Mud streaked her face, half-covering the right side. Her hair color had disappeared under the wet deluge, slicking back behind her. What visible skin there was had a pale, almost translucent look to it. Her lips shook when she spoke.

 

Yet, Johnny didn’t know if he’d ever seen anyone so beautiful.

 

The slight weight of her head on his arm worried him. He shouldn’t have moved her neck, but she’d seemed fine. He hadn’t been trained in First Aid except the standard CPR and Heimlich maneuvers. The rest of it, his dad hadn’t thought was warranted.

 

Cold from the ground seeped into his flesh, making his bones ache. How she’d fallen asleep so easily astounded him. Her pain level must have been higher than she’d let on.

 

“Come on, guys. Get here.” Johnny couldn’t see in the dark under the slicker, but with the pitter-pat of rain on the makeshift cover, he wasn’t tempted to stick his head out and check. With his free arm, he lifted the radio to his lips and murmured, “This is Johnny Mayfair. Can I get an ETA on your arrival? She’s pretty bad.”

 

He released the button. Waiting for help and loaning her his body heat was taking a toll. His fingers didn’t want to bend and he clenched his teeth together.

 

Static announced someone returning his call. “Mayfair, we’re at the forest. Point your light up or something, so we can locate you.”

 

He’d forgotten to shoot off the flare. With everything else, he’d left it tucked into the saddlebag on the horse. Of course, they wouldn’t be able to find anything with such thick cloud coverage and his rain protection.

 

Reaching between them, into his pocket, Johnny searched with his fingers for the flashlight. Closing his hands on it, he flicked the switch.

 

Light filled the wanna-be tent. He stopped for a moment, taking in the peaceful curve of her lips. Used to being surrounded by women who adorned themselves in more makeup than he’d seen on drag queens in Las Vegas, Johnny’s reaction to her refreshingly clean face took him by surprise.

 

Seeking out the neck hole of the slicker, Johnny pointed the flashlight upwards, hoping it hit the tops of the trees while he attempted maintaining their cover. A sudden rush of responsibility hit him in the chest. For no apparent reason, he didn’t want to have come so far, promise her everything was going to be okay, and then not deliver on that.

 

No matter how much his uncle and the Circuit had to pay to keep him out of trouble, Johnny refused to be the ass hat everyone suspected him of being.

 

Through the sound of the rain and the bubble around them, a shout – though muffled – carried, followed by another and another.

 

Relief flooded Johnny. He’d found Sara Beth, but he’d never be able to get her out of there safely. Not by himself.

 

The voices drew closer and in less than a minute, rough careful hands drew the slicker from their forms. Johnny blinked at the bright headlamps trained down on Sara Beth and himself. He lifted his arm to ward of the glare as he searched to figure out who had come.

 

Three medics, Michael, and four ranch hands Johnny didn’t recognize peered down.

 

Michael stepped forward, offering his hand. “Here, let me help you up.”

 

Johnny pulled his hand tight to his chest. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t. Her head is resting on my arm and she said something about not being able to feel her legs. I need them to secure her head and neck. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

 

Worry had him looking down. If she couldn’t walk and it was because of something he hadn’t done right, he’d never be able to forgive himself.

 

Michael motioned the medics forward with their cervical spine collars and back board.

 

Johnny didn’t flinch when they threw the slicker back onto him as they prepared her. The slap of the thick material resounded harshly in the close quarters of so many bodies. Wrenching the slicker from his face, he struggled to watch as they handled her.

 

What if she wasn’t okay? What if he hadn’t made it there in time or his body heat hadn’t been enough?

 

Johnny would see her again.

 

The next morning, if he had his way, to make sure he could look himself in the mirror – make sure she was okay.

 

Rolling her to the side to place the board behind her back and setting her neck in the trauma collar, the medics took care to move around Johnny, but they didn’t take longer than necessary to get him adjusted and out of the way, too.

 

Johnny waited until she’d been loaded to the backboard the medics strapped her to before he climbed to his feet. Rain drizzled down the back of his shirt and down into his jeans. He closed his eyes for the briefest moment at the incredibly uncomfortable sensation. Great. Just freaking great. If he was cold, he could only imagine how Sara Beth was faring.

 

He stepped forward, prepared to volunteer to keep her warm in the ambulance.

