by Sharon Dunn
“Are you okay?”
He couldn’t speak.
Mitch’s face came into view as he aimed a flashlight at Landon. “Natasha waited until I got back to come find you.”
Mitch’s presence must be why the hired gun had run. Otherwise he would have just gone after Natasha.
“I was worried about you,” she said. “I know you told me to stay at the trailer.”
For once, Landon was glad she hadn’t listened to him. Finally, he was able to speak. “He’s out there somewhere. We need to find him before he decides to attack one of the villagers to get shelter. Did you see which way he went?”
“No, I just saw you lying on the ground. The guy is gone.” Mitch rose from his kneeling position and held a hand out to his friend. “There are a couple of empty houses, he might seek shelter there.”
Natasha rose, as well. “You have some cuts on your face.”
“I don’t want to frighten the whole village, but we need a few men to do a search.” Landon felt a little light-headed from the blows he’d received.
Mitch patted his shoulder. “Let’s get you some first aid, and we’ll come up with a plan. I can send a man to search the plane right away.”
As the adrenaline in his system subsided, Landon became aware of the pain from the cuts and bruises on his face. He tasted blood in his mouth. “My gun. I need to find my gun.”
Natasha shone the flashlight all around the area where Landon had been knocked down until they retrieved the gun.
They walked back to the trailer. Now more lights were on in more houses. Mitch stood outside the trailer. “I’m going to see what I can put in place with a little help. There’s a first-aid kit in the drawer by the sink.” Mitch turned and took off at a jog.
Natasha stepped into the trailer. “Let’s get you fixed up.” She walked over to the drawer and retrieved the first-aid kit, which she placed on the counter. “Mitch threw the breaker when he came in. So we have lights and electricity again.”
After locking the door, Landon collapsed on the couch. As long as those two men were out there, they were vulnerable. They still didn’t know if the pilot was involved or not.
* * *
Seeing how much Landon was bleeding, Natasha opened several cupboards until she found a washcloth, which she ran under the faucet after she let the water warm. She sat beside him and dabbed at the cut on his forehead.
“I suppose I look really pretty right now, huh?”
“Like you went ten rounds with a prizefighter.” She pulled the washcloth away. “You have a bruise under your eye.” Without thinking, she reached up and touched just outside the area that was growing purple.
His eyes met hers. She remembered the moment they’d shared during the Christmas program, the feathery touch of his fingers on hers. Her mouth parted slightly as she fell into the depth of his brown eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her. His lips brushed gently over hers. Her hand rested on his neck.
Still reeling from the intensity of his touch and closeness, she pulled back. Sadness washed over her. “The kiss that can go nowhere, right?”
“Right.” He kept his face close to hers. “I was out of line, sorry.”
“It was both our faults.” She tried to make her voice sound cold and business-like while butterflies danced in her head and stomach. “Don’t form attachments. That’s the number one rule.” She stared at the floor and then retrieved a bandage from the first-aid kit.
“Sometimes attachments happen whether you want them to or not.”
She tore open the bandage wrapper. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t growing to care for you, Landon, but your life is in Little Bear.” She pressed the bandage against his forehead. “Mine will be somewhere else. Who knows where?” She caught the note of bitterness in her voice. She was alive despite the threat against her, but for the last year she had not really been living.
In the brief moment they’d shared the kiss, she’d felt like she was taking her first breath after being deprived of air.
“I know it’s an impossible situation. But let’s not lie about how we feel.”
She nodded and closed the first-aid kit.
The door swung open and Mitch put his head in. “I got three guys searching the area around the village and the empty houses.” He stepped inside. “The way I see it, you guys have two choices. You can stay here until that fog lifts, which should be within the next day or so. Or, option two, we have a villager who needs a dogsled team delivered to a neighboring village. The musher is injured and can’t make the delivery herself. You’d be able to catch either a plane or car out of there to wherever you need to go. You could leave within the hour.”
Landon glanced over at Natasha. “I don’t like putting the whole village at risk.”
“I’m fine with the dogsled. If we stay, it’s just a matter of time before he comes after me again.”
“Maybe you won’t have to make that choice,” Mitch said. “One of my guys might find him.”
“Actually, we think the guy’s pilot might be involved. Why else would he be laying low, too?”
“Speaking of pilots. Where is ours at?” Landon asked. “We have to let Ted know what is going on.”
“He’s probably staying at the red house at the end of the street. The owner of the house runs a sort of informal hotel since her kids moved out. I can let him know what happened with you guys,” Mitch said.
“Wait, like, till three hours after we leave and then tell the talkers in the village that we have gone in the opposite direction that we actually went. That should lure the hitman away from the village but keep us safe,” Landon said as he rose.
Mitch nodded. “Sure wish our visit could’ve been a little longer.” He stepped forward and gave his friend a bear hug.
“Me, too, brother,” Landon said.
