High Impact (34 page)

“I’m an RN. I have a broken arm, but Mike’s worst off.” Karla pointed to Skeeter. “He’s got a serious leg infection, probable rib fractures, broken nose, possible concussion. Emery…” she pointed again, “says she’s feeling better, but she needs to be examined for possible brain injury. She took a bad blow to the head and has a puncture wound in her abdomen. Ruth, there, wrenched her knee and should be x-rayed.”

“We’ve got room for all of you,” he said. “Bet you’re more than ready to leave.”

“You got that right,” Pasha said.

It took more than an hour to load them all into the chopper. As they pulled away, Pasha looked down at the crash site and marveled anew that they’d all escaped alive.

“Bettles is on the way,” the pilot called back to them. “We’ll stop off to deliver the two uninjured before proceeding. We’ve called ahead and your people will meet you. We need the room because we have two more to evacuate en route to Fairbanks.”

“I can’t go with Ruth to the hospital?” Toni asked Pasha.

She shook her head. “Apparently not. I’d like to go, too. Maybe we can get Bryson to fly us down.”

Emery, seated beside her, took her hand. “Nice if you can. I know it’d help get me out of there faster.”

“This eruption keeping you guys busy?” Karla asked one of the rescue crew.

“Nonstop,” he replied. “Nothing’s getting out of Anchorage. A lot of planes were up when the plume came through and had to ditch.”

“Any casualties?” Pasha asked.

The man nodded solemnly. “Our last run. Seven killed when a Cessna like yours hit the side of a mountain. Bodies unrecoverable.” He looked at their ragged group and smiled. “Wish you could’ve heard the cheer that went up in here when we spotted all of you out there waving. So many times, especially in winter, we don’t get there in time.”

“Did you pick up our ELT?” Skeeter asked.

He shook his head. “Signals have been bad with all this ash. Somebody name Dita called last night with your exact location.”

“Bryson made it back, then,” Pasha told the others. “I knew she would.”

“We’re almost there,” the pilot announced. “Get ready. I’ll touch down just long enough to drop you off.”

“Take good care of yourself,” Pasha told Emery as she clasped her hand in both of hers, “until I see you again.”

“Count on it. I have a very important date.” Emery looked into her eyes with such longing and regret, Pasha almost wept. The current of their connection surged with an intensity she felt in every pore of her being. Emery felt it too; she could see it in her expression.

Letting go of her was one of the hardest things Pasha had ever done.

Dita, Megan, and Geneva stood waiting at the edge of the runway and ran toward Pasha and Toni as soon as the helicopter lifted off again.

Geneva and Megan reached them first, nearly bowling them over in a group bear hug that Dita joined seconds later.

“We were so worried. Thank the Lord,” Dita said. “You sure you’re all right? How are the rest?”

“We’re fine. Karla’s worried about Skeeter’s leg, and Emery may have a concussion, but I think they’ll be okay.” Pasha turned to Toni. “You were invaluable up there, Toni. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Certainly got a bit more adventure than I bargained for.” Toni grinned. “Boy, do we have a story to tell, huh?”

“I bet you do,” Megan said.

“We want to hear all about it,” Geneva put in.

“I know you both probably want to shower, eat, and rest,” Dita told them. “Grizz knows you’re back early, Toni, and has a room waiting. When you’re ready, come by the office. Of course I’ll give you a full refund, plus credit for a future trip on me, if what happened hasn’t completely scared you off.”

“Not at all. Ruth and I already talked about coming back next year.” Toni looked at Pasha. “But I was hoping we might get to Fairbanks today?”

“Me, too. Where’s Bryson?” Pasha asked. She spotted the red Super Cub parked by the Eidson hangar.

“She’s picking up Chaz’s group,” Dita replied. “I got in another plane for her. Not sure when they’ll be back. They’ll have to pack all their gear and everything.”

“Great they’ll be getting in today,” Pasha said. “But I guess we’re not going anywhere.”

“You two need to rest,” Geneva said.

