Canyon Standoff

Park rangers facing deadly foes…

Two tales of danger in the Grand Canyon

In Canyon Under Siege by Valerie Hansen, hostages’ lives hang in the balance as FBI agent Holly Forbes works with her former crush, park ranger Gabe McClelland, to outwit dangerous criminals. And in Jodie Bailey’s Missing in the Wilderness, a rescue mission turns into a race for pure survival when a killer begins stalking park ranger Morgan Dunham and her military ex-husband, Eric Larson.

Valerie Hansen, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

VALERIE HANSEN was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. She now lives in a renovated farmhouse on the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark Plateau of Arkansas and is privileged to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for Love Inspired. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

JODIE BAILEY writes novels about freedom and the heroes who fight for it. Her novel Crossfire won a 2015 RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter and two dogs.

Canyon Standoff

Canyon Under Siege

Valerie Hansen

Missing in the Wilderness

Jodie Bailey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90670-2

CANYON STANDOFF

Canyon Under Siege © 2020 Valerie Whisenand Missing in the Wilderness © 2020 Jodie Bailey

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“I wouldn’t be here if I had another option.”

Eric lifted his gaze to meet Morgan’s briefly.

“I know.” She puffed out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Rounding the desk, she laid a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your car. Rest today and get geared up. You’re no good to your sister if you land yourself in the hospital.”

Without a word, he stood and let her usher him out the door and into the lobby. At the exterior door, Morgan called over her shoulder to another ranger, “Be back in a minute.”

He waved her away with a quick glance. Yeah, nobody knew that, to her, Eric was so much more than a grieving family member.

They stepped into the warmth of a May morning, and Morgan ushered him to the end of the sidewalk near the parking lot. “Where’s your car?”

Eric aimed the key fob at a gunmetal-gray Jeep Wrangler near the end of the first row, pressing the key fob.

And the world exploded.

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Canyon Under Siege

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

EPILOGUE

Missing in the Wilderness

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

PROLOGUE

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

Extract

Extract

About the Publisher

Canyon Under Siege

Valerie Hansen

Dear Reader,

I’ve visited most of our national parks except for those in Hawaii, and each has its own unique beauty. The Grand Canyon is famous, yes, but there is so much more to it than what you see standing on the edge looking down.

Likewise, there is much more to the job of a National Park Ranger than what you might see on the surface. Researching for this novella really taught me a lot and opened my eyes to the trials as well as heroic actions of men and women who are, for the most part, underestimated by the general public. I will never look at someone wearing that uniform or the Smoky Bear hat in the same way again.

As Holly learned, divine forgiveness is waiting for you regardless of what mistakes you might have made in the past. Turn your regrets over to the Lord and He will help you forgive yourself, too.

Blessings,

Valerie Hansen

Email: [e-mail]

From the end of the earth I will cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

—Psalm 61:2–3

To national park rangers, the brave men and women who stand ready to pull the rest of us back from the brink when we get into trouble after ignoring their sensible advice. God bless ’em all.

ONE

Storm clouds darkened the north rim of the Grand Canyon, casting ominous shadows into the abyss. Pounding desert rain was threatening to sweep across the miles of open canyon and deluge the south rim helipad before rangers of the Search and Rescue team could fully mobilize.

Holly trembled with trepidation. She knew what was going to happen when Gabe realized who she was. And then there he was, jogging toward her. The one person who set her nerves on edge while also bringing assurance of safety, even while dangling from a rope suspended below a helicopter or rappelling down a cliff. Except she was no teenage novice seasonal volunteer anymore, she was Agent Holly Forbes of the FBI. And she was there for one purpose: to do her job, not because she’d once had a foolish crush on National Park Ranger Gabe McClellan.

Wind was picking up, whipping strands of her long, dark hair across her face and stinging her cheeks, but that was the least of her worries. She stood tall and still, expecting some kind of reaction when Gabe recognized her. Instead, he passed by as if she were simply in his way and began shouting orders to his men—and one woman—as they stowed their gear aboard the chopper.

