Page 295 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“He estimates they’re about a mile in. Pete’s getting a quad, so we can bring him out on it.”

“Shall we?” She gestured toward the path.

“Let’s do this.”

They were a half mile down the trail when Pete reached them with the quad.

“What’s taking you two so long?” Pete smirked and sped past them.

Austin clapped a hand on her back. “Sometimes I wish I could ticket him.”

“I know, right?” She smiled.

They continued to follow the trail navigating over fallen branches and other debris littering the path. They caught up with Pete a quarter mile from where he’d passed them. A fallen tree blocked the trail and there was no easy way for him to navigate around it to get to the injured hiker. He dismounted theATV and walked toward them. “We’re going to have to carry the guy this far.”

“Unless you want to go back and get a chainsaw?” Austin asked him.

Pete shrugged. “I would, but it’ll take longer than carrying him out would. I imagine he’s in pain and needs urgent medical attention.” Sirens in the distance punctuated his words. Ambulance.

“Let’s do this,” Austin said. The three of them moved down the trail. Sensing someone behind her she glanced back and caught the shadow of someone moving silently through the woods. Probably Gavin again. Maybe he could help them move the hiker.

No. She couldn’t have her fellow rangers think she was incapable of taking care of herself. If they knew she had a personal bodyguard, they’d think less of her. Well, Austin might not, but Pete definitely would.

A man stood on the trail frantically waving his arms and shouting to them. They approached him, and he led them to his friend. She groaned inwardly when she saw the size of the unconscious fellow. She and Pete tended to the man’s injured leg, while Austin assembled the litter. The three rangers and the man’s friend all worked to get him back up to the trail where they then loaded him onto the litter. They hadn’t carried him more than a hundred feet when Gavin approached them carrying a bottle of water and a backpack. “I can give you a hand, if you like?” he offered.

“Sure. That’d be great.” Austin grinned. “Thanks.”

She avoided eye contact with Gavin fearing she’d give too much away if she engaged with him.

“Out for a hike?” Pete asked.

“It’s a beautiful day for it. Don’t you think?” He skillfully circumvented the question. She was grateful for his help andadmired the ease with which he conversed with her fellow rangers.

Austin nodded. Gavin took one corner, and the man’s friend moved to take some of the weight from the middle. They made short work of getting him to the quad. As they loaded him on the ATV, the man groaned. If he regained consciousness, his pain would be excruciating.

Emily settleddown at the desk to complete her report on the injured hiker they’d rescued earlier in the day. Gavin would be taking her back to Wade’s house. Her belly tightened in anticipation of seeing Wade, and she knew there was no hope for her. Her world was once again wrapped up with his, and if he chose to walk away again, he’d leave devastation in his wake. She printed a copy of her report and placed it in the bin. Glancing at the clock, she hoped she’d be able to make her exit before her co-workers returned. If they saw her getting into Gavin’s SUV, there would be questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

As she exited the building, he drove up to the door. She slipped inside the vehicle, and he pulled away.

He grinned. “Don’t worry. Tinted windows. Nobody will see you with me.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I didn’t feel like explaining your presence.”

“Wade called. He’s going to be late tonight,” Gavin said.

“Oh?” She tried not to let her voice give away her disappointment.

“He’s following up on a lead.”

“That’s good, I suppose.”

“It is.” He patted her shoulder. “If the case didn’t involve you, it would probably wait until tomorrow. Wade’s worried about you. He tries to hide it, but I can see it.”

She attempted a smile but was unsuccessful. A tear slipped past her defenses, and she swiped it away.

“Thanks for dinner. It was good.”Emily loaded the plates into the dishwasher. Wade leaned against the counter.

“Jamie sent it.” He smiled. “She knows I can’t cook.”

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