Page 40 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

Dex shrugged with a sheepish smile. “What can I say? She had me the first time she glared at me.”

While Hunter laughed, Dex’s cell phone rang. “Belmont.”

“Dex, we got a couple of snowmobiles at the base of Bear Mountain. You think you can catch up and tell them they gotta call it for the day? At least until we can get some of the snow packed and adjusted? I’m afraid all that noise is gonna bring down the whole top.”

“Yeah, I’ll take care of it.”

Fifteen minutes later, Dex and Bluebell had parked on the side of the road, just under the mountain, when a thunderous sound made his blood run cold.

He looked up and watched as a tidal wave of snow slid down the steep, rocky peak toward the bottom. Dex pulled out his binoculars, but he didn’t need them to see the two machines racing away from the base, trying to beat the avalanche.

They disappeared into the snow and Dex sprang into action. As long as they had an air pocket, Dex had fifteen, twenty minutes to find them before they suffocated.

He called 911 and gave them the location as he pulled his snowmobile and sled out of his truck. Arming his own beacon, he secured Bluebell on the snowmobile, her vest and beacon activated as well.

“All right, girl, let’s save some lives.”

Allie had overslept a little, and used up all of Dex’s hot water during her shower, but since he wasn’t home, she figured it was fine. Besides, her cabin’s power was still out, so he was kind of stuck with her.

Allie didn’t really think he minded, especially given the things she had planned to do to him tonight after she got home from the hospital.

It was going to be her first day back and she figured she was about to have at least one heavy conversation with Hunter. She wasn’t going to explain or make excuses, she was just going to be honest about her feelings for Dex. Considering she’d made no romantic moves toward Hunter for weeks, she didn’t think he’d care, but still…she was a little stressed about the whole thing.

It took her longer than usual to get to the hospital, because she had to wait for Penny to show up to watch Kermit. She’d agreed to let Allie borrow her car for the day, but insisted they go shopping for a four-wheel drive for her this week.

Allie didn’t have a problem with that at all.

She walked into her office and had barely shrugged out of her coat when Rebecca knocked on her door.

“Allie, prepare for incoming. We’ve got two snowmobilers who got buried in an avalanche at the base of the mountain.”

“Thanks, Rebecca, glad to be back. Do they have it covered?”

“Yep, Dr. Gracin is standing by. Just wanted to let you know.”

“Thanks. Did you have a good weekend?” Allie asked.

“I did, actually. Just normal family stuff. Hey, what happened to your hand?”

Allie had almost forgotten about the cut. “Oh, I sliced my thumb while cutting vegetables. No big deal.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t cook. Well, I’ll let you get back to it. I’m sure you’ve got lots to catch up on.”

She did, and now it looked like she’d have to wait until Hunter wasn’t knee deep in avalanche survivors to deal with one of those things.

The first kid had managed to break the surface of the snow by the time Dex reached him, although he was holding his left arm limply against his chest.

“You okay? What’s your name?”

“I’m Graham, and I think I broke my arm. But my brother, Chris, I can’t find him.”

All right, time for Bluebell to earn her kibble. “Bluebell, find.”

Bluebell jumped from the back of the snowmobile and sank into the snow. Dex used the snowshoes he’d strapped on to make a path less deep. In the distance, he could hear the sirens signaling help was coming.

Before too long, Bluebell gave an excited howl and started digging, diving headfirst into the snow.

An EMT on another snowmobile pulled up, and Dex waved, pointing to Graham. “Possible broken arm. The other rider is buried. If you get him out of here, we’ll work on this.”

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