Alex looked straight ahead, avoiding Jim’s penetrating eyes. “Never shot a woman before.” And he hoped he never would again. He’d had horrific dreams and weekly counseling for months. Along with physical therapy for his leg. “Don’t we need to get back to the plane?” Alex asked in an end-of-topic tone.

Jim was silent for a second and Alex watched the emotions war on his face. Jim was curious about the incident, but obviously didn’t want to leave Brynn alone any longer than they had.

He mashed his lips together and spun around, setting a fast pace back to the plane.

Alex silently exhaled. He didn’t need the Braeden case rehashed at this minute. His forehead throbbed, and he wished for an evening alone with some Vicodin.

The wind picked that moment to blast up the valley, and he burrowed his nose into the collar of his coat. Kiana bumped against his bad leg, nearly throwing him off balance. Thomas cursed as his hat blew off. He lunged and stomped on it, barely catching it by the brim.

The hike out of the Cascades was going to suck. Alex was glad he wasn’t going anywhere for at least the next two days. It was going to be cold and cramped and there wouldn’t be much to eat, but he’d have all the time in the world to get to know Brynn better.

And be watching for Besand over his shoulder.

Maybe the hike out would be better.

Liam Gentry huddled over his brother, warming him with his body heat. Since he’d piled enough snow up over the broken window to create an icy wall, the temperature inside the helicopter wasn’t too bad. Didn’t people pay big money to sleep in hotels made of ice? He’d seen that in a magazine somewhere.

Last night had been the worst night of his life. Tyrone had faded in and out of consciousness, sometimes talking to Liam like he was their dad. Other times mistaking Liam for an old army buddy. At least this morning Tyrone knew who Liam was. And he knew how dire their situation was.

They hadn’t packed any food. The little chopper had held no basic supplies other than a flashlight, tarp, and lousy first aid kit.

A flare gun was stashed under one of the seats but was useless in this weather. Who’d see a flare?

Who’d be stupid enough to fly in this weather?

He’d be repeating that question the rest of his life. And there was a good chance the rest of his life wouldn’t be that long.

He’d survived a helicopter crash. The first one of his career. And he didn’t plan to ever be in another one. He hadn’t been scared when the copter went down; he’d been angry. Angry at Brynn, himself, and his brother. None of them had exercised the brains God gave them to stay home out of this shitty weather. And now they all were paying for it.

If he ever got out of here…

He was saying “if” a lot.

If he saw Brynn again. If his brother didn’t die on him. If he didn’t die.

Too many ifs.

He moved closer to his brother. Tyrone’s head injury was serious. The broken ribs didn’t bother him if he didn’t move too much, but Liam worried Tyrone would accidentally puncture a lung.

How Liam had managed to escape the wreck with only a sprained wrist was a miracle. Both brothers should be dead. Only the cushion from the tree branches and then the fall into a deep snowdrift saved their asses.

To die alone.

How many times overnight had he wished they’d both simply died in the wreck? So much faster. Instead of this long, drawn-out, slow death. No one was going to find them. They were working off the clock and had probably been off the radar when they went down. The tower at Springton was probably wondering why they hadn’t returned, but whom would they contact? Even when someone did realize they were missing, they wouldn’t know where to look.

He didn’t have any more tears. He’d silently cried them dry in the night as he’d worried his brother would never wake up. If he ever got out of this mess he was going to stick a ring on Brynn’s finger. He’d waited too long. He knew she had doubts about marriage, but after this experience she had to listen to him. She had to let him move back in. He knew she was what he wanted from life. And their kids. He wanted children with that woman, but now it might never happen.

He turned his head so his nose was buried in Tyrone’s hair. His brother’s breathing was rough, like a virus had been planted in his lungs and was starting to expand.

Aw, shit.

A pounding on the glass made Liam jolt, and Tyrone cried out at the movement against his ribs.

A single big silhouette was visible through the steamed glass, and Liam happily discovered he did have more tears to shed.

Help had arrived.

Brynn sympathized with her dog. Kiana lay in front of the door with her head on her paws, watching the three remaining humans closely. She’d whined as Jim and Thomas left to hike out, even following for a few feet before turning around to wait for her master to follow. Somehow the dog had known Jim was leaving for good. And she’d wanted to go with him, but she wouldn’t leave Brynn.

Brynn felt the same way about Ryan.

More than anything she wanted to be hiking out of this hell with Jim and Thomas, but she couldn’t leave Ryan. Was it a woman thing? Always left to wait for the man to return? Always the one volunteering to stay with the sick? Was it a gene?

She looked around the cramped plane. No one could stand up straight, and no one could have any privacy. Alex had laid down the law about any outside excursions. She wasn’t even allowed to pee alone. A twinge of claustrophobia pricked at her neck. If they were lucky there would be two, maybe three more nights spent in this plane.