The Durango Affair - Brenda Jackson [60]
Knowing it was no longer safe to move Durango’s truck another foot, she pulled to the shoulder of the road and killed the engine. She reached into her purse for her cell phone and tried several times without success to reach Durango. Without the heat in the truck, she soon began to feel chilled. She reached for the blanket Durango kept under the seat. Savannah wrapped it around her shoulders, grateful for the warmth it provided, but knew it was only a temporary measure. She wasn’t sure how long she could sit here like this, but she also knew to get out of the truck in this type of weather would be suicidal. She wasn’t far from the ranch but she wasn’t familiar enough with the area to venture out on foot. She decided to stay put.
The best thing to do would be to wait and turn on the engine for heat every so often. She hoped and prayed that the storm would let up or that someone would find her.
Durango drove the road that led from Bozeman to his ranch. Within eight miles of his home he spotted his truck on the side of the road. Pulling up beside it, he quickly got out of the Jeep, ignoring the snowflakes that clung to his face. His heart was beating rapidly as he ran to his SUV.
His heart leaped in his chest the moment he opened the door. Savannah was wrapped in his blanket and curled up on the seat. He reached out and touched her and the first thing he noticed was that she was cold as ice. The second thing he noticed was her overnight bag and camera case on the floor. Where was she going? Why was she leaving?
“Savannah? Baby, are you okay? What’s going on?”
When she didn’t respond he panicked. He pulled her gently into his arms, sheltering her face in his thick, furlined parka.
His first inclination was to get her to a hospital and fast. But that was a fifteen-mile trip. He was adequately trained in first aid and made a quick decision to get Savannah to a warm place.
Since they were close to the ranch, he decided to go there. Once at home he would call Trina. He had spoken to her earlier and knew she was at the Marshalls’ place on a medical call. The Marshalls’ baby had picked the day of what looked to be one of the biggest snowstorms of the year to be born on.
Trina would have to pass by his place on the way home. If she hadn’t left already, he would have her stop at his ranch. As he slogged through the deep snow to the SUV, he couldn’t help worrying about his wife and child.
He didn’t know why she had tried leaving him, but now that he had found her, there was no way he would ever let her go.
“And you’re sure Savannah and the baby are going to be all right, Trina?”
Trina motioned for them to step out in the hallway before she began speaking. “Yes, they are both doing fine. I checked the baby’s heartbeat and it’s as strong as ever. That’s a tough kid the two of you are going to have.”
Durango had nearly been a basket case when she’d arrived. Any assumption she’d had that the only reason he had gotten married was because Savannah was pregnant had gotten blown out the window, smothered in the snow. What she saw in Durango was a man who truly loved his wife.
Seeing that her words had relaxed him somewhat, Trina continued by saying, “You did the right thing by bringing her here and getting her warm. Giving her that tea really did the trick. But I’m glad you found her when you did. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t. She knew the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which is why she hadn’t kept the truck’s heater running and I’m glad she didn’t.”
Durango nodded. He was glad, as well. “How long will she be sleeping?”
“For another couple of hours or so. Just let her rest,” Trina said, slipping into her coat.
“Are you sure you want to go out in this? You can stay and wait for things to clear up.”
Trina smiled. “Thanks, but I know my way around these parts pretty good. Have you forgotten that I grew up here? I only live a few miles away. I’ll be fine. And I promise to call you when I get home.”
Durango nodded, knowing there was nothing he could say to Patrina Foreman that would