Finding True Love: Little Falls, #1

By Liza O'Connor

Carrie Greyson leaves New York and moves to Little Falls, Montana with a dream to turn a broken-down ranch into a refuge for battered women. Trouble finds her on day one as her car is washed into a ravine, soon to soar off a cliff into the river below.

Just when all her dreams seem ready to collapse, she discovers a whole town willing to help her. And after some missteps, she even determines which lover is solid and which are not.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Authors Online
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386193456

Liza O'Connor

   Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens in a myriad of genres. http://www.lizaoconnor.com/   

Book preview

Chapter 1

As the flash flood waters swept Carrie Greyson’s rental car into a ditch, which presently resembled a raging class five river, a joke came to her mind: A man, depressed by his bad luck, was comforted by a stranger who declared Cheer up! Things could be worse. So the man cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.

She realized that her life was the embodiment of that joke. Every time she tried to dig her way out, every time life looked as if it might turn around, something would go wrong.

When she was a little girl, her grandmother told her that God tested her to make her strong. God has great things planned for you. Why else would he bless you so? Then her grandmother would kiss away Carrie’s tears.

Despite her grandmother’s assurances, as a child, Carrie felt her ‘blessings’ were nothing but a curse. She had been certain that her life couldn’t possibly be worse than it was, but she had been naively wrong. From the day her grandmother died, leaving her a ward of the state, her life succumbed to a darker level of hell.

Yet, even from that hell, she had managed to claw and climb her way out. Until two minutes ago, life looked hopeful, even—dare she say it—‘good’. However, she would have to classify her current situation as unquestionably ‘bleak.’

The car’s floorboard filled with water. The electric windows had ceased to work, leaving her trapped inside this sinking capsule. She searched the rental car for anything she could use to break a window, but neither the car nor her purse held anything useful.

She had long ago given up praying to God, but she never had given up on her grandmother.

Grams, if you can hear me, I could really use some help right now.

A break in the dark clouds appeared and a bright ray of sunshine beamed through the sunroof. Carrie was about to complain to her grams that she needed more than cheering up, when she noticed that the sunroof wasn’t electric. It had manual latches that would pop the hatch up an inch in the back. And the latches possessed large screw heads.

Using her key as a makeshift screwdriver she removed the screws. She lay on her back and pushed against the glass roof with her considerable leg strength. The sunroof broke away leaving her a means to escape.

She climbed out onto the roof. Holding on to the edge of the sunroof opening as the car bobbed and crashed its way along the raging water in the ever-deepening ravine, she assessed her situation.

While free from inside the car, she was far from rescued. Two hundred yards downstream, the raging waters looked to nosedive into a canyon. She scanned the area for some way to get off this damn car before it went over the edge.

Her choices were few and bleak. She could try leaping off the car towards one of the steep banks, but there was no way she was going to clear seven feet of water and land on solid ground past the slippery banks, and there was certainly no way she could swim this raging brown water, because she couldn’t swim. Her only possible salvation looked to be a tree limb that stretched out from the far bank at the very edge of the drop off. The problem was the overhanging branch didn’t look sturdy enough to hold her weight. Even if it could, the car would already be going over the cliff during her attempt to leap five feet in the air to catch the limb. She’d probably miss the branch entirely. As if in acknowledgement of her impossible situation, her teeth began to chatter. She took a deep breath and focused. A slim chance was better than none.

She eased herself to the far-right side of the roof. Squatting, she held on with one hand gripping the roof opening and the other holding the window rim. She kept her eye on the tree branch, trying to determine exactly when she should jump. She decided her best chance would be to jump early, before the car actually dipped down. That would make her launch significantly stronger, but it meant that she would have to leap forward to actually catch the branch.

She counted down the seconds to her leap. People are counting on me, Grams. I need your help here.

Without warning, a blur of white fell before her and pain exploded in her arms and chest. She felt herself torn from the roof, smashed down upon the trunk and then dragged into the water.

Well shit! Fury raged within her, not so much for the ending of her life, but for what it meant to the women who counted on her. The tightness across her chest worsened. She knew soon she’d black out from either the pain or a lack of oxygen. She steeled herself for death. She wondered if she really would meet Grams in the Hereafter. She wondered what the Hereafter was like. She wondered if there really was a God. If there was, and she got the chance, she intended to make his life as miserable as he’d made hers.

