face from the blowing snow. And then she must’ve heard the engine because she tilted her head back, her arm thrown across her forehead, as she stared up into the sky.
Jesse didn’t bother signaling. Too much snow. She couldn’t see him. He only hoped she had sense enough to keep her eyes on the plane. After he landed, she’d have to come to him.
He picked up the radio again. “Piedmont Ground—Stanley?
It’s Jesse. Making an emergency landing. Plane is fine. I’m fine. I’ll be in touch.”
8
S HEA COULD BARELY see the plane circling above. Her pulse pounded so loudly in her ears she’d initially thought she’d imagined hearing the engine. Icy white snowflakes kept falling and the wind was so cold it sliced through her jacket. The weather had gone to hell so fast—she’d never experienced anything like this before.
Candy Cane seemed fine, considering. Probably because the snow hadn’t yet accumulated to more than a few inches on the ground. That would change quickly, too, she thought, watching the small aircraft begin to descend. Was the pilot landing? But where? Nothing but fields surrounded them, a couple of small hills, the occasional grove of trees.
He couldn’t have been looking for her. She’d only left Safe Haven a half hour ago. Not enough time for Annie to alert anyone. Annie expected Shea back at any minute, but she’d gotten so lost once the snow started. She’d tried to head back to Safe Haven. She had.
She couldn’t think about that right now. Something could be wrong with the plane. Maybe the pilot was in trouble.
A crazy thought popped into her head. Was it Jesse? No, too big a coincidence. Although he was expected back this afternoon, and how many people would be flying on a day like this if they could avoid it?
She sucked the frigid air into her unsuspecting lungs and winced at the pain. Using her arm to block the snow from flying directly into her face, she tried to keep sight of the plane while it continued to lose altitude. The descent seemed controlled, so maybe nothing was wrong. For all she knew, a landing strip stretched out on the other side of the rise that would eventually cut off her view of the aircraft.
Shea swallowed the lump of fear forming in her throat, dug her heels into the mare’s flanks and urged her forward. It was as good a direction as any. She no longer had a clue where Safe Haven was.
God, she’d promised Annie she’d keep Candy Cane safe. And Caleb...she hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of him. He was out here in the freezing cold, too. Her teeth chattering, she pushed every thought out of her mind except for the plane and the pilot. Darkness seemed to be falling as quickly as the temperature. She had to stay focused, keep her gaze alert through the tricky shifting light.
A minute later, the plane disappeared.
* * *
A S SOON AS J ESSE LANDED , he radioed Stanley, gave him a brief rundown and asked him to call the Sundance. Rachel would get in touch with Annie. Later, after he made sure Shea was safe, Jesse would contact them again.
He dug out his emergency gear, pulled on a parka and prayed like hell she was on her way toward him. A pair of skis and snowshoes were stowed in the back of the Cessna, but he didn’t need them yet. He glanced up at the sky. Within a half hour, he would. The unexpected squall was turning into a damn blizzard.
“What the hell is she doing out here?” he muttered, the fear thick in his voice and in his chest.
Leaving on his sunglasses to cut the glare, he trudged in the direction he’d seen her last. Fortunately the wind was coming from behind him. Good for him, not for Shea. The blowing snow would be partially blinding her. His only consolation was that she had to be riding a good horse. Annie would never have let her out here otherwise. Then again, it wasn’t like Annie to allow something like this to happen in the first place.
Jesse muttered a few more choice words he seldom used and pressed forward. Maybe
Jesse didn’t bother signaling. Too much snow. She couldn’t see him. He only hoped she had sense enough to keep her eyes on the plane. After he landed, she’d have to come to him.
He picked up the radio again. “Piedmont Ground—Stanley?
It’s Jesse. Making an emergency landing. Plane is fine. I’m fine. I’ll be in touch.”
8
S HEA COULD BARELY see the plane circling above. Her pulse pounded so loudly in her ears she’d initially thought she’d imagined hearing the engine. Icy white snowflakes kept falling and the wind was so cold it sliced through her jacket. The weather had gone to hell so fast—she’d never experienced anything like this before.
Candy Cane seemed fine, considering. Probably because the snow hadn’t yet accumulated to more than a few inches on the ground. That would change quickly, too, she thought, watching the small aircraft begin to descend. Was the pilot landing? But where? Nothing but fields surrounded them, a couple of small hills, the occasional grove of trees.
He couldn’t have been looking for her. She’d only left Safe Haven a half hour ago. Not enough time for Annie to alert anyone. Annie expected Shea back at any minute, but she’d gotten so lost once the snow started. She’d tried to head back to Safe Haven. She had.
She couldn’t think about that right now. Something could be wrong with the plane. Maybe the pilot was in trouble.
A crazy thought popped into her head. Was it Jesse? No, too big a coincidence. Although he was expected back this afternoon, and how many people would be flying on a day like this if they could avoid it?
She sucked the frigid air into her unsuspecting lungs and winced at the pain. Using her arm to block the snow from flying directly into her face, she tried to keep sight of the plane while it continued to lose altitude. The descent seemed controlled, so maybe nothing was wrong. For all she knew, a landing strip stretched out on the other side of the rise that would eventually cut off her view of the aircraft.
Shea swallowed the lump of fear forming in her throat, dug her heels into the mare’s flanks and urged her forward. It was as good a direction as any. She no longer had a clue where Safe Haven was.
God, she’d promised Annie she’d keep Candy Cane safe. And Caleb...she hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of him. He was out here in the freezing cold, too. Her teeth chattering, she pushed every thought out of her mind except for the plane and the pilot. Darkness seemed to be falling as quickly as the temperature. She had to stay focused, keep her gaze alert through the tricky shifting light.
A minute later, the plane disappeared.
* * *
A S SOON AS J ESSE LANDED , he radioed Stanley, gave him a brief rundown and asked him to call the Sundance. Rachel would get in touch with Annie. Later, after he made sure Shea was safe, Jesse would contact them again.
He dug out his emergency gear, pulled on a parka and prayed like hell she was on her way toward him. A pair of skis and snowshoes were stowed in the back of the Cessna, but he didn’t need them yet. He glanced up at the sky. Within a half hour, he would. The unexpected squall was turning into a damn blizzard.
“What the hell is she doing out here?” he muttered, the fear thick in his voice and in his chest.
Leaving on his sunglasses to cut the glare, he trudged in the direction he’d seen her last. Fortunately the wind was coming from behind him. Good for him, not for Shea. The blowing snow would be partially blinding her. His only consolation was that she had to be riding a good horse. Annie would never have let her out here otherwise. Then again, it wasn’t like Annie to allow something like this to happen in the first place.
Jesse muttered a few more choice words he seldom used and pressed forward. Maybe
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