“I second that,” Dita said. “I plan to ground Bryson, too. I wasn’t thrilled about her going on this run, but she insisted.”

“In that case, I guess I’ll go back to the Den.” Toni stretched. “A hot shower sounds like heaven.”

“I’ll walk you back,” Geneva said, and the two of them started off toward the roadhouse.

“I’m going to wait in the hangar out of the wind, until Chaz gets in.” Megan gave Pasha another hug. “So glad you’re back safe, Pash.”

“Me, too. See you soon.” She and Dita started toward the office.

“You’re headed straight to bed, young lady.” Dita wrapped one arm around Pasha’s shoulder as they walked. “I don’t want to see you until dinner, at the earliest. Unless you need me for something, of course.”

“Any idea what all this means in terms of the rest of the summer? Future trips?” Pasha asked as they paused at the base of the stairs leading up to her apartment.

“Not yet. The volcano’s still active, we’re down a plane, and we’ve lost a fair amount of gear. I’ve already cancelled the next two trips, though I’m having trouble reaching some of the clients. I should have a better idea in a couple of weeks. Now go. Get some rest.”

“You promise to call if you hear anything from the hospital?”

“You know I will.”

Pasha soaked in a hot bath for a half hour, relishing the small comfort of being truly warm for the first time in days. The danger had passed, and with any luck, Emery would be here before she knew it, sharing this tub with her.
I’m not going anywhere any time soon. I need significantly more alone time with you
, Emery had promised.

She climbed into bed, daydreaming about their private reunion, and quickly fell asleep.

Four days later, June 17

“Oh, my God, I’m in love,” Geneva said as she delivered coffee and desserts to the corner booth. “Did you see her? The brunette at the bar?”

Dita, Karla, Megan, and Pasha all turned to look at the stunner.

“Who is she?” Pasha asked.

“Connie, from Texas. Gay, single, and moving up here to work at the rangers’ station. Gotta go.”

They all laughed as the music resumed.

Pasha found the Bettles Band, a ragtag group of local talent, in rare form tonight. Too bad about the nearly empty roadhouse. Normally this time of year, tourists packed the place. But the continued ashfall, along with the trip cancellations, had turned the village into a near ghost town. Toni had departed two days ago, when Ruth got out of the hospital, to join her on their flight back home, and the rest of the rafting clients had left, too.

In addition to the usual band members—Bryson on drums, Grizz on bass, Ellie on piano, and Lars Rasmussen on alto sax—Chaz sat in with her concertina, so they played a lot of jazz and Cajun zydeco.

“I’ve never heard Chaz play,” Dita remarked. “She’s really, really good.”

“You’ve no idea,” Megan replied, then giggled. “She has a lot of talents.”

“I’d match Bryson against her any day in that department.” Karla wedged a chopstick into the space between her cast and skin. “Damn but this thing itches like crazy.”

Dita, Karla, and Megan had fun watching and listening to the group, but Pasha wouldn’t be truly happy until Emery was out of the hospital and back in Bettles.

She’d had to spend so much time notifying clients and reworking schedules she hadn’t made it to Fairbanks to see her, but she’d called every morning before work and every evening before she retired. This morning, Emery told her they wanted to keep her for observation for another couple of days, and Skeeter would have to stay even longer. Doctors had finally got his infection under control and he’d suffer no permanent damage, but the leg was healing slowly.

Pasha missed her connection with Emery with a gnawing hunger that grew exponentially each day. All of the blissful euphoria accompanying their touch had dissipated. Visiting with her friends distracted her from her misery and she tried to stay upbeat, but her mind kept drifting back to Emery.

In the middle of the band’s second set, Pasha began to feel the power simmering. Was she imagining it? Before long, however, its current raged.

Almost involuntarily, she kept glancing toward the door, expecting Emery to materialize. What folly. Emery was in Fairbanks. Maybe her power had a different motive.

“Pash? Everything all right?” Karla asked. “You seem preoccupied.”

“It’s nothing. Really.”

