| Katherine D. Jones |
The Excerpt
How could she even think about having a relationship with Rod? She felt like she was damaged goods, not the best
prize for any man. She fought with these problems of self-esteem every day. And she hated to admit he was probably
right not to make love to her. He needed to know about her before they could continue in their relationship. She had to
be honest with him about who she was, what she was. Maria was right, Helene hadn’t considered all the risks. Now
because she hadn’t been thinking clearly, she was in danger of destroying everything…
Helene continued moving. A light drizzle of rain had begun to fall on the road. She needed to pick a destination. She
was driving blindly. She had jumped into the vehicle without thinking, now she was on a dark winding road going
nowhere. She checked her purse for her phone. When it wasn’t there, she realized she’d left it in the charger in her
bedroom. She knew she should just turn around and head back to the house. She knew she wasn’t behaving much
like a federally trained agent at the moment. Driving in the dark and rain only served to make a bad situation worse.
Helene continued until she found a dirt driveway large enough to turn around in.
Her nervousness increased as each second passed. She pulled the car over slowly, closing her eyes while she
settled her nerves. She wanted to laugh, but she was too scared. She was out in the middle of nowhere, scantily clad,
with no phone, no food or water, and a quarter tank of gas. Brilliant Maupin, just brilliant; I can’t wait to see what you
come up with for your next number. She hadn’t remembered seeing any lights or stores along the way. She had
simply driven along the lonely road until she pulled over. She noticed the private driveway had a padlock on a fence.
She could turn around, but nothing more.
Helene was jarred from her musings by two blinding headlights. The car was moving quickly and straight at her. She
watched the headlights come nearer and restarted the engine. Nervousness gave way to panic. She pumped the gas
so vigorously she flooded the engine. The car stalled. Helene looked around the car frantically for a weapon. There
was nothing under the seat or in the dashboard.
No one would ever find her out here, if some psycho attacked her. The car was closer now. She could hear the
powerful engine coming closer, it seemed just seconds away. If she were chased, she wouldn’t be able to outrun
him for long. The car might run out gas before she could find help. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her brain had
turned to mush. She couldn’t think clearly any longer. Full-fledged panic gripped her now--she couldn’t move. The
light sprinkle of rain had turned into a deluge. Sheets of water bumped up against the windshield and car windows.
She couldn’t tell how close the other vehicle was anymore. She kept trying to start the car, finally the engine burped to
life. Helene grasped the steering wheel with moist hands. She tried to calm herself down. She was safe and she was
in the car she told herself repeatedly.
A loud car horn blared in the dark silence nearly causing her to jump out her skin. The car passed her without a
second look. She sat in the vehicle for several minutes trying to collect herself, cursing the rude driver all the while.
Her frayed nerves helped her conclude it had definitely been a bad idea to be out alone on this particular night.
Helene wasn’t exactly sure how far she’d traveled, but thought she would be all right if she turned the car around back
in the general direction of the house. Visibility was still a problem, but she felt she had to keep on moving. Helene
drove slowly through the blinding rain. Fear and trepidation threatened to win the war as she battled to control her
thoughts and feelings. She tried to ignore images of news reports she’d seen where folks tried to cross what they
thought were safe areas with water on the road. Drowning deaths from flash floods were a frequent problem in San
Antonio, even in her area. Still unfamiliar with the area, she didn’t even know where the low water crossings were
located. She prayed as she drove, asking God to forgive her stupidity and see her safely home.
Helene felt a scream bubble up from her toes after a fierce crack of lightening split the blackened evening sky.
Seconds later, she was able to breathe again. Her breath came in short panting gasps. She realized she was on the
verge of hyperventilating. She would have to find a way to calm herself down if she was going to make it home safely.
Helene tried to concentrate on the road in front of her but it had disappeared, and was completely covered in water.
The wheels were almost submerged and she could feel the current pushing the car from side to side. Helene
shivered, as much from the drop in temperature as from nerves on edge.
She couldn’t see two inches in front of her. The rain continued to come down in white sheets. Large objects were
bumping into the car. She could feel the thud of things crashing into her. Terrified, she continued trying to make the
car push forward.
Tears streaked her face, making it even more impossible for her to see. She didn’t want to die like this. She wiped
her face with the backs of her hands. The car was turning sideways now, spinning out of control. Helene let go of the
steering wheel, it was out of her hands anyway. The fence, trees, and other landmarks she’d seen earlier, she couldn’
t make out anymore, as it was all a blur because of the pouring rain. Silly thoughts traipsed through her mind. Spates
was going to kill her for ruining the car. Rod would probably think she was the craziest agent he had ever worked with.
