Free Angels In Red by Adelle Laudan Page A

angel behind.
    * * * *
    Charles sat open-mouthed, understandably shocked by Jenna’s harrowing recount of plummeting off the side of the mountain and being buried alive in the snow.
    “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Jack and the dogs. He…they saved my…life.” She swallowed hard, struggling to keep it together.
    “Where is this Jack fellow? I owe him a big debt of gratitude?” He perused the room.
    The last thread of her resolve snapped and she crumpled against him. What am I supposed to do now? I’m not the same woman I was before I met Jack. I can’t go back to my life in Thunder Bay as if nothing has changed.
    She welcomed her dear friends’ strong hands on her arms, guiding her to a seat in the waiting area of the post office.
    He pulled up a chair to face her and clasped her shaking hands. “Jenna, do you need to see a doctor?”
    She shook her head as she struggled to gather her composure. “I...I don’t want to go...”
    “What do you mean you don’t want to go? I’m here to take you home.”
    “I don’t know why he thinks I want to leave him?” Her chin dropped and her breath hitched. Oh God, I think I love him. “I need to see him Charles. You have to take me to him.”
    “Are you sure that’s what you want? What if he doesn’t want to see you?”
    A middle-aged woman dressed in a postal uniform brought Jenna a glass of water.
    Each tender moment they shared replayed in her mind. “There are some things in life you can’t fake. I only wanted to let you know I’m okay, and he jumped to the conclusion I wanted to leave for good...then I saw a picture on his bedside table. He was standing with his arm around a very pretty blonde woman.”
    “A blonde woman?” The postal worker took a step back to stand beside Charles. “That’s Jack’s wife, Carly. She died over five years ago. That’s when he built the cabin. He’s lived there ever since.”
    His wife? “What have I done?” She jumped up, immediately regretting the sudden move. She grabbed hold of Charles and looked around the room frantically. “Can someone take me back to the cabin?”
    Chief Swanson joined them. “We’d have to arrange for transportation. As you know, it’s not exactly down a country road.”
    Jenna laughed through her tears, the huge knot in her stomach slackened somewhat. “No it’s not. It’s in the middle of paradise.”
    “Let me make a couple of calls. I’ll get right back to you.” The chief left the building.
    Jenna slumped back in her chair, suddenly exhausted.
    “I don’t understand, Jenna. Why call me if you didn’t want to come home?” Charles bowed his head, feigning interest in his clasped hands.
    “Jack nursed me back to health. Until today, I wasn’t well enough to make the trip here, and he didn’t like the idea of leaving me alone in such a fragile state.” She cupped the sides of his face and raised it up to look into his eyes. “Please don’t be angry with me. I love you, and I didn’t want you worrying about me ruining your Christmas.”
    His expression softened. “I love you, too, kiddo.” He took her hands in his and kissed her forehead. “Nothing’s been the same at the estate since your mother passed. As much as it pains me to say so, you’re good to be rid of it...all of it.”
    Charles squeezed her hands. “Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been since you left the house?”
    Jenna searched his misty eyes. “ We? Does that include my father?”
    His gaze dropped. “Of course he’s worried…”
    “The truth…”
    “You know your father. He’s not one for open displays of emotion. Besides, I don’t think he’s been feeling well.”
    She tossed back her head, her laughter dripping in sarcasm. “Who are you trying to kid? The only reason he wants me found is so I can marry that beast, Harold Meed. He doesn’t give two shits about me.” The memory of sneaking into her mother’s sitting room and the pills on his bedside table flashed