Page 34

T he snow deepened as the horses pressed deeper into Denali, following the only tracks that didn’t look like hikers. The temperature dropped sharply, and the pine shadows stretched longer as the day wore on.

Adam checked the sun’s angle and glanced at the map again.

“We’re running out of daylight,” Rusty said, slowing his gelding beside him. “We’ve been riding way too long. The horses need rest. Predators…”

“Just one more set of cabins,” Adam pleaded. “If she’s not there…”

If Claire wasn’t there, he’d let Rusty and Peter rest. He wouldn’t rest until he checked every dry cabin or lean-to in Denali.

His eyes scanned the distant ridges and tree lines. He wasn’t just following the maps Clara Mae had given him of known cabins within Denali; he was following his instincts, the tracking sense his father had drilled in him every time they hiked or hunted.

Tire tracks that didn’t belong. A scent on the wind that wasn’t earth or animal. Bolt’s ears twitching when they passed certain areas. Signs only a Midnight Son would know.

They reached a clearing ringed with wind-beaten spruce, and two cabins barely visible through the snow-laced branches.

Adam raised a hand, signaling a halt.

Peter pulled alongside him. “You think she’s in there?”

Adam dismounted silently.

He crept forward, each footstep deliberate. The cabins were long-abandoned — one door hung from its hinges, windows were broken.

But the other door was closed — unlike his family cabin.

In the snow, faint boot prints.

Fresh.

Adam motioned for Rusty and Peter to flank him.

He took the lead, easing up to the cabin’s edge.

Adam held his gun, ready.

He kicked the door open.

Darkness. A quiet whimper.

He shined his flashlight, saw another door.

Praying, he kicked in the next door.

Someone scrambled back.

He flashed his light, and her tied hands flew up.

“Claire.” He expelled the breath he’d been holding.

“Adam?”

“Yes.”

He rushed forward, then removed his knife, cutting the rope. He scooped her into his arms, but she cried out in pain.

Adam flashed the beam at her ankle. It was bent in an unnatural way.

“Dear God, what —”

“I don’t wanna talk about it. Please… just get me out of here.”

“Oh, honey…” His eyes watered up, but he blinked them back. He needed to be strong. How could he cry when she’d been through hell — because of him?

Claire brushed the tears away from her face, then his. “I’m okay now. I knew you’d save me.”

“Always,” he said, holding her tighter as she shivered against him. “As long as I’m alive… probably longer.”

* * *

The sun had set, and Adam was exhausted, but they couldn’t risk the men coming back.

It was too dangerous riding the horses through the wilderness, so Adam carried Claire while Rusty walked Bolt and Red Dog.

He didn’t want to let her go, but between the slope and the snow, it was too much.

Adam lifted Claire onto Bolt, his warmth would help her, too. “You take care of my girl, Bolt.”

Claire stroked his mane and lowered her body against his neck.

Adam walked ahead, clearing brush, calling updates when the terrain changed.

Peter stayed close, but didn’t ask about Claire. The set of his shoulders spoke volumes, though.

“She’s going to be okay,” Adam said, not sure if he was reassuring himself or Peter.

They reached the ranger station around two in the morning. A snowmachine team met them there, part of the expanded search that had fanned out since morning.

Clara Mae had pulled every string she had.

A ranger with medical training helped assess Claire.

“She’s hypothermic, has a compound fracture, is dehydrated, and badly underfed. We need to get her to the hospital.”

Adam squeezed Claire’s hand. “They’re going to airlift you to —”

“No,” Claire croaked, her throat still husky from dehydration. “I don’t want to leave you.”

Adam leaned toward her ear and whispered, “One of the first things we’re taught in search and rescue…

Take control of the patient.” He smiled.

“If you were drowning and unreasonable, I’d have to knock you out.

” Even saying the words, he cringed, but his comment elicited a small smile.

“You’ve trained to work search and rescue, Claire.

You know what happens next. The doctors will be the real heroes; no one will know my name. ”

“I will.”

“I know, honey. Be good. I’ll be there faster than you can miss me.”

Claire forced a smile as her eyes fluttered shut. “I already miss…”

The paramedics had given her something to relax, so her body could heal.

He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you soon, honey. I love you.”

* * *

At the hospital in Wasilla, she finally fell asleep after a proper meal, IV fluids, and two blankets wrapped tight around her. Adam stood by the bed, unmoving.

Rusty touched his shoulder. “You did it, kid.”

Adam sighed. “I haven’t saved her yet. Not until Claire opens her eyes again.” Not until she said his name while awake. Until she was home.