Maria would be disappointed she didn’t finish the job. What a jerk she had been…
Helene was jolted back to reality. She felt frigid water on her sneaker-clad feet. Oh, God, the car is starting to fill with
water. She tried opening the car door. It wouldn’t budge no matter how hard she tried to pull it. She unbuckled her
seat belt and tried kicking the door. She heard the thud of more things crashing into the sides and front of the car, but
nothing else and the door was still stuck.
The water had risen past her ankles now. Cold determination fueled her actions. She had to get out or drown in the
car. Helene looked up. The sunroof was open just a tiny bit. An inkling of hope streaked through her. She tried the
button to open it, but it wouldn’t move. Then she tried both the button and moving it with her fingers, which opened it a
little more. In an instant, rain pelted her face from the small opening. She ignored it and forced her body to obey her
commands. Helene turned to position her body to kick until the glass of the sunroof shattered. More hope. The car
was still moving quickly, being carried away by the current. Her heart raced as she continued working frantically to
escape the water filled vehicle. Time was running out.
After a while her fingers and body were numb from pounding on the door and windows. With Herculean effort she
managed to haul her body out of the car, but in the black of the night, couldn’t see anything. She was half in and half
out when the car finally came to a stop, wedged in between the branches of a fallen tree. She had to duck down again
to avoid being speared by a branch. Helene thought she heard a noise in the howling wind and rain, but her heart
beat so fast she couldn’t hear anything over the thrum of it in her chest. Now that she was almost out of the car she
had to figure out a way to get onto land. She knew she was far from out of danger.
The rain was starting to let up just a bit. Visibility was still poor, but she could see her hand in front of her face now.
Lightening continued to illuminate the storm-darkened sky with a dazzling supersonic display. Every time it crackled,
she was able to see the devastation of felled trees, and other debris around her.
There it was again, the sound she thought she’d heard earlier. She looked around as best she could. Her body was
partly camouflaged by the tree so she tried to use it for leverage. As she pushed up on a branch the beam of a flash of
light washed over her. She heard the familiar deep bass voice she thought she’d never hear again.
“Helene, grab the rope.” She was crying hysterically now. Rod had found her.
She caught the rope, wrapped it around her waist, and grabbed hold as she hoisted herself onto the broken tree limb.
Inch by inch she crawled over the mangled tree following the sound of Rod’s voice. She’d never heard that tone from
him before; to her ears he sounded as scared as she was.
Several minutes that seemed like an eternity later, she felt his strong hands around her waist. He carried her out of
the rushing water. He had parked his all-terrain Sport Utility Vehicle on a ridge just high enough to be out of harm’s
way. When her feet touched the ground, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you. I didn’t think I
would make it. How in the world did you find me?”
His response was lost in the wind. He ushered her quickly to the vehicle so they could make their way home. He
handed her a cup of lukewarm coffee from a thermos after placing a blanket on her shivering form. Slowly, the
adrenaline that pumped furiously to keep her alive eased its assault on her body and she started to calm down.
He worked methodically in the silence that engulfed his vehicle. He tended to her scraped arms and bleeding hands
with materials he had in the first aid kit he carried for emergencies. After he was satisfied with her physical condition,
he started slowly up the road. They pulled into the driveway in less than twenty minutes. When he could see her in the
light, the color drained from his face. Helene’s clothes were wet and torn and she appeared to be cut and scraped
from head to toe.
Without another word he picked her up and carried her through the house to the master bathroom. He left her side
only to gather supplies. He wanted desperately to say something to her, but each time he opened his mouth the
words stuck in his throat. She had frightened him to his core. So instead he worked in silence. After a few minutes the
tub was filled with warm water and baking soda from the kitchen.
Helene was mute as he ministered to her. She felt like a fool-- a very thankful, glad to be alive, fool, she had to admit
to herself silently. Rod helped her undress, and then gently lowered her into the water. Helene closed her eyes. Her
body felt like she had been run over by a truck. She would be sore for several days, but there would probably not be
any scars. His Bureau medical training told him her injuries were minor in comparison to the trauma her body had
just gone through. She needed rest more than anything. Rod left her side again long enough to prepare a large cup of
tea. When he returned with the steaming mug, she visibly relaxed--grateful he had come back to her. Helene didn’t
want him to leave her side, but she didn’t say so. More importantly, Rod responded to her as if he knew.
He gently washed her hair and body looking for places where she might be injured as he did so. Each touch was a
caress, he was so tender, and fresh tears welled in her eyes. Rod stopped immediately, afraid he hadn’t been gentle
enough as he watched tears slide down her cheeks. “Helene, where does it hurt?”
