Free Alphas in the Wild by Ann Gimpel

Corral. And damned fast. “We need to hurry.”
    He moved in front of her, leading the way along a trail he’d already made through calf-deep snow. “Do you think they’ll be okay on their own?”
    “We’ll turn them loose. They ought to be fine. Mules are way stronger than horses.”
    “What about all those feed sacks?”
    “Not a problem. Coyotes won’t eat them. But we ought to move them into one of the tents so they don’t get buried.”
    * * * *
    I t was nearly time to turn the sat phone on again. Skittish from what happened to one of their own, the mules had been reluctant to do anything. It took a great deal of coaxing, cajoling, and handfuls of grain to get them to step over their fallen comrade and out of the enclosure. Despite the cold, sweat ran down Moira’s sides. She had hold of one end of an eighty-pound feed sack, the last one they needed to move under shelter, when she heard voices. Jake, Mitch, and another mule stumbled out of the whiteout.
    “Never mind,” Tim grunted, hefting the sack to one shoulder. “I can get this. Do what you need to.”
    Moira stomped over to the two AWOLs. “Get the packs off that animal and his halter, then turn him loose. When you’re done, help us move sleeping bags and clothes into the supply tent.”
    “What happened to the corral?” Jake sounded wiped. He had an arm around Mitch, supporting him.
    “One of the mules is dead. It’s pretty bloody.” She didn’t have to say anything else. Jake had been a miner before he’d opted for the relatively softer life of going on Park Service work details. Even though they didn’t pay him much, they fed him. He’d told her once that three squares counted for quite a bit when you’d spent a lot of your life hungry.
    She shone her headlight on her watch. “I need to turn the phone on. Talk with you later.”
    The sat phone rang nearly as soon as she powered it on. It didn’t surprise her. Nor did the sound of John’s voice. “Report,” he said brusquely.
    “Two trail crew accounted for. Nine missing.”
    “Mules?”
    “Did we start with twelve?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay, we have five here. Six if you count the dead one. So that means six are missing.”
    “One of the mules is dead?” John sounded shocked. “What happened?”
    “Long story, John. And it doesn’t matter. We freed the others.”
    He cleared his throat. “I’ll expect a full report once you’re back in the office. As you’ve probably figured out, storm’s too bad to send a chopper. Soon as it quits snowing, we’ll come for you.”
    “Any idea when the weather’s supposed to clear?” She tried to keep her voice from wavering. It wouldn’t do to let her boss know how frightened she was.
    “Not for another couple of days. Frankly, I don’t get it. This weather was not in the forecast.” Concern—and worry—permeated his words. “You have plenty of food and fuel. Just pay attention to protocols, and you should be fine.”
    She sucked in a breath. Two days could be a long time with her soon-to-be ex-husband on the prowl. “When would you like me to turn the phone on again, sir?”
    “No point in running down the batteries. Tomorrow night at this time should be fine. Oh, and Moira, if you can get a fire going, by all means do so.”
    “Thanks,” she murmured. John really was trying. It was a major concession for him to give her permission to have an open fire above ten thousand feet, where they were normally forbidden.
    “You’re welcome. Take care of yourself. I already lost two rangers this season. Don’t wim to lose another.”
    The empty hum of satellites buzzed against her ear. She powered down the phone and buried it in her pack. Moira looked around the tent where she and Tim had kissed and snuggled. A tender glow started in her belly, radiating outward. He was such a wonderful man, kindhearted and sensitive. She wondered if she could possibly be lucky enough for the love between them to take root and grow this time,