Chapter Nineteen

 

 

“Down!” Braxton grabbed Tala around the ribs and dove to the ground.

A throttled cry escaped him as they hit, his back taking the brunt of the impact on the compact snow they’d been standing on. Tala scrambled up beside him on her hands and knees but he knocked her flat and covered her as more bullets ripped past them.

Her rifle harness had come off when they’d first landed, now lying in the snow between them. Her face was pale, her movements uncoordinated as she reached for her weapon.

Braxton pinned her flat against the ground, stilling her movement. “Stay put,” he growled, covering her head with his arms. He’d heard and seen Tala’s bullet hit the shooter. How the hell was he still coming after them?

Another round pinged off a rock just behind them. He lifted his weight off her slightly, allowing her to move. As soon as she got to her hands and knees he put a hand on her ass and shoved her toward the trees. “Go, go,” he commanded.

She scuttled behind one of the trunks and laid flat on her stomach, still holding her weapon as Braxton moved in behind another tree to her left. Keeping himself between her and the shooter he couldn’t see. Where was he? The bastard hadn’t fired in the past fifteen seconds. He could be on the move through the screen of trees separating them.

Braxton peered around the trunk, looking in the direction the shots had come from. His vision wasn’t quite right, and he was still dizzy.

A second later, he caught a flash of movement as a shadow detached from a tree in the distance. He ducked. An instant later, a bullet slammed into the trunk he was hiding behind, inches above his head.

Way too close. The asshole had a bead on them.

Braxton clenched his jaw, wishing he had his sniper rifle to hunt this bastard down.

“Did you see him?” Tala asked anxiously, pinned down beside him.

“For a second. Hundred-ten meters, moving to our right.” Hidden in shadow now. It made Braxton uneasy not to have a visual on him.

“He’s too far away for me,” Tala said, her face tight as she pushed her rifle at him. “You have to take him out.”

He took it, slipping into sniper mode the instant his hands closed around the weapon, fighting past the dizziness that kept coming in waves. “How many rounds do you have left?” He tugged off his gloves, the need for accuracy superseding the need to protect them from frostbite.

“Two.”

Damn. This range was the upper limit for a lethal shot with a .22. His hands were slightly unsteady as he settled into a prone shooting position, shivers ripping through him. He brought the butt of the rifle to his shoulder and pressed his cheek to the side of the stock.

Beside him, Tala was still and silent, watchful. He had to block his awareness of her out. Had to block out everything except the threat in front of them.

His focus shrank to his narrow field of fire as he stared through the sight, searching for his target. The small weapon felt foreign in his grip. Dainty. But it was all they had, so he’d have to make it work. Because he only had two shots left, and if he missed both, they were dead.

He settled into the zone and locked in, pushing away all his physical discomfort. Watching. Waiting for his target to make a mistake. He was a master sniper. Patience was his domain.

A couple minutes later, he thought he saw movement, a shadow slipping in between the trees out there in the distance. He kept his finger on the trigger guard and blinked to clear the haze in his vision, the cold seeping into his skin. If he and Tala were going to make it out of here, he had to get a clean hit.

Through the sight, he spotted the barrel of a weapon as it appeared from behind a tree trunk. “Stay down,” he snapped at Tala.

She flattened herself into the snow just as the shooter fired. She sucked in a breath when the round struck the trunk he was hiding behind, but otherwise didn’t make a sound.

Braxton kept his gaze locked on his target, the cold and pain pushed to the back of his consciousness. He was battered and bruised, but still in the fight. And he would protect Tala with his last breath if necessary.

The cold bit into him. Shortening his breath and making his lungs ache. Just as his muscles tensed, screaming at him to move to lessen the pain, his target finally grew impatient and made his first mistake.

Asshole tried to move closer through the screen of trees to get a better angle on them, giving Braxton his first sighting in the past ten minutes. He tracked his prey with complete focus, patiently waiting for the next mistake.

This time he didn’t have to wait long.

The shooter must have been frustrated by his inability to line up a good shot, because he emerged partially from behind cover, crouching on one knee to bring his weapon up.

Braxton adjusted his aim for dead center mass. The wind was gusting. Easily able to push a .22 round off course at this distance.

The shooter fired, bark splintering mere inches from Braxton’s head. Braxton didn’t move. Remained totally motionless, his training and discipline giving him the advantage.

That’s right. Come on. Little more.

The shooter edged out more from behind cover and took aim straight at him. Braxton could practically feel the enemy’s crosshairs lining up on his head.

You’re mine.

He focused on his breathing, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. His finger curving around the trigger.

The shooter fired again, the shot sizzling past Braxton’s ear, then emerged from the trees to fire another round.

