A Winter Affair by Minna Howard

Author:Minna Howard [Howard, Minna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784975869
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2016-07-27T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

The two skiers who’d been with the guide now made their way cautiously down to them. They were French, middle-aged men and offered to help, dig with their guide and Theo, but the guide told them it was safer for them to wait, so they stood there silently as if mourning over a grave.

‘Many killed on ski slopes,’ one of them remarked, causing Gaby to cry out. The man just shrugged as if it was a fact of life

‘Very dangerous,’ the other agreed. ‘How many lost?’ he asked Eloise, who tried to comfort Gaby by telling her not to listen to them.

‘We don’t know how many people were caught, but we are worried for our friend. But we hope for the best, he could have outskied it,’ she added, more for Gaby’s sake.

The man’s answer was lost by the clattering throb of a helicopter hovering overhead, and Eloise saw to her great relief the ski patrol were coming over the slope towards them and the helicopter then circled and moved off.

‘Why won’t it stay with us?’ Gaby cried, stretching out her arms as if trying to claw it back.

‘It’s OK; they are probably just assessing the situation, checking where we are and leading the ski patrol to us. Look,’ she pointed to the ski patrol, ‘here’s the rescue team. They’ll soon have Jerry out.’ Eloise put her arm round Gaby, though she too was worried.

The ski patrol quickly took charge, Eloise told them about the snowboarders, but they said they’d escaped it, the helicopter had seen them much further on. They took out their equipment and, with sensors, tried to check for movement and began digging where they picked something up. The ski guide stepped back and, after a quick discussion, returned to his clients, suggesting they ski down. Now help was here there was no more he could do. He asked Eloise if she and Gaby would like to come down with them.

Eloise refused; Lawrence was coming and she must stay here to support him and Theo, who was digging frantically now, aware time was running out.

‘Thank you, I’ll stay… but,’ she turned to Gaby, ‘perhaps it would be better if she went… in case…’ No, she must not think that a body would be found, and certainly must not say as much in front of Gaby. ‘Would you like to go with them, Gaby,’ she said. ’I’ll stay here and I’ll text you with any news.’

‘No… I must stay,’ Gaby said. ‘I must know what’s happened to Jerry.’

‘If you’re sure,’ the guide said, sensing the impatience of his two clients, perhaps nervous another avalanche was imminent.

‘Yes, thank you and thank you so much for helping.’ Eloise tried to smile, but her face was stiff with fear and cold. She turned to Gaby, ‘Are you really sure you don’t want to go down with them?’ She thought it would be better if she did, in case Jerry was not found in time.

‘I want to stay,’ Gaby said, though her face was clenched with fear.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.