Page 41 of Honoring Lena

How would they make it out of this when their guide and protector only had one arm? Marshall couldn’t kill ptarmigan with nothing but a rock. He could harvest mushrooms if she found them, but how would she have the energy to search when her very steps seemed to jar her with pain. She did a good job hiding what she must be feeling, but she couldn’t mask the tension that seemed to fill her entire body. It made her movements jerky and opposite of the grace that normally flowed through everything she did.

Maybe when they made it to the cabin she hoped was downstream, it would be stocked with food and firewood and everything they’d need to survive until she was healed enough to lead them on in strength. He hoped it at least had a fishing pole or net or something that could help him be of some use. He’d become quite the proficient fly angler after spending summers at the upscale lodge his family went to every year. Of course, the likelihood of the remote cabin being stocked with anything useful was slim.

A low noise that hadn’t been there before pricked his ear. He stopped and twisted his head, trying to place where it came from. Was it some kind of bird or bug flapping? He couldn’t pinpoint what or where it was.

“Lena.” He closed the distance between them and picked up Carter. “Do you hear that?”

He shushed Carter as Lena tipped her head to the side. Marshall tried to keep his cool since it was probably nothing, but his heart beat wildly in his chest. Her eyes widened and snapped to his.

“Helicopter.” Her words released his tension in an unexpected whoosh, and his knees almost buckled.

“Then we’re rescued.” He scanned the wide valley dotted with trees, trying to locate the growing sound.

“Maybe.” Lena’s terse tone darted his gaze to hers. Her tense expression tightened all his muscles back to attention. “Maybe not.”

Great. More danger and intrigue. He missed Kentucky. Missed only worrying about international business and making sure his company had what it needed to keep up with product demand. Missed the verbal warfare launched at him from the Capitol. Missed showering.

“Quick, get in those willows.” Lena pointed toward a stand of brush and pulled her gun out of its holster.

He clutched Carter close and dashed to cover. His dry mouth was more suited for the desert rather than a permafrost-ridden valley floor. He pushed as far as he could into the branches and crouched with his body over Carter’s. Lena kneeled before them, her gun pointed to the ground as she searched the sky.

“There.” She pointed with her chin, and Marshall followed her gaze.

The helicopter crested the mountain ridge they’d just come from, moving slowly to them like some Hollywood B movie. Would they open fire and pepper the brush with bullets? Did the occupants even know the three of them were there?

“I have binoculars in the side pocket.” Lena didn’t take her eyes off the approach.

Of course she did. She probably had a tent and marshmallows too. The back of Marshall’s neck tingled unpleasantly, and he rubbed it away. He shouldn’t let her preparedness affect him. He really shouldn’t… but he couldn’t help the way each new situation seemed to cut at his inability to protect them a little more. Stupid feelings, since logically, he knew that her knowledge of the woods and expertise to get them out of any situation had kept them alive, both here and in Idaho.

He yanked the binoculars out of the pack and tapped her arm with them. “Here.”

She placed them to her face and stared. The longer she looked, the more his muscles bunched, ready to dash like a rabbit. Where he’d go, he wasn’t sure. He scanned the open valley filled with low brush and open meadows. Maybe they’d just cower where they were.

“Marshall, come look.” Lena held the binoculars out.

He set Carter down, told him to stay put, and grabbed the binoculars. “What am I looking for?”

“The person sitting in the door. I think it’s Gunnar, but… I also don’t think I can trust myself.” She sighed beside him. “I’m worried I’m just seeing Gunnar, because I want it to be him.”

Marshall peered at the man hanging out the door. It sure looked like Lena’s brother, but what if Marshall’s brain was just tricking him to think that? Another man leaned over, and Marshall’s hands trembled as he lowered the glasses.

“It’s Gunnar. Bjørn is with him.” Marshall smiled at Lena.

“Thank God.” Lena collapsed against him, her forehead pressing into his shoulder.

He pushed her hair back and kissed the top of her head. His thoughts jumbled one on top of the other. The weight of not knowing if Bjørn had made it or not lifted, so Marshall felt like he could fly, but the unknown of what they’d do next had his mind whirling like the rotors of the helicopter.

Lena lifted her head and pressed a shaky kiss to his lips. “We’re going to be okay now.”

Could she read his mind, or did she need the reassurance as much as he did? He cupped the back of her head, kissing her deeply. She didn’t push him away. Rather, her fingers speared through his hair, and she smiled against his lips.

“Go wave them down before they fly by.” As her hand slid down his neck and pushed on his shoulder, goosebumps spread along his skin.

He was glad they’d been found, glad they didn’t have to worry about surviving Alaska, but he worried that what was building between him and Lena would disappear when this trek through the wilderness ended. He gave her one last peck before pushing out of the willows. He’d just have to make sure he kept them all together. Considering she didn’t seem completely opposed anymore, maybe all it would take was looking at all the angles and executing a well-laid plan.

Could he woo Lena with the normal dinner dates and flowers? He snorted as he waved his hands above his head like an idiot. Maybe taking her to the shooting range and giving her the latest gadget designed using their material would be better.

He glanced down at her as she stepped up next to him. That idea held merit. Would she be interested in helping him improve his product so her friend June could help more people? Or maybe together they could start some kind of training in self-protection and security that helped others use the safety gear to its optimum. Hoisting up Carter into his opposite arm, Marshall laced his other fingers with hers. Whatever happened, they could figure out where life would take them together.

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