Now.
Ellie grabbed the wheel.
Halley screamed and fought her.
“No. You don’t get to decide how this ends. And your product-moving days are over.”
The car came to a juddering halt, and Halley threw the door open and started to run. Ellie took a deep breath, knowing she was at a disadvantage in boots. This, she knew, she had trained for. At the academy and in real life.
She might not be a police officer anymore. But God had given her the skills she needed for this moment. And though fear could have overwhelmed her, instead all she felt was confidence.
Thank You. She prayed as she ran. Her boots pounded against the snow as she gained on Halley. Fifteen feet away. Thirteen. Nine. Five. Three.
Ellie threw herself forward, arms out, and tackled the other woman to the ground. Pinning Halley down, she finally managed to wrestle the criminal’s hands behind her back.
She pulled a neckline out of her pocket, one of the ropes used to hook dogs up to the gangline that attached to the sled, and tied it around Halley’s narrow wrists.
“My best friend died because of you,” Ellie said out loud. Heard the words sink deep into her heart.
She’d carried the guilt for all those years. Should have been early. Should have listened sooner. Should have...should have...
It was time to stop accepting blame that wasn’t hers.
It was time to really live.
“But you did not kill me. You didn’t kill her memory.” And hopefully she hadn’t killed her brother. Ellie swallowed hard. She still needed to see Seth. Please, God, let him be okay.
“Oh, shut up.”
Ellie sat down on top of the woman’s back, pulled her phone out of her pocket and waited for the police to arrive.
When an officer did, she told him everything as he loaded Halley into his vehicle.
“Do you need a ride?” he asked Ellie, looking at the car and then back at her.
“Yes, that’s her car. Could you take me to the hospital?”
The ride was quiet. The officer in the front seat was a man Ellie didn’t know, and she didn’t have anything else to say after pouring out the whole story for him earlier. Instead they rode in silence to the small local hospital, and Ellie stepped out of the car.
“I need you to come by the station later, go over your statement with me and make sure I got it all right.”
Ellie nodded. “Thanks.”
The police car pulled away, and Ellie stood there looking at the building where Seth was supposed to be. He’d lost so much blood.
She didn’t want to lose him again.
She took a deep breath, fought against fear one more time for the day and then walked inside.
* * *
No one knew where Ellie was. Seth had called his next-door neighbors to ask them to let him know when she arrived, and he’d just gotten a text from them that her car was there, the dogs were there, but that she wasn’t.
Please let her be all right, he prayed.
He’d woken up on the ride to the hospital and thankfully stayed conscious since. The bullet had gone through, he learned when the doctor examined him, and there wasn’t a need for surgery, though he had needed a blood transfusion. He felt woozy and exhausted, but he was alive, and he needed to see that Ellie was, too.
Because something had been nagging at him. Even though they’d gotten the head of the organization—Jared—he could still have other people out there willing to do his dirty work for him, like someone had done the night Ellie’s tent had been set on fire.
“Seth.”
He heard her voice, and he smiled, relief and love flooding through him. “You’re here.”
“You’re alive.” She moved toward him and took a seat in the chair beside his bed.
“Are you okay? I realized you might not be safe, still. We have to be careful in case anyone else—”
“It’s over.” Ellie shook her head. “The person calling the shots is in jail.”
“Even with Jared—”
She shook her head. “Not Jared.”
His eyes widened, and fear threatened to choke him, but Ellie was sitting here next to him, clearly okay, so he needed to calm down. “Who?”
“Halley. She came to the house.”
“Where is she now?”
“The police have her. Apparently she came to tie up loose ends, and I was one.”
“But you’re okay.”
Ellie laughed. “I’m right here, aren’t I?”
He wasn’t ready to laugh yet. This had been the longest nightmare of his life, stretching over years, and he wasn’t taking any more chances. If he’d been fully conscious and cognizant earlier, he never would have let Ellie go off on her own.
“She started naming names the second we got in the car. No one we know besides Jared and Aaron. I think most of her workforce, if you will, is in Anchorage. But she decided if she was going down she wasn’t going alone. The police are rounding those people up now. We are really free, Seth. I mean, besides the trial and the testifying.” She made a face. Then smiled a little. “It’s over.”
He pushed himself up against the mattress to try to sit up.
“No, keep resting. Do you need anything?”
“Just...” Should he have this conversation in a hospital bed? Seth wanted to wait, for his pride, but he’d lost this woman once, and he had no intention of losing her again. Ever, if he had a choice in the matter. “Could we talk?”
She nodded. “Yeah. We can.”
“It’s about this.” He motioned between the two of them. “Are we... Could we... I was thinking maybe we could...just see where life took us?” He was fumbling through this, badly. But as she stared at him with those incredible eyes, he realized they were alive, no one was trying to kill them, and second chances at life and love didn’t come along every day.
