Page 89 of Thunder Pass

As sobs racked her body, movement in the alder bushes caught her eye. A tiny bird watched her from the underbrush. A warbler, one of the migrating birds that would soon be flying thousands of miles to its winter home. This one must be one of the last to leave; she could already feel the bite of snow in the autumn air.

Maybe that bird was much like her. The last one, the one holding down the fort, the one making sure everyone else was okay before taking flight. There was nothing wrong with that, was there? She could only be who she was.

A hop, a flicker of wings, and the warbler disappeared behind some branches, then reappeared as a quick dart of movement heading toward the open sky. Her heart felt as if it was cracking open, expanding inside her chest and spilling into the world.

I’m going to be okay. Better than okay.

Feeling calmer, even strong, she made her way back to the ATV, where she found Gunnar and his father just pulling out of an embrace.

And then she saw the blood smeared on Gunnar’s neck, and forgot everything else. She ran the last few steps to him.

“You’re bleeding!” she cried. “Are you okay?”

“It’s mostly Luke’s blood.”

She stopped, stricken. Despite everything, Luke was her father. The thought of Gunnar’s father shooting him dead…

“But he’ll be fine,” Anthony said quickly. “I didn’t hit anything life-threatening.”

“Are you sure? It happened so fast.”

“I’m sure. I hit him in the shoulder. Flesh wound only. I’d hate for something like that to hang over the two of you in the future. Doesn’t seem like a good way to start a life together.”

Ruth felt her face go hot, but Gunnar just grinned and opened his arms to her. She flew into them and buried her face in his shoulder. “I was so scared,” she murmured.

“You were incredible.” He kept whispering in her ear, along with more things, such sweet things that she would have felt embarrassed in front of his father, if Anthony hadn’t climbed out of the ATV just then.

“Gotta check in with the folks in charge,” he said, gesturing with a military-issue sat phone.

When they were alone, Gunnar pulled her all the way onto his lap and peppered her face with kisses. “Goddamn, do I love you. The real thing, the vows and forever after kind.”

“Really?” She felt tears sting her eyes. “Even after my father tried to kill you?”

“Eh, families,” he quipped. “We’ve all got our stories.” She used her sleeve to wipe a streak of blood off his cheek. “But maybe we won’t all spend Thanksgiving or Christmas together,” he added thoughtfully.

Which struck her as so funny that she couldn’t stop laughing until Gunnar’s father returned, wearing a serious expression that sobered her instantly.

“We need to get into town,” he said. “Things are going to be chaos there. With Luke down for the count, Dmitri Turgenev will be in charge. He’s even more unpredictable than Luke. I’ve been ordered to check it out and report back. Do you guys know any shortcuts from up here? I’ll drive.”

Ruth was more than happy to stay on Gunnar’s lap while Anthony Grant took the wheel.

“I think two kids who grew up in the wilderness can find a way,” said Gunnar. “What do you think, Ruth, the Fire Peak Trail, then cut down to Smoky Lake?”

“That’ll work.” As Anthony kicked the ATV into gear, she added, “There’s a creek bed that’s gone dry that we can pick up at Smoky Lake. It feeds right into Snow River about a quarter mile outside of town.”

“Right, where the sandhill cranes nest sometimes.”

“Yes, and there’s a wild sorrel patch I just love.”

Anthony let out a hoot of laughter. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people more perfect for each other. Just to confirm, Gunnar, if I suggested that you leave Firelight Ridge and see the world with me, you’d say no?”

Gunnar’s arms tightened around Ruth. She could imagine what a tempting idea that would be. He’d waited all these years to find out what happened to his father. Now he was next to him in a high-powered ATV, bouncing down a four-wheeler trail after playing the hero to Firelight Ridge. What an amazing moment for him.

“I’d say no to anything that doesn’t include Ruth, put it that way,” Gunnar finally said. “If that’s okay with you, Ruth?”

She wanted to melt against him, but before she did that, she had to make sure of something. “What if I have to stay here and take care of seven little kids and a potentially traumatized sixteen-year-old girl?”

“Then I’ll do the same,” he said promptly. “That’s the deal.”

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