 

But Michael approached him, hand outstretched. “Thanks, man, so much. I’m truly grateful you went the opposite way we did.” He sluiced the rain from his face, adjusting his hat to a more drastic downward angle in front. Following Sara Beth with his eyes, he patted Johnny’s shoulder. “What made you come this way?”

 

“You said she was on Sugar. I’ve seen that mare enough on the Circuit to remember how she works. She’s a runner and when she doesn’t get her way, she comes back and sulks.” Johnny had no doubt Sugar would be more of a handful than anyone else wanted to deal with. 

 

“Sugar, huh?” He watched Sara Beth another moment. “Okay, well, thank you.” Michael moved away, his attention on Sara Beth.

 

Leaving Johnny to wander back to his horse and then to find his way back to Rourke Ranch. He had a hospital to get to.

 

~~~

 

Johnny jerked awake. Arms crossed over his chest, he lifted one hand and rubbed at his eyes. Conserving energy wasn’t on the hospital’s priority list. Their fluorescent lighting hadn’t abated since he’d followed Sara Beth to her floor eight hours before.

 

He’d set up camp in the waiting room which just happened to be close to her room.

 

Morning, but he wasn’t sure on the time, had arrived with taunting slothfulness. He pulled his feet from the chair he’d set up to rest them on. Leaning forward, he stretched his back and neck. Sleeping in waiting room chairs required more flexibility and a much shorter person than his own six-foot-two-frame.

 

Before he fell back to sleep, he grabbed a cup of stuff passing itself off as coffee. Blowing on the black sludge, he ambled toward Sara Beth’s assigned room.

 

He hadn’t had the guts to go inside yet – but that made him feel cowardly. He wasn’t afraid to see her again… more like he didn’t want to be so easily forgotten. Plus with all the machines beeping around her, she looked even frailer than when she’d been half-drowned by the log.

 

The nurses had cleaned her, removing the mud and other debris from her fall. The woman previously hidden by circumstance looked more like a school girl than a reckless horse thief hell-bent on committing suicide. Long dark lashes shadowed the tops of her cheeks. Even un-styled, her thick dark-gold curls teased him with their silken twists and turns.

 

Would she remember him and his promise to make sure she was safe?

 

Why did he care so much?

 

Johnny reached up and squeezed the back of his neck, rolling his head side to side.

 

A woman, similar in appearance to Sara Beth – minus the curls, slept on the visitor chair. Tucked into the corner, she’d been difficult to see and her presence added a greater definition of uncertainty.

 

Was he an idiot for staying? For wanting to see Sara Beth? To touch base with her and make sure she actually was okay? Things didn’t look terrific. Once again, he’d screwed up. Not intentionally. He hadn’t known, but from what he’d heard from the medics who’d rescued her, she most likely wouldn’t walk out of the hospital.

 

She’d be alive, but not walking…

 

Not riding…

 

Not stealing horses…

 

How much did she remember? He remembered holding her, keeping her safe. But would she? Would she remember him? Or would they blame the guy who’d lifted her head to keep her comfortable and warm?

 

Johnny didn’t know what bugged him more – the fact that she might forget he’d saved her or the fact that she might not forget he’d been there and could be the only reason she couldn’t feel her legs.

 

He stepped backwards, out of the room, and spun on his toe to head back to Rourke Ranch. But what would he say? Sorry I jostled Sara Beth’s neck or spine. Do you know if she’s going to be okay? Can I get a job with you? Oh, ignore my past. Even my uncle can’t hire me because of the insurance problems for the next couple months.

 

He couldn’t help but carry all kinds of guilt on his shoulders. He reclaimed his chair and crossed his arms. Might as well try to slip into that nap again, as ugly as it was.

 

After things settled down and Johnny could ascertain that Sara Beth was okay, he’d move on to the next ranch and try getting a job there. He’d heard about Lonely Rivers and their dude-style ranch. Maybe he could get a job with his hospitality experience. Robbie MacAllister was rumored to not have the best past. He’d be able to sympathize with Johnny.

 

No matter what, Johnny wasn’t going to play the I-saved-your-girlfriend’s-sister-you-owe-me-a-job card. He had to be able to sleep at night.

 

He couldn’t help but glance back at the room.

 

Honestly, he didn’t know what he expected from Sara Beth, but forgiveness would definitely be welcomed.