The vibration of her cell phone startled her. Pressing it to her ear, she tried to shelter it from the wind with her body. “What? I can’t hear you!”

A firm hand grasped her elbow. Her eyes locked with Gabe’s for an instant before he tapped the side of his flight helmet and shouted, “I just got the full report by radio, Agent Forbes. Let’s go.”

“Are you sure?”

His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded but that was the only sign he was perturbed. If she hadn’t known him so well in the past she’d have missed the reaction.

“Yes.” Keeping temporary hold, he urged her toward the chopper. “I’ll give you a headset and brief everybody once we’re in the air. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a storm brewing.”

“Well, yeah.” Holly had to hustle to keep pace with him. “It’ll be safer below the rim.”

“Usually is.” Gabe handed her up to two other rangers, who hoisted her aboard and made room for her. “Belt in.”

Still, he’d given no indication that he remembered her, whereas she would have been able to pick him out of a crowd of thousands. So much for the way he’d made her feel so special when she’d worked in the park. Their brief summer acquaintance had obviously meant a lot more to her than it had to him.

The whomp of the blades sped up until the sound was a deafening roar. They were airborne. Holly felt an imaginary hole in the pit of her stomach and grabbed the edge of the seat as the pilot banked to the left before straightening out. Then the loaded chopper passed over the edge and dropped into the magnificent canyon.

She’d often wondered how something so beautiful could claim so many lives, and she’d come to the conclusion survival depended on respect. If hikers or other visitors to Grand Canyon National Park paid attention to the rangers, stayed on the trails and were properly equipped and hydrated during the blazing summers, they lived.

She shivered. Disregard the warnings or wander from safe trails and the canyon was apt to swallow you up. She’d seen it happen. And she never wanted to witness that kind of pointless death again.

Her gaze darted from the scenery outside to Gabe’s face. Stoic and fully in control, he epitomized the perfect park ranger. How he could work Search and Rescue and keep his cool despite the fact they couldn’t hope to save everyone was more than amazing to Holly—it was terribly, terribly sad.

Gabe tried to stay focused on the task at hand, yet something about the serious FBI agent kept niggling at his subconscious. The park was very attractive to athletic young people looking for a challenge or just unwinding after rough college finals, so there was a chance this agent reminded him of one of those green kids. It had surprised him when she hadn’t balked at climbing aboard the chopper with his team. It would have pleased him more to have made this rescue without extra baggage but that couldn’t be helped this time. Orders to include her had come from above.

Gabe tapped the side of his helmet again and began talking to his SAR team. “The latest news from Spirit Ranch Station is bad. We have one ranger down and two missing.” He had to hold up his hand to stop questions. “I haven’t been given particulars that make a lot of sense. We have conflicting reports, at best.”

“What are our plans?” someone asked.

“Rescue, above all.” He eyed the FBI agent. “After that, maybe our ride-along FBI agent can fill us in.”

“Armed and dangerous to begin with,” Holly reported. “At least three men plus their driver fled Las Vegas after a drug cartel meeting went bad.” She paused and sobered even more. “They took out two of my fellow agents. One of them is clinging to life in a hospital right now.”

“How did they end up here?”

“That’s unknown. It’s believed they commandeered a boat and were into the canyon before they realized their mistake. We were setting up to capture them, as you probably heard, when they went ashore at Spirit Ranch Station and took hostages.”

“I’m glad your bosses were smart enough to pull the FBI and sheriff’s helicopters out when they did,” Gabe said sagely. “A pilot who isn’t familiar with air currents and the heat index inside the canyon is a real risk.”

“I know.” A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Recognition dawned on Gabe as she said, “You can thank me for that one.”

“That is where I know you from!” Gabe grinned over at her. “People, Agent Forbes was one of our summer interns.” Her first name remained elusive, so he paused in the hope she’d provide it.

“My nickname was Christmas when I worked here. You can all call me Holly if you want.”