Helene pointed to her heart.
prize for any man. She fought with these problems of self-esteem every day. And she hated to admit he was probably
right not to make love to her. He needed to know about her before they could continue in their relationship. She had to
be honest with him about who she was, what she was. Maria was right, Helene hadn’t considered all the risks. Now
because she hadn’t been thinking clearly, she was in danger of destroying everything…
Helene continued moving. A light drizzle of rain had begun to fall on the road. She needed to pick a destination. She
was driving blindly. She had jumped into the vehicle without thinking, now she was on a dark winding road going
nowhere. She checked her purse for her phone. When it wasn’t there, she realized she’d left it in the charger in her
bedroom. She knew she should just turn around and head back to the house. She knew she wasn’t behaving much
like a federally trained agent at the moment. Driving in the dark and rain only served to make a bad situation worse.
Helene continued until she found a dirt driveway large enough to turn around in.
Her nervousness increased as each second passed. She pulled the car over slowly, closing her eyes while she
settled her nerves. She wanted to laugh, but she was too scared. She was out in the middle of nowhere, scantily clad,
with no phone, no food or water, and a quarter tank of gas. Brilliant Maupin, just brilliant; I can’t wait to see what you
come up with for your next number. She hadn’t remembered seeing any lights or stores along the way. She had
simply driven along the lonely road until she pulled over. She noticed the private driveway had a padlock on a fence.
She could turn around, but nothing more.
Helene was jarred from her musings by two blinding headlights. The car was moving quickly and straight at her. She
watched the headlights come nearer and restarted the engine. Nervousness gave way to panic. She pumped the gas
so vigorously she flooded the engine. The car stalled. Helene looked around the car frantically for a weapon. There
was nothing under the seat or in the dashboard.
No one would ever find her out here, if some psycho attacked her. The car was closer now. She could hear the
powerful engine coming closer, it seemed just seconds away. If she were chased, she wouldn’t be able to outrun
him for long. The car might run out gas before she could find help. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her brain had
turned to mush. She couldn’t think clearly any longer. Full-fledged panic gripped her now--she couldn’t move. The
light sprinkle of rain had turned into a deluge. Sheets of water bumped up against the windshield and car windows.
She couldn’t tell how close the other vehicle was anymore. She kept trying to start the car, finally the engine burped to
life. Helene grasped the steering wheel with moist hands. She tried to calm herself down. She was safe and she was
in the car she told herself repeatedly.
A loud car horn blared in the dark silence nearly causing her to jump out her skin. The car passed her without a
second look. She sat in the vehicle for several minutes trying to collect herself, cursing the rude driver all the while.
Her frayed nerves helped her conclude it had definitely been a bad idea to be out alone on this particular night.
Helene wasn’t exactly sure how far she’d traveled, but thought she would be all right if she turned the car around back
in the general direction of the house. Visibility was still a problem, but she felt she had to keep on moving. Helene
drove slowly through the blinding rain. Fear and trepidation threatened to win the war as she battled to control her
thoughts and feelings. She tried to ignore images of news reports she’d seen where folks tried to cross what they
thought were safe areas with water on the road. Drowning deaths from flash floods were a frequent problem in San
Antonio, even in her area. Still unfamiliar with the area, she didn’t even know where the low water crossings were
located. She prayed as she drove, asking God to forgive her stupidity and see her safely home.
Helene felt a scream bubble up from her toes after a fierce crack of lightening split the blackened evening sky.
Seconds later, she was able to breathe again. Her breath came in short panting gasps. She realized she was on the
verge of hyperventilating. She would have to find a way to calm herself down if she was going to make it home safely.
Helene tried to concentrate on the road in front of her but it had disappeared, and was completely covered in water.
The wheels were almost submerged and she could feel the current pushing the car from side to side. Helene
shivered, as much from the drop in temperature as from nerves on edge.
She couldn’t see two inches in front of her. The rain continued to come down in white sheets. Large objects were
bumping into the car. She could feel the thud of things crashing into her. Terrified, she continued trying to make the
car push forward.
Tears streaked her face, making it even more impossible for her to see. She didn’t want to die like this. She wiped
her face with the backs of her hands. The car was turning sideways now, spinning out of control. Helene let go of the
steering wheel, it was out of her hands anyway. The fence, trees, and other landmarks she’d seen earlier, she couldn’
t make out anymore, as it was all a blur because of the pouring rain. Silly thoughts traipsed through her mind. Spates
was going to kill her for ruining the car. Rod would probably think she was the craziest agent he had ever worked with.
