Hope White: Mountain Hostage

They’re tracking a kidnapper

But will they be the next targets?

After an ambush during a mountain hike, Zoe Pratt ends up shoved off the mountain and her friend kidnapped. Enigmatic search and rescue volunteer Jack Monroe tracks Zoe with the help of his K-9 partner, Romeo, but as the only witness to the attack, she’s far from safe. With Jack’s help, can she find her friend and take down her would-be killer?

K-9 Mountain Guardians

An eternal optimist, HOPE WHITEwas born and raised in the Midwest. She and her college sweetheart have been married for thirty years and are blessed with two wonderful sons, two feisty cats and a bossy border collie. When not dreaming up inspirational tales, Hope enjoys hiking, sipping tea with friends and going to the movies. She loves to hear from readers, who can contact her at hopewhiteauthor@gmail.com.

Also By Hope White

Hidden in Shadows

Witness on the Run

Christmas Haven

Small Town Protector

Safe Harbor

Baby on the Run

Nanny Witness

Mountain Hostage

Echo Mountain

Mountain Rescue

Covert Christmas

Payback

Christmas Undercover

Witness Pursuit

Mountain Ambush

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Mountain Hostage

Hope White

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90642-9

MOUNTAIN HOSTAGE

© 2020 Pat White

Published in Great Britain 2020

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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“I’m going down,” Jack said.

He had done it before, although not with favorable results.

Pulling rope off his pack, he anchored it to a nearby tree root jutting out from the mountain. Romeo shot him a look, like, Don’t go without me.

“Stay,” Jack said in case the dog got any crazy ideas and shouldered his pack, which had supplies.

Gripping the rope with gloved hands, he let himself drift so he’d land gently on the plateau, about a hundred feet down.

He wouldn’t be too late this time, wouldn’t let any harm come to the woman in the blue ski jacket.

A few moments later he landed on the small ledge.

Her back was to him and she acted as if she hadn’t heard his landing. “Miss?”

Startled, she turned suddenly, her eyes wide with fear. “Don’t hurt me!” She stepped back, precariously close to the edge.

He instinctively reached out to grab her arm.

“No, don’t!”

She stumbled backward over the edge of the cliff.

Dear Reader,

Sometimes it’s a struggle to find hope when confronted with stressful situations. Yet hope and faith are so important to help us stay on the path of grace.

Zoe Pratt clings to hope that her friend is both safe and that she hasn’t gotten mired in criminal activity. Through faith and prayer, Zoe remains strong and realizes that even if her friend has made poor choices, Zoe will forgive her because she—and God—love her unconditionally.

Hope is a mystery to Jack Monroe since his own hope was extinguished as a child, and again as a young man. Yet by watching Zoe’s dedication to hope, something is rekindled in his heart. Jack admires her devotion and realizes it might be worth opening his heart to God, friendship and something more.

Jack and Zoe learn from each other by appreciating their differences and accepting each other for who they are, their flaws as well as their strengths. By the end of this story, they find that unconditional love opens the door to remarkable things, including love and grace.

Peace,

Hope White

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

—Romans 15:13

To the volunteers of King County Search Dogs, State of Washington, for their commitment to saving lives.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

Extract

About the Publisher

Zoe Pratt lost her footing on the icy trail and gasped. Stabbing her hiking stick into the snow for balance, she peered over the steep drop below into the vast, white blur of nothingness. A shudder ran down her spine.

Maybe a winter hike hadn’t been the best idea.

“Shannon, slow down!” Zoe called, recentering herself to keep up with her friend.

“I can’t,” Shannon said. “Wait till you see the view from Prairie’s Peak!”

“Do we have to risk our lives getting there?”

“You know I’d never let anything happen to you.”

Zoe adjusted her red scarf to cover her mouth and nose. It was cold in the Cascade Mountains, and Zoe wasn’t an experienced hiker. She’d come to the charming town of Mt. Stevens, Washington, to hang out with Shannon, her childhood best friend. Zoe thought they’d spend time relaxing, catching up on their lives, maybe even laughing a little. She eyed the steep drop to her right. Nothing to laugh about there. One wrong step and—

“Pick it up, pokey!” Shannon teased.

Zoe glanced at the gray sky. Light snow began to fall. “You sure it’s safe out here?”