Braxton squeezed the trigger just as the bullet slammed into the tree above his right ear. The shooter jerked sideways.

Hit. High and right.

He quickly adjusted the sight to compensate. If the bastard had survived Tala’s shot, then he might be wearing a vest. Braxton would have to make a head shot to take him down.

The shooter was struggling to his feet, his left arm dangling at his side. He whirled, struggled to bring the rifle to his shoulder, and Braxton finally had the opening he needed.

Exhaling fully, he squeezed the trigger between heartbeats.

The shooter’s head snapped back, blood spattering the pristine white of the snow. He dropped and lay on his back, unmoving.

“He’s down,” Tala breathed.

Braxton shoved up and reached for her arm, ready to haul her upright and get moving. But when she wrapped her gloved fingers around his forearm, their gazes locked, instantly snapping him out of operator mode. His heart shredded at the shimmer of tears in her eyes.

“You got him,” she whispered.

He crushed her to his chest, allowing himself a relieved exhale even as he hated that she’d had to go through all of this. “You okay?”

She nodded, her body trembling from the cold and maybe shock. He couldn’t wait to get her off this fucking mountain and warmed up back at Tate’s place. Safe, where nothing and no one could ever hurt her. “Just…the shots c-coming at us. It brought it all b-back. The day I was h-hit,” she said in a rush as shivers racked her.

Yeah. Yeah, of course it would bring it all back. Shit, he wished he could have spared her this additional trauma. All he could do was hold her tight, thankful she was alive and safe in his arms.

He loved her so fucking much it hurt. And he was going to tell her as soon as this was over. Couldn’t wait another day, no matter what barriers still lay between them. She meant too much to him.

“He’s gone,” he murmured. “And no one’s ever going to shoot at you again.”

She drew a deep breath and lifted her head to peer up at him. The wobbly, brave smile she gave him damn near split his chest wide open. “I d-don’t know about you, but I’m fr-freezing. Let’s get the hell out of here, h-huh?”

****

Tala’s trembling eased a few minutes after Braxton resumed carrying her down the trail once more, changing from a blend of cold and fear to merely from the cold. Her head spun with everything that had happened over the last day. At how close they’d both come to dying—several times.

Before leaving a few minutes ago, she’d taken out her cell phone to call Tate, but the battery was now dead. Her brother and Mason were out here right now looking for them. They couldn’t be far away.

The faint sound of engines in the distance carried on the wind. Tala lifted her head, her pulse skipping. “Hear that?”

Braxton stopped and slid her off his back with a low groan, wincing as he bent over to suck in air. She held onto his shoulder to keep her balance as she stood on her left foot, hope swelling inside her ribcage. “Has to be Tate and Mason.” Had to be. She refused to accept any other outcome. They were finally getting out of here.

The sound of the engines grew louder, then, finally, two little dots appeared on a trail below them in the distance. Tala and Braxton both called out and waved their arms to get the drivers’ attention. “Did they see us?”

“Guess we’ll find out.”

Tala all but held her breath as the minutes dragged by with agonizing slowness as they waited to see whether the drivers came closer.

Her heart sank when they disappeared from view around a curve in the trail below, but a minute later it swelled as they came around the bend up ahead. She hugged Braxton in relief and happiness, mindful that he was sore, and choked back tears.

Tate and Mason roared up to them and stopped close by.

“Shit, are you guys okay?” Tate demanded, raking his gaze over them as he jumped off his snowmobile.

Tala swallowed a sob and opened her arms, balanced on her left leg. Tate caught her to him, crushed her to his chest and held her upright as she sagged in his hold.

“Tal. Are you hurt?” His voice was taut, urgent.

She shook her head, unable to get her voice to work, afraid she would lose it and burst into tears at any second. She held onto him, aware of Mason checking on Braxton beside her.

Exhaustion hit her hard all of a sudden, as if her body and subconscious knew she was safe now and could let go. She could hear Braxton’s deep voice explaining what had happened. How they had been caught in the storm. The shooter. Overnighting in their makeshift shelter. Then everything that had happened over the past two hours.

Tala shuddered, burying her face in her brother’s chest. She’d almost lost Braxton out here. A few times she’d wondered if they would both die out here.

“An avalanche?” Mason blurted. “Jesus, no wonder you look like hell.”

“What about the shooter?” Tate demanded, his muscles tense.

“Dead,” Braxton answered. “About two klicks behind us.”

“You take him out?” Mason asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Fucker. Come on.”

Tala lifted her head to see Braxton trudging for Mason’s snowmobile. He climbed on and caught her gaze, gave her a little smile that belied the exhaustion on his blood-stained face. A rush of emotion slammed into her, her heart swelling until it was on the verge of exploding.

