Rescued By Nova

Chapter 12

6 months into our training it was time for our first test. As a handler and as a SAR dog we had several tests we had to pass to be certified. Greg informed us a week ago that our first test would be in Nebraska in one of the national forests. The majority of our practice has been in wilderness searches so our first test will be in wilderness certification. He warned me that there will be a lot of people there from across the country. It could be overwhelming for me and for Nova. We are only 6 months into our training, if we don’t pass this first time, that is okay, but he wants us to go and at least try. He wants us to know what to expect in the future. If I wasn’t nervous before, I am now. I have all the faith in the world in Nova. It is me that I have doubts in.

It was only a 6 hour drive to the Nebraska National Forest, but the drive would be relaxing for me and Nova. The night before we left, we decided to spend the evening with 3 of our favorite people, Scarlet, Ben, and Deke. Deke and Nova ran and played in the yard while we grilled and had beer on their deck. We laughed and had an awesome time. I feel like I hit the lottery when I found the two of them. As far as friends go, I could not have found better ones. As the evening ended, they both wished us luck, and told us they knew we were going to do great. I hoped more than anything that they were right.

That night sleep would not come. I tossed and turned for hours but the anxiety was just too much. We decided to just get up and get on the road early, a few hours before the sun came up. If I couldn’t sleep I might as well get an early start on our road trip. It was going to be a long day. We arrived at the campground at 11 am. We were early and the test wasn’t until tomorrow but that was okay with me. We got the trailer all set up and decided to go for a run. After 5 miles I decided it was time to go home for dinner and rest. Nova and I needed to try our best to be rested for the test tomorrow. I wanted Nova to pass more than anything, I know she has the skills. The 5 miles back we decided to walk and take our time, enjoy the scenery and the fresh air. It was nearing dusk by the time the camp came into view.

The scene before me was like de ja vu. My heart caught in my throat, and I was ready to run for the hills. There was a fire in the pit in front of my trailer. And setting in my lawn chair was none other than Deputy Joey Hardee. What in hell was he doing here? In the Nebraska National Forest? In front of my trailer? Instead of running I just stood there staring. He was still hot as hell. I could feel the wetness pooling in my panties. How in the hell did he do these things to me? But as I stood there, I noticed he looked sad. He didn’t have the life gleaming from his eyes that had been there the last time I had seen him. He finally looked up and our eyes met.

He stood from the chair, and I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. The confidence that exuded from him before no longer did. I walked toward him, but he didn’t move.

“Hey” He said. Nothing more. No s****l inuendo. Nothing inappropriate.

“Hey” was the only reply I could come up. He had never said anything to me as simple as hey.

“You look amazing, I didn’t think you could look any more beautiful than you had before, but you do.” He almost whispered

“What are you doing all the way up here in Nebraska? It’s a long way from South Carolina.” I was too curious not to ask the question that was at the front of my mind.

“As a SAR instructor, we each sign up to come to a few of the test locations each year to administer the required search criteria and judge the dog and handler on if the conditions are met to become certified. This is one of the locations that I come to every year. Josey is here as well for the cadaver portion of the test.” He paused for a moment but then continued talking

“When we arrived a little while ago, I noticed your trailer and SUV parked here and I almost couldn’t believe it. I tried for months after you left to find you. The only name you gave us was Maggie. No last name. No phone number. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t find you anywhere. You were just gone. I came straight to your door and knocked. When you didn’t answer I decided to wait. If it was you, you had to come back sometime.”

I was shocked. He looked for me? He tried to find me? I assumed when he found my trailer gone he wouldn’t think of my again. I figured I was nothing more than a fling.

When I didn’t say anything, he decided to keep talking.

“Maggie, I’m sorry about the way things happened, if I could go back and do things differently I would. I am not sure where I went wrong. You do things to me that I can’t even begin to explain. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. When I am around you, I forget everything that I have ever been taught. I forget all my manners and want nothing more than to take you straight to bed and have my way with you. And for the life of me I have no idea why. Since the one magical night we had together, and believe me it was a magical, amazing night, there has been no one else. I haven’t been able to think about anyone else. You have ruined all other women for me Maggie. The thought of never seeing you again, of not being able to find you, was breaking me. I had given up hope of ever being able to find you. Josey told me a few days ago that if it was meant to be then fate would bring us together again and our paths would cross when I least expected it. I laughed and told her she was crazy. When we pulled in today and I told her that I was sure that this was your trailer she laughed and see, fate can do crazy things.” He stopped talking and stared at me with loving expectation in his eyes

I was terrified. I have spent countless hours thinking about this man and the magical night we spent together. But right now, at this moment, I didn’t know what to say. Seeing him again had my heart doing crazy things. But I didn’t trust my heart. It had betrayed me before. I finally decided to talk.

“Joey, I have thought about you so many times in the past 6 months. More times that I care to admit. But of all the things amazing things I have thought about you; I have also thought about the fact that we don’t really know each other. Beyond our unexplainable physical attraction and our one magical night together, we really don’t know anything about each other. I couldn’t put roots down in South Carolina based on magical s*x. And I know without a doubt that I couldn’t focus on learning everything I need to about SAR from you. I would be way too distracted. So, I distanced myself. I thought if I left it would prevent both of us from getting hurt more than we already would be. I couldn’t spend any more magical nights with you and come out of it with a shred of my heart intact. So, I packed up and ran. I didn’t know what else to do. I thought with time and distance I could forget about you, and you would forget about me. We could move on with our lives. But since I left South Carolina there has been no other man for me either. You have ruined all other men for me as well. But I have built a good life for myself. I found an instructor who has become like family, a job that I love, friends that I couldn’t live without. I have you to thank for that as well. If I wouldn’t have felt the need to run, I never would have ended up where I did.”

I know I rambled. But I don’t know how to be sane when I am around him. He makes me crazy. He makes me do, feel, and say crazy things that I would never do in any other normal situation.

He was looking at me with so much longing and admiration in his eyes, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do or say. He closed the distance between us in a few strides, he grabbed the back of my head and placed his mouth on mine. He kissed me with a passion like I have never felt before. I could feel his need and longing pulsing through his kiss. My lips parted and he saw that as invitation to stick tongue in my mouth and use in all the right ways. There was more emotion in this kiss than I have every felt in my life. Just when I felt I never wanted it to end, he pulled away. He stared deeply into my eyes. Leaned his forehead onto mine. We stood that way for several minutes. He finally gave me one more deep but swift kiss, said good luck tomorrow, and walked away.

I stood there in shock. I thought for sure he was going to drag me to my bed for another magical night. I’m not sure if I could handle it or not but right now I damn sure wanted it. That kiss left me breathless and wanting more.

Tomorrow was going to be a very long day. I’m glad we only had one day of Wilderness testing. I don’t know that I could be around him for an entire weekend and stay sane enough to complete our trials.