Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) (20 page)

“It’s a miracle.” She teased, then another thunderclap jarred the room, and she buried her head in his chest.

He tightened his arms around her. “It might very well be. Believe me, I’m going to look into it and stock up. Nothing has ever shook one of them off like that before.” Justice rubbed her back, up and down, willing her to relax. “But the real miracle wasn’t the tea, it was you caring enough about me to find it and bring it to me.”

“That’s no miracle.”
That’s love,
she finished mentally.

“How did everything go at the hole?” He continued to touch her, gentling her, reassuring strokes meant to calm and comfort.

She turned her face to the side so she could see him. There was a pale glow in the room from the bathroom light shining through the partially open door. “We’re ready. We reran the reports and adjusted the figures based on the growth of the sinkhole due to the further collapse. Tomorrow we’ll have to ascertain what the rain means for the water flow.”

Another clap, a rumbling roar and outside it sounded like the bottom had fallen out of the sky. Rain fell in maddening sheets. Just as her body tensed, Justice placed a finger under her chin, lifted her head and fastened his mouth to hers.

Charlee’s focus shifted from the world around her to the man beside her. He surrounded her, engulfed her, the flavor of his kiss, the caress of his lips and tongue giving her something to immerse herself in other than worry. She molded her body to his, giving herself over to his desire. When he cupped her cheek and groaned, the sound of the storm outside faded to nothing. He kissed her until they were both aroused, needing more. “Turn over,” he urged, and she let him arrange her the way he wanted in his embrace. Soon she found herself lying in his arms, being spooned, her back to his front. Justice cradled her so close, one arm under her and one over, leaving his hands free to touch her at will. As he kissed her neck, he initiated a double onslaught, rubbing her breasts and cupping her sex. His fingers drove her mad, tweaking her nipples and massaging her clit. She clutched his forearm, biting her lip, pushing her head back and opening her legs, inviting him to do more. “Raise your leg and put it over mine.” He instructed and when she did, she felt his cock nudging her vagina. She reached between her legs and helped him in. Their mutual sighs of gratification were a familiar response to their joining.

“Now, I feel whole,” she whispered as he began to move, the rocking rhythm of their love making a soothing contrast to the chaos outside the walls of their sanctuary. Blood hummed in her body. She felt so alive, shifting her hips as he filled her repeatedly and continued to pleasure her sex with his questing fingers. He played her body like an instrument, and she surrendered, the sensations flooding her very soul. God, what this man could do to her. She would be lost without him.

Plunging in and out, he sent her body soaring, and soon she was quivering in his arms, the lightning flashes of pleasure as she climaxed vied with the fireworks of the storm. The whole time, he pleasured her with whisper, kisses, caresses, giving more than he took. As she cried out his name, she reached back to touch him. His face, his hair, she just wanted a connection. Soon she was panting, her pussy constricting around him. Justice pushed up hard, crying out, and she felt him cum with her. The sensation of his seed filling her made Charlee’s heart burn with feverish need.

Slowly, they came down, his hips continuing to press against hers, his cock still buried within her. He petted her body, tender strokes designed to fill her with contentment and peace. “Rest, baby, rest.”

She wanted to, she needed to rest. But her mind wouldn’t allow it. In the midst of their arousal, once more they’d had unprotected sex. And she’d let him. “Justice.”

“What?” He kissed her shoulder.

Her insides quivered, this time not from the threat of the elements. “I want to tell you something. I need to.”

“Tell me.”

She opened her mouth and it was dry. Her mind imagined a dozen outcomes of her confession, none of them good. He’d be angry. He’d blame her. He’d never forgive her. He’d leave. “I’m afraid.”

“Afraid, of me?” His voice held complete disbelief.

“Not of you, of what you’d think of me. It’s not good.”

“There’s nothing you could say that I don’t want to hear.”

She tried again. “I…” But the words wouldn’t come. “I can’t, not yet.”

