in certain parts of Alaska that were hard to access.
“Yes, except for Ella everyone is a volunteer. Maybe I can recruit you. We can always use medical personnel, especially with a big search.”
She smiled. “I’m not above being persuaded.”
“Good.” His whole face lit up, his gray eyes glittering. “My friends have learned to run the other way when they see me coming.”
“Really?”
He laughed. “No. In fact, I’ve come to depend on them when I need people to help in a difficult search and rescue. They’re so willing to give of their time. It makes me humble.” He started for the closed door to his office. “Sit—put your feet up.”
The soft black leather beckoned her, and Bree sank onto the couch. She spied the throw pillow at one end and pulled it to her. Laying her head on it, she stretched out and thought she would close her eyes for a few minutes until David was ready. She heard the murmur of his deep baritone voice coming from the office and settled farther into the cushion. His voice comforted her and gave her a feeling of safety. Sleep overtook her almost instantly.
* * *
“Thanks, Chance, for looking into this. Something went down at the rescue site after we left. Good thing we moved out when we did. I don’t think those men were friendlies.” As David talked to his friend, his hand clutched the phone tighter than he intended. He had to relax his grip before his fingers locked around the cold piece of plastic. “I’ve decided to go back in when it’s clear to pick up Jeremiah’s body.”
“If I can, I’d like to go with you. In case there’s trouble.”
“I was hoping you’d volunteer.”
Chance O’Malley, an Alaskan state trooper, chuckled. “Every time you call I seem to volunteer.”
“I’m surprised I caught you at home. I thought you’d be out in this storm.”
“I’m on duty in a couple of hours. Going in early. Lots of wrecks. Some people think just because they have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with snow tires, they can do anything.”
David laughed. “You mean we can’t?”
“I’d better not be pulling you out of a ditch. Get home. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“Bye and thanks.” David replaced the receiver and snatched up the keys to his Jeep.
When he stood, he stretched and rolled his head in a circle. Bree was probably pacing by now. His calls had taken longer than he’d anticipated, but everyone was back safely at their homes. He always liked to know that after a successful rescue. He never wanted to have to search for a searcher.
He entered the reception area and found Aubrey stretched out on his sofa asleep. Her long blond hair spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall caught in the golden rays of the sun. His gaze traveled down her petite body, then returned to her face. Her expression was peaceful, as though she hadn’t nearly died the day before.
She saved lives, whereas he’d taken more than he wanted to count. For a few seconds, his final mission before he’d returned stateside and retired, wheedled its way into his thoughts. Faces of the men who had died under his command haunted his dreams, especially Lieutenant Adams. He squeezed his eyes closed, as though that would stop the images. His last tour in the Middle East had been one too many, leaving its mark on him more than all the others before it.
Bree stirred, her eyes slowly opening. They captured his and held him prisoner for a long moment before she averted her gaze and swung her legs to the floor to stand. “It’s my turn to ask. Are you all right? Did you get some bad news?”
Only my memories. If only I could forget... “No. When the storm clears, I’m going to recover Jeremiah’s body. I talked with my friend—Chance O’Malley—who will help me. He’s a state trooper.”
“I’m also going.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. I owe Jeremiah my life.”
“I understand, but—”
“Please. It’s important. If I’m going to volunteer for Northern Frontier, then this should be no different.” Although weary from her ordeal, she tilted up her chin and met his look with determination.
He shook his head, chuckling. “You’re one tough lady. It’s okay if you come. I thought it would be difficult for you to return to the scene of the wreck.”
“I didn’t say it wouldn’t be, but I have to see this to the end. I want to know what those men were there for if they weren’t part of the search and rescue.”
“Me, too. When I talked with Chance, he said there haven’t been any reports recently of people going to downed planes and robbing them before rescuers can reach them. But there were a few a couple of years ago.”
“Like modern-day pirates? If that’s what those guys were doing, they didn’t get anything worth their time and trouble.”
“Good thing I started out before dawn, or we might have met in the air.”
Bree rubbed her hands up and down her sweater-clad arms. “Not a pretty thought, especially with the weapons they were carrying. God was looking out for us.”
David picked up Aubrey’s coat from the back of one of the chairs and handed it to her. “Let’s go before we won’t be able to leave here.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“That red Jeep in the hangar is mine.” David followed her to his vehicle.
He started the engine and warmed the car up. After pushing the remote door opener, he slowly made his way into the heavy blowing snow to the road, and then drove toward Aubrey’s house. With his full attention focused on the few feet in front of his SUV, the long ride was completed in silence.
When he turned onto her street, he glanced over at her. Her eyes were closed, her head resting on the window next to her. He smiled, glad his home wasn’t far from hers. It had been a long day, and sleep lured him, as well.
He pulled into her driveway close to her front entrance, switched off his car and shifted toward her. “Aubrey, we’re at your house.”
Her eyes opened, and, as before in his office, they connected with his. Again he felt a bond with her, more than anyone else he’d ever rescued. The sensation surprised him, causing him to break their visual link. Keeping his emotions checked while rescuing a person always helped him do what needed to be done. But the second he’d seen Aubrey’s brown eyes at the wreck site, something had changed. He must be more exhausted than he realized.
“Call me Bree. All my friends do.”
Her soft voice floated to him, pulling him back to her. “Ready?”
“Yes, but you don’t have to go with me. I can carry my duffel bag. No sense in you getting cold and wet. It’s not like this is a date or anything.” She reached behind her and pulled her bag over the seat. “Thank you. Please let me know when you’ll be recovering Jeremiah’s body. I have some downtime between assignments. I volunteer at a free clinic in Anchorage, but I can change my hours if need be.”
He removed his wallet and withdrew a business card, then gave it to her. “Call if you need anything. My cell phone number is on there.”
“Thank you. I hope in a few days I can repay you with dinner. I love to cook.”
“Sure. Let me know when.”
A blast of cold air and some snow swept inside when she opened the door and slid out of the SUV. He waited for her to round its front and make her way to her house. He might not walk her to her door, but he would at least stay until she was inside. When he looked out the side window, she still stood by the door, facing the house next door.