Sharon Dunn - Wilderness Secrets

Framed and braving the wilderness…

He needs her help to clear his name.

A downed plane holds evidence that will prove framed DEA agent Jesse Santorum is innocent—and he must reach it before a drug cartel does. But to find the plane hidden high in the mountains of Montana, he needs wilderness guide Abigail Murphy’s expertise. Can they survive the treacherous mountains and their well-armed pursuers long enough to expose the true criminals?

Ever since she found the Nancy Drew books with the pink covers in her country school library, SHARON DUNNhas loved mystery and suspense. Most of her books take place in Montana, where she lives with three nearly grown children and a spastic border collie. She lost her beloved husband of twenty-seven years to cancer in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she loves to hike surrounded by God’s beauty.

Also By Sharon Dunn

Dead Ringer

Night Prey

Her Guardian

Broken Trust

Zero Visibility

Montana Standoff

Top Secret Identity

Wilderness Target

Cold Case Justice

Mistaken Target

Fatal Vendetta

Big Sky Showdown

Hidden Away

In Too Deep

Wilderness Secrets

Texas Ranger Holidays

Thanksgiving Protector

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Wilderness Secrets

Sharon Dunn

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09049-0

WILDERNESS SECRETS

© 2018 Sharon Dunn

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“No one has ever died or been seriously injured on my watch.”

Jesse wasn’t sure why Abby was telling him this. “I can appreciate that.”

“Eighty percent of the people I guide up here are men, and every single time, I have to prove myself and be questioned in a way that my brothers never are.”

Now he knew why she was so upset with him. “I’m sorry I questioned your choice.”

“It’s just that it gets old after a while. What I did back there probably kept us alive.”

“I never should have dragged you into all this. It’s just that I couldn’t get up here on my own. I would have died.”

“Well, whether I like it or not, we’re in this together. I can’t in good conscience just walk away from you, and I kind of think those men would kill me just as fast as they’d kill you.”

He felt a rush of gratitude toward her. “Thank you, Abigail.”

“I will get you off this mountain alive.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed the exciting and sometimes harrowing adventure that Jesse and Abigail experienced as they sought to clear Jesse’s name. Both Jesse and Abigail were on an emotional adventure, as well. They both had thought their lives were going in a particular direction and both suffered losses that derailed them. For Abigail, it was Brent’s betrayal. And for Jesse, it was the loss of his wife after only a short marriage. Like most people, they made plans that involved college, career and marriage. Nobody factors in loss that is bound to happen sooner or later.

When my husband died, I was forty-nine years old. I had been married since I was twenty-two. My world turned upside down. Before he got sick, Michael and I had begun to talk about the travel we would do together once the kids were grown. We were making plans to grow old together. Like Abigail and Jesse, I assumed life would move in a certain direction. Loss and the derailment it causes is not easy. I am just so grateful that I have a God who is my refuge and is faithful despite life’s suffering and losses.

Sincerely,

Sharon Dunn

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

To my Lord and Savior, counselor and king, who makes all things new and is a God of second chances.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

Fit to be tied.

That was the phrase Abigail Murphy’s grandmother had used, and it was how she felt right now as she stalked toward the trees that would lead her back to civilization. The weight of her backpack seemed to increase as she hiked. Abigail adjusted the shoulder straps, lifted her chin and tried not to obsess over the notion that her client—Jesse Santorum—had not been completely forthright with her. As a wilderness guide, she worked with all kinds of people. But Jesse had gotten under her skin.

It had taken three days to hike up to the remote area where Jesse said he wanted to fish. He’d been tense the whole time, insisting that they put in long days to get to the destination. But once they stood on the shores of shimmering Crystal Lake, fishing seemed to be the last thing on his mind.

Four days ago, when Jesse had walked into the office of Big Sky Outfitters, his request had seemed strange from the get-go. He needed to be guided into the lake, but he didn’t require her services to be guided out. He’d been up-front with her about not needing her to get him back out, but usually when a client wanted to improve their skills, they asked that the guide stay close in case they got lost.