Maybe that was the reason he’d taken her out to the cabin—to thank her for helping him get over the loss of his brother. She and Cole had been through so much together in counseling, it wouldn’t surprise her. And here for a moment she’d thought it might have to do with his feelings for her. She really was a dreamer, she told herself and turned to the window to gather her composure.
“Is that all you have to say?” Cole asked. “Where are you? What’s going on inside that beautiful head of yours?”
“I never could stand that snake of a man, Freddy. But I couldn’t say anything for Kendra’s sake, so I took out my disgust on him one night when he tried to ask me out.”
“What did you do to him?”
“He wasn’t taking me seriously, so I kneed him where it hurts. After that, he got the point and stayed away.” The memory brought a smile to her face.
“That weasel touched you?”
“He tried. I took care of him.”
Cole gave a crooked smile. “Wish I could’ve been there to see you in action.”
“Oh, it was beautiful. He yelped and fell to the ground. I told him to slither back to the hole he came from.” Sashi felt more of her old self coming back just reliving the scene.
“That’s a great story. Mind if I share it with the boys?” he asked.
“You can share it with anyone you want. It’s really that good, huh?”
“It is.”
Sashi felt a degree of pride. She needed to tap back into that person she used to be, a person who never let anything stop her. Today was a new beginning.
Cole pointed to a beautiful cove with four houses sitting along the water’s edge. He motioned to a house up on a hill. “This is where the Powells all live, along with Sammi’s grandparents, the Engstroms.”
“How great that they all live so close together. They seemed like such a wonderful family.”
“They’re the best. We’re going to be docking at CJ and Natasha’s house. It’s the one in the middle. Are you ready for a landing, Ms. Hansen?”
“Yes, Captain Stevens.”
The landing was smooth with little wind to buffet the small plane. The sun was just beginning to set and the sky had started to come alive with the aurora borealis. Everywhere she looked, the landscape of this country seemed to draw her in like a moth to a flame. This place had a hold on her heart. She felt more at home here than Virginia. But this wasn’t her life, and she needed to put such feelings away.
Cole jumped out of the plane and onto the state-of-the-art dock. He grabbed their bags and her crutches and placed them on the ground. Then he handed Sashi her crutches to help her get around.
Soon they heard people approaching. Sashi looked up to see Jake, Sammi, Tasha, CJ, Doug, Doris and a handsome man who looked like Paul Bunyan coming down to greet them.
“Noah,” Cole said to Paul Bunyan, “I didn’t expect to see you here. It’s been a while, buddy. I’d like to introduce you to Sashi Hansen. Sashi? This big boy right here is Noah Tanner, the skipper on one of the last two ranger boats serving the Tongass Forest.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Noah.” She smiled at him. “I’m curious about something. Do you all have a secret source of Treebeard’s water? You know, from The Lord of the Rings, to make you all grow into giants?”
Her comment produced a round of laughter. Natasha and Sammi both told her they’d felt the same way when they came here.
“Cole, let’s get Sashi inside and warm.” Sashi appreciated Natasha’s gentle suggestion. She was still healing after all.
“Of course,” Jake replied. “Jeremiah, can you get her things?” They all made their way up to the immense red-planked home that stood partly over the water.
“Two questions for you, Cole,” Sashi said. “Who is Jeremiah, and why is the house on stilts?”
“Jeremiah is CJ’s middle name. It’s a nickname now.”
“Does he like it?”
“Yes. Ever since Tasha started calling him Jeremiah, it’s been a keeper. And the house is on stilts to allow for the change in tides and tsunami waves.”
“Oh. So why do Jake and Sammi live on the hill?”
“That’s three questions.”
“You.” She nudged his shoulder.
Cole laughed. “Jake hates living too close to his parents, so he built his place higher up. Makes it difficult for his parents to come over all the time.”
“But his house isn’t that far away.”
“I know. I’ve teased him about being a mama’s boy for years.”
Sashi couldn’t help but chuckle. “What does he do?”
“He just teases me back.”
“You two really are like brothers. Where did you guys meet?”
When Cole opened the door to the house, Sashi’s jaw dropped. “Wow,” she said.
“I know this place is a showpiece. Tasha doesn’t talk about it, but she’s a wealthy heiress from San Francisco.”
“Wow again. She’s so kind and friendly, you’d never guess. I’ve known a few people with money, and they make sure you know real fast who they are and how much they’re worth.”
“Not Tasha. Except for a few things like this house, she doesn’t flaunt her money.”
Sashi turned to Cole. “Kind of like you.”
He looked shocked. “I don’t have money. Just a doctor’s salary.”
“When you’re ready to be honest one day, I’ll be there to listen.”
Cole took her on a tour of the house. It wasn’t her taste, but it was stunning. Mahogany wood floors. A curved staircase going upstairs to open into a catwalk with rooms on both sides. A formal sitting area and piano on one side of the house. On the other, leather couches facing built-in cabinets with a huge TV screen.
