Chapter 70

They carried him in, in the dark. Laid him in front of the big fireplace—old man Jones had stoked it when Tasha got the text, thrown in more logs, and it blazed hotter than ever.

The kids slept through it all, though one little kid, Tophey, seemed to know something big had happened. They found him at the edge of the group in his pajamas and big bear-head slippers, patting Buddy, who was laying down, still bandaged. Having just been treated to some ‘special dog food delights, home-made and worthy for a hero’, by Oscar.

A dog with his doggy heart bursting with joy. Close to his mistress once again, and by her side, where he was supposed to be. Ready to guard her again, with his life, if the need arose.

And he planned to stay there. Forever.

Jake was by Sven’s side, and no one could pry him away. He stuck.

But when they asked Tophey what he was doing there, he simply told them. There was no fear or panic. Just the truth.

“I knew he was in trouble. So I prayed. I also called my Daddy on my special cell and told him. He told me to pray too, and he said he didn’t care who I prayed to, as long as I did. So I asked the mountain to please give him back to us. That everyone loved him and would be sad if he was gone. Really sad.” He smiled that special, trusting smile he was getting known for. “Looks like the mountain said ok.”

And for that, he got a very cautious, careful hug from Summer, as that’s all his condition allowed.

But the smile on his face said it was perfect.

Keara stayed beside Sven, laid beside him. Stripped down to her skivvies, suddenly not shy, in front of the whole group. Not even in front of Tara Lynn, who hadn’t left yet, and had been mildly pouting in her room at the injustice of it all. At snowstorms that messed up her shooting schedule.

Yep. Keara peeled down to her great big covering, everything right up granny panties and that sensible bra that wasn’t particularly sexy but kept those ample babies well holstered, most of the time. Both off color from repeated washings.

Her budget didn’t run to sexy. And was there a tiny tear up the back of her ass?

She didn’t care, not one damn bit.

She stripped, let her generous curves—extremely generous, she’d thought with a giggle born of exhaustion—warm the man she loved. The definitely present rolls around her waist. The abundant ass. All of it.

Bringing life back to his body. Healing him, with hers.

She’d have done that no matter what, but it was double good to have put eyes on the text he’d sent her from the heights of Terrence Point.

I love you.

She loved him too.

And when he groaned, rolled into her, laid his gaze on her for a brief second and moaned, “Mmm, Girl!”, it made her laugh, made her generous belly jiggle. He reached his still cold hands around and clutched her butt, needing the heat. The softness. “Glorious.” Nestled into her and rested. Murmured one last thing. “Just for me.”

She couldn’t say at that point who was getting more comfort. The dude they’d pulled out of ten feet of snow, or her.

“None of them would have found him. They were all off in other directions. It was that little pup that found him. Oh yeah. The one that fool said wasn’t fit for avy work. Dog isn’t even fully trained yet, just in basic training. But he found his master, ’cause he loved him, and he did it using avy dog skills he hadn’t learned yet. Well, guess the joke’s on the fool.”

Was that Edna? Mrs. Bloom? Or one of the others?

She didn’t know. But she did know she loved the voice of the Terrence Point seniors in the background. They were awesome.

Most of the time, that was.

And one final voice ran into her consciousness as she drifted off to sleep, her arms around the muscled body of her soldier, currently so relaxed he was limp, beside her.

“Oui! Silly woman, going off without a partner. All backward, all against the rules. Very silly for an unofficial Event Director at one of the premier ski lodges in all of Canada to do so. Must follow the rules, be the example! Oui?” A pause.

“But, she is my friend. My friend. And of course? She did the right thing. Because love. Love, mes amis. It is important. It is vital. It is the only thing that…”

And she didn’t hear anymore, because she drifted off to sleep, her arms locked around the man that had come back to them from the snow and the ice and the mountain.

And had brought the dog she loved back, too.