Out of the Storm

1

The cold pierced his coat and worked right into his skin, enveloping his bones. Jay Archer had been a Park Ranger for fifteen years, but he had never been more miserable. The rain didn’t fall in drops. It came down in sheets and layers. The tiny poncho and his damned hat did nothing to protect him, and the mud sucked hungrily at his boots. Each sloppy step threatened injury, and he grasped with futility at the sharp branches and rough trunks, trying to keep his balance.

Jay tried to comfort himself with promises of a hot shower, hot coffee laced with strong whiskey, a hot bed, and maybe, a warm body if he could find one. But his body wasn’t fooled. His flesh couldn’t be placated with empty promises, and right at that moment, he couldn’t quite believe anything warm existed anywhere. He would have just trudged back to his truck, but there was still one more cabin to evacuate before the road was closed. Two guests, according to the manifest he had been given. Of course, they had to rent the cabin farthest from the access road.

He nearly ran into the door before he realized he’d even reached the cabin. Visibility was low, but he doubted the guests had a power four-wheel drive. He’d have to lead them back to his truck. Balling his hand up into a fist, he pounded on the door.

Something scraped across the floor. “I don’t care if you’re on your knees!” a man called out. “Go away!”

What the fuck?

“I’m up to my knees in mud, sir!” Jay shouted over the rain.

Now that he was paying attention, he heard the faint sound of music, a low throb that would have made the glass vibrate in the windows if the storm wasn’t doing it for them already. He waited with his head bent against the wind. It took far too long for the doorknob to finally turn.

It only opened a crack. Through the opening, a pair of dark brown eyes peered up at him, framed with thick lashes. “You’re not Austin.”

“No, sir. I’m Ranger Archer. There’s a flash flood warning and we’re evacuating the area.”

The man’s gaze flickered over Jay’s shoulder, and he opened the door a little wider in order to see the ravaged trees surrounding the cabin. There was something familiar about him, something Jay couldn’t quite put his finger on. Smaller and more lithe than Jay, he wore a rumpled white dress shirt with an elegant monogram stitched over the breast. His black hair was cut short, sharpening his cheekbones and jaw, and it made his Eastern features even more hypnotic. Pretty, Jay would have called him, if he wasn’t standing in the middle of the storm of the century and the man wasn’t dragging his feet to get out of the cabin.

“It’s just a little rain.” The man laughed, though there was nothing amused in the sound. “Trust me. I know about rain.”

A littlerain?It was easy for this guy to say that. He still stood inside his perfectly dry cabin. He didn’t have the cold water hitting him in the face and soaking his clothes. “Well, I know about what happens to dirt roads during a flash flood.” Jay didn’t bother to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Please get your coat, sir. We need to get down to my truck.”

He recognized the stubborn set of his jaw before the man uttered a word.

“I don’t think so. I paid for the whole weekend. This is going to break up before the morning and the roads will be fine by Monday.”

Jay would have left him. What did he care if some idiot from the city got caught in a flash flood? Maybe he would get really lucky and there would be a mudslide, too. Unfortunately, the park would be liable for any idiots they left on the mountain. “The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning. We need to get down the mountain. Now.”

“Those pansies panic every time we get more than an inch. This is April. It’s supposed to rain.” He started to close the door. “Thanks, but no thanks, Ranger Archer.”

Jay was so surprised by the other man’s response, he didn’t think to stop the door before it slammed in his face. “Yeah, well, fuck you, too, buddy.” He’d just radio in and let them know there was still at least one person who refused to leave. Before he had the chance to grab his radio, it cackled to life.

“Archer…” The static cut through. “Archer…are you there?”

His fingers were so numb he could barely grasp the small radio. “I’m here.”

“Road…out.”

“What?”

“Archer?”

“I’m here! What did you say?”

“Road…impassable. Can you…cabin?”

“Can I what?”

“Find…cabin. Hunker down. We’ll get you…as soon as we can.”

Fuck.Jay wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve this, but it must have been pretty bad. Maybe he blew up a busload of nuns in a previous life.