“Okay, kid. I understand. I get it, believe me.” Rusty filled his lungs, then released the breath. “I gotta get back to the ranch. I called Clara Mae, but you know how she is.”

Adam stood, hugged him. Rusty had dropped everything, and then had gone with him, not knowing if they would encounter the bad guys. As much as Adam wished they’d been there, so he could have ended this, he remembered the bullets that had flown last time. Claire could have caught one.

“Tell Clara Mae thank you, Rusty.” He stopped. Words couldn’t express what he felt. “For everything. Tell her I’ll make her proud. I’ll turn her ranch around, and she’ll never have to worry about it again.”

“You already made her proud, kid.” Rusty patted him on the shoulder, then left.

Peter lingered in the doorway a few minutes later, as if he were afraid to come inside. “I need some fresh air. I’m gonna get something to eat at that café.”

Adam nodded.

Peter nodded and left.

Sometimes, that’s all it took between brothers — a nod. You good ?

Adam stayed at Claire’s bedside, his head resting on the mattress, hand covering hers.

“Adam…” Her voice was a weak croak, but her fingers tightened around his.

“You came.”

He stood so he could see her face.

“I’ll always come,” he whispered. “No matter what.”

She blinked slowly, as if even that small movement hurt. “Where’s Lala?”

Adam leaned closer. “Lala? She’s fine. We thought someone took her, too, but she was with Boyd.”

“She… was… there. I smelled —”

She swallowed hard, so Adam reached for the water pitcher. He filled the styrofoam cup and added the bendy straw, holding it to her lips.

Claire sipped, then nodded, letting him know she was finished. “Charlie. She was there.”

“Who’s Charlie?” Adam asked. He didn’t know anyone named Charlie. “Was that one of the men you mentioned?”

Claire’s lips twitched. “Charlie’s the… name of her perfume. Lala’s… perfume.”

Adam’s jaw clenched. “You smelled her in the cabin?”

Claire locked eyes with him. “I’m sure of it. I didn’t understand why I didn’t hear her scream. If you didn’t find her body, that means… Lala was with them… she let those men…”

Adam pressed his forehead to hers. “Honey, Lala was with Boyd.”

“She was there, Adam.” Claire’s heart monitor raced. “She has to… pay… for what they did to me.”

A nurse charged in, looked at the monitor, then glared at Adam. “Leave. Now!”

Claire started to object, but the woman pulled out a syringe, quickly filling the IV port with something that made Claire’s eyes close.

As much as Adam didn’t want to leave her side, this was better. She needed to rest.

* * *

Adam stepped outside the hospital just as the morning sun rose pale and gold over the Chugach Mountain Range.

He hadn’t slept more than a few minutes here and there. Every time Claire moved or anyone in the corridor, for that matter, Adam popped up, looking for danger.

Still, utter exhaustion hadn’t caught up to him yet. Not while adrenaline still churned through his system.

Peter sat on the tailgate of the F-100, sipping coffee from a paper cup. He held out another without a word.

“I hate coffee,” Adam said, but took it anyway. “But thanks. I need the caffeine.”

He sat beside him.

“How’s she doing?” Peter asked.

Adam blew out a breath. “Better. She’ll be okay.”

Peter nodded. “Damn, Adam. I was so scared, but you… I know how much you love Claire, and yet, you just reacted. No tears. No real anger. Just… action.”

He’d been angry, so angry that he slammed his fist into the barn siding. Thankfully, the wood had given, but it was still stupid. His hand still hurt. That injury could’ve compromised Claire’s rescue.

Adam looked sideways at him. “Freaking out never helps, does it?”

“I guess not.” Peter shrugged. “I just don’t know how you do it. Like the night we left home… You just, reacted, while I got angry. I swung at Thomas. The last memory I have is trying to hit —”

“You were dragged outta bed, Peter. Half-asleep.” Adam slid an arm around him. “You got the truck outta the ditch.”

“Yeah, I remembered Dad doing that.”

Peter was learning. That was all Adam could ask.

Adam took a sip of the coffee. Bitter. Hot.

Yuck. But coffee was something people acquired a taste for.

Like beer. He couldn’t see eating or drinking something you didn’t like, hoping you’d get accustomed to it.

But at least coffee had benefits. He’d never want to drink enough beer to get used to it.

A deputy car pulled up alongside them, tires crunching gravel. Sheriff Walt Wheelan stepped out, his expression unreadable.

“Can we talk?” Wheelan asked.

