“Hello, Dr. Dehn,” the children chimed as the pilot opened the door. A mix of different colored irises and features reflected the diverse genetic makeup of this ancient spit of land.
“As-Salaam Alaikum.” She gave them a tired smile. The children’s faces were gaunt but wreathed in happiness. Malnourishment was common in the Wakhan, and after a brutal winter most families were only a goat short of starvation.
Despite the worry for her cats, it humbled her. These people, who struggled with survival every single day, were doing their best to live in harmony with the snow leopard. And a large part of this change in attitude toward one of the region’s top predators was due to the work of the Conservation Trust. It was a privilege to work for them, a privilege she didn’t intend to screw up. She dug into her day pack and pulled out two canisters of children’s multi-vitamins she’d found in Frankfurt Airport. She rattled one of the canisters and they all jumped back in surprise. She pointed to Keeta, a teenage girl whose eyes were as blue as Josef’s and whose English was excellent thanks to some recent schooling. “These are not candy so only eat one a day.” She held up a single finger. Then handed them over and the children chorused a thank you before running back to their homes.
Anji Waheed, their local guide and wildlife ranger-in-training, rattled toward them in their sturdy Russian van.
“As-Salaam Alaikum, Mr. Josef, Doctor Axelle,” Anji called out as he pulled up beside them. The relief in the Wakhi man’s deep brown eyes reinforced the seriousness of the situation.
“Wa-Alaikum Salaam.” They could all do with a little peace. The men patted each other on the back, and they began hauling their belongings out of the plane and into the van.
Axelle took a deep breath. “Did you find any sign of the cubs?”
Anji shook his head. “No, but as soon as I heard you were on your way, I took some men up to base camp to set up the yurts, then came back to get you.” Although only a few miles up the side valley, it was two bone-rattling hours of travel on a barely-there gravel road to their encampment. During winter, they did their tracking online from back home at Montana State University. In summer, they took a more hands-on approach.
“Thanks.” Axelle stowed her frustration and smiled her gratitude. From their tracking data she had a good idea where Sheba might have denned up. Barring accidents or breakdowns they might get there before nightfall.
She was praying for a collar malfunction even though that would put their million-dollar project way behind schedule. The alternative meant the cubs and their mother were probably dead. Her instinct told her losing two cats in a couple of days wasn’t coincidence, nor was it a local herder protecting livestock. A professional poacher was going after her animals for their fur and bones to feed China’s ravenous appetite for traditional medicine. It was imperative to find out exactly what was going on, and with the continuing conflict in Afghanistan it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Do the elders know anything about what might be happening?” she asked. Only twelve miles wide in places, the Wakhan Valley was a tiny finger of flat fertile ground separating some of the tallest mountains in the world—the magnificent and treacherous Hindu Kush to the south and the impenetrable Pamir Range to the north. Harsh winters trapped locals inside for seven months of the year. Wildlife was scarce and the region mercilessly inaccessible, but these people knew the land better than a visitor ever could.
“No.” His eyes shot between her and Josef. “They are scared that if the snow leopards are dead, you will blame them and they will lose their clinic.”
The Trust not only had an anti-poaching scheme, they also vaccinated local livestock once a year against common diseases, gratis. The program promoted healthier livestock and reduced the losses herders suffered to sickness, which in turn compensated for the occasional snow leopard kill. So far the scheme was working, except now they had two missing, possibly dead leopards and two tiny cubs unaccounted for.
The weight of responsibility sat like an elephant on her chest.
“Josef, run over and reassure them while Anji and I finish loading.” She held his gaze when he looked like he’d argue. The village elders sometimes struggled to deal with a woman. She didn’t mind because she loathed politics. “Be quick. We don’t have time for tea—you’ll have to make your excuses.”
It wasn’t how things were done here and she didn’t want to offend these people, but the survival of a species trumped social niceties today. Ten more minutes and they were finished packing. Anji tied the spare gasoline canisters onto the roof and made sure both big gas tanks were full. They honked and Josef jogged over and jumped into the van.
“Everything be okay.” Lines creased Anji’s leathery skin. “Inshallah.”
God willing, indeed.
She and Josef exchanged a look as Anji gunned the engine over the rough road marked only by a line of pale stones. Dust flew, stirred up by the tires, the land still soft from the thaw. They bounced over rivers, ruts and alluvial fans. Axelle craned her neck to stare at the imposing mountains.
“If the collars are working”—Josef spoke from the backseat—“there could be some crackpot in these hills picking off critically endangered animals for money. Anyone that desperate isn’t going to care if a couple of foreigners end up as collateral damage.”
They’d left some weapons with their other belongings last fall. Her father had insisted she have some sort of protection when he’d heard she was conducting her research in Afghanistan. Now she was grateful.
She glanced at Josef sharply. “Do you want to go home?”
“I’m just saying this could be dangerous.” His hands gripped the back of the seat as they bounced over a rickety bridge.
