Page 8 of Scent of Peril

If the intent was to kill them, he figured the shooter would have kept firing at them. His gut told him that the shots had been a warning for them to get out of the area.

There was no sign of anyone behind them. Yet those footprints heading away from the location where they’d been targeted bothered him. He should have paid closer attention on their way up to retrieve the chunk of metal.

If he’d have noticed the tracks, he’d have been on alert for danger. Maybe even going back to the plane for his weapon.

Thankfully, Jess and Teddy hadn’t been hurt. Or worse. But he grimly knew the outcome could have been much different.

Teddy lifted his snout to sniff the air. When the dog didn’t sense anything amiss, he tried to relax. His Cessna was only a couple hundred yards away. They’d be packed up and in the air within the hour.

“We should have dropped a few neon markers back there,” Jess said with a sigh. “I’m such an idiot. Without marking the location, I’m concerned we won’t find the exact spot when we return with law enforcement.”

Doing that hadn’t occurred to him. He wasn’t aware that she even had markers. They must have been a search and rescuething. “I have the compass coordinates. We’ll get close enough using them.”

She frowned. “We? There’s no reason to drag you back here.”

“Oh yeah there is.” He glanced around the area again before meeting her gaze. “If you’re coming back, so am I. Besides, I’m convinced the shooting is related to that guy who chartered a flight from Cheyenne. If so, I want to be sure we find him.”

After a few minutes of silence, she nodded and rose to her feet. “Fine. I guess I can’t stop you. But for now, let’s get to the plane. I’m anxious to talk this through with Doug and Maya as soon as possible.”

“Okay.” He gestured for her to take the lead. “I’m right behind you.”

Fifteen minutes later, they reached the edge of the clearing. In the center of the makeshift runway, his Cessna sat waiting for them. From what he could tell, it hadn’t been tampered with. He’d know more when they got closer.

Jess stopped and glanced back at him. “We’ll be out in the open from this point forward.”

“I know.” He didn’t like the lack of cover either. “I’ll stay behind you. Try to keep Teddy out in front.”

“Okay.” She shot him a worried glance, then gestured toward her dog. “Are you ready? Let’s go, Teddy.”

Teddy moved out first. Jess quickly ran out from the woods to keep up with her dog. Logan followed suit, putting on a burst of speed despite the heavy weight of the pack.

They reached the plane without incident. He drew her around to the passenger side, then wrenched the door open. “You and Teddy jump in.” He helped her out of the backpack, then shrugged his off too. He stored them both inside, then stepped back. “I need to check the bird before we take off.”

“Okay. Up, Teddy.” Jess gestured with her hand. The dog looked at her, then gathered himself to make the leap. “Good boy,” she praised, before climbing in.

Logan felt better knowing Jess and Teddy were inside the plane. Not that it was bulletproof, but at least they weren’t out in the open. He quickly checked the surface of his craft, making sure no one had tampered with it in any way. He even bent to examine the wheels, relieved to note they looked good.

When that was done, he opened the door of the cockpit and climbed inside. He started the engine, listening for a long moment. Satisfied it sounded normal, he closed the door, double-checked his fuel gauge, then pulled his headphones on. Plane engines were too loud for anyone to fly without them. It always made him smile that Jess put a set of earmuffs over Teddy’s ears.

“Are you okay?” He glanced at Jess.

“Yes.” She made a thumbs-up gesture. “I’ll be glad to get out of here.”

No lie, he thought as he turned the plane around. The more he thought about the gunfire incident, the more convinced he was that the shooter was warning them off. Maybe they’d gotten too close to whatever illegal drug trade Benton had going on.

Every time he heard about drugs, he thought of Ella. Of how she’d died of a drug overdose the night after they’d argued.

The night he’d broken up with Ella, secretly acknowledging the feelings he’d had for Jess.

He shook off the troubling thoughts. He needed to concentrate on getting the Cessna airborne. He increased his speed, the propellers whirling loudly beneath the wings. Then he pulled back on the yoke, taking them upward. Off the ground and into the air.

This was the part he loved the most about flying. Floating in the air, high above the earth below. He continued climbing upward.

Then the plane jolted beneath his fingers.

What in the world? He continued pulling the yoke, but the plane listed to one side. And that’s when he realized they’d been hit.

“What’s wrong?” Jessica asked fearfully. “Is there a problem with the engine?”

---