The Yuletide Rescue

MISTLETOE AND MURDER

When Dr. Bree Mathison’s plane plummets into the Alaskan wilderness at Christmastime, she is torn between grief and panic. With the pilot—her dear friend—dead and wolves circling, she struggles to survive. Search and Rescue leader David Stone fights his way through the elements to save her. David suspects the plane crash might not have been an accident, spurring Bree’s sense that she’s being watched. But why is someone after her? Suddenly Bree finds herself caught in the middle of a whirlwind of secrets during the holiday season. With everyone she cares about most in peril, Bree and her promised protector must battle the Alaskan tundra and vengeful criminals to make it to the New Year.

Alaskan Search and Rescue: Risking their lives to save the day

“Stay right next to me and remember have a gun pointed at you,” the man said. “I don’t think you want someone innocent to be hurt because you did something foolish.”

As they walked side by side with Bree slightly in front, she felt the barrel of the weapon pressed into her. She calculated her chances of getting away from the gunman now that they were outside in the parking lot and fewer people were around. But she couldn’t come up with anything that didn’t end with him shooting her in the back.

When Bree was a few feet from the driver’s side of the gunman’s car, she reached to open the door.

“Drop the gun or I’ll shoot you.” David’s voice came from behind them.

The man shoved the gun barrel into her back. “Not if you don’t want me to kill her.” He swung around with Bree plastered against him with one arm across her chest to hold her in place. “I’m leaving with her.”

David lifted his arm and pointed his revolver at the gunman’s head. “You won’t survive.”

“Neither will she,” he retorted.

MARGARET DALEY

feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun. Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for more than twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and has participated in many sports with her students.

The Yuletide Rescue

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

—Joshua 1:9

To my friend Helen, who showed me the beauty of Alaska.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Dear Readers

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

In the bush plane high above the Alaskan landscape northwest of Anchorage, Dr. Aubrey Mathison swept her gaze over the barren snow-covered terrain below, the endless white broken by evergreens and leafless trees. Even through the headset she wore, she heard the loud droning noise of the engine saturate the cockpit.

She glanced toward the east as the sky grew light. Streaks of purple, rose and orange fanned outward as the sun rose at ten-thirty in the morning. The sight awed her. God’s beauty stretched for miles before her.

“I think these trips to the villages are one of my favorite parts of my job,” Bree said to the pilot sitting next to her in the single-engine aircraft. She’d spent a month in Daring, Alaska, on the Bering Sea. Now it was time to go home to Anchorage for some rest and relaxation.

Jeremiah Elliot slid a glance toward her. “It’s why I love to fly. Nothing beats the view.”

Jeremiah was more than just her neighbor; he was like an uncle to her. He’d been her father’s best friend for years and had watched out for her and her mom after Dad died eight years ago. She’d been thankful for Jeremiah since she’d spent a lot of time away from Alaska not long after her dad died while she’d been attending medical school.

“But I’m glad to be returning home.” Bree glanced toward Jeremiah.

He winced, deep grooves carving lines into his aged, weatherworn face.

Alert, Bree sat up. “Something wrong?”

“Just indigestion. I’ve flown feeling worse than this. No doubt I shouldn’t have eaten that third helping of pancakes before takeoff.”

“Three helpings! You need to watch your weight. Your metabolism is slowing down as you get older.”

“Quit being a doctor,” Jeremiah grumbled and rubbed his arm. “Sixty isn’t that old.”

“Maybe we should land before Anchorage.”