“Affirmative.” He gave his old SEAL brother and new boss their coordinates. Walking out of earshot from Heather while still keeping her in his line of sight, Ben added, “Hurry. Doesn’t look good. Over and out.”
“Where could they be?” she asked, holding her hands protectively over her baby.
Where’s your baby’s father?
Following the blood trail, she fumbled through banked snow.
A week shy of Easter in mid-April, the temps had been unseasonably warm for Kodiak Gorge, Alaska. On the southern slopes, the snow was patchy and melting. The northern slopes still required snowshoes in places too rugged for the snowmobiles.
“Hold up,” he called, jogging to catch her. “Let me go first.”
“Okay, but hurry.” She paused. “We have to find them.”
“We will.”
Walking in tandem, the more blood and other clues they found, the more it didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize this story probably wouldn’t have a happy ending. There was a bloodied white hat. Bloodied pink gloves. A man-sized hiking boot with the foot, tibia, and fibula still in it, sock-covered and severed at the knee.
She took one look and retched their protein bar lunch into the snowbank behind her.
“Hey…” He haltingly slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be the first to admit this doesn’t look good, but with a tourniquet, your brother could have survived.”
Not likely. But possible.
“How can this be happening?” she asked through tears. “I told them backcountry hiking at this time of year was a bad idea. Bears are coming out of hibernation and—”
She froze upon hearing a growl.
Ben followed suit.
Just when he’d prayed this situation couldn’t get worse, he glanced to their left to see two rowdy grizzly cubs. Alongside them?
A pissed-off momma grizzly baring her teeth…
Look for the exciting conclusion to Easter Bunny Baby coming soon!
Dear Reader—
Thank you so very much for spending time with Stephie and Patrick!
Funny how some characters demand their own story more than others. Stephie was for sure one of those characters! Ever since she helped Tanner fight his way back from his burns, I knew she needed her own romance. What I didn’t know was how emotional her story would be.
Upon researching the heartbreaking condition known as anencephaly, and reading the stories told by mothers who’d faced this tragic situation, I also knew their stories had to be told. Though rare, it does happen.
I went round-and-round when deciding Stephie’s reaction, and in the end had her do what I would do. As an eternal optimist, I think I would also run away, avoiding the issue until it could no longer be ignored. At least that way, hope is alive.
If you’d like a chance at winning a one-of-a-kind VIP prize, sign up for my newsletter at lauramariealtom.com!
Happy Reading!
xoxo
P.S. I’D LOVE YOU MORE THAN I ALREADY DO IF YOU’D LEAVE A SIMPLE, ONE-LINE REVIEW ON AMAZON OR ANY OTHER SITE OF YOUR CHOICE. MWUAH!! ☺
SEAL Team: Holiday Heroes
Book One: Christmas Cookie Baby
Book Two: Happy New Year, Baby
Book Three: Be My Valentine, Baby
Book Four: St. Patrick’s Baby
Book Five: Easter Egg Baby
SEAL Team: Disavowed
Book One: Rogue
Book Two: Outcast
Book Three: Shunned
Book Four: Exiled
Book Five: Renegade
Book Six: Forsaken
Book Seven: Scorned
About the Author
Laura Marie Altom is the author of over sixty novels. Her award-winning work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and worldwide, she has over a million books in print. Laura lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband of thirty years. This former teacher has been blessed with boy/girl twins and a menagerie of dogs and cats. For fun, Laura’s content to garden, thrift-shop or curl up with a great book.
Laura loves hearing from readers, and can be reached at the following social media outlets:
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Copyright © March 2019 by Laura Marie Altom
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
All characters and incidents within this book are fiction and works of the author’s imagination.
St. Patrick’s Baby (SEAL Team: Holiday Heroes Book 4) Page 9