Brazen (Brazen #1)(44)

Seth hung up and fired up the ATV before roaring out of the shed and through the back gate. He crisscrossed the acreage, his eyes keenly attuned to every hill and scrape.

The sun beat mercilessly down and the hot wind blew over his face as he pressed the ATV to its limits. But he saw no sign of Jasmine.

An hour later, he paused to call J.T. to see where he was. He and another deputy were searching the eastern quadrant in places Jasmine might have ridden Esme. So far they’d come up as empty as he had.

He started off again, frustration beating incessantly at his temples. This was no place to get thrown from a horse. She could die of heat exhaustion in just a few hours’ time.

He topped another hill and stared out across the creek that cut across the terrain. He was about to drive down into the bed when his gaze caught a flash of color a quarter of a mile away.

He gunned the engine and tore off at a breakneck pace. As he neared, he could see it was Jasmine lying on the ground. Sickening fear gripped him as he saw she was unmoving, her eyes closed.

He jumped off the four wheeler and ran to her. He sank to his knees and gently touched her face. “Jasmine. Jasmine, honey, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled crookedly at him around cracked, dry lips. “I knew you’d come.” Her face was pink from too much sun, and her green eyes were dull with pain. Dirt and grime accumulated in her hair and streaked her cheeks.

He reached out to touch her, wanting reassurance that she was okay. He closed his eyes as relief poured over him like cool, sweet spring water. “God, baby, you scared the shit out of me,” he said hoarsely. “Are you all right? What happened and where do you hurt?”

“I tried to make it back,” she said in a strained voice. “But my head and my ankle hurt like hell, so I laid down as much out of the sun as I could and waited for you.”

That kind of faith humbled him and terrified him all at one time. “Did Esme throw you?”

“My fault,” she mumbled. “Wasn’t paying attention.”

He gently gathered her in his arms and slowly got to his feet. He cursed when she winced against him. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She shook her head against him. “I’m fine. Really. I didn’t mean to make you worry. Was my own stupid fault.”

He eased onto the four wheeler and cradled her against his chest. He was going to have to be damn careful driving back and carrying her this way.

Before he started the engine, he shifted Jasmine in his arms and pulled out his phone to call J.T.

“I found her,” he said when J.T. answered.

“Thank God. Is she okay? Do I need to have an ambulance waiting?”

Seth glanced down at Jasmine’s closed eyes, her head nestled trustingly against his shoulder.

“No, I don’t think she needs one.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you back at the house.”

Seth slid the phone back into his pocket then tightened his grip on Jasmine as he keyed the ignition. He headed back to the ranch, a lot slower than he’d come. He tried to absorb each bump and jostle, and he cringed each time her fingers dug tighter into his side.

When they rode past the gate, Carmen ran from the house along with J.T. and his deputy. J.T. reached for Jasmine so Seth could get off without jarring her further.

“Are you sure she doesn’t need an ambulance?” J.T. asked doubtfully as Seth reached for her again.

“I’m fine, J.T.,” Jasmine said in a weary voice. “I swear all I need is a hot shower and something for my headache.”

“I need to look at your ankle too,” Seth said as he carried her toward the house.

Carmen walked in behind him, clucking and fussing like an overwrought mother hen. Seth carried Jasmine up the stairs to her bedroom just as he had after the pool incident. Only this time, for some reason, she felt stronger. Not as breakable and fragile. Strange since this time she’d actually sustained a physical injury. Maybe his perception of her was changing.

“I started your shower,” Carmen said as she rushed from Jasmine’s bathroom.

“I think I want a bath,” Jasmine said slowly.

Carmen looked at her in surprise and then smiled. “I’ll go start a bath then.”

“Put me down, Seth,” Jasmine said quietly. “I can get myself into the tub.”

He eased her down to her feet, holding her shoulder as he backed away slightly. She stepped forward, and her knees buckled. She let out a gasp of pain as her foot took the brunt of her weight, and she wavered precariously.

Seth swore and hauled her back into his arms. When she opened her mouth, he cut her off. “Don’t argue with me. I’ll get you into and out of the tub.”

He felt her sag against him in defeat, and he strode over to her bed to lay her down. He tried to approach undressing her in a distant, medical fashion, as if she was merely someone he was concerned about, but the minute he uncovered her creamy skin, all thoughts of distance fled.

He clenched his jaw and tried to think of something, anything other than her soft curves he was fast uncovering. He concentrated instead on her ankle and examining her for other injuries.

When he touched the swollen skin above her heel, she hissed in pain. Without thinking, he leaned down to kiss the area. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t think it’s broken, but you’re going to have a devil of a time walking on it for a day or two.”