“If you want to go back you should say so now. The pilot can fly you out in the morning.” She kept her voice soft. They were almost the same age but he was her responsibility and she had no right to place him in danger. “I don’t want you thinking you don’t have a choice. I can handle this.” He had a life. He had a future. She only had her passion for saving things that needed saving.
“Ya, I run away and leave you alone in the wilderness.” Josef sat back and crossed his arms, muttering angrily.
She held back an instinctive retort. She didn’t care about being alone in the wilderness, but with this amount of ground to cover, she needed all the help she could get. “I have Anji,” she said instead. “We can get more men from the village.”
The Wakhi man grinned a gap-toothed smile, his eyes dancing. After generations of war and decades of being ignored by the government in Kabul, a few missing teeth were the least of anyone’s problems. A few dead leopards might not rank high in the concerns of government either, not with the resurgence of the Taliban, not with the constant threat of assassination, insurgents and death.
“If we find sign of a poacher we will gather men from the village and hunt him down,” the smaller man said.
Axelle nodded, but she was worried. This would be Anji’s responsibility when he finished training and was appointed the wildlife officer for this region. He needed to be confident enough to take charge of dangerous situations like this. She bit her lip. He was such a sweet little guy she didn’t know how he’d confront armed poachers. The idea of him hurt didn’t sit well. He had a family. People who cared.
Isolation pressed down on her shoulders. All she had was an estranged father and a grandfather she hadn’t visited in two long years.
Energetic clouds boiled over the top of the mountains. A spring storm was building, but it was nothing to the growing sense of unease that filled her when she thought of someone lining up her cats in the crosshairs of a hunting scope.
Author’s Note & Acknowledgments
I wrote Her Risk To Take in response to readers asking me for more stories about the Triple-H Ranch. When I originally wrote Her Sanctuary (it was my first book, took five years to write, and was originally published back in 2004) there was a third romance included within the book. I cut that subplo
t because the story was already complicated enough with Eliza and Nat’s relationship, and Marsh and Josie’s fumbled beginnings. What I hadn’t realized until I reread Her Sanctuary was I’d taken out all hint of the feelings between Cal and Sarah. They’d lost their romance. Although I didn’t feel as though I could create an entire novel around what happened next for those two characters, I did think they deserved their own “Happy Ever After.” So the idea of a novella was born.
I want to thank my editor, Alicia Dean, and my amazing critique partner, Kathy Altman, for all their help and support. The biggest shout-out of love and appreciation goes to my husband and children who put up with me on a daily basis, even when I don’t have time to shower. Love you guys!
About the Author
Toni Anderson is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author of Romantic Suspense. A former marine biologist, Anderson traveled the world with her work. After living in six different countries, she finally settled down in the Canadian prairies with her husband and two children. Combining her love of travel with her love of romantic suspense, Anderson writes stories based in some of the places she has been fortunate enough to visit.
Toni donates 15% of her royalties from Edge of Survival to diabetes research—to find out why, read the book!
She is the author of several novels including Dark Waters, The Killing Game, and A Cold Dark Place. Her novels have been nominated for the prestigious Romance Writers of America® RITA® Award, Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence, and National Readers’ Choice Awards in Romantic Suspense.
Find out more on her website: www.toniandersonauthor.com or sign up to her email list to receive up-to-date information on new releases, exclusive offers and prizes.
Reviews
COLD LIGHT OF DAY
(Cold Justice Book #3)
“This has easily cruised into my top ten romances … in the history of EVER.” —Heroes and Heartbreakers.
TOP PICK “Cold Light of Day has all the elements of a great romantic suspense…danger, romance, action, and intrigue. I’d recommend Cold Light of Day to any romantic suspense reader looking for a thrilling adventure!” —Harlequin Junkie
COLD PURSUIT
(Cold Justice Book #2)
“I’d highly recommend Cold Pursuit to any romantic suspense reader.” —Harlequin Junkie
“Toni Anderson’s new Cold Justice series is sizzling suspense and hot romance – the perfect summer read!” —Mom’s the Word.
A COLD DARK PLACE
(Cold Justice Book #1)
“Toni magically blends sizzling chemistry between Alex and Mallory with lots of suspenseful action in A Cold Dark Place. At times I wanted to hide my eyes, not knowing if I could face what might or might not happen! The edge of your seat suspense is riveting!” —Harlequin Junkies.
“Recommended for fans of Toni Anderson and fans of dark romantic suspense. You’d definitely love this one!” —Maldivian Book Reviewer’s Realm of Romance.
DARK WATERS
(International bestseller. National Readers Choice Awards Finalist)
“In this action-packed contemporary, Anderson (Dangerous Waters) weaves together a tapestry of powerful suspense and sizzling romance.” —Publishers Weekly.
