Chapter 160: Stick to the PlanBack in Blake's cabin early in the morning, Shasta packed the last of her things, including the pink leather collar. From her bag she dug out her keys. Her tone was business-like. "This is the clicker to the gate. This one opens the front door. I've written the security code on this slip of paper. The cars are in the garage, use any of them that you like." She stopped and looked up at him, eyes wide. "I don't want to go." Her voice was small, twisting his heart."I know, kitten. But you have to, there's no way around it. Just know this," his tone was firm and confident, "I'm right behind you. And I've got this. I don't want you to worry. I might not be able to see you for a while but trust me. I've got this.""Okay, Daddy," she whispered as tears streamed down her face. He held her as tightly as he could, his heart breaking at the idea of being unable to shelter her from this storm.He cleared the lump from his throat and set her on her f
Chapter 161: Shasta's Day in CourtFor the following hour, Shasta ignored the prosecution as they attempted to paint her as a spoiled Hollywood party girl who flagrantly ignored the law as she saw fit. They called as witnesses Rusty Davis and Rhys Cullen, the two photographers who had, in all likelihood, been responsible for the fire that had gutted Lake Miranda Lodge. They men were all too happy to describe the way Blake had threatened them with a shotgun because they'd uncovered her crime. Andre questioned them at length, poking holes in their stories. Then it was time for Andre to call a witness for the defense. Shasta had no idea who he had and she didn't care. She just wanted to be done with the whole thing. Maybe she'd just serve whatever time the judge decided and then put the whole thing behind her."The defense calls Blake Walker to the stand." Shasta's head popped up. Blake, dressed in a dark blue slim-fit suit, crisp white shirt, and narrow, dark grey tie, made hi
Chapter 162: FreeThat evening, Blake and Shasta enjoyed the sunset over the deep blue Pacific, watching silently as the blue sky faded into deep oranges, pinks, and purples. Leaning against the railing of the deck, Shasta sipped her glass of sauvignon blanc and rested her head on Blake's shoulder."It's beautiful here," he noted."Mm-hmm," she agreed. "But they're down there, you know."He frowned. "Who is down there?""Guys with cameras." They'd had to push their way through reporters and photographers when they'd returned to the house, closing the gate behind them to shut out the noise and intrusion."How do you know?"She laughed humorlessly. "Because they're always down there." Blake put his arm around her waist and hugged her to his side. "Do you care?""Not really. Do you?"He sighed. "Not really. Although I'd like a little privacy with my kitten.""Then we should go inside." She turned and headed back through the glass doorway. Blake followed."This is a cool featur
Chapter 163: Fall"Hurry! It's about to come on!" Jackie called from the den. She was sitting on the end of the sofa with her feet curled under her. Scott sat on the floor in front of her, leaning back against the couch.Blake and Shasta entered carrying two large bowls of popcorn, one for each couple, and drinks for everyone. While the other three had beers, Shasta sipped a cup of hot cocoa. Grant and Emma were snugly tucked into bed on the cool autumn night.A lot had changed in the four months since Shasta had returned from California. For one thing, she'd sold her house overlooking the Pacific Ocean. She and Blake were looking for another one that they'd use when they had to be on the west coast, a home they'd choose together, but they were in no hurry. Progress on renovating the lodge property and cabins had moved along nicely. In fact, it was nearly complete. The last projects were finishing the house on the south end of the property for Blake and Shasta, and the house
Chapter 164: WinterBlake placed a light kiss on Amy's temple and slid out of bed. As he quietly dressed, she shifted slightly but didn't wake. He placed another couple of logs on the fire and let himself outside. The full moon reflected off the snow, lighting the forest like daytime. He easily picked up the trail, not needing his headlamp.Snow crunched under his feet as he reached the fork in the path and took the trail leading to the left. Soon enough, he found himself in the clearing. He smiled, remembering Amy's assessment. It's like a church or something. And it was.The boy had been twenty. The man was now thirty-one. Sighing, he sat cross-legged in the center of the circle, glancing up at the stars. Faith. Blake wondered if she actually had been up there, watching over him, bringing him the woman who was the love of his life. He smiled. "Thank you, Faith. For everything." He shook his head. "I believe you saw to it that I got a second chance. I wish…" He stop
Chapter 165: DevastatedVOLUME 3: FOR SPARROWI buried my husband today.The thought tumbled through Jessi's mind over and over, like clothes in a dryer. Voices around her sounded oddly muted, as though she were underwater. Occasionally, someone touched her, a simple grasping of her hand, a gentle pat on her shoulder, and the sensation felt like burning embers showering down over her.Following the graveside service, mourners had gathered at her home. Hers and Graham's.Only Graham isn't here. We left him at the cemetery. I buried my husband today.Food had appeared in her kitchen. Casseroles, desserts, salads. There was even a brisket. An army of women had set up a command post and were making sure guests had plenty to eat and drink. Jessi wondered briefly if there was enough ice for the drinks. Maybe she should ask Graham run to out and get some more.I buried my husband today.Since that day, her phone hadn't stopped ringing. Friends and neighbors hadn't stopped calling a
