Read Online The Cowboy's Homecoming by Brenda Minton - Free Book Online Page A

blue streak.
    â€œJeremy, watch out.” Beth’s scream coincided with Jeremy hitting the brakes as a woman rushed into the road right in front of them.
    The woman waved her arms, panic etched into a pale face. A trickle of blood on her cheek smeared when she brushed her hand across her face.
    â€œWhat in the world?” Beth was unbuckling her seat belt. “That’s Keira Hanson.”
    â€œHang tight, Beth.” Jeremy pulled to the side of the road. The woman ran to the passenger side of the truck, stumbling through the grassy ditch to get to them. She was trembling and the blood oozed from a cut on the side of her face.
    â€œKeira, what’s wrong?” Beth already had her door open. “Get in and we’ll drive you up to your place.”
    â€œIt’s Mark. He was in the barn when this hit and part of the building collapsed.” She sobbed, leaning into the truck. “I couldn’t call for help and I couldn’t get him out on my own.”
    â€œBeth, I’m going to run on up there. You take my truck and drive back to that roadblock. Tell them to get help up here.”
    Jeremy unbuckled his seat belt and set the emergency brake. Beth was already scooting over and he opened the door and stepped out of the truck as she slid behind the wheel. He watched as she adjusted the seat and shifted into gear.
    â€œBe careful.” Her voice was soft and her eyes tore him up. And he thought maybe no one else had ever cared about him as much as Beth and her mamma.
    He watched as she turned his truck back in the direction they’d come from and then he started up the long dirt and gravel drive.
    He didn’t know what he’d find when he reached the Hansons’ barn, but he prayed that Mark would be alive. It had been a long time since he’d prayed. And he was thankful that God had a good memory.
    Â 
    â€œJeremy will find him, Keira.” Beth shifted and hit the gas to speed down the paved road. “He’ll be just fine.”
    â€œI keep praying that’s true, Beth. But what if…”
    Keira pushed her hands against her eyes and Beth shot a quick look around the cab for something Keira could hold against the cut on her face. She slowed down and reached for the glove box. It opened to reveal napkins from fast food restaurants.
    â€œKeira, grab those and hold them against the cut to stop the bleeding.”
    Keira nodded and reached into the glove box.
    â€œWhat if he’s…” Keira sobbed and neither of them needed for her to finish that sentence.
    â€œHe isn’t.” Relief flooded Beth when the flashing lights of first responders came into view. She pulled up to Kenny Gordon, the kid who had been directing traffic minutes earlier.
    â€œBeth, the road’s still closed.” The kid grinned.
    â€œI know, Kenny. Listen, we need help up at Keira’s place. The barn collapsed and Mark is inside.”
    Kenny got serious. He lifted his two-way and told someone on the other end that they needed a team to head up to the Hanson place. He finished the call and leaned in the window.
    â€œThey’ll be up there in five minutes, Keira. We’ll find him, don’t you worry.”
    Keira nodded and a fresh batch of tears streamed down her face, mixing with dirt and blood.
    â€œKenny, do you have a first aid kit?”
    The kid nodded. “Got one in the truck over there. Hang tight a sec and I’ll get it for you.”
    Beth reached for Keira’s hand. “Keira, we’ll find him.”
    â€œI’m really trying to pray, Beth. The only thing I can get out is, ‘God, don’t let him die.’”
    â€œI think that’s a prayer.” Beth had been saying plenty of her own prayers since all of this started. She didn’t think God was expecting long prayers, not at a time like this.
    Kenny was back with the first aid kit. He had already taken out a few wipes, salve and a Band-Aid.