Justice couldn’t imagine what she was holding back. “It’s okay, tell me when you can. I’ll always listen.”

“I’ll think about it.” As the storm raged outside, Charlee lay safe within his arms, still intimately joined with him in body as well as spirit. If she hadn’t dreaded telling him about the baby, everything would have been perfect.

Charlee opened her eyes, squinting at the rays of sunshine hitting her in the face. She rose up. “Justice?”

No answer.

She glanced at the clock. When she saw what time it was, she screeched. “I’m late!” Throwing back the covers, a sheet of paper flew off the bed, and Charlee caught it.

I’m letting you sleep in. I’ve talked to Cyrus and we’re about to place the concrete barriers. Come when you feel like it.

Love, Justice

Hurrying, she ran to take a shower.
Love, Justice. Love, Justice.
Was that a polite valediction or did he mean it? He liked her. He desired her. But did he love her? “Arg!” The uncertainty was killing her.

While she was pulling on clothes, she dialed him. He answered straightway. “Hey, baby.” His voice sent tingles down her spine.

“Hey, I’m about to leave, things still okay?”

“The heavy rain really raised the level of the creek. Cyrus thinks the flow will be accelerated and fill the canyon and the hole a lot quicker than we first thought.”

“Well, that’s a good thing.” She worked her feet into her shoes. “Remember, Hampton and Weber will be here tonight. Are you still free?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

She could hear other voices. “Go, I’ll be there soon.” Charlee hung up. Knowing it would be muddy, she threw all of her gear and girly stuff in a backpack and headed out. She was just unlocking the Jeep’s driver’s seat door when her phone rang. Thinking it would be Justice, she brightened. “Hello?”

“Miss Cortez?”

“Yes?”

“This is Sheriff Tindall, we’ve got a situation.”

Charlee fastened her seatbelt. “What’s wrong? How can I help you?”

“Two kids have been reported missing, and we’re afraid they might have headed onto El Camino property. They were playing with some other children at the local McDonald’s who told them about Cave Canyon. The parents are being questioned and everybody is blaming somebody else. But knowing what you folks are doing out there today makes this a shade more critical. We’re sending someone out to look for them. They probably went in the opposite direction, but could you check?”

Charlee felt her stomach turn over. “Of course, I’m on my way.” The sheriff sounded fairly calm. He didn’t know what she knew. If those kids were in the canyon when the water hit, they’d be swept away and drowned.

Quickly, she started the engine, put the Jeep in gear and spun out of the lot, spraying mud and water as she wheeled onto the road. As she steered, she called Justice again.

“Are you missing me?”

“Yes, but listen. I got a call from the Sheriff and it’s possible two kids are in the canyon. I’ll be there in a matter of seconds, stall Cyrus if you can.”

She heard a curse. “I’ll try, I think it’s too late.”

He hung up, and she increased her speed, trying not to panic. When she arrived, Charlee parked and jumped out, immediately breaking into a run. “Justice! Justice!” She saw him coming toward her on a four-wheeler.

“Get on!”

There wasn’t time to talk. He sped toward the canyon, and Charlee held on, peering over his shoulder. They passed the trenches Cyrus had dug, which would direct the flow into the sinkhole. Already, water was racing through it. They were too late. Lavaca Creek was flowing through Cave Canyon. The term creek would be deceptive. When heavy rains came every little tributary swelled with run-off and what normally was a small, meandering stream could morph into a raging river.

And that was what they had.

When they could go no farther on the RV, he slid to a stop, and they bounded off. “You stay here.” He directed. “Wait!”

“Not on your life, there are two of them. I’m going with you. I know that canyon as well as you do.”

“We don’t even know if they’re in there. It’s too dangerous.”

About that time, they heard it, a small voice screaming for help. Looking at one another, they took off, running through the water that was growing by the second. To their ankles, to their knees, to their thighs, the water was entering faster than it could get out, so the depth was building fast.

“They’ll try to climb out of the way. I’m afraid for them. They’ll run into a cave and get trapped.”

