Page 42 of The Hero She Loves
“Thanks,” she wheezed.
“You got to chew, chew, chew, Jenna,” Olivia said. “That’s what mommy tells me.”
Jenna swallowed, her throat tight. “Good advice.”
Velma came around, clearing away empty plates. Her husband, Ross—a tall, lanky man of few words—helped.
“Dinner was so good, Velma,” Jenna said. “Thank you.”
The older woman smiled. “You’re very welcome. I hope you’ve left room for dessert.”
Soon, Velma brought out homemade chocolate cake and ice-cream. Olivia bounced in her seat.
As the guests all got busy serving dessert, Jenna spotted Velma talking with Ross in hushed tones. The woman’s smile was gone and her brow was creased.
Jenna rose and headed over. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing, dear.” Velma waved a hand. “Some friends of ours, who live in a cabin nearby, were supposed tocome down to collect supplies this afternoon. The floatplane came in with fresh supplies today.” She nibbled on her lip. “But our friends didn’t arrive. I’m guessing they probably got held up.”
Prickles broke out on the back of Jenna’s neck. “Did you try calling them?”
“Yes, but they only have a satellite phone. There was no answer.” Velma wrung her hands. “We can go a while without talking to Tom and Sheryl, but they’ve never missed a check-in before.”
“Where do they live?” Jenna asked.
Velma stepped over to a map on the wall. Drifter Lake was in the center. “Here, on this mountain. They’re such a lovely couple.”
Jenna patted the woman’s shoulder. “I’m sure they’re fine. Maybe they had car trouble, like we had.”
“That could be it.” Velma brightened. “I bet they’ll be in tomorrow. We’ll have a laugh about it.”
Jenna managed a smile. She went back to the table, then leaned into Parker. “A couple who live in the hills near here, friends of Velma and Ross, didn’t show up today as expected.”
His face sharpened. “Shit. Have you got their location?”
She nodded.
“Good. We’ll leave first thing in the morning and check on them.”
“From the looks of their cabin, we can drive most of the way, then go in the last little bit on foot. I’ll try and get a bit more info about them.”
After they’d finished dessert, Jenna chatted with Velma about her friends a little more. The rest of the guests started drifting back to their cabins, and so did Jenna and Parker.
Every step of the way, she prayed that Olson had nothing to do with Tom and Sheryl Hoskins. Jenna wished she could go andcheck on the couple right now, but it was too dangerous to try and make the trip to their cabin at night.
Tomorrow, she was sure they’d find the Hoskins and they’d be just fine. This was nothing.
The honeymoon cabin came into view and nerves ignited. She and Park were going to share a bed again.
When she stepped inside the cabin, Park didn’t follow.
He slid his hands into his pockets. “I want to do a circle of the lodge grounds, make sure there’s no sign of Olson.”
“He’s unlikely to come here.”
“I know, but…there’s a little girl here. You’re here. I need to.”
She nodded, then grabbed his arm. She realized that he no longer tensed up when she touched him. “Be careful.”