volume of the rotors, but not by much. Did the relative quiet mean she might have to talk to Cade? What did he want from her? Had he seated himself next to her to gather more information such as, say, her name? Or for some unrelated reason?
“You never told me your name.”
Leah sighed and looked out the window, away from him. She would only make him suspicious if she didn’t answer, didn’t give him at least this much of the truth. “Leah. Leah Marks.”
She would be forever grateful to him, but she reminded herself not to take his rescue too personally—that was part of his job. He was likely a volunteer as most were. Men and women from all walks of life who gave up their time and their own hard-earned dollars to rescue people who too often made life-endangering mistakes while hiking, climbing or skiing.
Her knowledge from her ski patrol experience had made her aware of the avalanche risk today, but she’d had no choice but to run straight into the danger zone. The way things had unfolded seemed surreal. The avalanche had prevented Snyder from harming her.
She wanted to relax and breathe, but she couldn’t think she was home free yet.
The helicopter lifted up and away. Leah shifted in her seat to peer out the window, the sun beginning its dive toward the horizon. Darkness would overtake the rescuers soon. Cade leaned over her, a little too closely, to look out the window on her side. She smelled the faded remnants of a musky aftershave overshadowed by the outdoors—evergreens and mountain air and something entirely masculine.
It made her uncomfortable. She wanted him to move away.
He pointed out the window. “Look, you can see displaced snow from the crown and the path. That’s the avalanche that took you down.”
The width and breadth... The whole side of the mountain appeared to have caved in, flattened by snow. Looking like ants from this distance, people were searching for the other victim. For Snyder.
Her ribs contracted. Feeling her lips tremble, Leah slid her hand over her mouth. How had she ever survived that? She knew...she knew exactly how.
She knew exactly who.
Slowly she turned her eyes to look into Cade’s. His face was still much too close, making it hard for her to remember to breathe. The burn started behind her eyes and she blinked at the moisture. That same look of concern she’d seen when he’d first pulled her from the snowy depths pulsated there again.
“Thank you.” The whisper creaked from her lips.
His half grin spread wider. “You’re very welcome.”
The sound of his voice was comforting—too comforting. She knew better than to trust anyone, especially now. Besides, men were louses. She’d seen the way they’d treated her mother, learning that much at an early age. Every person was only out for themselves. Even someone like Cade.
He eased away from her and Leah breathed easier.
“About the other victim, what are his chances?” With this question, Leah’s pulse thundered in her ears.
She already knew, of course, but she needed to hear it from Cade. Wanted to know that she was at least free from Snyder. And yet part of her knew she should hope and pray he survived. That she could somehow bring him to justice. But the thought of Snyder alive and well, tracking her down, plotting the best way to kill her and leave no trace, terrified her.
Her question had apparently affected Cade, as well. He leaned forward, dropping his head into his hands. Then, just as abruptly, he sat up, wiping them down his face. Obviously losing someone to an avalanche upset the guy. As though he felt he was somehow responsible.
Leah didn’t know what came over her, but she slipped her hand over his. “You did what you could. Maybe they’ll find him in time.” Oh, why had she said that?
Though he left his hand in place under hers, Cade relaxed his head into the seat back. “His chances aren’t very good. I’m sorry.”
He was sorry—she could hear it in his voice, see it in his expression.
He didn’t know what she knew. The victim was a murderer. How she hated to see Cade suffer through the agony of believing he’d let someone down because he hadn’t saved a man today. Maybe she could ease that pain by telling him the man had stalked her, wanted to kill her. Then again, Cade didn’t seem like the kind of guy who wanted to play God, deciding who should live and who should die.
Regardless of Cade’s answer, fear that Snyder or someone involved with him was still out there waiting to kill her clawed across her thoughts.
* * *
For a moment Cade had felt like some sort of superhero or something, filled with elation that he’d rescued Leah. Her question had knocked him back to earth.
Leah finally took her hand back from where she’d covered his. Showing him compassion, she’d only meant to help, but she couldn’t understand how her simple touch had moved him.
He didn’t understand it. He didn’t want to be moved. Didn’t think it could happen.
And then he remembered looking into her crystal-clear eyes from the snow—a life hanging in the balance.
She’d moved him, all right.
For a million reasons he hadn’t figured out yet and some reasons he might already know.
He’d been untouchable since Melissa’s betrayal. And the pain of his father’s untimely death while saving old Devon Hemphill, a man his father had quarreled with for the better part of his life... Cade had no words. Even at the thought of the loss, his heart recoiled.
He stared out his own window now, studying the terrain, looking at the cornices and the buildup of windswept snow after the storms. All death traps waiting to be sprung. The helicopter carried them away from the canyon and Mount McCann and would set them down at the Incident Command Center location.
Leah seemed happy that Cade had left her to her thoughts. She had to be exhausted. Did she have any idea how fortunate she’d been?
God had intervened on this one, Cade was sure. Something Cade rarely saw anymore, which made him wonder about God sometimes.
“We’ll land at the Incident Command Center for coordinating the avalanche rescue and recovery,” he informed her. “They’ll want to take you to the hospital to get things checked out.”
She shook her head.
Cade had expected that reaction. “Listen, when I was digging you out, you mentioned you had no family or friends for me to call. I need to make sure you get home safely. That is, after your visit to the ER. The hospital staff needs to thoroughly check you out.”
“That’s not necessary. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“You might be injured and not even know it.”
“The medic already checked me out and said I was fine. I don’t need anything else.”
Cade knew what the guy had told Leah. Too bad he was up with the pilot, wearing a headset and oblivious to their conversation. Why didn’t
