The frigid water closed in over Kellen, and she lashed
out with both arms to force her head above the surface for a
desperate breath. Her hiking boots would sign her death
warrant; they already felt like concrete blocks. She had
only minutes, maybe seconds, to keep herself afloat. She
thrashed again, and this time her face barely cleared the
water's surface. She was ready and screamed with all her might.
The icy water filled her eyes, but she couldn't devote
the split second needed to wipe them, so intent was she on
keeping her mouth above the water long enough for a precious
lungful of air. She scissored her legs to help her dwindling
buoyancy, but the physical act was so difficult with the
boots on, her muscles screamed with the effort.
How many more times can I get a breath? Two maybe three?
All her muscles strained in revolt as she scissored her
legs again. She plummeted after each thrust, and her best
effort barely pushed her mouth and nose above the surface.
She didn't scream again; there was no one around to hear,
and she couldn't spare the strength. Less than a minute had
passed since she'd hit the water.
Down she pushed her arms, but the heavy flannel shirt
fought back. She opened her eyes and could see the surface,
yet at the peak of her thrust, her lips were still in the
water. She tried to scissor her legs, but she had nothing
left. She feared she would sink and flailed both arms upward.
Death hovered at her shoulder, near as the blackest of
shadows beneath the dock, tangible enough that she could
reach out and touch it. She pulled her head back and saw a
blurred shadow moving overhead. Hope buoyed her escape from
the frigid arms of the river pulling her down, and she
forced her way to the surface.
A huge hand plunged into the icy water and grabbed her
right arm, and she felt her body pulled toward the surface.
The second her mouth was exposed to the air, she gasped for
a breath. A cough wracked her frame and threatened the
tenuous hold of the mighty hand on her arm. She sunk back
down, her eyes filled with water, and her vision blurred.
She felt as though she weighed a ton, with the soaked
clothing and boots, and grew terrified the hand couldn't
hold on. Yet she was pulled higher until another hand
grabbed the back of her shirt, and her body was yanked up
and sideways onto the deck. The mighty hands released her,
and she clutched at the wooden planks to be sure she was far
enough from the precipice to the icy water. She heaved two
successive gasps, and a hard sob wracked her frame.
Two strong arms tugged her upright. She blinked rapidly
to clear her blurred vision and saw Luke's face, his dark
eyes wide. Nothing had ever looked so good to her in all her
life. With another hard sob, she threw herself into his arms
and broke into tears. The brush with death shattered all her
resolve and kindled emotions buried in the deepest recesses
of her heart.
He pulled her roughly to him and held her tight to his
chest, mumbling soothing words into her ear. His warmth
seeped into her, and she clung to him like her lifeline
–– digging her fingers into his back, unwilling
to let go, and unable to stop crying.
"I almost d–drowned," she stuttered, her face still
buried against his chest.
"Good Lord, I know," he rumbled and squeezed her tight to
him again.
"If you had been a minute later," she wheezed and tried
to look up at him.
"Don't even think that!" he snapped.
She flinched and pulled back. His gaze looked hard and
unyielding.
"Just be glad I got here in time," he whispered, and his
eyes grew darker. He cupped her cheeks, lowered his mouth,
and gently brushed his lips against hers.
The sizzle of heat shot straight to her heart and warmed
her from the inside out. All she could manage was a nod. His
kiss twisted all her wild emotions into a spinning vortex,
allowing her only to react without thought, and she leaned
in to kiss him again.