Chapter 33
Luke
On a normal day, I was turned on by Mina, ready to close the door to the bedroom and strip her naked. But today? When we defined our relationship and the word that didn’t get bandied around carelessly entered the equation?
I wanted to find the nearest bald pine, pin her against it, and convince her there was no one else for either of us ever again.
Considering the look she gave me before Pebbles barked, I doubted she’d mind.
Which brought me to the catch: the dogs.
Mina was right. The little beasts wouldn’t leave us alone unless we wore their butts out or crated them. After the serenade we got last night when we tried that, I didn’t really want a repeat.
So, I was stuck on this damn hike until they gave up.
But the moment the second dog flopped, I was scooping her up, and we were heading for the truck.
Ahead, the trail forked, and the trees parted to the right, giving us a glimpse of the water in Gastineau Channel, where the trail met Dupont Beach.
“Do you want to go look at the water?” I glanced at Mina, then at Betty, who veered off into the underbrush.
“Sure. We can let them sniff the beach. Pebbles likes the water. I don’t know about Betty, though.” Mina tossed me a saucy smile. “I guess we’ll find out.”
I chuckled. “Here’s hoping she doesn’t get tumbled by a wave. My clothes and Ellis’s pack will smell like wet dog, if so.”
“I’m not so sure,” Mina said with a light laugh. “She’s not getting fatigued yet, and we’ve walked about two miles.”
“Hush. She’ll get there.” With a wink, I tugged on the dog’s leash and headed for the water.
She was right, though. Neither dog was really showing signs of fatigue. We’d stopped a couple of times to offer them water when their tongues lolled out a little too far. The pep in their step had remained.
We broke through the trees and onto the rocky beach. Betty immediately yipped and ran for the water; only the leash clipped to her harness stopped her.
Mina laughed. “I think maybe she likes it.”
“Yeah.” Chuckling, I walked forward, letting the rambunctious animal reach the wave line. Even though the waves were only a few inches tall, water still crashed over her feet, and she backpedaled, then barked.
“Or maybe not.” Laughing, I hooked my fingers into Betty’s harness and plucked her off the ground, swinging her just a few feet away. Water still lapped at her feet, but it was more of a creep now than a splash.
Pebbles, however, had no such qualms. She darted to the edge of the water and ran through the tiny waves. Mina held on tight to the dog’s leash. While the wave height here was low, they were still half the height of the small dog.
We let them play for several minutes before we walked down the beach, enjoying the sound of the water and the wind. I loved Alaska in the summer. Sunshine glinted off the water, warm and bright. You could even smell it in the air.
I liked winter, too, because it was equally gorgeous. But I also liked my fingers not freezing at work.
After we explored the beach, we headed back to the trail.
“Do you want to go further, or turn back?” I asked.
“Are these two ready to turn back, do you think?” Mina gestured to the dogs. At that exact moment, Betty tackled Pebbles, who sprang to her feet and gave her new sister a solid, snarly bark. It didn’t deter the lab puppy at all.
I rolled my eyes. “Not yet, but it’s also two miles back to the truck.”
“True.” But she still didn’t look convinced.
“Let’s hike another half mile, then turn around. Surely, somewhere in that five miles they’ll give in.”
She chuckled. “One could hope. Okay.”
Turning, we headed south again.
“You know, I think we’re close to that property Sarah Cole owns.”
I looked around the forest with a new eye. “Really?
She nodded. “I remember it from the map Claire pulled up. It’s not too far from here. Most people think this is all state land, but some of it’s privately owned.” She sent a mischievous smile at me. “You think we should go check it out?”
I laughed. “No. I value my freedom. Ozzie would lock us both up if we did that.”
She pouted, but mischief still danced in her eyes. “Party pooper.”
Taking her hand, I tugged her forward. “Look at it this way. If we’re locked up, they’ll separate us, and I do not want to sleep on a thin prison cot when we each have a lush mattress big enough for two.”
The mischief in her eyes morphed into something hotter.
“Good point. Let’s wear these dogs out.”
Chuckling, we picked up the pace and headed down the path.
Several minutes later, a low buzz reached my ears. The dogs heard it, too, and paused, both of them turning toward the shore.
“That sounds like a boat.” Mina turned toward the sound. “And it’s close.” She looked at me with a frown. “Can people come ashore here? Is there much beach?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never walked along the shore this far south.” The engine noise grew louder.
“Do you think someone needs help? I mean, we’re not that far from Dupont Beach. Wouldn’t they try to come ashore there if they were just looking for a place to set in?”
“You’d think, yeah. Let’s go check it out.”
As we stepped off the trail, Mina picked up Pebbles. I let Betty, who was bigger, trip along until we encountered a series of fallen branches. At that point, it was just easier to pick her up and tuck her under my arm.
In the few minutes it took us to trek through the woods to the shore, the boat engine cut out. Nearing the tree line, I caught a glimpse of the sky and water through the pine boughs. From my left, movement caught my eye.
“There.” I pointed.
We changed direction, heading for the boat we could see bobbing on the water.
“Just stop! I told you selling the building was a terrible idea. But would you listen to me? No!”
Mina and I froze, not just at the angry female voice, but at her words.
“Building?” Mina mouthed, eyes wide.
Tipping my head, I motioned her to follow me.
I watched my footing as I crept closer. There was no way to avoid all the dry brush on the forest floor, but I could hopefully not step on some of the bigger twigs and branches that would make a louder snap.
“Get out of the damn boat, Walter, or so help me, I’ll let Sarah shoot you when we see her.”
“Why are you even helping her? You never did say. You just pointed that damn thing at me and told me to get on the boat. Now you’re telling me to get off. She’s got nothing good planned for either of us, I can tell you that.”
“I’m only involved in this because of you. I tried to do one good thing, and it’s come back to bite me in the ass. Well, I learned my lesson. I’m handing you over and heading for Hawaii. Let the crazy bitch find me there.”
“Crazy bitch, huh? Can you believe that?”
All the blood froze in my veins at the sound of a second female voice, but it didn’t stop my feet from turning.
Ten feet away, an older woman with graying blonde hair caught up in a ponytail held a Remington hunting rifle aimed squarely at Mina’s chest.