The Yuletide Rescue

by Margaret Daley

  She attempted a smile that faded almost instantly. “Sorry. My legs feel like two pieces of lead.”

  “I know.” He wished he could do more to reassure her they would be all right. At the moment he wasn’t sure. He held her for a few seconds while she regained her balance. “Okay?”

  She nodded, and her gaze bound to his. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll make it to your plane.”

  David grinned, determined to make it back to Anchorage with her. “Good. Make sure you follow exactly behind me.” He emerged first into the clearing and headed for his plane at the other end.

  Halfway there, he glanced over his shoulder to check on Aubrey. Her resolve battled deepening lines of exhaustion. But she kept going, and his admiration of her rose with each step.

  The falling snow increased. What light they had was dimming quickly.

  “I’m going to hurry ahead and ready the plane for takeoff so when you arrive we can go,” David said, then quickened his pace.

  David walked around the Cessna and checked what he needed, then climbed into the cockpit as Aubrey reached the plane. She hoisted herself into the passenger seat in front and shivered as she shut the door.

  The storm clouds released even more snow as the minutes ticked away and he prepared for takeoff. After starting the engine, David threw her a look. “This may be a bumpy ride and a steep ascent, but we have enough room to make it over the trees.”

  “I won’t be sorry to leave this place.” She laid her head against the seat and closed her eyes.

  David took off and skated just above the treetops at the end of the clearing. He blew out a long breath, wishing he could relax. It was impossible with the wind battering the plane. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he flew toward Anchorage, ahead of the storm, he hoped.

  Before radioing the airport in Anchorage, he slid a glance toward Aubrey. Her head slumped to the side; exhaustion must have taken over. Good. After what she’d gone through the past twenty-four hours, he didn’t want her to see his worry about this leg of their journey.

  * * *

  The line of trees on the shoreline rushed toward Bree as the plane slid across the ice-covered lake. She squeezed her eyes closed and braced for the impact, unable to do anything but pray.

  A bump jolted Bree awake, and her eyes flew open. Darkness surrounded her, and for a few seconds, she didn’t know where she was. She sat up straight, her muscles locked into place, and blinked at the lit-up controls in front of her. She was safe. It had been a dream. A flashback, she corrected.

  Then the plane hit another rough patch, bouncing her up and into the door.

  “Sorry about that. The storm is on our tail, but we’re almost to Anchorage. We’ll be fine.”

  David Stone’s deep voice, full of assurance, came to her, calming her racing heartbeat. She peered at him, his strong profile thrown into the shadows caused by the darkness and the illuminated control panel. She couldn’t forget his eyes—like slate-gray storm clouds—that had locked on her face when he’d removed his goggles at the snow cave. One look and she’d known she would be all right.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “About an hour.”

  As snow and ice pelted the glass, she twisted around and stared out the window at the sky behind them. When she turned back, she saw some ground lights up ahead. “Anchorage?”

  “Yes. The airport is closed to outgoing traffic but not to incoming. They have one runway they’re keeping clear as much as possible. But the front end of the storm has already dumped a few inches on the area, with more to come.”

  A shudder rippled down Bree’s body. “I hate to think how long I would have been at the wreck if you hadn’t come to get me when you did.” Then she remembered the men from the helicopter. “For some reason I don’t think those guys who came when we left were there to rescue me or Jeremiah.” She turned her full attention on David, whose square jaw was set in a firm line. “So why did they come?”

  “I suppose they could have thought Jeremiah was carrying a cargo and intended to rob him.”

  “He brought some winter supplies to the village, but all he had in the cargo hold on the way back to Anchorage were two seals the Alaskan natives are allowed to hunt.”

  “And you.”

  “Yes. Jeremiah has flown me for the past—” A knot lodged in her throat making her voice raspy. She cleared it. “For the past couple of years since I became what I call an itinerant doctor. He told me when he started he did it because my dad would have wanted him looking out for me.” Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked. A couple rolled down her cheeks. “I’m going to miss him. He lived next door to me, so we saw each other every day when we both were in town.”

  “Does he have any family? I’ve never heard him mention anyone but you. He was glad you were here in Alaska.”