“The pacing in this book is superb. The tension really never lets up … I never felt there was a good ‘stopping point’ in this book, which is probably why I was reading all night.” —Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
DANGEROUS WATERS
(International bestseller. 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist)
“With a haunting setting and a captivating cast of characters, Anderson has crafted a multifaceted mystery rife with secrets. Readers will have to focus, as red herrings abound, but the result is a compulsively engrossing page-turner.” —Romantic Times (4 Stars)
“A captivating mix of suspense and romance, Dangerous Waters will pull you under.” —Laura Griffin, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author
“With vibrant writing, a cast of damaged, captivating characters and a plot that’s deliciously diabolical, Dangerous Waters will have you mesmerized from page one.” —HEA USA Today
“The vivid picture of the scenery adds ghostlike images to the dark and dangerous mystery. Plot twists interlock, never letting up until the last pages.” —Coffee Time Romance (5 Cups)
THE KILLING GAME
(2014 RITA® Finalist, and National Readers Choice Awards Finalist)
“The Killing Game is an exhilarating, masterfully-crafted mix of life-and-death adventure and political intrigue. It’s also a riveting romance, and with the author’s trademark gritty and evocative prose, wily imagination and fierce respect for the plight of the snow leopard and the war-torn country it inhabits, this book is one unforgettable read.” —Kathy Altman Goodreads Review. (5 Stars)
“I’d recommend this to any romantic suspense reader looking for a unique, intricately woven story that will really touch you.” —Peaces of Me (5 Stars)
“This is a smart story. This is a sexy story. This is a well written story. This is one of my favorite romantic suspense stories I’ve read all year. I wish there was more!” —Love Affair With An e-Reader (5 Stars)
EDGE OF SURVIVAL
“Anderson writes with a gritty, fast-paced style, and her narrative is tense and evocative.” —HEA USA Today
“… more substance than one would expect from a romantic thriller.” —Library Journal Reviews
“Edge of Survival is without a doubt, one of the most exciting, romantic, sexy stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year and I will definitely be looking for more by Toni Anderson.” —Blithely Bookish (5 Stars)
“Sensual, different; romance with a bit of angst, just how I like them; Edge of Survival is a romantic suspense not to be missed.” —Maldivian Book Reviewer’s Realm of Romance (5 Stars)
“Whoever thinks a story concerning a woman who does fish research would be boring hasn’t read Edge of Survival!” —Book Lovers Inc. (5 Bookies)
STORM WARNING
(Best Book of 2010 Nominee —The Romance Reviews)
“Storm Warning is an intense, provocative paranormal romance with a suspenseful twist…This is a book that I am unquestionably adding to my keeper collection.” —Night Owl Reviews (TOP PICK)
“It is exactly the way I like my romantic suspense novels to be.” —The Romance Reviews
“The plot is full of suspense and some pretty incredible plot twists. … will have you on the edge of your seat.” —Coffee Time Romance & More
SEA OF SUSPICION
(Best Book of 2010 Nominee —The Romance Reviews. National bestseller.)
“Deeply atmospheric and filled with twists and turns, Sea of Suspicion kept me flying eagerly through the pages.” —All About Romance
“Sea of Suspicion is one heck of a book! The twists, turns, passion, and many colorful characters give Ms. Anderson’s novel a delightful edge.” —Coffee Time Romance
“Set along the coast of Scotland, Sea of Suspicion is a riveting story of suspense and the depths and heights of human character.” —The Romance Reviews
HER LAST CHANCE
(2014 Daphne du Maurier finalist)
“A high intensity story, with action from the first page on, an intricate suspense tale with twists and turns that are surprising and a conclusion that is as near to closure as is possible to come. The characters are deep and rather brooding, but manage to lose themselves in each other. And the writing is clever, hot and altogether fabulous!” —Ripe for Reader
“From the opening scene I was turning the pages totally entranced in the story. I’ve loved all this authors books but at this moment this has to be my favorite.” —SnS Reviews
HER SANCTUARY
(National bestseller)
“Her Sanctuary is a riveting fast-paced suspense story, filled with twists, turns, and danger. As the story flows seamlessly between the protagonists and antagonists, the tension rises to fever pitch. Just when you thi
nk you know the good guys from the bad, Anderson provides a surprising twist, or two.” —Night Owl Romance (TOP PICK)
“Her Sanctuary is a book I can easily and highly recommend for all readers and lovers of great books. It is truly worth every minute it takes to read, so head over to The Wild Rose Press and pick up a copy today.” —WRDF
“Suspenseful, riveting and explosive, this reader absolutely loved this story.” —Fallen Angel Reviews (5 Angels)
“Ms. Anderson presents us with one fantastic story that has me wanting more.” —Romance Junkies (4.5 Blue Ribbons)
“For a fast paced, enjoyable read filled with secrets and surprises, Her Sanctuary will fill all your expectations.” —Romance Reviews Today
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Also by Toni Anderson
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Dear Reader
Her ~ Romantic Suspense Series
Excerpt from Cold Light of Day
Excerpt from The Killing Game
Author’s Note & Acknowledgments
About the Author
Reviews
Her Risk To Take Page 9