When Cole helped her get comfortable on one of the burgundy-colored sofas, she said, “This must be your guys’ domain.”
“How did you guess?” He gave her a slow smile. His eyes roved over her, turning her insides to mush.
She needed to fight this absurd attraction. “So you never told me how you met Jake,” she said.
There was a sound at the door and Jake walked in the room. “I can answer that for you. I met this turkey at Alaska University during our freshman year. We were both taking a paramedics course and he fell for me. What can I say? It was love at first sight.”
Cole started to throw pillows at him. “I think it was the other way around, you clown. You needed me to help get you a date. You were so shy you couldn’t even speak to girls.”
“In your dreams, Stevens. We became roomies all the way through grad school for me, and med school for pretty boy Cole.”
“How did I put up with you and your fishy smell for so long, Powell?” Cole asked.
“I don’t know what’s worse. You came home smelling like formaldehyde or vomit depending on whether you were cutting up a corpse or dealing with sick patients.”
“Boys, stop it!” Sammi interjected. She’d just come into the room. “I’m pregnant and this is making me feel ill.”
Sashi laughed. “Are they always this bad?”
“Worse if they’ve been fishing and the fish are the same size. They measure the fish for days to see who caught the biggest. Always competitive. But they love each other like nothing else.”
A huge dog came barreling in with a little girl clapping her hands behind him. “Do-gg.”
“That’s right, Christy. It’s Beastly, you
r doggy.”
“Do-gg, Mamaaa.” Her big blue eyes shone with delight as she stared at her mom and patted Beastly’s head.
Cole grinned at Sammi. “Until you came along, Christy, Beastly was the love of Jake’s life. Everyone knows that.”
Just then Doris, Jake and CJ’s mom entered the room with coffee for everyone.
“Thank you,” Sashi said.
“You’re welcome,” Doris replied. “I’m sure you’re exhausted. Those planes wear me out. The loud noise alone gives me a headache.”
Sashi stared at the little girl and the dog. What a beautiful animal! She felt a tinge envious. She’d always wanted a dog, but her parents had always refused. How easy it was to imagine a life up here with Cole. To think of having a little boy or girl and a dog and friends who visited like this. It made her decision to leave Alaska that much harder.
“What kind of dog is he?” Sashi asked.
Jake replied jokingly, “She’s a big old Rottweiler that Christy turned into a lap dog.”
“Well, she’s beautiful. You two are very blessed, especially with another baby on the way.” Jake grabbed Sammi and pulled her onto his lap.
“I’m a lucky man. Don’t know what I did to deserve it.”
“Absolutely nothing,” Cole threw out, which made Sashi laugh again.
“Uncle Cole, horsey?” said Christy. “Please?”
Sashi watched Cole drop to the floor on his hands and knees. He neighed like a horse. Christy toddled over and climbed onto his back with Cole’s help. Soon the pair was circling the room. At last Cole stayed in one place and began to shake. “Bucking bronco!” he announced.
The little girl began laughing hysterically, and fearing she’d fall, Cole reached around for the little girl’s body and extricated her from his back. He stood up and carried her to the couch.
“More, more!” Christy pleaded.
Cole turned around. “I’m sorry, cowgirl, that’s enough for today. We’ll go riding another day soon.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” Cole crossed his heart with his fingers, then sat in a chair opposite Sashi.
Being in this house with Cole’s friends and their families, seeing all the joy and the love, Sashi knew that this was what she wanted for herself. She really needed to get this confrontation with Freddy over with so she could return home soon.
As for Cole, when he looked at Sashi sitting so contentedly on the settee, he knew he was going to do all he could to keep her here in Alaska. He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
Just then, Noah and CJ entered the room, along with Tasha. “I hate to break up the fun,” Noah said, “but we need to leave if we’re going to catch up with Trace and the rest of the group.”
Cole stood up. “Are you ready to head out, Sashi? It will only take a day or so to catch up to the little SOB.”
She nodded and placed her crutches at angles that would allow her to get up with ease. They headed out of the room and into the foyer, where Noah was talking to the others.
“We believe Freddy has been living in this area northwest of Marshall’s,” Noah said. “He’s using very high-tech equipment to fish. Most of the smaller boats in the area can’t afford that kind of thing. With the help from Jake using his high tech to track all the boats in the vicinity, we can identify who’s using the deep sonar to fish. If Freddy’s using it and we’re close by, we’ll surround him.”
Cole turned to Sashi. “We’re lucky Noah’s going to help us. The Chugach, a ranger boat, will hold all of us. Freddy wouldn’t expect it to come after him.”
Doug came in. “Sounds like a plan,” he said.
Noah gazed around. “Is everyone ready to go?”
Cole nodded. “Our stuff’s in the plane. I’ll grab it before we drive into Craig.”
“Everything’s in my truck,” Jake said.
“My stuff’s there, too.” CJ echoed.
