“I can feel the outline of her. Let’s see if we can rotate the whole section.”
My stomach quivers, but I bite back my discomfort. I set the light down and try to help rock the thick block of ice. It’s awkward, and heavy, but we manage to tilt it enough that a woman’s face, partly hidden by strands of long dark hair, becomes visible. The cold water has slowed decomposition, but it’s still the stuff of nightmares.
I avert my eyes, but the bile races up my throat. With a gasp, I lunge for the tent door and stagger outside just in time to heave into the snow.
By the timethe specialized rescue team arrives, we’ve been standing around in the cold for hours. The sheriff never leaves the cocoon of his rig, which underscores what Rowdy shared. Still, shouldn’t I have at least met the guy?
Back on shore, we load the sled and strap it down, then climb into the cab.
It’s past two in the morning and I’m exhausted. Even with the heater blasting, I’m shivering so hard I have to will my teeth not to rattle.
“Sorry I lost it out there,” I say as Rowdy pulls out of the parking lot.
He cocks an eyebrow. “I thought ranch kids were tough.”
I shift in my seat, but it’s not any more comfortable. “It won’t happen again.”
He flicks his stoic gaze my way. “It will.”
I huff, but it turns into a laugh. Is this how it’s going to be with this guy? Busting my balls every chance he gets? Maybe he thinks he needs to break me down. He’s wrong. I’ve fought battles much worse than a grumpy boss.
With the warmth of the cab finally working into my bones, I lean back, not aware I’ve fallen asleep until we’re bumping over the uneven gravel of his driveway.
“Why don’t you crash here,” he says. “You can bunk in Jesse’s room.”
I sit up and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “You don’t have to put me up.”
“I know.” His tone is firm. “Not sure how the roads are out your way.”
“Aw, you do care.” I shoot him a grin, but he just scowls.
When we trudge up the porch, Bruneau’s softwoofsounds low and menacing, but the second Rowdy unlocks the door, he’s wagging his tail and circling our ankles. The house is warm and still. I hope we haven’t woken Linnea.
“Second door on the left,” Rowdy says in a low tone while hanging up his hat and coat. “Get some sleep.”
After a quick stop in the bathroom, I climb under the covers. Even though I’m exhausted, it takes me awhile to downshift. And when I finally close my eyes, I dream of the woman encased in the ice, her long dark hair swirling around her ravaged face.
Chapter Eleven
I’m makingcoffee when a shadow fills the kitchen entryway, startling me so bad coffee grounds spray all over the counter.
CJ hurries over. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I sweep coffee grounds from the counter into my palm, turning my back on him to keep from staring because morning CJ is just as hot as dinner-guest CJ. He’s freshly showered, his mop of sexy curls still damp.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper even though Dad got up early to shovel snow and take care of barn chores.
“We got in pretty late. Your dad said I could crash in your brother’s room.”
I don’t want the details of what they saw last night, and even if I did, he wouldn’t be permitted to share.
“Where are your paper towels?” He glances over his shoulder while he searches.
“We don’t have any,” I say, then wish I’d lied. Which makes me cringe because I promised myself to stop doing that. “They stopped carrying the recycled kind, so…”
“How about a dishcloth?” he asks, not missing a beat.
I point with my chin as I dump the coffee grounds into the sink and rinse my hands. “In that drawer.”