“That’s right. Holly Forbes, aka Christmas.” How could he have forgotten? Perhaps it was less a matter of forgetting than of not recognizing the woman she had become. The laughing, lighthearted temp he’d met nine, maybe ten years ago bore only a faint resemblance to the somber person she was now. Had life hardened her that much? he wondered. It was possible. It was also possible she was the kind of agent who could focus so well on the job at hand she was able to set aside personal feelings. That could be a valuable asset.

Gabe was jarred from his thoughts by a sudden banking of the chopper. The pilot yelled, “Taking fire!”

Holly instinctively ducked while the armed rangers went into action. Rifles appeared. Men took up positions at the open side door, waiting for their pilot to give them a target. She, too, was armed but not with anything that would reach the ground accurately. Considering the evasive action the helo was taking, she doubted anybody was going to be able to successfully return fire.

Gabe shouldered her away from the door. “Stay back.”

“I am.” She eyed him critically. “Anybody who takes his safety harness off at a time like this is a fool.”

Scowling, he broadcast, “Anybody hit?”

A garbled chorus of assurance was a relief. Holly took a second to assess herself. She’d been slightly wounded several times in the line of duty and knew the shock of a bullet could dull the pain enough that an injured person might not realize damage had been done right away.

“How about you, FBI?” Gabe asked.

“I’m in one piece as far as I know.”

There was no need to tell the veteran chopper jockey what to do. He was already taking his passengers higher and wider to get out of range. Bright sun from directly overhead glinted off something below. A rifle barrel? She grabbed at Gabe and pointed. “Look!”

“Where?”

“Down there. I know I saw a flash of light, like a reflection.” Holly made a face of disgust and then sighed. “It’s gone. Sorry.”

“All right,” Gabe shouted into his mic. “Plan B. We put down a few men in the canyon as close as we can without getting shot.”

“Brilliant. Now we know how you got to be senior ranger,” someone quipped.

Gabe huffed. “Right. Law enforcement only.” He pointed. “Hough and Broadstreet are trained medics, too. What about you, FBI?”

“Fully trained,” Holly assured him. “I know how to rappel, too.”

“Good, because I’d hate to have you hanging on the end of a rope like a panicked kid afraid to drop into a swimming hole.”

“If you really remembered me, you’d know I don’t panic,” she countered.

“I hope you’re better at taking orders than you used to be,” he said. “If memory serves, you almost drowned trying to rescue a kid from some rapids because you failed to secure yourself before diving in.”

“Yes, and I learned my lesson,” Holly said, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt. “You gave me the lecture of my life in front of all my peers.”

“Let’s hope it took,” Gabe said. “Challenging nature can get you killed.”

Holly quirked a smile and glanced out as they rose above reddish rock cliffs and deep crevasses. “The only nature that scares me is human nature.”

Another bright flash in the canyon below was followed by the sound of another rifle shot.

Pressing her back tight to her seat Holly added, “Especially when somebody is shooting at me!”

TWO

Rain fell in sheets as Holly, Gabe, the medics and several others shouldered their packs and started to hike downriver toward the besieged ranger station. Gabe had sent their chopper back to the south rim to wait. Hovering over the unforgiving canyon wasn’t wise, particularly during a storm, and by the time he needed an airlift the worst of the weather should be over.

As the thump of the rotors faded, Holly spoke to the group. “One advantage we have is that these men we’re after aren’t outdoorsmen. They’re the business-suit type. Totally out of their element here. As soon as we get under cover, I’ll show you the enhanced photos from the casino security cams.”

“You’re sure of who they are?”

“Reasonably sure, although we’re still working on positive IDs. How far are we from Spirit? I wouldn’t want them to slip in among regular tourists and get away.”

“In this weather?” Gabe wiped his wet face with one hand. “Even the mules are smart enough to refuse to go outside.”

She laughed softly. “What does that say about us?”

“That we picked challenging jobs.”

“Understatement.”

“I hope that jacket is waterproof,” he commented, eyeing her.

