"Chegwidden," he answered gruffly.
"Sir. It's Colonel MacKenzie."
"What's wrong?"
"I seem to have found my way into a
ditch and to make matters worse I don’t know where I am."
He reached for his cell phone and began
dialing. "Hold on Mac. I'm making another call. Don’t hang up. I’ll be
right back."
"Well, I’m not going anywhere," she
said trying to laugh.
AJ spoke into the cell phone, "Webb,
Chegwidden. I need you to locate a cell phone."
"What? I can’t do that," Webb said
indignantly.
"Mac is lost in this snow and her car is
on the side of the road." AJ explained.
"What’s the number? I’ll try to triangulate
it."
AJ gave it to him. "I have her on the
other line."
"Good. Keep her talking. Any idea where
she is?"
He reached over to the other phone,
"Mac, where are you?"
"I went to Frederick but I had to get
off of 270 South a few miles ago and then there were some detours. I’m not sure
where I am but there are a lot of farms around. Probably at least half an hour
from DC."
To Webb, "Off of 270. 30 miles north of
DC. Lots of farms she says."
"Get over here and I should have the
location by then. We’ll go try to find her."
"I’ll have her hang up then I’ll call
her back on my cell to keep her on the line."
"Good. See you soon."
"Mac, Webb is trying to locate you but I
need to hang up and call you back from my cell phone."
"Okay." He could tell that she was
a bit nervous hanging up on her one link to the outside world but he was
already dialing with his cell phone. "Mac?"
"Still here. Haven’t gone
anywhere."
"Okay. I’m on the way to get you. Are
you running the car heater?"
"Yes, I have the window cracked open for
fresh air and it doesn’t look like anything is blocking the tail pipe. I should
be fine, but boy do I want a Beltway Burger right about now."
They talked while AJ drove to Langley. He
spotted Webb just walking out of the doors with a couple of small boxes.
"What have you found?"
"Got her position. I brought a GPS so we
don’t have a problem."
"Good get in. She’s still on the
line." Webb held out his hand to take the phone while AJ concentrated on
driving. They finally got with in a couple of miles of Mac’s location but they
had to stop due to a downed tree in the road. AJ took the phone back and
explained the situation to Mac while Clay looked on the map for an alternate
route. There was none.
AJ turned his truck around and went to the
nearest farm. They went up to the door and knocked. They explained the
situation to the owner and he grabbed his coat and led them back to the
stables. He explained the best way to get to that location but he only had one
horse that he could trust a stranger on. He asked if either man rode. Clay
explained that he rode every weekend with his mother. "I’m on the way
Mac." Clay handed the phone back to AJ and took the GPS, "Keep her
talking."
Clay rode off and soon found Mac huddled in
her car, he dismounted and walked the rest of the way to her car. He knocked on
her window and she opened the door for him. When he looked in the car he
noticed that Mac was not dressed properly for the weather and that the car had
stopped running. He had not thought to bring anything to wrap her in, so he
opened his coat and pulled her into his arms for a moment to share his warmth.
It hadn't crossed his mind that she would be dressed for a party. A few moments
later, he pulled back and wrapped her jacket tightly around her. He then pulled
off his coat and swung it around her shoulders. He knew it wasn't a long ride
so he didn’t think the cold would be too bad. In fact, it might take his mind
off that dress she was wearing. He wondered who she was wearing it for.
"Come on let’s get back," he said
somewhat gruffly as he led her over to the horse but once she spotted it she
slipped. His arm gripped her tightly and he said, "I’ve got you." She
gasped as she looked up at him.
"Are you okay, Mac?" He looked down
at her in concern.
Finally able to speak, she managed. "I'm
fine." But in truth, she was amazed that it was Clay. She took a step
before she realized that she must have twisted her ankle as she slipped. He
helped her onto the horse and once she was settled in a side saddle fashion he
mounted behind her. He wrapped his arms around her to gather the reins and
started back to the house. She sat and thought about Clay being the man from
her dreams and the more she thought about it the more it seemed wrong. Her
thoughts were suddenly disrupted when the horse stumbled.
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