Margaret Daley - The Yuletide Rescue

David rounded his Cessna with her duffel bag. “I need to make a couple of calls to the authorities and to my team to make sure everyone got word you’re safe and they’re all home safe, too.”

“What about Jeremiah?” She wasn’t even sure where to begin with making arrangements to recover his body.

As if he’d read her thoughts, he said, “I can help you make arrangements as soon as it’s okay to return to the lake.”

Relief trembled through her. “Thanks. I’d appreciate any help you can give me. I never thought I would have to do something like that. Since Jeremiah doesn’t have any family, I’m it.”

“Come sit in my office while I make the calls.” He led her toward the hangar. “I’ve found that having the home base for the Northern Frontier Search and Rescue Organization is better near the airport. Saves time usually.”

Inside there was a couch and a couple of comfortable chairs clustered together at the far end. A desk was situated near the door where they entered.

“Make yourself comfortable while I make those calls.” David gestured toward the black leather sofa.

“Is that where you work?” Bree pointed at the desk with a computer and printer on it as well as a stack of folders next to the phone. A filing cabinet sat under a large, very detailed map of Alaska showing the rivers, lakes, mountains and highway system.

“No, my assistant does. My office is through that door. Ella Jackson is the paid staff for the organization and has regular hours. She makes everything run smoothly. I’m glad, though, Ella did as I asked. She hates leaving when a search is going on, but I wanted her home before the storm moved through.”

“You volunteer your time?” The more she was around David Stone, the more she wanted to learn about him. That thought surprised her because since her fiancé had died in a skiing accident six years ago she’d put her job first in her life. There were many people who needed a doctor, especially 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.