Inexplicably, her head emerged above the water. She gasped for air as she tried to make sense of what was happening. The waterfall roared so loud it rattled her senses. The car was long gone over the falls. So why was she still here? Why was she able to remain pressed against the bank even as the water ripped and tore at her body?

She focused at the source of the pain across her chest: a rope. A rope was around her chest, pinning her arms to her sides. She followed the taut end of the rope up the bank to a pickup truck parked twenty feet down the road. How the hell did she get tied to a truck?

She watched as a cowboy tied a second rope to the truck’s front bumper and the other end of the rope around his waist. She turned her face away from the shower of rocks which pummeled her as he scrambled down the steep side of the ravine.

His slide stopped once he was beside her.

Are your legs injured? he yelled over the roar of the water.

Carrie didn’t have the strength to yell in return, so she answered with a shake of her head.

He looked relieved. When I lift you, use your feet to help climb up this bank. Can you do that?

She nodded. To get out of this water, she could do anything. She doubted, given his angle, he’d be able to give her much lift, but honestly, if he could just turn her enough that she could get her feet beneath her, she’d climb this damn bank even without the use of her arms, still held tight by the rope.

He did more than flip her. He managed to flip and secure her to his side so that his body helped balance her as she slipped and scrambled up the muddy embankment. His arm firmly around her waist prevented her from sliding back when she’d lose traction. When they made it to the top, both sat in silent exhaustion for several minutes. Finally, Carrie caught her breath sufficiently to speak.

Could you untie me?

He stood and then placed his arms around her waist to help her up. Once she stood, he loosened the rope until it fell to the ground.

She stared at the rope for a moment and then stepped out of the loop. A lasso. He had lassoed her just before she made her leap. But where had he come from?

He touched the red rope burn on her arm. Are you hurt?

Carrie ran her hands over her arms and prodded her chest where the rope had been. Remarkably fine, given the circumstances. Carrie was amazed she was still alive. It was probably the last thought about making God’s life hell. He was scared to let her try. Safer to keep her down here where he could torture the hell out of her.

I’m Alex, her rescuer said as he gathered up his ropes and walked toward the truck. I’m Carrie, she said as she followed him to his truck and watched as he untied the ropes from the impressive metal pipe bumper extending from the front of his truck.

What’s this for? she asked as she touched the scarred and dented metal.

He looked up at her as if she’d asked the strangest question in the world.

When you aren’t pulling people from raging waters, what’s its purpose?

It’s a cattle guard. He captured her face in his hands.

For a brief second, she thought he planned to kiss her, and her body turned rigid.

Instead, he stared into her eyes. I think you may be in shock. I’m going to take you to Teddy. He’s a doctor—of sorts.

Carrie didn’t resist as he helped her into his pickup and slowly drove across the bridge. She stared out the window and looked down. She could see the trunk of the car caught on the rocky cliff. The front of the car must have broken off and fallen into the river below.

You’re safe, he said and touched her hand.

She turned and looked at him. She could see the budding of desire in his eyes. What disturbed her, however, was her response. When she thought he intended to kiss her, she had actually wanted a kiss.

It’s only the adrenaline. She returned her view to the window and kept it there for the rest of the drive.

I was driving into town when I saw your car wash off the road. I had tried to yell and get your attention, but the noise of the waterfall drowned me out. I had no choice but to lasso you. I could see you intended to leap for that branch, but you would have never made it, and even if you did, it wouldn’t have held your weight. I know it had to hurt like hell, and if you are angry at me...

She could tell by the way he said it, he thought she was, but why would she be angry that he saved her life?

It’s all right, I really didn’t want to die just now.

Her answer silenced him. He didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive.

What was so odd about saying you didn’t want to die?

He pulled off the highway onto an unpaved road. His truck sank six inches deep in mud as he slugged onward. Teddy’s going to kill me for ruining his road, Alex muttered.

