Love Inspired Suspense April 2023--Box Set 2 of 2 by Mary Alford

Author:Mary Alford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

SIX

Hayden explained to the group that they’d be spending the night on the mountain. Livy thought they took it well. They probably expected it after all that had happened. As Hayden went over the details, he didn’t repeat Ron’s words that someone had started the fire to trap Livy. For that she was thankful. All she wanted right now was to get everyone off the mountain safely. Not that she couldn’t take criticism, but blaming her or anyone else wouldn’t make their efforts any easier.

Sandy and Linda helped her filter water from the river and fill everyone’s water bottles. The Johnstons’ willingness to share their trail mix was a blessing, as well as Hayden’s package of beef jerky. They divided some extra energy bars and passed them around. That made up their evening meal. It wasn’t really filling but helped abate the hunger pains.

Now everyone had bedded down around the fire. Ron’s clothing had dried on the rocks but not his backpack. It was still wet, so he rested his head on Livy’s pack and was soundly sleeping while she took the first watch.

Maggie had soaked her ankle one last time in the cold river water before propping it on a rock and lying down. Jason lay close to her, within arm’s reach. Hayden was stretched out close to Livy, sound asleep, exhausted after his efforts in the river. That’s why when he said they needed a lookout, she volunteered. She knew he needed rest to be his best in the morning.

She watched the firelight play over his features. While the others had pulled out sweaters or windbreakers, Hayden’s only covering was his knitted cap, pulled down low over his ears. His dark beard shadowed his cheeks and strong jaw. His long lashes rested on his cheeks. Even in sleep he was handsome.

Livy forced herself to look away. She gazed up at the sky. To the north, smoke clouds shadowed the stars. To the south sparse, smokey clouds filtered across the moon. She thought maybe the firefighters were winning the battle with the brush fire on the trail. At least she hoped so.

Directly above her, the stars twinkled in the midnight sky. In ordinary circumstances, without the fires, the sky would have been brilliant, the stars and planets seeming so close, it seemed as if she could almost reach out and touch them. It would have been a beautiful time, here by the fire with friends nearby, tired but triumphant with a long day of climbing behind them.

What would it be like to spend the day with Hayden, just the two of them? To share a campfire and talk about life? She felt like he had so much to share if she could get past the wall he’d built around himself. He could tell her what it had been like to be an international star with adoring fans. How it felt to save so many lives here in the park, and how he went on after the tragedy that had struck him.

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