As the sun slowly made its arc across the sky, she drew the blanket more closely around her and studied the man in the sleeping bag. His chest rose and fell in a steady, silent rhythm. He looked warm and peaceful. If she hadn’t witnessed his plane crash, she could easily believe he was just asleep.
Praying that he was in no immediate danger, she stretched out beside him and, for the first time in weeks, slept soundly.
Three
Josh lay very still, eyes closed, and listened to the soothing sounds around him. Water lapping somewhere nearby. A breeze whispering through the branches of a tree. A chorus of birdsong.
He seemed imprisoned in a cocoon of warmth that rendered him unable to move. That fact, and the absence of pain, had him convinced that he was indeed dead. His last conscious memory had been the moment of impact, when his plane had hit the ground and skidded several hundred yards before slamming into an impenetrable wall of forest.
He’d watched the windshield of his plane shatter inward. Had heard the terrible screeching sounds of metal twisting. Had felt the plane shudder beneath him. And then a feeling of weightlessness, as though he’d been lifted in the arms of angels and carried ever-so-gently to earth.
Another memory returned. A woman, wearing nothing but a lacy bra and snug denims, holding him close. Tying something around his arm.
An angel? In bra and denims?
The thought had him grinning as he opened his eyes and saw her asleep beside him. He couldn’t see her face, but her hair was a glorious tangle of red-gold curls.
His mysterious passenger.
She’d shed her blanket and parka, and what he could see of her slender figure in the faded jeans and sweater was model-perfect. Too bad she’d pulled on that sweater. Still, the sight of her snug backside had his smile deepening.
He looked up at rays of golden light filtering through the leaves of the forest. Like a benediction from heaven.
The woman stirred and brushed hair from her eyes before sitting up and turning. He realized in that instant that she wasn’t his passenger. This stranger’s hair was more red than gold, and her eyes were a startling shade of green, with little gold flecks. The kind a man could happily drown in.
When she realized that he was looking at her she scrambled to her feet.
„You’re awake.“
He’d heard that same voice before. Soft. Breathy. Calming. It had penetrated deep into his subconscious and had given him the most amazing sense of peace. He’d been given the assurance that he wasn’t alone. That someone was nearby, looking out for him.
„Yeah. I’m awake. Or whatever they call it here.“
„Here?“
„Heaven. That’s where I am, right?“
She gave a quick laugh. „I’ve never heard the Spirit Lake Wilderness Refuge called heaven before. But I suppose to some hardy souls it might be.“
„ Spirit Lake?“ He blinked. „I’m alive?“
„You are, though I don’t know how. There’s nothing left of your plane but ash and twisted metal.“ She pointed, and he could see wisps of smoke still rising from the rubble.
„If I’m alive, why can’t I move?“
„Oh.“ She knelt and reached for the zipper on his sleeping bag. „Sorry. I was worried that you might go into shock from the accident, so I did my best to keep you warm through the night.“
„I’ve been here all night?“
„And most of today.“ She pointed to the sun slanting low on the horizon. „It’ll be evening soon.“
„Are you telling me I slept all night and half the day?“
She nodded. „I checked on you a dozen times or more, and each time you were sound asleep. I tried waking you, but when I couldn’t, there didn’t seem to be much I could do except wait for you to wake on your own.“ She looked embarrassed. „I don’t know if it was seeing you sleeping, or the fact that I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything until I knew you were going to be all right, but whatever the reason, I slept, too. Not as many hours as you, but a lot more than I’ve slept in a very long time.“
He was watching her closely. „Am I dreaming this, or are you real?“
„I’m real enough.“
„Who are you, and how did you find me?“
„Finding you was easy enough. I just followed the smoke through the forest.“ She wiped her hand on her jeans before extending it. „My name is Grace. Grace Marin. And you are…?“
„Josh. Josh Cramer.“ He stuck out his hand, then, spying his gloves, he grinned before slipping them off.
At her arched question he felt the need to explain. „My good luck charms.“
„They seem to have worked.“
„They do the job every time.“
„Every time? Are you telling me you’ve been through something like this before?“
„Not a plane crash. But close.“
„Are you feeling all right? No fever?“ She tentatively touched a hand to his forehead.
He experienced a rush of heat so intense he could feel it in every part of his body. How could there be such heat from one soft, cool hand? He found himself hoping she would keep it there, just so, against his flesh. He felt a wave of disappointment when she lowered her hand and sat back on her heels.
He struggled to sit up. Instinctively she placed a restraining hand on his chest. „I don’t think you should move. There may be some internal injuries.“
„I don’t feel any pain.“
„None?“ She seemed stunned by his admission.
„Except for a little twinge in my arm.“ He wiggled a foot. „And some in my leg.“ He sat up and looked around. „Where’re my friends?“
„Friends?“
This wasn’t the response he’d been expecting. „There was a second plane following me. I figured they’d put down on the lake as soon as they saw the crash.“
Grace shook her head. „Sorry. I never saw a second plane.“
„That doesn’t make any sense.“ He frowned. „What about my passenger?“
Her eyes widened before she looked away quickly. „I’m sorry. You’re the only survivor I was able to find. I just assumed you were alone, especially since I searched every inch of this area, and there was no trace of anyone else, or any remains.“
As the enormity of these events began to sink in, his demeanor became brisk and businesslike. „I need a phone. Right away.“
Grace shook her head. „There’s no power out here. Even cell phones won’t work, since there are no relay towers.“
He’d known, of course. Still, there had to be some emergency measure. „How do you summon help if you’re in trouble?“
„I was told to use the ham radio at the cabin. While you were asleep, I tried to power up the generator to report the accident, but I must have done something wrong. I couldn’t get it to work.“ Seeing his look of disgust she added, „When you’re strong enough to walk to the cabin, you can give it a try. Do you know anything about generators?“
He shrugged. „I wouldn’t call electronics my strong point, but I’m pretty good with my hands. I’ll take a look at it. I’m sure I can figure it out.“
When he started to stand Grace reached out to steady him. „Are you sure you’re strong enough?“
„I’ve got to get up and start moving. I need to get a message out to my friends right away.“
„Then let me help.“ She got to her feet and offered her arm.
He leaned on her and absorbed a quick jolt as he stared into her eyes. A trickle of sweat worked its way between his shoulders and down his back. Instinctively he pushed free and took a step away. What was the matter with him? Like any man, he enjoyed being close to a woman. Especially a beautiful woman. But he’d never had a reaction to a woman like this before. The thought of tasting those lips was almost overwhelming.
Having his emotions so close to the surface was probably a result of the crash.
„Thanks. I’m fine now.“
And he was, he realized. After a few tentative steps, he was aware that, despite a crash that had left his plane mangled and burned, he seemed to have suffered no serious injuries at all. What were the odds of such a thing? For anyone else, he supposed, a million to one.