Page 4 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

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“All right, God, it’s like this...” Katie whispered, unclenched her fists, careful to remain perfectly still otherwise. “I’m at Your complete and total mercy. I know, I know. That’s always been true but... I’m quite literally hanging on the edge of a cliff here, God.”

The late-afternoon heat had infiltrated the car, and sweat beaded on the back of her neck. There was no breeze, but she should probably be thankful for that. A stiff wind might just blow her right off the overhang. Her stomach turned at the thought. This was so,somuch worse than the scary roller coasters her brother used to drag her on.

She was going to be fine. The deputy would come back with help. How long had he been gone anyway? Seemed like an hour, but it was probably only minutes. She closed her eyes, conscious of every breath—it might be her last after all.

No, no, she couldn’t think like that. Happy thoughts. Positivethoughts. The deputy’s steady eyes. Confident demeanor. Capable hands. Yes, that was better. He’d be back soon. This was his job, right?

Her head began to spin. She gasped for air. This was not a good time to hyperventilate.

Get a grip, Katelyn Elizabeth Wallace.

Of course, it was Loveland now—she’d changed her last name when she turned eighteen. But it was her foster mom’s voice in her head, the familiar full-name warning. The remembrance nearly brought a smile to her face as she worked to slow her breathing.

In through the nose, out through the mouth. Once. Twice. Three times.

Beyond the windshield a hawk swooped into her line of vision, its red tail translucent in the sunlight. It soared, wings spread wide, lofted by the air, then swooped down, headed somewhere below. Possibly far, far below.

Why was this happening now, when she was finally making a fresh start? When she’d found a new town, a new home, a job she loved, and a good man?

Something trickled down her temple—blood. But she was too afraid to wipe it away. Best she sat tight and hoped for a lifeline. Where was Superman when you needed him?

A bird tweeted from a nearby branch. She would focus on sounds. She closed her eyes again, gladly blocking out the great abyss stretching out in front of her. The leaves overhead swished. A squirrel nattered nearby. A tree trunk creaked.

Branches snapped and underbrush rustled. The sounds grew louder.

“Deputy? Is that you?”

“It’s me. Thanks for waiting.”

Relief coursed through her veins. “I almost ditched you, but I’m not that kind of woman.”

“Knew I was right about you.” He appeared outside her window, eyes twinkling.

“Is help on the way? Please say yes. That’s really the only acceptable answer.”

“Lucky for me that I flagged a guy down then. He’s headed toward the valley, and he’ll call for help as soon as he gets a signal.”

The valley was twenty minutes away. Her stomach plunged.

“What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll bore you with childhood stories?” He sat on a rock just outside her door, elbows on his knees as if he were perched on a porch instead of the cliff’s edge. “The Riverbend Fire Department will be here before you know it. They’re always ready to show off. We might not even have time to become properly acquainted.”

He was really handsome with that crooked grin. Dark-brown hair, just long enough on top to be unruly (and littered with debris at the moment). Brown eyes set deeply beneath prominent brows. A square jawline, the amount of stubble riding the line between five o’clock shadow and beard.

Well, she’d wanted a distraction.

She thought of her boyfriend and winced. She was supposed to be there by now—she’d updated him on her progress only fifteen minutes before the accident. He’d be worried, and she had no way to notify him.

She’d just had to get her hair done, hadn’t she?

“So, what do you have for me?” Cooper asked.

“What?”

“You were going to give me all the dirt, remember?”

“I recall the conversation but, sad to say, I’m fresh out of dirt.”