“Hello! Where are you?” Justice called. It was a race, they both knew it. As they went deeper into the canyon, they jumped on rocks when they could, but when they couldn’t, they began to swim.

“Hello!” she called. “Can you hear us?”

Charlee was a strong swimmer, but they had to fight against the white water. Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid she might pass out.

“Help us!”

She heard a faint cry and jerked her head up. “There they are!” She pointed, seeing two small children clinging to the trunk of a tree.

They both turned, battling the current. “I see you!” he called out.

Charlee reached the little boy first, pulled him free and handed him to Justice. “I’ll get the girl.” She started toward her but the little girl panicked, turning loose and flailing helplessly. Charlee stared—amazed—for behind the girl was a woman, a woman in white, moving her arms in a beckoning motion, a look on her face that made Charlee’s blood run cold. “La Llorona. No!” she screamed, diving for the child. No one would drown today if she had her way. She dove for the child and when she did, she cracked her head on a rock. A horrid flash of pain stole her vision. She grasped out blindly, desperately clawing through the water to find the child. At last, her fingers closed over cloth, and she yanked, striving to pull her to the surface. Once she had the small body in her arms, Charlee struck out, struggling to keep both their heads above water.

Thankfully, she heard other voices. Someone had come to help. Charlee couldn’t see for the blood running into her eyes, she tried to move toward the sound, praying that Justice had made it to safety. “Help,” she managed to cry, but she swallowed water, so much that she surrendered to the blackness.

Justice saw her. “Charlee!” He and two others managed to pull her out. Handing the child off to Cyrus, he picked Charlee up and ran with her. Finding dry ground, he laid her down and checked her pulse. She wasn’t breathing. “No!” Immediately he began working on her, turning her over, breathing for her. If she died, he didn’t know what he would do. “Don’t you dare leave me, Charlee!”

He fought for her. He willed her to breathe, and when she did, he went limp with relief.

When Charlee came to, she felt strong arms around her. “Is Justice safe?”

“I’m here, Charlee. It’s me.”

He cradled her up to his chest, and Charlee tried to open her eyes. She couldn’t, the pain was too excruciating. “The baby, Justice. I needed to tell you about the baby,” she whispered before she succumbed to the agony in her head.

“Charlee!” Justice screamed. “Where’s the ambulance?” He rose and ran with Charlee in his arms. Others were working on the children, and he could see they were alive. They were sitting up and coughing, appearing to be about seven or eight, close to the same age of him and Charlee when they first met.

“The ambulance is on its way.” Someone assured him. “You really ought to lay her down.”

“No, I’ll hold her.” And he did until the EMTs arrived and collected all three of them. He was scared to death. She had to be okay. What had she meant about a baby?

“Get her insurance papers.” Cyrus reminded him, so he went to her truck and found the backpack. Looking into it, he saw her wallet, so he slung the bag over his shoulder. Justice followed in his truck as the ambulance drove to the emergency room. When they arrived at the small county hospital, it was Curtiss Parker who met them. He was shocked to see his daughter was one of the victims. “What happened?”

The EMTs spoke for him, and it was a good thing because he was almost speechless. “Will she be okay?” Justice asked.

“I’ll see to it.” Her father left for the back with Charlee on a stretcher. The children were being seen to by attendants and nurses. Their parents had met them there. Justice went to meet them, explaining what had happened and what Charlee had done. Thankfully, they were going to be all right.

Needing to be alone, Justice went to the waiting area nearer to the double doors that Charlee had disappeared behind. He sat, bowed, his head in his hands. The waiting was so hard. He called Jase and then remembering Hampton and Weber, he dug in Charlee’s backpack and found her phone. Locating the number, he pressed the button.

“Charlee? How are you?”

“Hello, this is Justice King.”

He could hear the change before they spoke, immediate seriousness. “What’s wrong?”

Justice explained everything. “We’re not too far out of Bronco, we’ll be there in a few minutes.” Somehow, their love and concern made Justice feel better.

