Read Online Heartland by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online

okay. I left Jennifer with my housekeeper, and I’ve called for some help. As soon as they get here, we’ll see what we can do about getting her out.”
    â€œCan’t you just drop down a rope of something?”
    â€œI think she’s probably too young to know what to do. It might only make things worse. We’re better off if she stays fairly still until we know what kind of ground we have down there.”
    â€œSteven, I was counting on you. Why can’t you do something now? We can’t just leave her down there all alone.” He saw the frustration written on her face, heard the rage of helplessness in her raised voice.
    He led her away from the well. “There’s no point in letting Kelly hear you. You’ll frighten her.”
    Lara swallowed hard. He cupped her chin in his hand and forced her to meet his gaze. “Sweetheart, I know how you feel. Believe me, I do. Nothing is worse than waiting. I promise you as soon as we get some equipment, we’ll go in after her. But if we don’t do this right, the ground could cave in.”
    A visible shudder rippled through Lara at the horrible possibility he’d evoked, and instinctively Steven ran his hand down her back in a soothing gesture. “Don’t worry, Lara. That’s not going to happen. We’ll get her out. I promise.”
    â€œI have to call Tommy. He has to know.” She looked terrified by the prospect of making that call, her eyes huge and luminous in her pale face.
    â€œDon’t you want to wait a few minutes and see if we can’t get her out right away?” Steven suggested.
    â€œDo you think it will happen quickly?”
    â€œNo promises, but I hope so.”
    But it didn’t.
    The afternoon turned into an eternity. Logan was the first to arrive, giving her hand a sympathetic squeeze before turning to Steven for instructions. When the men from town arrived, they conferred with Steven, all but shutting Lara out of the discussion. To her fury she was drawn away from the edge of the well by the volunteer fire chief’s wife. A cup of coffee was placed in her hands.
    â€œDrink this,” Terry Simmons said in her naturally gruff voice, her manner brisk but somehow comforting. “You’re freezing. We can’t have you going into shock on us. Kelly needs you.”
    Lara’s gaze flew to the well, then sought out Steven. He gave her a reassuring smile that steadied her for the moment, then turned back to the discussion. A measuring device was lowered carefully into the well, and the conversation became more heated. From the occasional bits she could hear, Lara guessed they were arguing about the next step. Steven apparently prevailed, because he nodded in satisfaction, and the men began working.
    It seemed to take forever before he finally left them and came to her. She searched his face for some sign of hope, but his expression was grim.
    â€œIt’s not going the way you hoped, is it?”
    â€œI’m afraid not. She’s down a lot farther than I’d hoped. The well’s not wide enough for any of us to go down after her.”
    â€œI could try,” she said, frantic to do something. She kept envisioning Kelly growing more and more frightened the longer she was left all alone in the darkness. “I checked it earlier while I was waiting for you. I’m sure I’d fit.”
    He shook his head. “No. You wouldn’t make it, either.”
    â€œHow do you know? Steven, we have to do something, anything. Let me try.”
    â€œYou’d just tear your skin to shreds. Even if you made it into the well, it narrows considerably about ten feet down. You’d never get past that. I promise you I know what I’m doing. I’ve called for some drilling equipment.”
    â€œWhy?” she asked, then recalled the rescue of the little Texas child that had drawn international attention. “You’re going to create a tunnel