The interaction between the two men touched Natasha deeply. Landon was a man with deep attachments, not only in Little Bear. Natasha stood.
Mitch stepped back. “The lady with the dogs is in the Airstream about a block south of the school. Her name is Rachel.”
They grabbed the few things they would need, though they’d not even had a chance to unpack. Landon placed his gun in his holster and stepped out first. Natasha waited at the door while he scanned the roof. “I didn’t think he’d try the same thing twice, but it pays to be cautious.” He held his hand out for her. “Let’s get going.”
There were still a few people walking around and some of the houses were lit up, loud music playing and laughter spilling out. The celebrations were still going on for some people.
“Let’s hurry. The most likely place for him to be watching for us would be around Mitch’s place,” Landon said.
She knew there was a danger that they would be followed to where they needed to pick up the dogsled team. She kept pace with Landon. As he walked briskly, it was clear he was on high alert. His gaze never fixed on one spot and he chose a path that kept them in the shadows.
They arrived at the Airstream and were greeted by a band of barking dogs in their kennels. There was a second building beside the polished aluminum trailer, smoke rising from its chimney. It was, she presumed, where the dogs stayed when it got really cold.
Natasha’s mind was still on the kiss she and Landon had shared.
The barking of the dogs fed her fear and jerked her back to reality. She prayed that she and Landon would get out of town safely.
FIFTEEN
Landon stepped forward and knocked on the door of the Airstream. At the sound of the pounding, another set of dogs barked from somewhere unseen. A woman, walking with a limp, came around the side of the trailer.
“You must be Mitch’s friends.”
“Yes.” Landon held out his hand for her to shake. She was an older woman. Her skin was leathery from being out in the elements, but her features we
re filled with life. “I’m Landon.”
“I got the dogs harnessed and ready to go. You two are a blessing. I was going to deliver this team myself and then I went and twisted my ankle.” She led them around to the backside of the trailer where the dog team and the sled were waiting.
Landon checked the GPS on his phone.
“It’s a straight shot due north to get to the next village,” Rachel said. “As long as the weather holds, you should be there by morning. You have some mushing experience, I assume?”
“A little,” Landon said.
Landon gestured for Natasha to settle in on the sled. Rachel retrieved the goggles that were resting on the sled and handed them to Landon. She patted Natasha’s shoulder. “I got another pair inside for you. Wait here.”
The dogs continued to yip and jump, sensing the excitement of being able to run. “You doing okay?” he asked.
“I’m cozy down here,” she said. “You’re the one who will feel the bite of the wind.”
Landon peered out at the flat landscape beyond the village. “It’s pretty calm right now.”
Rachel returned with the second set of goggles. And a small box. “Some nourishment for the two of you. The food for the dogs is already packed. They will need to be fed and rested midway.”
“Okay,” Landon said.
“Once you are over that hill, you should be able to see the lights of the village.”
Landon nodded and commanded the dogs to go. The sled jerked forward. Within minutes, they were out in the open beyond Pirta Bay. As the sled glided over the smooth landscape, the dogs pounded out a rhythm. Landon found himself relaxing. The trail was easy enough to follow, and the dogs seemed to know the way. The hours flowed by as they made their way cross country.
The flat terrain transitioned to gradual hills. The dogs slowed from the effort. Off to the side, in the distance, he saw a moose making its way across the white landscape.
They came to the top of the snowy hill. As promised, he could see the twinkling lights of the village far in the distance. He tapped the claw brake with his foot and the dogs stuttered to a halt.
“Might as well rest up the dogs and get some nourishment in them,” Landon said.
“I’ll help you.” Natasha got off the sled, pulled out the phone she’d picked up at Wilhelm’s Market and shone the light on the supplies on the sled. She then handed him a bag.
There were six dogs. She continued to root through what had been packed on the sled, retrieving six bowls. After setting out the bowls, Landon portioned the food. The dogs continued to yip and yelp until he unhooked them, and each went to a bowl and ate greedily.
Natasha sat on the edge of the sled and flipped open the box Rachel had given them. “Looks like jerky and candy bars.”
“Protein and carbs.” Landon sat beside her. “Probably about the same thing the dogs are eating, only in a different form.” The food filled him up.
After eating, the dogs settled down and rested. When Landon and Natasha finished their food, he stood. They’d been sitting, facing the direction of where they were going. He looked back to where they had come from down the hill.
He saw two faint lights in the distance. One was moving east to west and the other was heading straight for them on the trail. He tensed. The slowness of the light suggested that what was coming toward them was a dogsled not a snowmobile. People sometimes took their dogs out for night runs.
Natasha came to stand beside him. “Do you think that is someone from the village?”
“Who else could it be?” he said. “Far as I know, there is no one living outside the village in a cabin off by itself. That would just be too dangerous.”
He turned his attention to the light that was moving east. It had swung in a semicircle and was now headed more north, toward them. Though it was hard to judge, the speed at which the light moved suggested it might be someone on a snowmobile. “There’s not much to do for recreation. People take their dogs and snowmobiles out all the time.”
