The Alaskan Rescue by Dominique Burton Read Free Book Online Page A

fear that racked his
system.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you knew anyone up at Marshall’s. All
I can say is, you need to fly out here as soon as possible. You’re our best bush
doctor. We’ve got a lot of caves here. Thank heaven you and Joe have hours of
spelunking behind you.”
    Cole looked at his watch. Noon. “How bad is it?”
    “Freddy and some friends met the two women out there yesterday.
This morning when Joe arrived, he woke the six-person party from their sleep.
Knight and Hansen weren’t there. Their bags had never been opened for a change
of clothes. Nobody knows or remembers what happened last night.”
    “If the weather holds, I’ll try to be there in an hour. Do you
have spelunking gear on hand?”
    “That’s a go. Thanks, Cole.”
    “No problem. See you, Trace.”
    Cole looked at his watch again—12:05. He could be out to Red
Bay by one-thirty at the latest.
    * * *
    H E DECIDED TO DO A GRAND SWEEP of the Red Bay Lake vicinity
in his Cessna. It was vital he get an idea of the terrain where the
search-and-rescue would be working. He radioed Jake for coordinates and more
information. Unfortunately his friend had nothing else to tell him.
    His thoughts kept returning to Sashi, that beautiful woman
who’d entranced him just a few nights ago. How could he be doing a
search-and-rescue for her today? He was supposed to be meeting her for a date!
He prayed to God nothing bad had happened to her or her friend.
    It brought back painful memories from another time and place,
memories that needed to be put away while he searched for the women. Cole shook
his head, forcing the dark thoughts from his mind, and brought the plane in for
a soft landing.
    He taxied over to the Red Bay’s run-down dock, all the while
trying to deal with his turbulent emotions. If the women had to spend the night
in the wilderness alone, at least it hadn’t been on a cold snowy mountaintop
like he’d once had to do.
    Within seconds of bringing the plane to a stop, Cole saw Jake
and his father, Doug, at the top of the hill making their way down to him. He
could always count on the good people of Prince of Wales Island to give up their
time to look for some lost city folk. Cole unbuckled himself and headed to the
rear of the plane. He grabbed his backpack full of medical supplies and his .416
Rigby Magnum rifle.
    Prince of Wales Island was black bear country and he didn’t
know what he’d be up against. In Alaska it was better to be safe than sorry.
After loading up with everything he thought he’d need, he opened the hatch of
the plane. “I can see you’ve been keeping up the docks, Jake,” he said wryly.
Cole realized this would be a wet docking and he needed to go back for his
waders.
    Doug, Jake’s father, was a fisherman by trade and an avid
hunter. He always came with everything he needed. “Looks like our Doc Stevens
didn’t come prepared. Pretty boys always have to look good, don’t they, Jakey?”
He turned to his son with a big smile on his face.
    Jake, who studied the many fish in the Tongass National forest,
virtually lived in waders and never thought much of how grubby he looked. His
wife, Sammi, thought he was handsome, though, and that was all that mattered to
him.
    “Cole?” he said. “Just throw us your stuff and jump. I’ll lock
up your plane so you won’t have to get your fancy mountain gear wet.”
    “If your dad weren’t here right now, I’d give you a lesson in
manners, Powell,” Cole retorted testily. He threw his bag in Jake’s face, took
one giant leap and bounded from the plane. Gun held high, he landed on dry land
in perfect form.
    Jake put the bag down next to Cole and gave him a good swat on
the back before he waded out to the plane. “What’s got you so ruffled,
princess?” He climbed up and locked the plane.
    “Jake!” Doug called. “I think Cole’s had enough.”
    “I need to know something,” Cole yelled to Jake. “Do you
remember when you met your wife,