Chapter 43

FORTY-THREE

Moving into the forest to avoid the thick drifts, Jenna's heart had missed a beat at Emily's screams. Her legs ached from negotiating snowdrifts like quicksand, but she'd seen the huge man go to Emily's rescue. He was standing with one arm around her waist now, helping her to a fallen log. Not trusting anyone, as Jenna moved closer she pulled her weapon and slid a bullet into the chamber. She held out her gun at arm's length and approached with caution. "Sheriff's department. Put your hands where I can see them." She looked at Emily. "Stand away from him, Em."

"I'm okay, Jenna." Emily's face was sheet white.

"Good to see you." The man stood and held up both hands. "I've been trying to find a way to contact you, but we've been isolated by the avalanches. I just found a way through the forest before. My name is John Raven."

"He saved me from a lunatic that called me Carolyn." Emily lifted a trembling hand to her head. "He ripped out my hair and this man saved me."

That name was familiar. Jenna took in the man, the same size as Kane and strikingly handsome. She shook her head in disbelief and lowered her gun. "Johnny Raven? Ex-military medical corp. You know Ty Carter?"

"Guilty as charged." He indicated toward Emily. "You must be a relative of Julie Wolfe. You could be sisters."

"Yes, I'm Emily. Julie is my younger sister." Emily removed her sunglasses and stared up at him unblinking.

Concerned, Jenna didn't holster her weapon. She stood her ground. "How do you know Julie Wolfe, Mr. Raven?"

"Raven is fine, ma'am. I found her in the plane wreck out at Bear Peak and took her back to my cabin." Raven narrowed his gaze. "She's okay, but her leg is likely broken. I'd have stabilized her and then called for assistance, but I couldn't get through to my other cabin. It has a CB radio but is on the other side of the avalanche. I've been going out daily since and trying to find a track wide enough for the dogsled. It's been an impossible task. The moment I figure I can get Julie through, there's another tremor and the snow slides again."

"I can't thank you enough." Emily smiled at him. "You saved my life and Julie's. Is she far from here? Can we go get her? My dad isn't far away and we have snowmobiles."

"Yeah, sure. It's some ways away but I've marked the trail. It's easy to get turned around in the forest." Raven bent and picked up her hat, brushed off the snow, and fitted it to her head with a tenderness that surprised Jenna. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Emily was staring at him like a lovesick puppy.

Clearing her throat, Jenna holstered her weapon. "Can I remind you, the man who attacked you is likely the suspect we're hunting down for a triple homicide? He mentioned the name Carolyn? She's one of the missing persons. He likely kidnapped her and is planning on killing her. Keep your weapon close at hand. I'll bring Dave up to date. He's close by with your dad."