Stranded

AFTER MONTHS STRANDED IN THE MOUNTAINS, A DETECTIVE RETURNS HOME TO A TARGET ON HIS BACK—AND HIS PREGNANT WIFE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS…

When Detective Alex Foster’s plane goes down in the remote Bitterroot Mountains, everyone thinks he is dead. Including his wife, Jessica. But against all odds, he survives, returning months later to the joyous news that Jessica is pregnant. Yet their reunion reminds them both of their imperfections. Then Alex discovers his plane crash was no accident. Someone wanted him dead and is now targeting Jessica to get to him. She wants honesty; he wants to keep the frightening details to himself. Protecting Jessica and his unborn child is Alex’s first priority—even if it means giving up his second chance at life to save theirs….

“Alex, I have something to tell you,” she said.

“Your tone of voice worries me.”

“It’s nothing bad. It’s about that ‘virus’ I was fighting in February.” She took another deep breath. “Do you remember that big fight we had in January?”

“Yeah,” he said, “I do. I can’t remember what it was about, though.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” she said. “What’s important is how we made up the next day,” she added.

She could feel him staring at her. Was he remembering that night? They’d made love with a vengeance, downstairs in front of a blazing fire, and had slept there all night. “I’ve been trying to tell you this since you got home,” she added. “I was wrong about the cause of my nausea. Brace yourself. I’m about four months pregnant.”

She could see the whites of his eyes widen. “Say that again,” he whispered.

“We’re going to have a baby.”

Stranded

Alice Sharpe

ALICE SHARPE met her husband-to-be on a cold, foggy beach in Northern California. One year later they were married. Their union has survived the rearing of two children, a handful of earthquakes registering over 6.5, numerous cats and a few special dogs, the latest of which is a yellow Lab named Annie Rose. Alice and her husband now live in a small rural town in Oregon, where she devotes the majority of her time to pursuing her second love, writing.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Alex Foster—This police detective apparently fell off the face of the earth three months before. Now he learns his travails were no twist of fate, nor are they over. But someone isn’t counting on Alex’s fierce determination to rebuild his marriage and protect his wife at any cost to himself.

Jessica Foster—Alex’s wife isn’t sure how she feels about her marriage or which secrets to share with Alex. But she does know someone is out to wreak havoc on their lives. It’s time to take a stand.

Nate Matthews—Alex’s best friend from way back has struggled with the same issues facing Alex. He’s managed to survive. His goal is to make sure Alex does the same.

Dylan Hobart—Alex’s partner on the Blunt Falls Police Department is a bodybuilder with an eye for the fairer sex. It takes him a while to declare his intention to watch Alex’s back but when he does, he makes it clear he’ll see it through to the bitter end.

Billy Summers—Everyone agrees this handyman is a nice guy, and it’s obvious he has something he wants to tell Alex. But, wow, he’s sure having trouble saying it.

Lynda Summers—Billy’s mother is the town’s fallen beauty with so many problems it’s hard to see where one stops and another begins. What is her hold on Chief Smyth? And exactly how many men are using her?

Chief Smyth—He’s a tricky guy. Part publicity hound, part dedicated lawman, a family man with a dash of arrogance and a sprinkle of hostility. He’s suspicious of almost everyone, especially Alex. Or is that an act?

Kit Anderson—This patrolman wants to be a detective, a goal that seemed attainable until Alex showed back up in Blunt Falls. How far will he go to make his dreams come true?

John Miter—He’s just flat-out an enigma. How dangerous is he?

Tad and Ted Cummings—Are these attractive, personable twins really Billy’s pals, or does the friendship have a darker side?

Charles Bond, aka William Turner—A shadowy figure everyone is looking for. His agenda includes murder and mayhem as vehicles to spread fear. Can he be stopped in time to avert a disaster?

This book is dedicated to sweet Ruby Rose. Welcome, baby.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Extract

Prologue

February

To Alex Foster, the flight between Blunt Falls, Montana, and Shatterhorn, Nevada, felt ill-fated from the get-go. The unexpected deteriorating weather was just the latest obstacle, but at least it was one that could be managed by some decent flying skills and a deviation from his flight plan.

He yawned and rubbed his eyes, fighting a growing fatigue he couldn’t afford. Unscrewing the cap on a new bottle of the vitamin-enhanced water he carried when he piloted his plane, he took a long swallow. The numbers on the charts swam before his eyes and he blinked, performed a few fuzzy calculations and changed radio frequencies to the Bozeman, Montana beacon. He banked the plane toward the east, hoping to avoid the worst of the system and arrive just a little late.