Dita studied her with an unreadable expression. “It’s getting late. I’m sure you’re just tired. Why don’t you go home?”

She glanced at the clock. “Late? It’s not even eight thirty yet. I’m not sleepy at all.” She felt wired and restless because of the inexplicable power surge.

“You’ve been through a lot. Trust me.” Dita slipped out of the booth. “Come on. I’m taking you home.”

“But I’m not—”

“No arguments. Get your butt out here.”

“As your resident medical professional, I concur with Dita,” Karla said. “Go home, and go to bed. That’s an order.”

“What’s up with you both?” Pasha asked. “Are you high or something? I
said
I’m fine.”

“Dang but you’re stubborn.” Dita frowned. “Do I have to threaten to fire you?”

Megan started giggling, and both Dita and Karla immediately glared at her.

“What in the
hell’
s going on?” Pasha demanded.

“Should we tell her?” Karla asked.

“She’d kill us,” Dita said.

“She’ll kill us worse if she has to wait much longer.” Megan giggled again.

Finally, she got a clue. “Emery’s here?” Her voice emerged as an excited squeak, and they all roared with laughter.

Pasha flew out the door and ran home, taking the steps to her apartment two at a time. She tried the door—unlocked. Dita had an extra key. With the power so strong, Emery had to be inside.

She took a few deep breaths to calm her raging heart and turned the knob. The living room blazed with candlelight, and soft music emanated from her speakers. Sara Bareilles, the same album she’d been listening to, and singing along with, the first time she met Emery face-to-face a lifetime ago.

“Are you going to come in, or just stand there all night?”

Pasha turned in the direction of Emery’s voice as she stepped forward and closed the door.

Emery stood in the doorway of her bedroom, watching her with a bemused expression. Her aura shone gold.

“You lied to me,” Pasha said with no trace of rebuke.

“I wanted to surprise you, though I figured you’d know when I got in. Kind of hard to hide from your power.” As Emery slowly closed the distance between them, the bemused look in her eyes became molten heat. “I’ve missed you like crazy.”

Pasha flew into her arms, triggering a full-body shock of voltage that made them jump, then laugh as they hugged each other tight. And then they kissed, deep and passionate kisses conveying the depth of their desire. When they broke apart to breathe, she had to lean on Emery for support.

“Seems like I’ve wanted you forever. I haven’t been able to think of anything else,” Emery said. “Those days in the hospital just crawled.”

“I’ve been running nonstop, but I thought about you just as much.”

“By the way, I told Dita everything you did for us, and she happily obliged me with a small favor,” Emery said. “You have the day off tomorrow to stay in bed with me.”

“Mmm. I like the sound of that.” Pasha drew back from their embrace to look up at her. “Are you well enough?”

“Clean bill of health. The doctors were amazed, actually, at how quickly I’ve healed. They just kept me as a precaution.” Emery kissed her again. “Nothing’s stopping us now, Pasha. We have all the time in the world.”

As Emery put her arm around Pasha and led her into the bedroom, Pasha felt a pang of bittersweet longing. They didn’t have all the time in the world. Emery was still only a temporary fixture in her life and would move on. If not next week or next month, certainly too soon.

She wouldn’t, however, let that realization mar the happiness of this moment.

Emery had placed candles around the bedroom as well and set a bottle of wine in an ice bucket on her dresser beside two goblets. Though Pasha had made the bed before she’d left, Emery had folded back the sheets invitingly.

“Nervous?” she asked as she took Pasha into her arms beside the bed.

“Excited, not nervous. Well, maybe a little. You?”

“I’m nervous about my scars. There’s a lot you haven’t seen.”

“Emery, Emery, Emery.” She made the kind of tsk-tsk sound a parent makes with a naughty child. “I thought we’d talked about that.” Very slowly, she reached beneath Emery’s turtleneck, caressing her abdomen and sides as she pulled the garment up and over her head. Then she gently kissed the scar at Emery’s throat. “These are part of who you are. You don’t have anything to be nervous about.”