When they arrived at the ranch house, an unhappy man in his late thirties stood on the porch watching their progress. He walked out to the truck and looked in its bed. He then opened Alex’s door. You best have a good reason for destroying my road, because I don’t see a sick animal.

Alex explained what had happened.

Teddy looked more annoyed than ever as he walked around the truck and opened the passenger door. Why didn’t you take her to Doc Hankins?

The road is washed out. That’s what put her in the ditch to begin with.

Teddy helped her out of the car and led her into his house. I’m Teddy. I’m not a doctor. I’m a veterinarian. But I can check you over for serious injuries if you wish.

Carrie wanted to say she didn’t wish, but after the damage they had done to his road, she felt compelled to accept his help.

He led her into his small animal exam room. Alex entered as well. Both Teddy and Carrie stared at him.

Teddy pointed to the door. You aren’t staying for the exam.

Alex’s eyes reflected outrage. I saved her!

That doesn’t mean you get to see her naked, Teddy countered.

Alex looked as if he was going to argue the point, but after a glance at Carrie, he excused himself.

Teddy laughed softly and then noticed Carrie’s frightened expression. Oh, don’t worry. You don’t have to get naked. I just said that to make him leave. And to pay him back for destroying my road.

He had her sit in a chair as he studied her eyes and took her blood pressure. Your pupils aren’t dilated, and your blood pressure is remarkably low, given the events of the day. He studied the purple bruising on her arms. Are you in pain?

I’m fine.

Teddy pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.

Carrie shivered, knowing all too well what was going to happen next. His hand would rest a moment on her knees and then move up her inner thighs.

He studied her. You are very quiet, but then maybe you are always quiet. Or maybe you are in pain, but the pain is in your chest and you don’t feel comfortable having a doctor who isn’t really a doctor examine your chest. If you want, I could leave the room. Then you could take off your bra and lay on the table with a towel covering you. I could set up the x-ray machine, take the pictures and then leave and let you get dressed.

When she didn’t reply, he continued, Or I can ask for a helicopter to come get you and take you to Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. It’ll set you back almost fifty-grand.

I’m fine. Can’t you just declare me fine?

Alex’s voice bellowed from the other side of the door. No, he cannot!

Teddy got up from his chair and opened the door. What the hell are you doing?

Eavesdropping. Alex entered the room, taking Teddy’s chair before Carrie.

Carrie, I may have accidentally injured you when I pulled you from the water. I have to make sure that’s not the case. So, either you let Teddy x-ray you, or I’ll have you airlifted to Columbus Hospital.

Her temper rose at the ease in which he bullied her. Why are you making such a fuss? I told you I’m fine!

If you’re injured, I’m liable.

That’s ridiculous. You saved my life. Do you think I’d sue you for saving my life?

He sighed. I’ve given up trying to make sense out of people’s actions. His head tilted to the side. Now, it’s either the x-ray or the helicopter.

Carrie felt paralyzed by the options.

Alex stared into her eyes several seconds then sighed. Teddy, see if your mom will come in and chaperone during the x-ray.

How did he know?

When Teddy returned with his mother, he introduced Carrie and explained her near-death experience. Mrs. Wilson was more than willing to watch over her.

When Teddy and Alex left, Mrs. Wilson smiled at her. I assure you that my son is always a perfect gentleman. In fact, he’s too nice. Everybody takes advantage of him, particularly his current girlfriend. She’s always borrowing money from him, asking him to drive her all over the place. Yet, when he was sick with the flu, did she stop by once to see how he was doing? Not on your life. In fact, she had the audacity to call and complain he was neglecting her and maybe she’d date Bobby Conrad until he felt up to entertaining her again.

Carrie liked Mrs. Wilson and didn’t flinch as she helped her ease off her shirt and bra. Mrs. Wilson’s chatter didn’t stop as she noticed the purple line of bruising across Carrie’s chest. However, when she looked at Carrie’s back, the woman fell silent for several seconds.

Did you hit your back? You’ve some serious bruising down here. Her voice was slightly tighter than before.

I think I did. Carrie knew the bruising hadn’t shocked the woman. It was the scars from her childhood beatings by her foster mother, Mrs. Cabot.

