Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise - K.C. Crowne Page 0,16

call.”

“You’re welcome—” My voice cut off as I noticed a car approaching from behind. They were driving way too fast for the type of weather we were having, and they were headed straight for the bridge. “Someone’s headed this way. Send help just in case I can’t stop them.” I hung up the phone abruptly.

The car whizzed past me, going well above the speed limit for the road. I tried to flag them down, but they were going too fast.

Dammit. This isn’t good.

I hung up the phone and dropped it into the center console of the truck. I reached down onto the floorboard and picked up a hammer from my toolbox. Sometimes being a little messy paid off.

I ran after the car, knowing there would likely be trouble. I rushed down the hill just in time to see it stalled just short of the bridge.

I hurried to the vehicle just as it was lifted by the water. The river was hitting the sides of the car with such force that the tires were no longer touching ground. It would only take a minute for the car to be washed away, likely less.

It would be difficult to open the car door as the water pressure pushed into the car, which was why I’d brought a hammer. I yelled at the driver, “Move aside! I’m going to break the glass.”

I prayed they heard me over the rushing water around us. I could hardly see inside, but I glimpsed movement. I was on the passenger’s side, and from the looks of it, no one was sitting in that seat. The rushing water made it hard to stand, I wouldn’t be able to stay put like this for long. I had one second to react. I slammed the hammer against the passenger’s side window, smashing it. Glass shattered inside the car, and I saw someone huddled in the driver’s side. A woman. Her face was covered by her thick, black hair.

“Give me your hand! We need to get you out! Now!” I yelled at her.

She reached for me, her tiny little hand in mine. I pulled her toward the window, then when she was close enough, I reached inside and pulled her out. I had her in my arms, and I didn’t put her down. The rushing water could sweep her off her feet. I had more experience navigating rough terrain. I was sure. I carried her, half swimming-half walking, to higher ground. It wasn’t until we reached dry land and I put her on her feet that I realized I knew this woman.

I’d thought I recognized her thick, curly black hair but didn’t have a chance to react. But now that we were both safe, I realized it was her.

“Emmy?” I asked, surprised.

“My car,” she cried, her eyes still focused on the water and the bridge behind her.

I turned and watched as her BMW was washed away down the river. “I’m sorry—”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just—I could have been in there. If it wasn’t for you…” Her words cut off as she looked at me for the first time, her eyes widening in shock. “Graham?”

“It’s me,” I said. “But that’s not important. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Emmy shook her head. “No, I'm fine. Thanks to you.”

In the distance, I heard the sirens. Help was on the way.

Emilia

“How did you do that?” I stammered as we climbed into Graham’s truck to keep dry. My entire body was still shaking from the ordeal, and I felt like I might be sick to my stomach. There wasn’t a scratch on me, but watching my car get swept away by flood waters moments after being pulled from it would do that to a person.

“I told you before, I’m an ex-Marine,” he said with a shrug. “I did a lot of search and rescue missions back in the day.”

“You were really a Marine?” I asked, a little surprised. I hadn’t really thought about the fact that I believed he was lying.

“Did you think I made it all up?”

“I don’t know what I thought,” I confessed, wrapping my arms around myself as if cold. “I just thought you were a stripper.”

He gave me a cockeyed grin. “I’m not a stripper. Never has been.”

Before I could ask him about his revelation, he started the truck and turned the heat on. “We need to get you to a hospital and have you looked at.”

The warm air blowing on me was soothing. I was suddenly very tired, as if my body