Free Angels In Red by Adelle Laudan

glanced back over his shoulder and shook his head before taking a few steps closer and offering his hand. Reluctantly she accepted, and leaned heavily against him the short distance to the sled. The realization this might be the last time she’d stand this close to him sent a searing pain in her heart, like someone had plunged a knife in her chest.
    “You can sit here.” He held out his arm for her to use for leverage.
    Jenna purposely avoided looking at him, and summoned the last of her shattered resolve to lower herself to sit in the sled where he’d tied down a couple of bedrolls for a back rest.
    “Wrap this around your legs, and cover your nose and mouth with this scarf.” He tossed a pair of gloves and the scarf on top of the blanket before taking his place behind her. “Ready?”
    “Um, hello?” She held up the items he’d given her. “Give me a second, will ya?”
    Once outfitted and settled, she held up a shaky hand. “Ready.”
    Without a response, the sled lurched forward, taking her away from everything she’d grown to cherish… and love.

Chapter Eight
     
    With a heavy heart, Charles got out of the car and sifted through the snow toward the diner. Any hope of Jenna surviving the fall had vanished as he peered down the mountain ridge. He rubbed his eyes and coughed into his hand as the chief’s radio crackled and squawked behind him.
    “Charles!” The chief honked his horn. “Forget the coffee and get back in the car. We found her!”
    He hardly believed his ears as he dashed back to the car and jumped in the passenger side. “Where is she? Is she hurt?” he asked breathlessly.
    “Some guy took her to Grand Marais. Apparently, she just tried to call you. One thing led to another, and the authorities there called the station looking for you.”
    “Thank God! What are the odds of something like this happening?”
    “Santa Claus came early, my friend.”
    Yes, he most certainly did!

    Jack originally planned on taking her to the cops he’d seen on the mountain brow, but he’d looked through his telescope while Jenna dressed to find they’d already left the scene.  He decided on handing her over to the care of a couple of doting postal workers.
    Though he prepared himself during the trip to town, actually leaving her proved far more difficult than imagined. A profound sense of loss shrouded him, comparable to the heartache of losing Carly.  It took everything in him to give her a quick hug and leave the post office without actually looking at her face.  Even seeing her in the window robbed him of breath, bringing him to his knees next to Sasha and Tito. It took some doing to get them to stop barking after Jenna and settle down. They’d grown very attached to her in such a short time. He’d grown very attached to her.
    Jack closed his eyes and recalled the scent of her hair, the sound of her laughter...after losing Carly, he swore he’d never let another woman in his life...in his heart...and then came Jenna, buried under a mound of snow. He’d known as soon as he set eyes on her he was in trouble.
    It hadn’t been easy to act as if he wanted her to go, but it was for the best. She had a life before him, and he’d been a fool to think she wouldn’t want to go home for Christmas.
    Jack exhaled a long breath, cut short by a cop car screeching to a halt in front of the post office.
    The officer and a big guy with a bald head rushed up the steps two at a time. Through the window, he saw the man lift Jenna in his arms. Her pain-filled cry out brought him to his feet. He stopped himself from rushing to her aid, and watched her arms go around him, her eyes closed as she rested her head against his broad chest.
    Breathing into his gloves, Jack choked back a sob framed with jealousy and heartache. Without another moment’s hesitation he positioned himself on the sled. “Let’s go, Sasha, Tito. Let’s go...home.” His voice cracked as he passed the post office, leaving his beautiful snow