Chapter 166: His MissionJudd Farris scanned the room uncomfortably. He didn't belong here, not really. The truth was, he had been friends with Graham Crenshaw. Good friends. But Graham was his only connection to this gathering, and Graham was dead. Judd had attended the funeral at the church, and then the burial out at the cemetery. There'd been no need to follow up with the gathering at the Crenshaw home. But he'd been asked for a favor, and he hadn't yet completed it. There hadn't been opportunity at either the funeral or the burial. Maybe he could find a moment here.He took a glass of wine from a buffet table in the dining room simply to have something to do with his hands, then made his way to a vacant spot by the wall in the living room. His position on the edge of the crowd afforded him a perfect place from which to people-watch.He'd spotted Jessi in her simple black dress from the moment he'd entered the house. She was hard to miss with her bright auburn hair, her
Chapter 167: A Promise to a FriendJudd arrived home after midnight, happy to be finished with another twenty-four-hour shift. He loved his job as a paramedic with Fire/Rescue, but it had been a busy shift. What he wanted now was a nice juicy steak and some downtime. Currently between girlfriends, he was content to grill up his beef and settle in with sports on television. The Dolphins had had an appalling season. Hopefully the Heat would fare better. As his steak cooked, he gazed out across the beach to the waves that crashed onto the sand. There was a storm out at sea. Lightening flashed in the distance, though it was too far out to hear the thunder. The wind was whipping up the surf into a white froth. He wondered vaguely whether his colleagues would be called out tomorrow to transport swimmers caught up in rip currents, and he sighed, glad to be off for the next twenty-four.Following his dinner and a decent showing by the Miami Heat, he stretched out in bed, and his tho
Chapter 328: Epilogue"Just one more push, you're doing great," the doctor said."How are you holding up, Dad?"Bleary-eyed, he nodded to the pink scrubs-clad nurse. He was ready for this long night to be over.He felt her starting to squeeze his hand again. "You've got this, babe," he murmured, kissing her forehead.Eyes closed and teeth clenched, she bore down, releasing a grunting squeal with the effort."Stop! There we are, Mom. The head is out. Now don't push, just breathe for a moment."Still holding her hand, he leaned over to see the back of the baby's head. His heart was in his throat and tears streamed down his face."Now this is it. On the next contraction, go ahead and push."He turned back to her. Eyes wide, she panted, gripping his hand for dear life."Oh, God, here it comes," she cried."You're doing great, I'm so proud of you," he murmured, turning to watch as their child was born.Fifteen minutes later, he strode down the hospital corridor to the family waiting
Chapter 327: No Time Like the Present"You should go home and get some rest, Jackie."Without taking her eyes off Scott, asleep in his hospital bed, she reached for Blake's hand. "I can't. I need to be here when he wakes up.""You're sure?"She nodded, then looked to her brother. "Can you take care of the kids? I hate to impose, but…""No worries, Jackie. Now that the storm's over, we'll take them back to our house. Amy's more comfortable there, anyway. We'll have a sleepover party."Jackie sighed. "I know they're ready to be back in their own beds. But I'll be home tomorrow, for sure, at least overnight.""Okay, sis." He kissed Jackie on the cheek. "Keep us posted."In the quiet of the hospital room, Jackie pulled a chair beside Scott's bed. As soon as they'd arrived back at the lodge, Blake and some of the others had carried Scott to the battered Suburban, laying him on the back seat.At Amy's insistence, Blake had driven Jackie and Scott to town. By the time they reache
Chapter 326: Dream Versus RealityHe was staring up at an azure sky. A warm summer breeze caressed his face. He turned his head and Jackie smiled at him, her deep blue eyes sparkling. "Where were you?" she asked.Scott shrugged. "I don't know.""Well, you're back now. That's what counts." She took his hand and led him to a bed in the middle of a sun-drenched field full of flowers. The bed's sheer white canopy billowed in the breeze. Kissing his hand, she released it, reaching up to slide first one, then the other spaghetti strap of her filmy white dress, allowing it to slide down her body and pool at her bare feet. His gaze slid from her sapphire eyes to her succulent lips. Then it traveled over the firm globes of her breasts with their pert pink nipples, to the flair of her hips, to the junction between her thighs where tight black curls were neatly trimmed. When he met her eyes again, she smiled knowingly and sank to her knees, bowing her head and resting her hands palm