Well, Teddy should x-ray your lower back. It looks bad.

It felt bad, too, Carrie admitted to herself. What if something were seriously wrong? No! She couldn’t afford to have anything seriously wrong. Too many people depended on this fresh start.

Wearing nothing but her underwear, Carrie lay down on the cold metal exam table. Mrs. Wilson covered her up with a sheet and then called Teddy in to set up and take the x-rays. Once Teddy had immortalized Carrie’s chest and backbone in film, he left the room.

Mrs. Wilson gave Carrie a robe. Maybe you’d like to take a shower while I wash your clothes.

The temptation of having clean, dry underwear was enough to entice Carrie to give those up as well.

Feeling certain that Mrs. Wilson would keep her safe, she enjoyed washing off her near-death experience in the shower. By the time she finished, Mrs. Wilson had located her a one size fits all summer dress and one pair of oversized, but clean, dry panties.

When Carrie entered the exam room, neither Teddy nor Alex noticed. They were so engrossed reading her x-rays that she managed to stand several minutes behind them before they realized her presence.

Teddy shook his head. She’s got more fractures than you do, Alex.

Alex nodded. But none from today?

No, which means this isn’t a case of calcium deficiency. If that’d been the case, she’d have broken ribs all over the place.

Alex sighed and stepped back into Carrie. Jeez, how long have you been standing there? His hand reached out to steady her, but at the last moment he pulled his hand back as if afraid to touch her.

Carrie ignored his question and studied the sad history her bones told.

So my backbone is okay? she asked Teddy.

Yeah, it’s just bruised. I can give you a painkiller if you like.

Carrie paused. She hated admitting she hurt, but she really wanted a pain killer. Maybe for later. She then glanced around the room. May I use your phone? I need to call a taxi to take me out to my place. I’ll walk to the highway, so they won’t further mess up your road.

Teddy and Alex stared at her as if she was speaking Swahili.

Finally, Alex replied, We don’t have taxi service here. But even if we did, you wouldn’t need it. I’ll drive you wherever you want to go.

Carrie gave him a slight smile of appreciation. He really was a helpful fellow, if only she didn’t feel such a strong attraction toward him. Do you know where the Strong Heart Ranch is?

I do.

Well, that’s our new place, Carrie announced proudly.

Strong Heart Ranch? His tone was heavy with worry.

Yes, is there something wrong with it?

It’s a fine piece of land, but Cal let the place run down. I hope your husband is handy, or he’ll spend a fortune paying for repairs. What is it that you two plan to do there?

Carrie realized he had mistaken her ‘our new place’ comment to mean she had a husband. She decided to leave that misunderstanding uncorrected. We’re going to raise horses.

Alex tilted his head slightly to the right. Have you any experience raising horses?

Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine. She didn’t have experience, but he didn’t need to know that. So, will you drive me out to the ranch? That is, if it’s not too far out of your way?

It’s not. In fact, we’re neighbors. But neither of us will be driving to our homes for possibly a week. The highway south of here was buried under a rockslide. If I hadn’t stopped to save you, I’d probably be buried under ten feet of rock now.

Carrie smiled. So, in an odd sort of way, you saving my life saved yours?

Alex smiled.

God, he was handsome when he smiled. He literally sent tingles into her toes.

I guess so.

Well, then maybe we should have Teddy x-ray you, so I can compare your breaks to mine, she teased.

Teddy laughed. Don’t bother competing against Alex. He wins everything. He’s a gold medalist, you know? Teddy informed her.

Alex grimaced and gave Teddy a look that pleaded for him to stop talking.

Really, what sport?

An arcane sport no one pays any attention to. We just ski around shooting targets.

The biathlon? I didn’t realize an American had ever won in that sport. It’s heavily dominated by the Eastern Europeans.

It was until this last winter Olympics, and Alex trounced them with a new world record, Teddy bragged.

Alex frowned. Teddy, maybe you want to check and see if your mom needs help in the kitchen.

Teddy laughed good-naturedly and excused himself.

Sorry, he said once Teddy left, But I just hate people fussing over me like I’m some sort of hero.