“Sure,” Natasha said. “Kind of late for that, though.”
Neither one of the them dared say what they were both thinking: that one of those moving lights might indicate they were being tracked.
They hooked the dogs back up to the sled and picked up the now empty bowls. Without a word, Natasha settled into the cargo bed and Landon mushed the dogs into a run again.
The lights of the village loomed in the distance. The dogs running in unison beat out a steady rhythm. Landon peered over his shoulder. Now there were three sets of lights. Two of them seemed to be moving in swirling patterns and the other was heading straight for them.
He thought about trying to reach Mitch via phone or text to see if a snowmobile or dogsled had been stolen, but he doubted there’d be a signal until they got closer to their destination.
He mushed the dogs to go faster and prayed that the lights behind him were just people from the village out to have some nighttime fun.
* * *
As they drew closer to their destination, Natasha was unable to let go of the worry that the hitman was once again on their trail. She couldn’t see behind her whether or not the lights were still coming toward them. If she angled her body to look, the sled might be thrown off balance. Her view was of what lay ahead. She was grateful for the warm covering. Her feet and fingers were toasty. Only her face was affected by the cold.
It was still dark as they sped by the first house on the outskirts of the village. Though the sky had gone from black to gray, it would be another two or three hours before sunrise. A plume of smoke rose up from the chimney of the house. Though they were still about half a mile away, she had a clear view of the town as they headed downhill. It had actual streets and was built on a grid as opposed to the randomness of Pirta Bay, the village where Mitch lived.
The sweeping, swooshing sound of the sled runners gliding over the snow enveloped her as the dogs’ paws, moving in unison, ate up the snow.
A distance boom and a zinging sound destroyed her peace. Her heart raced as terror spread through her.
The hitman’s bullet had found them.
She was pretty sure the bullet was embedded in the pile of supplies on the sled. One runner of the sled came off the ground as Landon made a sharp turn, trying to avoid another bullet hitting them.
She looked up in the direction of where the shot had probably come from. The hitman had taken up an off-to-the-side position on the rim of the hill they had just come down. He must be using a rifle to make such a long shot. He had to have been on a snowmobile to get ahead of them.
The only cover was a cluster of trees on the outskirts of town and the house they had passed a few minutes ago. She doubted Landon wanted to put the residents of the house in jeopardy.
Landon mushed the dogs to go faster, steering the sled so they were not moving in a straight line. Her heart raced, and she feared that the hitman would try to stop them by shooting the lead dog.
Another shot rang through the air. This one missed its target. They drew closer to the trees. The sled hit several bumps, which jarred her body and made her bite her tongue.
Once they were in the shelter of the trees, Landon jumped off and made sure the dogs were settled in the thick of the foliage, where they would not be an easy target. Natasha slipped off, as well, using the sled as cover.
There was still not much light to see by. The flash of the rifle as it released a third shot gave away the hitman’s location. Both of them crouched behind the sled as the shot reverberated across the barren landscape. They’d veered far enough away to make an accurate shot with a rifle hard.
The dogs were clearly agitated, yipping and pulling on the immobilized sled. Natasha knew they all couldn’t stay there for long. Her guess: the assassin would move in, take up a closer position and fire another shot the second they put their heads above the cover of the sled.
The trees only partially protected them.
To be fully concealed, she lay on her stomach, facing Landon, who had taken up a similar position. She leaned toward him. Her face was only inches from his. “What are we going to do?”
He craned his neck to look through the other side of the trees. “He’s going to be making his way toward us. We have to get out of here.”
“Going back on the road that leads to town would make us easy targets.”
He pointed through the trees. “Exactly, so we’re not going that way.”
Though she could not see much beyond the trees, she suspected that getting off the road meant dealing with rough terrain.
“We might have to lead the dogs.” He pointed to the ridge where the rifleman was probably concealed. “Unless he’s dressed in all white, we’ll see him as he works his way down. There are not that many places to hide.”
“He must have driven up there on a snowmobile. No way could he have gotten ahead of us on a dogsled,” she said. “What if he just decides to swoop down on the snowmobile?”
“He still has to stop and line up a shot, and we will see him coming. There are a lot of obstacles between us and him if we go on the other side of these trees.”
There was also a chance of wrecking, and they would have to move slower. Still, she knew it was the best option where there were no good choices. “I’ll run beside the sled so I can duck down and use it for cover if I have to.”
“Good. I’m going to get in front in case I have to reroute the dogs so they don’t get hit.” He squeezed her shoulder. “It’s not that far to town. It will be much harder for him to get at us without being caught himself once we make it there.”
Fear caused the butterflies in Natasha’s stomach again as Landon got in front of the lead dog, grabbed the harness and guided him. She switched off the light positioned on the back of the sled that had helped Landon see the road.