Page 33 of SEAL the Deal

In the gloom, Mike caught the grim look on TJ’s face. They needed to come up with an escape plan.

* * *

Ali gripped the Ford pickup’s grab handle as it lurched over rocks and struggled for grip. Behind the wheel Jenny activated the diff lock and eased the truck forward. Spotlights illuminated the track in front of them, revealing a heavily rutted trail.

“Your sister and Maria are great,” said Jenny as they bounced over another boulder.

“Yeah, they’re the best.”

Jenny had picked her up at the resort at a little past four in the morning. Leonie and Maria had already been up packing sandwiches and coffee. They’d dropped the two women at the ranger station where they had insisted on helping man the phones in the operations room. The women knew they would be a liability in the field but that didn’t stop them from helping.

The truck rocked sideways and there was a bark from the rear of the dual cab.

“I don’t think Axe likes my driving.”

“Yeah, well I do. The further we go in the truck the less we have to walk, right?”

“Exactly.” Jenny changed gears as the track smoothed.

“I know I’ve said this a dozen times, but thank you.”

Jenny turned and smiled at her. “Hey, it’s nothing. I love getting out in the park. Your guys looked capable. I’m sure they’ve camped up for the night. We’ll find them in no time.”

Ali nodded. “Yeah.” She sat silently as they wound their way up a hill. Minutes passed before a wide clearing appeared in the spotlights.

Jenny brought the truck to a halt and killed the engine. “This is far as we can drive.”

They climbed out of the cab and Ali snapped a lead onto Axe’s collar. Jenny handed her a backpack before reaching for her own.

“Base this is Jenny, over,” the ranger spoke into her radio.

A moment later Maria’s voice replied. “Go ahead, Jenny.”

Jenny smiled. “Wow, already on the airwaves.” Lifting the radio to her mouth, she replied, “Base, we’ve reached Whistler’s clearing. My handheld will probably drop out soon. We’ll check in at Granite Hut no later than zero nine hundred.”

“No problems,” replied Maria. “The chopper will be flying through at zero six thirty.”

“Copy that, Jenny out.” She adjusted a headlamp then took a pump action shotgun from the truck and strapped it to the side of her bag. “Right, let’s get moving.”

Ali activated her own light and gripped Axe’s lead tight as she followed the ranger along a track into the woods. The dog stepped out in front, pulling eagerly.

They only needed their lamps for another half hour. Soon the soft glow of dawn penetrated the forest and it came alive with the call of birds.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Ali as they descended a steep ravine.

“Beats the hell out of working in an office.”

“You said you were a lawyer, right?”

“Worked corporate law in New York for almost ten years. Came out here to escape.”

“And is there a Mr. Park Ranger?”

She shook her head. “No. I had a guy in New York. He turned out to be a thief and a cheat.”

“Oh, so sorry to hear that.”

“My fault for dating a banker.”

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