Adam hopped off the tailgate. “We still don’t know who all was involved. But I can tell you what Claire just told me. She’s out right now.”

Wheelan raised a brow. “Last I heard, everyone involved wore masks.”

Adam glanced at Peter, then stepped farther from the truck, motioning the sheriff around his patrol vehicle. “Claire said Lala was there,” he whispered.

“In the cabin? Did they hurt her, too?”

Adam bit his lip. “She doesn’t think so. She didn’t hear Lala scream.” Just Claire saying that made him realize that meant she had screamed. “Claire recognized her perfume. Charlie, I think she said.”

“Charlie perfume?” Wheelan scoffed. “Can’t turn on the tube without seeing that commercial. I’m sorry, son, but that ain’t gonna fly. Besides, didn’t you say Lala was with Boyd.”

Adam nodded. “Speaking of Boyd, I forgot to mention something else he said.”

Wheelan made a face. “When you were choking him, you mean? You know a confession under duress is inadmissible, don’cha?”

Adam shrugged. “Who said I choked him?”

Wheelan curbed his grin. “What did Boyd tell you when he was drunker than a skunk?”

“He swore he didn’t know anyone’s name, but he said The Snake , like it was someone’s name.”

The sheriff nodded. “Got it. I tell you what, I’ll do some checking, see if any previous arrests have aliases with snake .

But, kid… You gotta watch your back. Lala’s father…

I’ve heard some bad stuff. Landrums, too.

Just because my son has hung out with Boyd since grade school doesn’t mean his old man is any good.

Both families got deep pockets. High-paid lawyers. You need to tread carefully, son.”

Adam glanced at the hospital entrance, daring one of Claire’s attackers to show up. The .38 he’d wanted so badly to get rid of now stayed on his side.

“I will, Sir,” Adam said. “But I won’t stop until I find who hurt her.”

Wheelan nodded once. “Didn’t think Samuel Belgarde’s son would.” He got back into his cruiser and drove off.

Adam walked back to Peter. “I know you’re not supposed to drive, but since the sheriff went in the opposite direction, why don’t you head back to the ranch? Get some sleep?”

“What about you?”

“There’s a chair in her room. I can sleep there.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” Adam said, “but do me a favor… Don’t mope. Claire’s gonna be fine. Clara Mae needs help. Can you fill in for me, please?”

“Yeah, man.” Peter leaned in and hugged him. “Tell her I love her, too. Like a sister,” he added quickly.

Adam pressed the keyring into his brother’s hand, then sent him off with a pat on his back. “Be good.”

Peter glared at him, then trotted around to the driver’s door.

Adam scanned the ER and waiting area before returning to Claire’s room.

When he walked in, she was awake but looking out the window.

He tiptoed to her bed, then kneeled down to kiss her forehead. “Peter said to tell you he loves you, too… Like a sister.”

She smiled faintly. “I love him, too. Like a brother, a bratty kid brother.”

Adam slid into the chair beside her. “You sound a bit better. The IV fluids must be kicking in.”

“Definitely.”

“But seriously, Peter hasn’t left the hospital either, by the way. He was so upset when you went missing — we all were. But he’s so young, and he’s lost so much. I think the idea of losing you scared him almost as much as it did me.”

Her smile deepened.

Adam hated to diminish the smile, but they’d promised to be honest with each other.

He took her hand. “I talked to the sheriff.”

Claire’s expression sobered. “Will he do anything?”

“Not without more proof. But we’ll get it. We’ll be careful.”

She nodded. “We have to be. If Lala was there, and I know she was… More than likely, her father is involved.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” He leaned in and touched her cheek. “But they have to know now that you know nothing. Hell, I don’t know anything. So, let’s take a minute. We’ll keep a watchful eye. I already spoke with Clara Mae, and she says you’re taking her daughter’s room.”

Claire’s eyebrows lifted. “Really?”

Adam curbed his smile. “She also said… No funny business. If she catches me within ten feet of your room, or you within ten feet of mine, she’ll pull out her fire poker — as she calls it.”

Claire glanced down at the cast on her leg. “I don’t think I’ll be sneaking anywhere for a while.”

Adam kissed her gently, just a small peck, then pulled up. “I’ll carry you.”

She sighed softly. “I know you will. Always.”

“Always,” he agreed.

Outside the window, Adam spied what Claire had been watching, a flock of golden-crown sparrows swooping and dipping in and out of the newly sprouted green leaves.

They were a sure sign summer was really here.

They were safe. For now.

But Adam knew this wasn’t over. Not yet.