She loved him. Completely and without reservation. She was done with holding back. If having him meant making more sacrifices, then so be it. She needed him.

Tate put a hand on the side of her face, bringing her attention back to him. His hazel eyes were full of concern. “You sure you’re not hurt?”

She blew out an unsteady breath, willing the searing pressure in her chest to ease. It wasn’t too late. She would talk to Braxton once they were alone tonight. “Yeah.” Her stump was killing her and she was cold and bruised in a few spots, but that was nothing compared to what could have happened. “Just glad it’s over.”

“Let’s get you warmed up.” He bent and lifted her into his arms, then carried her to his snowmobile and placed her down on the back of the seat. He bundled her up in a couple blankets and handed her a thermos. “Coffee with sugar. I didn’t have time to make your tea before I headed out.”

“Thanks,” she murmured. “How’s Rylee?”

“She’ll be fantastic once she finds out you’re okay.” He squeezed her shoulder and pulled out a radio. “I’m just going to alert the others and get a team up here to deal with the body.”

She nodded, and as soon as he began talking into the radio, her attention strayed back to Braxton. He was seated on the back of the other snowmobile while Mason put a bandage on the cut over his eye. His dark brown gaze snagged hers and locked there, and the answering swell of emotion inside her made it hard to breathe.

He’d saved her life so many times. The harrowing experience out here together had merely intensified everything that had already been there between them.

She’d never loved anyone the way she did him. What the hell was she going to do if he still didn’t want a relationship after everything they’d been through?

There were so many unfinished things between them. She was desperate to change that. To put all this behind them so they could be alone. To make something real and lasting together.

She also wanted him naked and on top of her as soon as possible. His weight and warmth holding her down while he filled her, temporarily erasing what they’d just gone through and replacing it with something she’d craved for years. She wanted that so badly she could scarcely breathe.

Tate finished talking, put the radio away and tugged on his gloves as he turned to the others. “Let’s head back down. Avery’s sending a team up here to deal with everything else.” He glanced down at her, his hard features softening with love and relief. “Real glad you’re okay, Tal.”

She smiled at him. “Me too. And you can thank Braxton for that.”

“I plan to. Now, let’s get you guys down the hill so you can get checked out and then back to Rifle Creek.” He climbed on in front of her and started the engine. “Hold on.”

She looped her arms around his middle and leaned her cheek against his back, allowing her eyes to close. “Love you, Tater.”

“Love you too.” Tate turned them around and sped back down the hill, Mason with Braxton right behind them.

The cold air whipped over her face but the rest of her was warming up beneath the blankets. Exhaustion weighed down her limbs and eyelids. Twice she caught herself drifting off, managed to shake herself awake by pure will.

It seemed like no time at all before they reached the end of the trail. The building site came into view, now a hive of activity, full of people.

Tate drove straight to the waiting ambulance someone had called, and Tala spotted Rylee standing near it with Nina. She gave a glad cry and pushed up onto her left foot as soon as Tate stopped the vehicle.

Rylee raced over and flung her arms around Tala, her face streaked with tears. “You’re really okay?” she choked out, hugging her hard.

Tala squeezed her daughter tight and closed her eyes, her own eyes stinging. “Yeah. Promise.”

Nina came up and engulfed them both in a fierce embrace. “Thank God you’re both okay.”

Yes. After everything that had happened, it truly seemed like a miracle that she and Braxton had made it out alive.

Tate waited for them to stop hugging, then immediately bent and lifted her in his arms. “Rest of the hugs will have to wait. We’re transporting them both to Missoula to get checked out, and then I’ll need to take their statements before I bring them home after that.” He began carrying her to the back of the waiting ambulance.

“I don’t need an ambulance,” she protested, dreading the thought of being poked and prodded in the back of a cold vehicle all the way to Missoula. And knowing she was about to be in another hospital sent a cold shiver through her. She’d had enough of hospitals for several lifetimes. “Just take me to the hospital in your truck.”

“Nope, you’re going in the ambulance,” he told her gruffly. “Both of you, and don’t bother arguing. I’ll follow you down.”

She snapped her mouth shut and waved at Rylee, who was watching her anxiously with Nina, giving her daughter a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’ll be back before you know it,” she called out. Then to her brother, “Make sure she’s okay.”

“Nina, Avery and Mason will keep her company until we get back.”

Braxton was walking toward the ambulance as Tate carried her there, and she was thankful they at least wouldn’t be separated. Her brother placed her on the edge of the rear deck, and Braxton lowered himself next to her, wincing.

She tugged off her gloves and reached for his hand, twining their fingers together. Hers were numb, their hands both half-frozen, but she needed the connection anyway.

“Tal,” he said, and she lifted her gaze to his. He set his other hand on the side of her face, his expression so intent her heart began to pound. “I love you.”