Maria would be disappointed she didn’t finish the job. What a jerk she had been…
Helene was jolted back to reality. She felt frigid water on her sneaker-clad feet. Oh, God, the car is starting to fill with
water. She tried opening the car door. It wouldn’t budge no matter how hard she tried to pull it. She unbuckled her
seat belt and tried kicking the door. She heard the thud of more things crashing into the sides and front of the car, but
nothing else and the door was still stuck.
The water had risen past her ankles now. Cold determination fueled her actions. She had to get out or drown in the
car. Helene looked up. The sunroof was open just a tiny bit. An inkling of hope streaked through her. She tried the
button to open it, but it wouldn’t move. Then she tried both the button and moving it with her fingers, which opened it a
little more. In an instant, rain pelted her face from the small opening. She ignored it and forced her body to obey her
commands. Helene turned to position her body to kick until the glass of the sunroof shattered. More hope. The car
was still moving quickly, being carried away by the current. Her heart raced as she continued working frantically to
escape the water filled vehicle. Time was running out.
After a while her fingers and body were numb from pounding on the door and windows. With Herculean effort she
managed to haul her body out of the car, but in the black of the night, couldn’t see anything. She was half in and half
out when the car finally came to a stop, wedged in between the branches of a fallen tree. She had to duck down again
to avoid being speared by a branch. Helene thought she heard a noise in the howling wind and rain, but her heart
beat so fast she couldn’t hear anything over the thrum of it in her chest. Now that she was almost out of the car she
had to figure out a way to get onto land. She knew she was far from out of danger.
The rain was starting to let up just a bit. Visibility was still poor, but she could see her hand in front of her face now.
Lightening continued to illuminate the storm-darkened sky with a dazzling supersonic display. Every time it crackled,
she was able to see the devastation of felled trees, and other debris around her.
There it was again, the sound she thought she’d heard earlier. She looked around as best she could. Her body was
partly camouflaged by the tree so she tried to use it for leverage. As she pushed up on a branch the beam of a flash of
light washed over her. She heard the familiar deep bass voice she thought she’d never hear again.
“Helene, grab the rope.” She was crying hysterically now. Rod had found her.
She caught the rope, wrapped it around her waist, and grabbed hold as she hoisted herself onto the broken tree limb.
Inch by inch she crawled over the mangled tree following the sound of Rod’s voice. She’d never heard that tone from
him before; to her ears he sounded as scared as she was.
Several minutes that seemed like an eternity later, she felt his strong hands around her waist. He carried her out of
the rushing water. He had parked his all-terrain Sport Utility Vehicle on a ridge just high enough to be out of harm’s
way. When her feet touched the ground, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you. I didn’t think I
would make it. How in the world did you find me?”
His response was lost in the wind. He ushered her quickly to the vehicle so they could make their way home. He
handed her a cup of lukewarm coffee from a thermos after placing a blanket on her shivering form. Slowly, the
adrenaline that pumped furiously to keep her alive eased its assault on her body and she started to calm down.
He worked methodically in the silence that engulfed his vehicle. He tended to her scraped arms and bleeding hands
with materials he had in the first aid kit he carried for emergencies. After he was satisfied with her physical condition,
he started slowly up the road. They pulled into the driveway in less than twenty minutes. When he could see her in the
light, the color drained from his face. Helene’s clothes were wet and torn and she appeared to be cut and scraped
from head to toe.
Without another word he picked her up and carried her through the house to the master bathroom. He left her side
only to gather supplies. He wanted desperately to say something to her, but each time he opened his mouth the
words stuck in his throat. She had frightened him to his core. So instead he worked in silence. After a few minutes the
tub was filled with warm water and baking soda from the kitchen.
Helene was mute as he ministered to her. She felt like a fool-- a very thankful, glad to be alive, fool, she had to admit
to herself silently. Rod helped her undress, and then gently lowered her into the water. Helene closed her eyes. Her
body felt like she had been run over by a truck. She would be sore for several days, but there would probably not be
any scars. His Bureau medical training told him her injuries were minor in comparison to the trauma her body had
just gone through. She needed rest more than anything. Rod left her side again long enough to prepare a large cup of
tea. When he returned with the steaming mug, she visibly relaxed--grateful he had come back to her. Helene didn’t
want him to leave her side, but she didn’t say so. More importantly, Rod responded to her as if he knew.
He gently washed her hair and body looking for places where she might be injured as he did so. Each touch was a
caress, he was so tender, and fresh tears welled in her eyes. Rod stopped immediately, afraid he hadn’t been gentle
enough as he watched tears slide down her cheeks. “Helene, where does it hurt?”
Helene pointed to her heart.
Katherine D. Jones, Contemporary Romance with a Twist
UnderCover Lover - December 2005
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