“Then let’s head out.” Noah nodded to the women and then to Doug and Doris Powell. “It’s been a pleasure visiting with all of you. We’ll be back as soon as possible.” He headed out the door with a grace you wouldn’t expect from such a tall man.
Sashi looked at Noah. If she weren’t so in love with Cole, she might have been attracted to the handsome ranger. But Cole was a man a cut above the rest. His looks and brilliant mind made him the most intriguing man she’d ever met.
The group headed outside to jump into their cars. They’d head into the town of Craig where they would board the ranger boat. Sashi felt a thrill. She was finally going to face Freddy. No matter how it turned out, at least she would be following through on one of the promises she’d made to herself.
Doris had come outside with the group, and her eyes were tearing up. “I still don’t understand why you all have to leap into the middle of danger,” she said with a sniffle. “I love you all so much.” She walked over and gave everyone a big hug. “Now come back safe.”
“Ma,” Jake said, “Freddy isn’t a dangerous fugitive. He’s a coward in hiding. We’ll be fine. We just want to see him. Sashi has papers from the Knights to deliver to him, notifying him he was the father of Kendra’s baby. She also needs to give that guy a good talking-to.”
“Just the same, listen to your mother.” Doug got into the act. “We love you.”
Jake bent down and gave Christy a big hug and kiss. “Daddy has to go on a little trip for a day or so. I’ll be home and bring you a present.”
“Da-da.” She smiled and gave him a wet kiss back. “Da-da.” She clapped her hands again.
“Yes, Christy. You’re very good at saying Daddy’s name.”
Sashi hoped that this enormous effort his friends were making was really going to work. She wondered how she was going to feel when she saw Freddy. In her heart she prayed the encounter would be constructive.
Chapter Nine
Sashi had drawn inward ever since they’d boarded the Chugach. She wanted to be careful in front of Cole’s friends about their relationship. And as if in response, Cole, too, had become aloof, spending most of his time with the guys.
From her seat on the front deck of the boat, Sashi saw a land of unbelievable splendor. The intense blues and greens shimmering in the shoals on the rocky banks made her wish she’d brought a camera.
The Southwest Passage was a jewel left untouched by the rest of the world. The ship cut smoothly through the water, passing numerous small islands whose shores teemed with wildlife, sea lions barking as they lounged in the sun and bald eagles swooping down to perch in trees.
Yet Sashi had never felt so lonely. She needed to go home and see her parents, and there were a million things to do. This life of wonder with Cole could never be hers. Was it just wishful thinking that Cole was as in love with her as she was with him?
The Chugach began to slow, drawing Sashi’s attention to another boat just off the starboard. As they drew closer she could see it was a larger, well-equipped fishing boat. Cole, CJ and Jake began to grab cables and ropes so they could connect the boats.
Would their skills ever cease to amaze her? She really was with the true outdoorsmen of the North and she continued to find herself loving it up here. If she had the freedom to love Cole, she couldn’t imagine what a joy it would be to go on adventures with him when he had the time.
That dream needed to be put away. She needed to take care of her mental health or she wouldn’t be good for anyone. The same with Cole. He still had issues. Ho
w could they have a true relationship until they’d become whole individuals themselves?
* * *
COLE WAS NERVOUS. THEY’D come upon Freddy’s boat about five hours after they’d caught up with Trace, in a smaller fishing boat. The evening sky was darkening. He prayed Sashi would find the answers she was looking for.
Trace’s boat pulled alongside the vessel Freddy had been living on for the past couple of months. Trace brought out a megaphone and began to speak.
“Freddy Marshall, this is Trace Hunter. I have a friend who needs to talk to you. If you refuse to speak to her, then we plan on blocking you into this area with a ranger boat till you give her a chance to speak.”
There was silence before Cole saw Freddy appear along with his father, Frank. Frank used his megaphone. “Who wants to talk to us, Trace?”
The pounding in Cole’s heart escalated as he watched the woman he loved stand up with her crutches and yell, “I do.” She was so small, but so strong, he thought.
He could see Frank look at Sashi in surprise. “What do you want, Sashi? You have nothing to do with this.”
* * *
SASHI SWOOPED DOWN ON TRACE. In a swift movement she grabbed the megaphone from his hand. In the process she dropped one of her crutches. “I want you to know I have everything to do with this. Do you know I was at the cabin that night, Frank? What about you, Freddy? Do you remember the terrible fight you had with Kendra? She told you she was pregnant with your child and you denied it? She was so upset she didn’t know what to do, so she just ran. If you’d acknowledged that what she’d said was true, and you weren’t so busy pawing Blake, she would still be alive. You son of a bitch, her death is your fault!”
Both of them looked taken back by her strong language. Freddy grabbed the megaphone from his dad. “I think that’s unfair to put all this on me, Sashi. I wasn’t the father of her child. I didn’t make her run into the forest.”
The Alaskan Rescue Page 14