“Are you asking me to...date you? Try again?” Ellie looked serious. “Seth, I left you. I shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry, but I don’t know if you should trust me again.” She made a face. “I felt guilty for Liz’s death. I know I didn’t cause it, but she’d wanted to get together in the days before she was killed, and I just didn’t have time... And then that last night, I was late—and then she was gone. I just... What if...”
“Ellie, I’m asking you to stay this time. I don’t blame you for her death. Please don’t leave. The past is the past. Let’s just leave it there.”
He did sit up this time. He couldn’t properly kiss her lying down but held her close.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of kissing you. So yes, let’s leave the past where it belongs.” Ellie grinned at him, bent down and brushed her lips against his one more time. “I’ll stay here in this hospital till you’re out, and then I’m thinking we should seriously consider reinstating our engagement.”
“Oh, yeah?” Seth smiled.
Ellie met his eyes and whispered, “Yeah.” Then she leaned back and shrugged. “Mainly because I know the dogs miss me, and I can’t live out there with them until you and I get married.”
Seth laughed, or started to until his side hurt. He put his hand there.
“You rest, Seth. I promise. This time I’m not going anywhere.” She took his hand in hers. He squeezed it. Smiled up into her eyes and thanked God for second chances.
It had been fun enough falling in love with this woman once. Twice? He was a blessed man. And Seth planned to spend the rest of his life remembering it and making sure that Ellie knew she was the reason.
“I think you have a good idea.” He teased her even though he’d already planned to ask. “Marry me? Want to try this again? I love you, Ellie Hardison.”
“It just so happens I love you, Seth Connors. So yes, I think we should get married.”
“Today?”
S
he laughed. Full and musical. And Seth knew he could listen to that sound for the rest of his life and never get tired of it.
Blessed indeed.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Texas Witness Threat by Cate Nolan.
Dear Reader,
Thanks for coming along on another Alaskan adventure! I love writing these stories, thinking about how these different characters see the world and writing about Alaska, which is my favorite place on earth. I couldn’t do any of it if there weren’t people who enjoyed reading, so thank you!
Alaska Secrets is special to me because for the past few years my family and I have enjoyed getting involved in recreational dog mushing. It’s a sport rich in history and Alaska’s tradition. There’s nothing like realizing that your safety depends on a group of dogs, and theirs on you, and that you are all out in the woods doing something you love. I like being out on a sled with the dogs, when there’s enough snow, and I also like something called “dryland mushing,” which involves a dog, a harness, a bike and just enough crazy to be fun. Sled dogs love what they do. When they don’t, they typically retire and become house dogs. I hope I was able to show you even a fraction of how fun this sport is through this story.
I had so much fun with the characters in this book. Ellie has been somewhat of a mystery even to me throughout this series, and I loved finding out more about her and the past she’d kept hidden. I loved seeing her face obstacles with confidence—like mushing a dog team for the first time—and finally face her past. Seth was just the right man for her, and I had fun writing their love story, also.
Ellie didn’t expect God to be there for her, to show up and save her. When He does, her faith in Him grows. How often do we refuse to expect anything from God? He certainly doesn’t “owe” us anything, but He loves us. We can trust Him. And He doesn’t have to “show up” for any of us—because He never leaves us in the first place.
Thank you again for reading! I hope you enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one we can share together!
Sarah Varland
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Texas Witness Threat
by Cate Nolan
ONE
It was all the weatherman’s fault.
Assistant US Attorney Christine Davis shot a disgusted look at the raindrops beginning to spot her new shoes. She distinctly remembered a cheerful voice on this morning’s weather report promising hot and sunny. Well, he’d gotten the hot part right.
Her phone sounded an emergency alert just as lightning split the sky ahead. A resounding crash of thunder followed. Try hot, wet and scary.
Her car was still several blocks away, so she scanned the street looking for shelter. This section of Austin was undergoing a renaissance and later would be bustling, but at this hour of the morning, there was nothing but closed shops and construction sites.
Another bolt of lightning set her heart racing. That one was too close, and she didn’t like the color of the sky. She needed shelter. Now. The rain intensified, driving against her on gusts of wind. Hot and sunny. Sure. Next time the weatherman predicted hot and sunny, she was packing an umbrella and boots.
She had no choice but to take refuge in one of the construction sites. Sparing a mournful glance at her precious shoes, Christine dashed the last few yards, ducked under the scaffold and pressed back against the plywood barrier just as a strong gust sent an empty trash bin crashing against the wall. Clutching her briefcase against her chest, she huddled in a corner.
It wasn’t the most inviting shelter, but at least she was out of the storm. The building looked like some kind of warehouse that was being upgraded, but the only indication it had been used recently was the graffiti adorning the walls. Sami and Dave forever, Luis y Maria para siempre. She smiled at the mix of English and Spanish.