Carrie couldn’t sympathize. Since her Grams had died, no one had ever fussed over her, at least not in a positive way. She had received too much attention from her foster father, Mr. Cabot, especially in the wee hours of the morning, and too much attention with a whip from Mrs. Cabot the following morning, but the idea of anyone causing her grief by being too proud of her was unimaginable.

Alex sat down and offered her a chair as well. So, tell me something about yourself.

Carrie ignored the chair and stared at her x-rays a moment longer and then pulled them off the light and rolled them up. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about her miserable life.

At least tell me your last name! Alex demanded. Mine is Dumas.

I’m Carrie Greyson. Excuse me, I think I should see if Mrs. Wilson could use some help in the kitchen.

Chapter 2

Carrie Greyson was a conundrum. Alex couldn’t make her out at all. Yet, in other ways, he felt he understood her all too well. She was some strange mix of his old obsession, Mary Campbell, and his sister, Elaine—part wonder woman, part natural-born victim.

Why victim? He wondered. She had shown incredible bravery during today’s rescue. Yet, the way her body went rigid when he touched her was reminiscent of how Elaine would look when her fiancé took her arm.

Elaine’s back still carried the scars...

His thoughts went to all the old fractured bones on Carrie’s x-rays. Unless she’d been riding bulls as a child, she must have had abusive parents. Fortunately, none of the fractures looked recent, so he doubted her husband carried on the tradition.

Her husband. That piece of information depressed him more than he wished. Even though she was absolutely wrong for him, too quiet and still too much the victim, he felt an attraction to her, at least to the woman she could have been, if life hadn’t sent her down a bad path.

He followed everyone to the kitchen and sat at the table, watching the two women and Teddy prepare dinner. He could tell his friend really liked her. The victim-aura would naturally attract him. She was like a wounded animal in need of care.

Just the thought of him taking care of her made Alex angry. He didn’t want Teddy anywhere near her. She was a married woman. They both should leave her the hell alone. For all he knew, her husband was a jealous brute who would shoot first and ask questions later.

Where was the husband? Surely the real estate agent must have mentioned the place was a wreck. So why would he send his wife out in advance?

Who was your real estate agent? Alex demanded, breaking into the threesome’s happy conversation.

Carrie’s eyes rounded in confusion. James Taylor.

Alex frowned. He knew the guy. Did he tell you the condition of the ranch?

He said it was in bad shape and would need considerable repairs before it could be a viable ranch again.

And your husband sent you out here anyway? His anger toward the husband was increasing by the second.

Her brows furrowed in annoyance. I sent myself out here. I’m my own person and I’m certainly as capable as most men in performing simple repairs.

He repressed a smile. She definitely had a bit of Mary Campbell in her.

Mary: feisty, aloof, determined she could do anything a man could, and stood more than ready to prove it true. Had she not quit the biathlon competitions to marry and have children, she might have eventually beaten Alex.

He held up his hands in surrender. I stand corrected.

He wondered how Mary was doing now. The last he had checked, she had three children, a moderately successful career, and was very happy with her musician husband. She clearly could have done more with her career, but evidently, that wasn’t what made her happy. What she wanted was a family.

He wondered if that’s why, despite their obvious compatibility and attraction to one another, she had always kept him at arms-length. Could she sense he didn’t want children? But hell, the Mary he knew hadn’t wanted children either. She didn’t even want a man.

Realizing everyone was staring at him, waiting for an answer, he apologized. Sorry, you caught me day-dreaming.

Teddy smiled. I asked, since Carrie is getting the guest room, do you want the attic or the couch?

What he really wanted was the guest bed with Carrie in it, but he couldn’t say that. He shrugged. The attic’s fine.

CARRIE COULDN’T REMEMBER having more fun than their dinner around the big farm table. Mrs. Wilson was a wonderful storyteller and had amusing stories to share, many of which featured Teddy and Alex in embarrassing situations. They would chime in to try and salvage their pride by explaining exactly why they had done whatever foolish moment she raised, but more often than not their explanations just made the situation more laughable.

When Mrs. Wilson told how the two boys had dressed a pig up in baby clothes and taken it into town, declaring it to be Alex’s baby brother, recently home from the hospital, Carrie laughed