He jumped when the doors opened and Doc Parker stood there. He motioned for Justice. A nurse met them, and he gave her Charlee’s insurance card. “How is she? Is she going to be okay?”

“She’s still unconscious. I cleaned the wound and examined her, took some blood. There’s no water in her lungs.”

Her father’s clinical explanation made Justice angry. “Don’t you care that she nearly drowned?”

Before his eyes, Curtiss Parker crumpled. “Of course I care.”

Steering the old man in Charlee’s room, Justice first checked on her. She was small and pale. He went to her, bending over her body, kissing her cheek. Her breathing was even, but her skin seemed cold. Feeling a need to vent, he slowly turned. He didn’t yell, but he said some things he’d been wanting to say for a long time.

“She’s been through so much in her life. Things she should’ve never had to go through.” He pointed his finger at Curtiss. “Look at her, she’s little and fragile. Trusting. Compassionate.” He made a fist. “And to think you ever raised a hand to her.”

A noise at the door caused Justice to pause. Two men stood there, tall and well-dressed, one blond, one brunet, both handsome. Doc Parker didn’t leave, rather he moved closer to Charlee. He didn’t acknowledge the pair who’d just entered. Justice moved toward them. “I’m Justice King.”

“Hampton Forbes.”

“Weber Thorne.”

The men shook hands. Curtiss Parker came forward also. “I’m glad you’re here,” Justice said. “She’s told me how much you mean to her. Thank you.”

“How is she?”

Her father spoke up, “She’s stable. Unconscious. I can’t tell you when she’ll wake up. Other than the concussion, there doesn’t seem to be any damage. We’ve done an MRI to be sure and taken some blood for tests.”

“Do everything necessary. Don’t hesitate. If there’s something her insurance doesn’t cover, I’ll pay it gladly.” Parker nodded.

Justice’s proprietary air made Hampton smile. Many of his fears had just been laid to rest. He punched Weber. “It seems like we know you. Charlee talked about you nonstop.”

Parker checked Charlee’s vitals one more time. As he started to leave, Justice stopped him. He looked at the other men, as if deciding whether or not to speak in front of them. “Do a pregnancy test, she mentioned something about a baby.”

Parker hesitated, glaring at him, but he ended up just nodding and left.

Hampton and Weber walked to her bedside. “How much do you know about the time when she left Bronco eight years ago?” Hampton asked, looking at Justice.

Justice shoved his hands in his pockets. “I know why she left.”

“Do you?”

“Parker hit her, and she found out who her parents were and called you.”

Weber cut his eyes toward Justice. “Is that all?”

He turned to look out the window, knowing what he had to say. “Her father hit her because she’d just left my bed. She helped me home from a bar, I was drunk. I seduced her.”

Hampton spoke, “I very seriously doubt if you had to seduce her. Charlee loves you with every breath of her body.”

The honesty of his statement slammed into Justice’s ribcage like a sledgehammer. “The next morning, I called her by another woman’s name.”

“And you ignored her the next day. She didn’t know if you couldn’t remember or were just one cruel son-of-a-bitch.”

“I didn’t remember, I still don’t. Just flashes, which may be memories or wishful thinking.”

Hampton walked up to him. “There wasn’t one moment of any day that you weren’t on her mind. Even when she was caring for her mother, every time I talked to her, we spoke of you.”

“I saw you the morning you took her away.” Justice looked the other man in the face. “Why did she stay away so long?”

“Because you never gave her a reason.”

“I never had the chance!” Justice exclaimed. “Parker wouldn’t tell me where she was. She never called, she never wrote—nothing!”

Hampton held out his hand. “Quiet, when she wakes I don’t want the first thing she hears is us arguing.” He hesitated a moment, then added, “While she was here, you never gave her a reason. To hear Charlee tell it, you had pushed her away, separated yourself off to be with others. She was your most faithful friend, and you abandoned her.”