The sign warning against trespassing was less friendly.
Lightning forked the darkening sky, closer this time. “One, one thousand,” she whispered. “Two, one thousand.”
Bam!
Way too close for comfort. The worsening storm confirmed her instincts as hail began to batter the scaffold above her head. Seeking refuge in the empty structure surely couldn’t count as trespassing.
The door to the actual building stood slightly ajar, so she gave a shove and eased inside. Jagged splinters of wood snagged her stockings, but at least she was dry and safe from the lightning. She only had to stay until the storm passed.
Hopefully, this was nothing more than a freak thunderstorm. Okay, a freak thunderstorm with hail. What were the odds? Austin hadn’t had a hailstorm in a couple of years. Figures it had to be today when she had an important court date. Sporting a drowned muskrat look wouldn’t score her any points with the judge, but if the storm let up soon enough, she could stop home and change.
She took out her phone to check in with her office. No signal.
A sense of unease stole over her. She was alone in an abandoned building, soaking wet, and now she had no phone service. Don’t panic. Inhale, hold the breath and exhale in a smooth, slow motion. She tried to follow her counselor’s advice. There was no reason to be scared. The storm would pass and she could get on with her day.
Except as she grew accustomed to the sounds of nature, she realized that sounds not related to the storm were coming from deeper in the building. She paused, tilting her head to listen. Apparently, the building wasn’t as abandoned as it appeared, and the voices sounded angry. Dangerous? Anxiety gnawed in her belly, testing her vow to remain worry-free.
If she was smart, she’d leave now.
Stop it! Tears welled in her eyes as she fought back the fear. This is not who I am. I am not this fearful person.
Unable to stand still, she edged back toward the door and peeked outside. A heavy curtain of rain still obscured everything, and hail covered the street like a layer of snow. She had a choice of thunder and lightning or angry men—men whose fight had nothing to do with her. If she gave in and left now, she’d spend the rest of the day upset for letting fear win. Please, Lord. Direct my thoughts. Let me trust in You.
A small, tarp-draped alcove, probably intended as a security booth, was just to her left. She could compromise—play it safe and stand in there instead of out in the open. It was the sensible thing to do.
The voices grew louder, felt closer. Christine ducked beneath the tarp and squeezed herself into the corner. The argument seemed to be escalating, but the voices sounded more muffled in here. She closed her eyes and tried to pray, managing only three words before another sound penetrated her haven.
More thunder? Or a gunshot?
The quick curl of fear in her stomach sided with gunshot.
Thunder, lightning and now guns. She would not panic.
Another shot rang out. Christine huddled into herself. Tears glazed her eyes as she fought back a flood of terror. Her fingers clenched her phone, the plastic case digging into her palm. She should call for help. Except she had no service.
Her legs turned to rubber, and she slid down the wall. No. Not good. She had to get up, get out of here. Forget the storm. Bullets trumped lightning.
But she couldn’t move. Her legs felt locked in place as if they belonged to someone else. They wouldn’t follow her brain’s commands. She tried to shake herself out of it. Do something. Get help.
Her thoughts froze as the tarp moved. She could see the imprint of an outstretched hand seconds before the cloth caved and a man stumbled forward. Blood streamed down his youthful face. He lurched toward her, his body thrown off balance by his other arm swinging uselessly at his side. A paper slipped from his fingers and fluttered to the floor, but he seemed oblivious.
Before she could respond, another shot rang out, and his look of hope morphed into a flicker of sheer terror. The hand that was stretching toward her fell limp, and his body toppled over.
Christine stared in shock.
Seconds before, he’d been trying to speak to her, and now he was dead. Dead. The word echoed through her brain even as self-preservation instincts kicked in and sent her scuttling sideways away from the body.
Approaching footsteps galvanized her into action. She jumped up. It would be only seconds before the shooter reached the sagging cloth that now barely covered the opening where the man’s lifeless body sprawled.
She glanced around wildly, but there was nowhere safe to hide. Panic hit hard, and she started to shake. Her only option was to try to duck into the next room and hope the gunman didn’t sense her movement.
Horror brimmed in her throat as she backed up, keeping her gaze focused on the drop cloth. She didn’t dare look down at the man again for fear she’d give in to complete panic.
Step by step she eased back, trying to move quickly but without a sound. She couldn’t afford to bump into any construction debris and give herself away. With one final step, she reached back, searching with her hand until she felt the canvas cloth from the second doorway. The footsteps were so very close now. She could hear heavy breathing, knew the shooter was just feet from where she stood.
Holding her breath, she turned, slid her hand along the edge of the cloth and peered into the cavernous room. She let out a silent sigh of relief and stepped into the empty space seconds before she heard the killer’s voice. “That’ll teach you to cross me.”
Alaska Secrets Page 20
