Free Cooper’s Redemption (Crimson Romance) by D'Ann Lindun Page B

them.
    Cooper was lost in thoughts of his own.
    Since Elizabeth Adams had come into his life, two short days ago, she’d stirred up things like a range cook with a spoon. Nothing had been calm since she’d come around. It had been more years than he could remember since he’d struck someone. No matter how hard he tried, though, he couldn’t make himself feel bad about punching Rufus in his smart mouth. Elizabeth reminded him of an orphaned calf — bewildered and scared without its mama. In spite of his instincts to stay away, he couldn’t abandon her to the wolves.
    Focusing on the road ahead, he pushed his thoughts back.
    A narrow beam of light cut through the darkness, flashing into the rearview mirror. Who was it? Other than his own place, and Elizabeth’s, no one else lived this far out. A touch of apprehension nudged him. “Damn.”
    His tone must’ve alerted her because she looked at him with frightened eyes. “What is it?”
    “I think we’re being followed.”
    She whipped around in her seat. “By whom?”
    “I’m not sure that’s even the case, but we better get ready for some trouble. Can you see anything?” Lightly, he stepped on the gas. It was too slick to drive much faster.
    “Headlights, coming quick.” She sounded scared.
    The bright lights in his mirrors bounced into his eyes, making it almost impossible to drive. The other truck slammed into the rear bumper, sending them sliding forward. The steering wheel slammed into Cooper’s ribs, stunning him. Elizabeth screamed, but it took all his concentration to breathe. By instinct, he kept the truck on track.
    No more had he gotten his pickup straightened out than the other truck hit them again.
    This time, Cooper couldn’t keep the wheels straight, and the truck began to spin out of control. He fought to handle it, but the truck turned in a wild arc. With another bump, the other vehicle sent them into a full out-of-control turn.
    There was nothing to do but ride it out.
    “Hold on,” Cooper ordered through clenched teeth. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Elizabeth grab the seat with both hands.
    The old Ford came to a stop with a loud bang.
    Cooper saw the outline of a truck as it tore by, but he couldn’t tell the make or model through the pelting snow. He had a pretty good idea who was driving it, though. The only thing Cooper was 100 percent sure about right then was that his ribs hurt a hell of a lot. His breathing came in jagged bursts that felt like they were going to rip through his left lung.
    Elizabeth’s eyes looked like they were about to bug out of her head. “You okay?”
    “Not the best,” he admitted.
    “What’s wrong?” Her voice shook.
    “I think I might’ve busted a rib,” he muttered, holding his chest with one hand.
    “Oh my God,” Elizabeth cried. “What do you want me to do?”
    Cooper closed his eyes for a moment. “Let me think.”
    She got out, slamming the door shut behind her. In a second she was at his side. “Scoot over.”
    Easing, as not to injure himself further, Cooper obeyed. “Do you know how to drive a stick?”
    “Yes, my mother owned a vintage convertible. Elizabeth placed a foot on the clutch and turned the key. The motor refused to roar to life. A click was the only answer. She repeated the action two more times. “It’s dead.”
    “Something must’ve busted,” Cooper muttered.
    “I’ll get out and check.” At his surprised look she said, “My mom made me take a basic mechanic’s course. I can change oil and my tires if I have to. I’m capable of seeing if something is broken.”
    As soon as she lifted the hood, an enormous cloud of steam lifted toward the sky. Dammit. The radiator was busted.
    As Elizabeth climbed back in the cab she said, “We hit a boulder beside the road. The radiator’s got a hole the size of Old Faithful in it.”
    “I figured.” As much as he hated to admit it, there was only one choice. “We’ve got to walk.”
    “Walk? Are you crazy?