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

Didn’t she remember the part where he told her he hadn’t been diving since the diving accident that killed his father?

His throat tightened up at the thought. He always panicked anyway, breathing too hard and fast. The wide-open sky was more to his liking. Why did their mothers’ plane have to sink?

“You don’t have to, but I was sort of hoping you would. You mentioned diving with your father before, so I assumed you’re certified. You’ve come this far with me, even though I didn’t think I needed your help. But I know now that I was wrong. This time I’m asking for your help. I can’t trust anyone else. And like you keep telling me, we’re in this together.”

Her lips puckered a little. She couldn’t know what she was doing to him. Even he didn’t understand the power she had over him. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, protect her from the world. Whisk her away if he could.

And he wanted to kiss her. The deep ache of it nearly overcame him. Will steeled himself against the crazy feelings stirring inside. He couldn’t do this to himself. But he was big enough to shove his fear of getting entangled with her out of the way to help her.

Despite his warning thoughts, he leaned closer. Another centimeter or two and their lips could meet. Sylvie closed her eyes, like she expected, even wanted, him to kiss her.

He drew in the essence of her. He could live on that for months. The thought shocked him back to his senses and he took a step back. Her eyes popped open. Flashed with emotion. What? Disappointment?

Will should take another step back. Put more distance between them. He stood close to her as though this was an intimate conversation. True, he didn’t want anyone overhearing their discussion. Deep down, though, he knew it was more than that. His heart betrayed him. Hand pressed against the wall, he barricaded Sylvie from the prying eyes in the terminal.

Just to be clear, he leaned close again and spoke in hushed, but deliberate tones.

“I’ll dive with you, Sylvie. I wouldn’t let you go alone. You have to know that by now. But we’re doing this because time is of the essence. And if I’m going to dive that means you’re going to fly. We don’t have time for the ferry. You’re going to get on a plane with me. I have contacts here, so I can probably get us a deal on a plane rental. It’ll be faster than flying commercial since I doubt we can get a flight out until early morning anyway.” Will got on his cell to begin his search. Since it was night, he’d have to file a flight plan to fly IFR, using Instrument Flight Rules instead of visual, which is how he usually flew in the bush. No scud running tonight. “We can be in Mountain Cove in a few hours. Get the diving gear we need and I know where we can get a boat. Do we have a deal?”

She paled slightly, but stood taller. Her chest rose with her intake of breath. “Deal.”

That was the Sylvie he knew and had come to care deeply about. Wait. Care deeply about?

“So by this time tomorrow it could be over.” But it was going to be a long night getting there.

Will’s cheeks ballooned then he blew out a breath. By tomorrow his credit card could be maxed out, and they would either have succeeded in finding the plane and the thumb drive or they would have failed. He’d know if he had survived diving, but he doubted his heart would survive Sylvie.

So much for being a survivor.

Here she was, flying with Will again, and in a bush plane, no less. Prop planes were the worst, if you asked her. The little plane rocked and rolled. Puddle-jumpers, they called them, and for good reason. She wished she had it to do over again and try to renegotiate with Will. Her stomach lurched.

Oh, Lord, what was I thinking? Please let us live. Let us survive this.

Hadn’t that been her prayer for days now? But at least it seemed to be working so far.

The whir of the props droned on, and the flashing strobe on the wings competed with the flicker of lights below. Eventually, the small plane drifted over a completely dark abyss. They were over water.

“At least they predicted good weather,” she said.

“I always plan it being worse than the forecast.”

“Is that experience talking?”

“Sure is,” Will said. “You might as well get some sleep. It’ll be a few hours, and with what we have planned, you need your rest.”

“I don’t think I can sleep. This ride isn’t exactly smooth.”

“All you have to do is let go. Just let go and trust me. I know that might be hard to do considering our last trip, but those were extenuating circumstances, and I did land the plane. I did get us to our destination.”

Sylvie wasn’t sure that reminder eased her fears. But she certainly couldn’t change the outcome by worrying the whole flight. Maybe she should trust Will. Maybe she should let go and trust God. It was time she gave up trying to control the outcome and believe that she really could trust this entire situation—not just flying, but the search for the truth—to God.

“Will you need to stop to fuel up?”

“Yep. But I know my way around, remember? Leave this to me.”

“I trust you, Will. I know you’ll get us there.” It felt good and right to say the words to someone. To say those words to Will. She could sense it pleased him, too. She wanted to pull her gaze from the window. Wanted to look at him, but was afraid of what that would do to her at that moment. Afraid of just how much trust she’d put in one person. The emotions he stirred in her battled against her resolve never to trust anyone, especially men, when it