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Carrie hurried after hi reasonable if you’ll take , I proive it up? Although I have to ad up his ive hi to walk away fro her suitcase She had to duck her head in order to walk beneath the Cessna’s wing "It’s his father’s wedding band Joan askedquality to her voice, but she had to convince Sawyer she was legiti"

"Okay" She slid the purse strap off her shoulder and dug inside for the ring, which rapped in a tissue inside a plastic bag Once it was free, she handed it to Sawyer "His na with Joan’s na"

Sawyer carefully exa the ring "There’s a stor back to Hard Luck in fifteen minutes I’ll land on the lake outside Finn’s cabin and return in the reeable?"

"Yes, perfect" At this point, Carrie would have agreed to practically anything

"Finn isn’t going to like this, so I’ll radio hi"

"I don’t expect he’ll have the welcoainst you"

"Is that all?"

"First, you’re a wos"

"Three?"

"Yes You’re bringing hi from his mother He doesn’t want any reot the best of her "Not that I want you to change yourret it Finn’s a good friend, but it’s tiht be just the ticket"

"Whatever the reason, I’ to et over it eventually," Sawyer continued "I feel I should warn you, though; he’s bound to be as inviting as a wolverine"

"Got it Any other advice?"

Sawyer scratched the side of his head "I wouldn’t start off ave her the once-over a second ti practical for the weather?"

"I live in Chicago It freezes there"

He snorted as if to cover a laugh "You’ve got fifteen minutes Make use of them" He pointed in the direction of the airport, and Carrie took off running She wasn’t sure what she’d need, but with the help of the clerk picked up a couple of pieces of gear, including a hat and thick scarf It see that she intended to be in Alaska only a short while

By the tiar and had the engine running "You ready?" he asked

Because she inded and excited, she only nodded

"Okay, cliht now?" She’d hoped to have a few ather herself

"Yes, now," he snapped "There’s li Ready or not, I’"

"I’m ready" Carrie had never flown in a private plane, but that one small detail wasn’t about to stop her She eyed the Cessna, sucked in a deep breath, and loaded her suitcase It wasn’t easy clier door Carrie was relieved she’d worn her jeans, and thankfully her boots had only a moderate heel

Within a fewdue north Carrie clung to her purse as if that would save her froer and held her breath several ti moderate turbulence Sawyer had handed her a pair of headphones, but he wasn’tthe plane He radioed Finn twice but wasn’t able to reach hi he already regretted agreeing to this Fearing anything she said ood, she re to land

"Where’s the airstrip?" she asked, studying the landscape below In the diht, all she could see were snow and trees

"Airstrip?" Sawyer repeated incredulously "I’ on any strip Didn’t I alreadyhim to fly her to Finn, Carrie didn’t remember that part of their conversation A lake? A frozen lake? Peering through the , she couldn’t asped out loud when the plane’s wheels bounced against the ice and skidded sideways out of control

Sawyer didn’t cut the engine but guided the Cessna to the lake’s center and turned toward her

"Under normal conditions, I’d escort you to Finn’s cabin Unfortunately, I’m headed directly into that storm, and I don’t have the time to spare You can see his cabin over there," he said, pointing in the distance