  “No, my family was all he had.” She barely choked out the last part as she thought of Christmas at the end of the month without Jeremiah. Without her parents, she realized she didn’t have any immediate family close by anymore. “He and Dad were best friends from childhood. They both grew up here.”

  “So you’ve been living here all your life?” He looked toward her, and their gazes linked for a few seconds.

  Bree stared into his gray eyes. In stark contrast to his black hair, eyebrows and lashes, their light color pulled her in and held her captive. Her mouth went dry, and her pulse rate spiked.

  Finally he dragged his attention back to flying the plane, and she answered, “Except when I went to medical school. I returned to do my internship and residency here, though. Alaska is my home. I went to school in Oklahoma, where my mother’s family lives. It sure was hot there. That’s not for me. Even after four years I couldn’t get used to the heat.”

  “Try the desert. I had several tours in places where temps rose to a hundred and twenty. That made me long for the time I spent stationed in Alaska. When I retired, I decided to come back and haven’t regretted the decision.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “I was a pilot in the air force, and when I retired last year, I came back to Alaska. A good friend started Northern Frontier Search and Rescue and had to step down because of family obligations in the lower forty-eight. He asked me if I was interested in taking over. I wasn’t sure, but after a few months shadowing him, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

  She tried to remember what little she had heard about him from Jeremiah. At the moment all she could recall was the respect that Jeremiah had for David Stone. “Do you have family here?”

  “No. My wife died and my daughter goes to college in California.” He glanced at her. “Although my dad is here for Christmas. He decided to come for the whole month.”

  David turned his concentration to landing the plane in the increasingly heavy winter storm. While he communicated with airport personnel, Bree tried to relax her body and not think of the last landing she’d experienced. But as the lights of the runway glowed through the falling snow, she couldn’t stop thinking of Jeremiah and the change that had happened in a blink of an eye.

  They’d been flying and then suddenly Jeremiah was in pain, barely able to hang on and land the plane. She needed to learn to fly, especially if she was going to continue to visit the villages.

  After a bumpy descent, the Cessna touched down on the runway, and Bree held her breath as the plane slid and fishtailed. Tension whipped through her as the wind buffeted against the aircraft. David fought to keep it from going into the deeper snow on the side. She grasped the edge of the seat and prayed. She’d been doing a lot of that lately, but she knew God was the only one who could do anything when things went out of control.

  David managed to avoid the snowdrift to the right and keep the plane on the runway. As he taxied toward a hangar at the small airport, he asked, �
��Are you okay?”

  “Now I am. But I’m not eager to go for a flight anytime soon after the past few days.”

  “With everything in life there can be risk, but this was worth it. You’re home safe now.”

  “Not quite, unless I can bum a ride with you or get a taxi. Jeremiah took me to the airport.”

  “Where do you live?”

  She gave him the address. “It’s on the outskirts of town. If that’s too far—”

  “Stop right there. I didn’t fly out to rescue you only to leave you stranded at the airport. I live in that direction, only a few miles away from you. It’s not out of the way.”

  When the Cessna was parked in the hangar, Bree finally felt safe. It had been a harrowing twenty-four hours she never wanted to repeat. Her body and mind screamed exhaustion, but she still had to get through the snow to her house before the street crews had a chance to clear the roads.

  While David exited the plane, Bree did the same on her side, so glad to be standing on solid, dry land in the hangar. Thank You, Lord. Now I hope You can bring Jeremiah home so I can lay him to rest.

  She knew that Jeremiah had made her executor of his estate, which as far as she knew was only his small house next to hers and the aircraft, but that was probably beyond repair. Her main concern was recovering his body and having a memorial service for his flying buddies. A lot of people would miss Jeremiah, especially her.

  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 w
ith 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.

  He pulled into her driveway close to her front entrance, switched off his car and shifted toward her. “Aubrey, we’re at your house.”

  Her eyes opened, and, as before in his office, they connected with his. Again he felt a bond with her, more than anyone else he’d ever rescued. The sensation surprised him, causing him to break their visual link. Keeping his emotions checked while rescuing a person always helped him do what needed to be done. But the second he’d seen Aubrey’s brown eyes at the wreck site, something had changed. He must be more exhausted than he realized.