, he and Jack had one of those twin-connection things that did exist. So, could it be the same with Celine?

That didn’t make sense. Did it?

When Celine was clean and warm, he turned off the shower and set her on her feet on a soft rug. He grabbed a thick towel and dried her off, working on every limb. His own rain and shower-soaked clothing chilled him, but he ignored it and focused on Celine.

Until this moment, he had kept his attention clinical from the second he’d stripped her of her clothing. It was hard to remain that way when it was clear she was no longer in shock and she was warm again.

Celine was such a damned beautiful woman, with soft curves and hair that he wanted to nuzzle as he breathed her in.

Jayson ground his teeth, forcing himself to not think of her that way.

“How do you feel?” He sounded much gruffer than he’d intended.

“Better.” She went on, “Thank you more than I can say.” Her teeth didn’t chatter anymore.

He shifted and got a better look at her when she was no longer in his shadow. He saw more of the red and purple marks that marred her skin in multiple places. He frowned. She would sport a lot of bruises, and she’d be sore as hell.

But she was alive.

“You look worse than a bull rider whose been stomped on a time or two,” he said. “But I’d sure as hell rather ride a bull than go through what you just did.”

She looked at him and her gaze met his. “I sort of feel like I got trampled.”

While he studied her, he checked her pupils, and was glad to see they weren’t dilated.

Celine winced as he patted a cut on her arm with a soft cloth. “This one’s about the worst of the scratches and cuts,” he said. “They’re mostly superficial, but they sure looked bad when we dragged you out. The bruising and the knot at the back of your head and the one on your temple are likely worse than the scratches. You’ve got one hell of a bruise on your back, too.”

“I can sure feel it,” she said. “But considering the alternative, I’m fine.”

He grabbed a robe from a hook on the back of the bathroom door. It had been a gift he’d never used, and it was perfect to bundle up Celine to make sure she stayed warm. He helped her into the robe and tied it.

“Thor and Starlight helped you.” Celine coughed. “They were amazing.”

“They were.” He glanced at Thor, who watched them. Jayson turned his attention back to Celine. “Can you walk to the bed?”

“Yes.” Exhaustion laced the word.

Jayson met Celine’s gaze again, this time taking in her beauty. Damn, those brown eyes captured him and he couldn’t look away.

He forced himself to move. He guided her toward the California king-sized bed, but let her walk on her own to make sure she was steady. He pulled the coverings back and helped her slip beneath them.

“Bed.” She sounded sleepy and just as exhausted as she spoke. “Never felt this good before.”

Her eyelids lowered like weights dragged them down as he tucked the blanket under her chin. For a moment, she looked like she was going to say something else, but she fell asleep almost immediately.

Jayson watched her breathe in and out, the sound restful. It used to be considered imperative that a patient with a head injury stay awake. More recent research showed that wasn’t the case. As long as the person who’s injured can hold a conversation when awake, didn’t have issues walking, and her pupils weren’t dilated, it was fine to let her sleep.

He studied her for a long moment. Bruised and battered, she was still a lovely woman. She might have a materialistic, bitchy outer shell—according to some—but she was hiding behind that shell. And he intended to drag her out one way or another.

Jayson didn’t want to leave her alone, but he had to take care of the animals and contact Rod, Monty, and the sheriff about her. Best thing he could do right now was let Celine rest and check on her frequently.

He left Thor behind. “Watch over her,” he told the dog. “Come get me if she needs me.”

Jayson grabbed clean clothing for himself and left the room, leaving the door open wide enough for Thor to get out if he needed to.

His cellphone rang as he headed in the direction of the kitchen. It wasn’t a number he recognized, but it was a New York area code. No doubt one of Celine’s people.

“This is Rod. Is Celine okay?” The man spoke in a rush. It was clear he was genuinely concerned for her. “Is she going to make it?”

“She’s fine.” Jayson strode down the hallway. “She’s resting now. I imagine she’ll need a whole lot of sleep to recover from what she went through.”

Rod let out a breath of relief. “I contacted the sheriff’s office. He’s waiting on your call to see if you need medevac. Sheriff McBride said a helicopter could land in one of your pastures.”

“I don’t think we’ll need emergency services,” Jayson said. “But I will keep an eye on her.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Rod asked.

“Celine said she needed to let a woman named Meredith know she’s okay.” Jayson reached the kitchen as he spoke. “She said something about being on the phone with her before she got caught up in the flood.”

“She already tracked me down,” Rod said. “I told her all I know and that I planned to call her back with more information. I’ll do that now.”

When Jayson disconnected with Rod, He set his clean clothes in the mudroom. He’d take a shower there after he finished up with the chores.

He headed back into the kitchen to make some coffee as he contacted the sheriff’s department where his cousin, Mike McBride worked. Mike had recently been reelected sheriff after a few tough battles, both personal and professional.

“Hi, Mike,” Jayson said when the sheriff answered. “You’ve heard about Celine Northland being caught in a flashflood?”

“Yes,” Mike said. “Do you need medevac?”

“No.” Jayson blew out his breath. “If she takes a turn for the worst, I’ll dial 911.”

“Hopefully that won’t be a problem,” Mike said.

Jayson went on to give a quick rundown on what had been going on with the commercial shoot on the ranch. He explained in full what had just happened with the flood, and that Celine wasn’t at fault. She’d been careful, but that hadn’t been enough.

When he finished filing the report over the phone with Mike, Jayson asked, “When is Anna due?”

“Not for another three weeks.” Mike sounded like a proud dad already. “Anna says she’s about to burst.”

“Girl or boy?”

“Girl.” Mike had a grin in his voice. “Already polishing up my shotgun.”

Jayson smiled. “She’ll have plenty of cousins who’ll keep the boys in line, too.”

“Don’t you know it,” Mike said. “What is going on with you and your clan?”

“Like any other part of the McBride family, as normal as can be expected.”

After his conversation with Mike, Jayson called Monty.

“I heard about what happened with Celine.” Monty sounded worried as hell. “How is she? Do you need my help? I can take the trail.”

“Celine’s fine,” Jayson told the man. “No need to come to the ranch.

“Thank goodness she’s okay.” Relief poured over the phone line from Monty. “Can’t imagine what she went through.”

“It was damned bad,” Jayson said. “We came close to losing her to the flood a few times. She’s a brave woman and a fighter.”

“She sure is,” Monty said.

Jayson disconnected. His men had left long ago, heading to their homes and their families. It was better they hadn’t been trapped on this side of the arroyo.

He took Starlight back to the barn, brushed her down, and praised her for helping save Celine. He put her in the stall with a ration of sweet oats before checking on the other horses.

The entire time he did the chores, his thoughts kept turning back to Celine. Damn but he hoped she’d be all right.

After having served in the military and the training he’d been through, he had a good feeling that Celine would be okay, but he didn’t plan to count on it. He’d keep a close eye on her.

He made short work of the rest of the chores before heading to the house to clean up and get back to Celine. He’d have felt concern for anyone under his care, but somehow it was different with her. He wasn’t sure he understood the feelings, but he didn’t plan on analyzing them, not right now.

Maybe later. All he knew was that one way or another, he intended to find out exactly what kind of hold she had on him and what he was going to do about it.