Alaskan Mountain Pursuit Elizabeth Goddard (best short novels .TXT) 📖

If he knew anything at all about the woman shut away in the room, it was that she didn’t want him to see her vulnerable. Sucking in a breath, he glanced up and caught Snake watching him from where he hovered over the fire, dishing up the stew that he cooked in a cast-iron pot hanging over the flames, old school.

Will had another situation he’d been avoiding. He needed to face off with Snake about using the radio to call for help. He knew the other man wouldn’t be pleased. The harsh environment along with fifty-plus years had made the man hard and lean. He kept his long silver hair in a ponytail hanging down his back, and time spent away from civilization kept his expression harsh, especially when faced with having to make conversation. But he’d still saved them. Will would give him that. He hadn’t been anything but helpful—so far.

Snake’s bushy eyebrows creased together as he stood from the fire and held out a bowl. “You hungry?”

Will took the bowl, but set it on the table. “Thanks, but I’ll wait for Sylvie.”

“Suit yourself.” Snake remained standing and wolfed up a few spoonfuls of his stew then paused, the spoon halfway to his mouth. “Something on your mind?”

Here comes the moment of truth. “I told you we had some trouble. That trouble includes men who tried to kill her, kill us. They shot at my plane. Caused some damage and we went down. I hope I haven’t brought the trouble to your door.”

Snake’s eyes narrowed. He set his bowl on the home-crafted table and crossed his arms. “What do you need?”

“I need to use your comm to call for help.”

Snake shook his head. “You’re not bringing them here.”

“You can see she’s injured.”

“Call them and make arrangements to meet them elsewhere. I’ll help you get there.”

Will scraped a hand over his face, exhaustion creeping into his bones. “She has the bends, and with her other injuries she needs treatment right away.”

Snake’s eyes lit up, surprising Will. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

“Would it have made a difference?”

“I’m a diver. Got the equipment. Worst case, she could recompress in the water.”

Will shook his head. “That is the worst case. It’s too risky. Better to wait for a hyperbaric chamber, which is why I need to use your radio.”

“Well, you know the option is available. Why don’t you tell her and let her make the decision? She isn’t afraid of diving.”

Had Will been that readable?

Snake disappeared through a door, reappearing a minute later to set his scuba equipment out in full view. Was that because he didn’t trust Will to bring it up?

Will frowned.

“Make your call. Pick a meeting time and place. Early morning’s best. Give us time to rest up and gather the gear we’ll need.”

“I can’t ask for more than that.”

Will hated to put it off that long, considering Sylvie needed assistance sooner rather than later, but Snake was right. If they were forced to travel to make contact, they couldn’t do it in inclement weather in the middle of the night. He had to persuade Snake to shorten the distance they needed to travel.

“Just how far do you want us to go?”

“I don’t want anyone coming within five miles of my cabin. That might sound harsh, Will, but let me remind you that if it was someone else I’d seen tromping through the woods, I wouldn’t have shown my face. I wouldn’t have offered an invitation into my home. I wouldn’t even have opened my door.”

“I know.” Will was grateful to Snake. The man had chosen this lifestyle for reasons unknown to Will. He wouldn’t pry.

“About those men who tried to kill you? You sure they didn’t follow you here?”

“I don’t see how they could have, but neither can I be sure. I don’t know who they are or why they tried to kill her.” He had his suspicions. Some things were trying to fall into place, but mostly it was still a mystery.

“What do you know about her?”

“Nothing. I just happened to be flying overhead in time to see her running for her life.” Will struggled with whether or not to share the full of it with Snake, considering he didn’t particularly seem the kind of person who would want to know the details about others’ lives, nor would he reciprocate. Best to keep things simple and not share that Will and Sylvie had both lost their mothers on the same MIA airplane. For now.

From Snake’s expression, Will knew that Sylvie was behind him.

He turned. She leaned against the doorjamb, clinging to it, more like. Will had meant to be there before she put any pressure on that ankle.

He rushed to her side. “I didn’t mean for you to have to walk on your ankle. I should have waited by the door.”

She shrugged away from him. “You don’t need to take care of me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. My ankle will be fine.”

Will sensed she needed to convince herself more than him.

“Sure it will.” He backed off. “But I still insist on doctoring your back. Why don’t you sit down at the table.” Will assisted her there, ignoring her attempt to limp on her own.

“Thanks.” She turned her back to him and adjusted her shirt over her shoulder to expose the gash that ran from her shoulder to mid-back.

He winced. This was going to hurt.

Add to that, she was shaking all over. She’d had time to warm up, so it couldn’t be from the cold. It must be a symptom of decompression sickness. She needed that hyperbaric chamber. And he was about to inflict more pain on her when he doctored this gash. He sent up a prayer, feeling helpless in all this.

Lord, when we are weak, You are strong. I need You to be strong for the both of us.

His prayer gave him a measure of peace. Sylvie could use some comfort and reassurance about now, too. But how did he give it?

Will