Shock ripped through her, even as joy eclipsed it. “You do?” she whispered, her voice rough.

“Yeah. I’m in love with you, and have been for a long time. I needed you to know.”

Her throat thickened. She’d never expected him to say it first. Had never imagined he would admit it out loud. “I love you too. So much. Have for a long time,” she managed.

A slow smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Her laugh was cut off abruptly when his lips closed over hers. She melted into him, holding his head in her hands as she kissed him back, pouring all her love into it and not caring who saw them.

Just when things were starting to get good, the moment when everything around them began to fall away, the paramedics converged on them to begin their initial assessment. They broke apart, still gazing into each other’s eyes, and she couldn’t wait for this all to be done so they could finally be alone to finish what they’d started.

Frustrated, Tala answered various questions for the paramedic, her gaze wandering over the crowd of people in the background as the woman checked her over. She spotted Rylee, Tate and Nina talking together over to the right near Tate’s truck. Then Mason appeared with Avery, who waved at her and gave her a big smile as Tate’s neighbor, Curt, stepped up next to Avery, holding a rifle.

It humbled Tala, to know so many people cared. They had all come together to find her and Braxton and bring them down the mountain safely. And for that she was unspeakably grateful. But the reality was, she owed her life to Braxton and no one else. She never would have made it without him.

The paramedics finished their initial assessment. Watching her, Braxton brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, closing his eyes as his lips lingered on her cold skin.

She squeezed his fingers in return, wishing they had some privacy so she could say all the things crowding her heart and throat. They loved each other and now their feelings were finally out in the open.

“We made it,” she whispered to him, torn between wanting to sleep for two days, and just be alone in bed together. Also for two days, and shut out the rest of the world for a while.

He lowered her hand, one side of his mouth tugging upward, the yearning and devotion in his gaze almost undoing her. He loved her. Hopefully, enough to fight for a future together. “We sure as hell did.”

“Let us through,” an assertive female voice called out from the back of the crowd.

Tala looked up to see Pat and her quiet sister pushing through the knot of people, their arms laden with blankets and a big basket.

“Lord, you two are a sight for sore eyes,” Pat said when she reached the back of the ambulance, her tone almost scolding as she looked from Tala to Braxton. “We were worried sick. Stayed up all night, baking and finishing up some repairs on these old patchwork quilts because we didn’t know what else to do to help. Here.”

She shook out the one she was holding and draped it around Tala’s shoulders. “Now you,” she said to Braxton, taking the second quilt from her sister and wrapping it around him. “There.”

“And this is for both of you,” Bev said softly, holding out the basket to them. “We thought you would be hungry.”

Braxton took it with an appreciative groan. “I don’t know what you put in here, but I don’t even care, because I already can’t wait to taste it,” he told them.

The sisters beamed at him, then Pat sobered and shook her head, clucking her tongue. “Poor things, stranded out in that blizzard with a cold-blooded murderer on your trail.” She shuddered, then stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Well, go on, I know you both have to be starving.”

Tala opened the basket to find homemade rolls that were still a little warm, along with a carefully wrapped crock of butter and jam, some decorated gingerbread cookies—

She stopped and lifted out the cookie on top. A female gingerbread person…missing a foot.

She looked at Pat, surprised. Had it been deliberate?

“It came off as I was icing her,” Bev blurted, her cheeks turning a darker shade of pink as she wrung her hands in distress. “I was going to stick it back on with more icing, but then I thought I shouldn’t because it made her just like you. So I left it alone.”

Oh, hell.

Tala stared at the shy woman, momentarily rendered speechless by her thoughtfulness. But when she looked down at the cookie, the gingerbread amputee with her little chocolate candy buttons and the wide icing smile and the huge pink icing heart in the center of her chest, something cracked inside her.

Everything hit her all at once in a rush. Exhaustion. Relief. Gratitude. And the lingering anxiety about what would happen with her and Braxton.

She hadn’t felt brave out there, but she’d done her best. And now that she and Braxton had both finally admitted their true feelings, they only had a few more days left together before the military took him from her and he headed back to a war zone on the other side of the world.

Tears blurred her vision, scalding hot. She clapped a hand over her face to hide them, and Bev let out a horrified gasp. She tried to shake her head, opened her mouth to explain that it wasn’t the cookie, that the gesture touched her deeply, but she couldn’t speak.

Braxton’s low chuckle came from beside her, then his long, strong arm curled around her shoulders and tugged her into his side. Tala buried her face in his sturdy shoulder as the floodgates opened, the cookie still grasped in her right hand.

“Don’t worry, ladies,” Braxton told them, nuzzling the top of Tala’s head. “I think it’s safe to say she loves it.”