Free Courting Katarina by Carol Steward Page A

like an accordion, the front end like a mountain range. One headlight was gone.
    Alex walked toward her, his movements stiff and awkward. “Katarina, I’m so sorry.”
    She could tell from the tone of Alex’s voice that he didn’t need any help in feeling rotten and she sniffed back her tears.
    Looking at the fingernail moon still high in the sky, she realized they hadn’t made as much progress as she’d hoped. She struggled to keep her frustration at bay. She didn’t need to lash out at him, she repeated to herself. It could have happened to anyone.
    “I just need to walk.”
    Alex took hold of her arm as she continued up the road. He turned on the flashlight, scanning their path.
    “Katarina, stop!” He pulled her roughly to him in an unyielding embrace.
    Struggling against him, she turned her head to see why he’d done so. Just ahead the road was washed away, leaving a six-foot drop.
    Katarina gasped. “We…we…would have driven in there, Alex.”

    “Thank God. Thank God for that deer,” he whispered, his breath hot against her ear.
    She rested her head against Alex’s chest and felt his heart pounding. A tumble of confusing thoughts and emotions assailed her. Her trembling limbs clung to him. “This must have been the road that was closed. Someone moved the detour sign.”
    Alex’s rough hands rubbed her arms and held her securely. “Oh, Katarina.”
    She loved the sweet sound of him saying her name. Blood pounded in her brain and her knees trembled. She closed her eyes, blinking back tears.
    Silently they both backed away and walked toward the car. Each time she picked up her pace, he did so also. What’s happening here? Get hold of yourself, Kat . “We should call the state patrol,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “Where are we?” She found her phone on a tote and turned it on.
    “Turned west at the detour between Cody and Meeteetse.”
    She held it in front of the headlight and looked at the readout. “No service.”
    There was one more ping from the car. Kat jumped back, then tossed her phone onto the pile of totes.
    Katarina looked around for a bush and told Alex she’d be down the road for a few minutes. When she returned, he was spreading his sleeping bag out in the field.

    “W-wait,” she stammered. “What are you doing?” She pointed at the car, then back to Alex. “Maybe it’ll still work.”
    “I can’t fix this. The frame is probably twisted. Just look at it.” He shrugged. “We’ll have to go for help in the morning. Go ahead and take the sleeping bag. I’ll stretch out over there.”
    “But…”
    “There’s no way to tell you how sorry I am, Katarina. For now, though, we may as well get some sleep.”
    Katarina pressed the light button on her watch and winced. “How far is it to the nearest town? I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
    “I’m afraid you’ll have to. It’s too far to walk tonight. We’re better off staying here.”
    She looked around. He was right—there wasn’t a light to be seen. Only the stars twinkling in the darkness. Her car rested in the distance and gasoline fumes still lingered in the air.
    Alex wiped his hands on his shirt. “Do you have any warmer clothes along? It gets pretty chilly out here.”
    “I wasn’t going to the tundra, remember? I was following the mountain range and staying in some hotel that’ll leave the lights on for me.” She choked back her frustration, willing herself not to cry. “We’re in the middle of a heat wave. I was going to need air-conditioning, not a heater.” The tearswon. “No, I didn’t bring anything warm to wear!” She sniffed.
    “Kat.” He stepped closer and took her in his arms. He gently wiped the tear from her cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
    “But my interview. I have to make it to Spokane by Wednesday morning.” She was afraid to open those totes and see if any of her dolls had survived unbroken.
    “You can call them in the morning, see if they can give you a