Page 42 of Honoring Lena

The helicopter touched down, and Bjørn and Gunnar raced toward them. Marshall could tell the moment Gunnar noticed Lena’s injury by the way his strides stretched even longer. Hopefully, he could reassure Marshall that he hadn’t broken her.

“You okay?” Gunnar gently touched Lena’s elbow as Bjørn reached for Carter.

“Yeah. Just popped it out of the socket.” Lena wrapped her arm around Gunnar’s back in an awkward hug. “Thankfully, Marshall got the stubborn thing back in.”

“I just did what she told me.” He extended his hand to Gunnar, who took it firmly, then pulled him into a hug.

“You three had us looking all over the place.” Gunnar stepped back.

“How’d you find us?” Lena slid her hand back into Marshall’s, and he didn’t miss the smirk between her brothers.

“Well, got a call from my search-and-rescue buddy who said he knew someone who wanted to help.” Bjørn motioned over his shoulder. “The pilot has a soft spot for lost children.” Bjørn tickled Carter’s belly. “Are you ready for a helicopter ride, little man?”

“Yes!” Carter hugged Bjørn’s neck tightly. “Me so ’appy you’s here.”

Bjørn cleared his throat. “Me too, buddy. Me too.”

“How’d you get away?” Lena asked as they headed to the chopper.

“Once they blew up my girl, they didn’t care about me anymore.” Bjørn’s tone barely repressed his anger. “They bugged out, and I got the HAM radio humming and called home.”

“So my cabin’s okay?” Lena’s hand squeezed Marshall’s.

“Yeah. They didn’t even trash it.” Bjørn shook his head as he lifted Carter into the chopper. “Climb on in, buddy.”

Bjørn followed Carter in and got him buckled while Marshall helped Lena climb up. The pilot smiled and gave Marshall a thumbs up as he flipped switches. The co-pilot leaned toward the back of the vessel and lifted his headset.

“We’re really glad we found you,” he hollered over the accelerating engine.

“Me too,” Marshall choked out before turning in his seat to gaze out the window.

He swallowed and blinked to clear the tears that pushed to the surface. His family was safe, for now. Gunnar and Bjørn peppered Lena with questions, prodding her arm and looking at her head injury, but Marshall couldn’t focus on any of it. His mind was too relieved to process everything, so he closed his eyes and let the thumping of the blades lull him to sleep. The helicopter jerked and jolted Marshall awake.

“Welcome to Anchorage.” The co-pilot clapped Marshall on the shoulder as he crossed the vessel to get Carter out of his buckle.

Marshall shook his head, surprised that the Rebels were already out of the chopper and a nurse, pushing a wheelchair, was running up. Marshall couldn’t wait to see Lena’s reaction. He jumped out of the door, eager to not miss what was sure to be a show, and turned to grab Carter. The co-pilot held Marshall’s son tightly against his body on the opposite side of the opening, a sinister smile across his face. Icy fear crashed over Marshall.

The helicopter lifted, and Marshall lunged, snagging the skid with his hand. He yelled, but before he could wrap his other hand around the cold, hard metal, the pilot lifted with a jerk. The skid ripped from Marshall’s hand, taking his very soul from him in the whipping air. He fell to his knees, his ribs too tight to breathe, as the chopper rushed away with his son and disappeared into the horizon.

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