Chapter 325: Warrior Princess"Jacks, you can't go out there." Blake's face twisted with concern."He won't come back until he finds Pierce. But he won't find Pierce, because Pierce is here. You can't leave Amy. I'd never even ask. And if Ned Hart won't go out there, I have no other choice." Her voice was deadly calm.She grabbed her grey coat, then put it back on its hook, heading into the dining room. Blake followed. "Jackie, seriously, I don't want you going out there." He grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Scott wouldn't want you going out there.""He can tell me that when I find him. Can I borrow Amy's pink parka? It's brighter than mine, easier to see."Blake exhaled sharply, his tone resigned. "I've known you long enough to know that once you've set your mind on something, that's it. At least let me put together a pack for you."While Blake scavenged from the survival students, Jackie put on Amy's parka and spoke to Grant and Emma. "I'm going out to let Scott know
Chapter 324: From Bad to WorseAway from the wide-open expanse of the lake, the trees blocked a certain amount of the wind, but plenty of snow filtered down. Try as he might, Scott couldn't make out any tracks left by Pierce. He continued up the trail, slipping and sliding as he made his way up a steep ridge. The designated campsite was the clearing at the top, but once he arrived, the area was empty. Even the snow was thin, having been blown into drifts against the bases of the trees surrounding the clearing. Where are you, you little shit? Scott turned in a circle, considering the most likely way Pierce might have gone. The clearing was exposed. He'd have wanted to find a spot that afforded more shelter. Which meant he would have gone lower. But in which direction?Rolling the dice, Scott headed west, where the clearing dropped off in a bluff about thirty meters above a ravine created by a now-frozen creek. He peered down into the gully, willing Pierce not to be there at
Chapter 323: Who's Missing?An hour later, Scott sipped his coffee and gazed out over the room. A handful of his campers had volunteered to help with lunch, and they'd all enjoyed potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Now, a group of guests was working on chili for dinner.Out of habit, he mentally counted his group. Tom and Patty Payton, who'd headed up lunch, were playing cards with Justin Sapp and Paula Martinez. Dan Spinelli was talking fishing with the father and sons from Cherub Lake. Not finding Pierce, Adams, or Bennet, he frowned slightly. A trip to the restaurant kitchen revealed Brian Bennett and Keely Adams working on cornbread to go with the chili.That leaves one. Scott returned to the dining room. Jackie was across the room checking on Amy. He cruised by the table where Dan was swapping fish stories. "Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Pierce?"The younger man frowned. "Not since we ate. But you know, now that you mention it, his backpack is gone." H
Chapter 322: Everyone Shelter at the LodgeAs Jackie and the children hiked toward the main lodge, they heard the snowmobile returning from the island. Jackie sent Emma and Grant ahead with their backpacks, Max galumphing along behind them, while she waited for Scott to secure the snowmobile."How'd it go?"Scott's lips were a grim line. "About how you'd expect. There's nothing we can do about it with the storm coming. Everybody understood, really. Except for Pierce. He's such an asswipe."Jackie's eyes widened but her lips curled impishly. "Oh my, Sire. Language."He popped her ass lightly. "And now my Princess requests a spanking. My day is complete."They both laughed as the entered the lodge. Trina had a huge fire going in the dining room's fireplace, and she'd already been to the cabins to invite guests to gather in the main lodge, where there would be food and heat."Hi, guys," she greeted Jackie and Scott. "I called the crew to let them know to stay home today. Then
Chapter 321: Blizzard WarningFrowning, Scott watched the latest weather report on the early morning local news, his mouth set in a grim line. Beside him, Jackie stirred. "What is it?" she murmured."It's alright," he answered softly. "Go back to sleep. It's not even 5:00 yet."She sniffed loudly and yawned. "I'm awake now. What's the matter?" She pushed up on an elbow and rested her head against his shoulder.He shook his head derisively. "The blizzard. They're predicting the storm to hit by this afternoon.""I thought it was supposed to skirt us to the south.""I hoped it would. But now we're under a blizzard warning." He kissed her temple and slid out of bed."What are you going to do?"He stepped into a pair of fleece-lined jeans and shrugged into a grey thermal Henley. "I'm heading to the island to let the campers know. Obviously, we're postponing the solo outings. I'll offer them the chance to return for free to finish their second week of this session." He glanced
Chapter 320: Winter SessionPulling the hood of his black parka lower over his head, Scott ducked behind the windscreen of his snowmobile and headed back to the lodge. At the bunkhouse cabin, he'd just welcomed Tom and Patty Payton, the only married couple he'd had thus far in his wilderness school.Having checked in with Jackie in the reception area of the lodge, the pair had made their way on foot across the ice to the island where they joined fellow survival students Justin Sapp, a stocky young man with an infectious sense of humor, and Paula Martinez, an attractive thirty-something Latina who wrote a Spanish-language adventure blog.Everyone in this session had broad outdoor survival experience, including the Paytons, who had once spent a year in the Amazon cataloging wildlife. They'd told Scott they were excited to learn winter survival skills in the wilderness of Ontario.That leaves four more clients yet to arrive, Scott mused as he pulled up the slope to park beneath the lodg