“I doubt anything would keep me dry in this monsoon. At least it’s a lot warmer down here than it was up on the rim.”

“We’ll all be sorry about that soon enough unless we get the job done and evacuate.”

“Yeah.”

Gabe trekked for another fifteen minutes before he halted and drew his group into a huddle. “The valley’s widening out. We’ll be able to see Spirit Station soon. That means they’ll also be able to see us, particularly now that the rain has stopped. We need to split up, make separate targets.” Pausing, he looked deliberately at Holly. “Except for you, FBI. You’ll stay with me.”

When she rolled her eyes, he knew he was in for trouble. Hoping she’d follow orders if he ignored her reaction, he signaled to the medics to go right while he and Holly tended left and a small group headed straight in. His satisfaction with her compliance was short-lived. Although she did start out with him, her path kept drifting further and further afield.

Considering the likelihood that a shout would echo and might be overheard, Gabe carried on instead. His main concern had to be his injured colleagues and any innocent bystanders who had been harmed or were otherwise in jeopardy. What he had to remember, if he expected to stay focused, was that Holly Forbes was no novice. She’d arrived properly outfitted and had hiked these trails before. Diverting his attention could cost him dearly.

“Which is exactly what I’m going to tell her, first chance I get,” Gabe muttered. Thoughts of her caused him to glance to the side. His jaw dropped open. Not only was the agent in full view, she was waving her arms overhead and jumping up and down. She might as well announce their presence with a loudspeaker!

Red mud splashed as Gabe jogged toward her, furious. At least she wasn’t screaming. That was something.

Gruff and angry, he grabbed her shoulders to still her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting your attention,” she said, breathless.

“If you’d stayed with me the way I told you to, you wouldn’t have to jump around like you had scorpions in your boots.”

“Hush! Listen. Somebody’s calling for help.”

“I don’t hear a thing.”

“Well, I do. I did. It came from over that way. Maybe on the Kaibab Trail.”

Gabe released her. “Not from the direction of the station? Okay. I’ll radio the rim and have a second search team stand by to respond when we give the all clear.”

“That’ll take too long. The voice sounded like a woman or a child. If they really need help, somebody should go to them immediately.”

“Nobody else is coming down here until we’re sure the area is secure. Period. It would be crazy to add any more people to the bunch we already have to worry about.”

“Fine. I get it. I do. But…”

“Tell you what,” Gabe said. “Suppose you check out the noise you heard and I’ll keep my team with me. You can radio us if you locate a victim, and we’ll calculate their position based on yours. If I can send help at that time, I will.”

He understood how torn she was. Not only did it show in her face, he wasn’t feeling good about splitting forces. If he’d trained with Holly recently, he might be making a different decision, but the way he saw it, sending her off on her own might be for the best. She’d perform a necessary service and not be underfoot while he and his rangers tried to liberate Spirit Station. Plus, she had enough experience at the Grand Canyon to stay out of trouble as long as she thought with her brain and not her heart.

As she turned away he said, “Holly, wait.” The words were out of his mouth before he’d taken time to think through what he wanted to tell her.

“Yes?”

“I don’t have time to go over all the safety rules so I hope you remember them.”

“You mean like ‘don’t dive into any raging rivers without a rope anchoring me to shore’?”

“Yeah. Like that.” His radio crackled. The others were almost in position and not seeing any activity in or around the station. “Look, I’ve gotta go. If you hear the code word, vacation, that means change radio frequencies to confuse the crooks. I don’t have the list with me but you can find us if you scan.” Concern welled within him. He started to pat her shoulder, then thought better of it.

“One promise?” she asked.

“What?”

“Let’s keep this little side trip to ourselves. I wasn’t sent here to rescue lost hikers. I was sent to capture fugitives. The only reason I’m not going with you right now is because you have them cornered and I’m really not necessary. Yet.”

“Agreed. If I get the drop on them before you get back, I’ll hold them for you so you get all the credit. No extra charge.”