Secret Alaskan Hideaway, page 1
“Has anything come back to you? Like your name? Or what happened to make you drive over the side of that bridge?” she asked.
He gave her question the careful consideration it deserved, squashing a flare of panic when he realized he still drew a blank slate. “No. Not yet.”
“Once this rain lets up, I think we should drive into Blake and ask around. If you’re from here, people will recognize you. That might help jog your memory.”
This time, the panic made his throat close. He didn’t know why, but he felt positive going into town would be a horrible idea. “I can’t,” he managed. Then, aware of the way she eyed him, he took a deep breath. “I’m going to be honest with you. I have no idea who I am or what happened, but something tells me I’m in some sort of danger.”
Dear Reader,
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by Alaska. I was fortunate to visit once while on a cruise, and I’d love to go back. When I read an article about how some villages in remote Alaska offer newly minted doctors a contract to pay their medical school bills if they agree to practice there for a set number of years, I knew I’d found my heroine’s story. And then I watched a TV show where a car plunged off a bridge into a river, and there was my hero’s.
I’ve written stories before where the heroine had amnesia, but never one with a hero who’d lost his memory. This was fun! A man who doesn’t know who he is or why he’s there but only knows his life is in danger, and a woman who has a caring and nurturing nature. Add in blisteringly hot sexual attraction, a little cabin and the quirks of small, remote village life, and I truly enjoyed this couple’s story and solving the mystery of who the hero was and why his life would be in danger. I hope you like reading it as much as I loved writing it.
Happy reading!
Karen Whiddon
SECRET ALASKAN
HIDEAWAY
Karen Whiddon
Karen Whiddon started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at the age of eleven. Amid the gorgeous Catskill Mountains, then the majestic Rocky Mountains, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty surrounding her. Karen now lives in north Texas, writes full-time and volunteers for a boxer dog rescue. She shares her life with her hero of a husband and four to five dogs, depending on if she is fostering. You can email Karen at kwhiddon1@aol.com. Fans can also check out her website, karenwhiddon.com.
Books by Karen Whiddon
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
The Rancher’s Return
The Texan’s Return
Wyoming Undercover
The Texas Soldier’s Son
Texas Ranch Justice
Snowbound Targets
The Widow’s Bodyguard
Texas Sheriff’s Deadly Mission
Texas Rancher’s Hidden Danger
Finding the Rancher’s Son
The Spy Switch
Protected by the Texas Rancher
Secret Alaskan Hideaway
Visit the Author Profile page at
Harlequin.com for more titles.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Excerpt from Danger in Big Sky Country by Kimberly Van Meter
Chapter 1
Rainy season in August hadn’t been an understatement, Dr. McKenzie Taylor muttered to herself as she gripped the steering wheel. She kept her focus on the taillights of the car in front of her. Alaska might be beautiful, but since it had been overcast and pouring rain ever since she’d landed in Anchorage, she couldn’t actually tell. Now the downpour made it difficult to even see the road. Though only late afternoon, she had her headlights on, praying she’d make it to her destination before what light remaining in the sky vanished.
Worse, her phone GPS had stopped working half an hour ago due to lack of reception. She had no idea where she actually was, other than on the correct road. Hopefully. She thought she might be getting close to the tiny Alaskan village of Blake, which would be her home for the next two years, even though she’d yet to see a sign announcing the distance.
Without a working GPS, she’d need to pull over and look at the folded paper map the gas station attendant several miles back had insisted she take. Now she understood why. If not for her luck in having a car in front of her, she’d have given in to extreme worry by now. Having someone to follow helped keep her calm and grounded. And she still had a screenshot of the email they’d sent her with directions to her cabin.
Wind-lashed rain buffeted her Jeep and her wipers could hardly keep her windshield clear enough for her to see. She would have preferred to creep along at a much slower speed, but she had to keep up with the vehicle in front of her or she’d lose her guide. For whatever reason, that driver felt comfortable going at a normal rate of speed despite the limited visibility.
The sound of the pavement under her tires changed. The metal and wood railings that appeared on both sides of the road meant she was on some sort of a bridge, though she could barely make out the river flowing below due to the rain.
Inexplicably, the car in front of her picked up speed. As she nervously pressed the gas pedal to increase hers, the other vehicle swerved hard left, crossing into the opposite lane before careening back and hitting the railing hard. Kenzie stepped on her brake, sending her Jeep fishtailing on the slick road. Heart pounding, she watched, horrified, as the other car went airborne, up and sideways, rolling as if in slow motion before disappearing as it plunged into the rain swollen water below.
Damn, damn, damn. Since there wasn’t a shoulder, she kept going, praying the bridge would end soon. It did and as soon as she could safely pull over, she parked and turned on her hazard lights. Out of habit, she grabbed her phone since she knew she should call 911, but she still didn’t have a signal. Rescue, if possible, would be entirely up to her.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her door, regretting that she hadn’t thought to buy an umbrella as cold rain slammed into her. Heart pounding, she began the steep descent, slipping and sliding on the muddy earth, grabbing hold of branches and rocks. Soaked and chilled instantly, she hurried as much as she could, aware she had to be careful not to fall and injure herself.
Finally, she reached the bottom, drenched, her hands muddy and bleeding. The roar of the river mingled with the sounds of the driving rain. A few feet from the edge, she could see the car, still only partially submerged, water swirling around it and the rocks it was wedged between. Had the driver made it out? If not, she’d need to swim out there and try to help before the car traveled too much farther downstream.
Just as she was bracing herself to jump into the no doubt icy water, she spotted a person breaking the surface and trying to swim. Head bobbing, splashing against the current, moving slowly in an attempt to reach the shore.
From where she stood, shivering, it appeared to be a losing battle. But then, miraculously, the swimmer somehow made it out of the middle of the fast-moving water, into what appeared to be a shallower area. Here, the water hit chest-high.
A man, she thought, though she couldn’t yet be certain.
“Hey!” she called out, not sure if her voice would carry over the sounds of the rain and the river. “Over here!”
Somehow, he heard her and managed to fight against the current long enough to come ashore fifty yards downstream from where she stood. As he emerged from the water, she saw her initial assessment had been correct. This was a male, a very large one at that. For the first time, she realized she might have placed herself in danger. One of her first purchases in Anchorage after her Jeep had been a pistol, but it was still inside the box in her back seat. Not much help to her there.
Still, she’d had no choice. She couldn’t have simply driven on after watching the car plunge off the bridge.
As he made his way toward her, she turned and began up the embankment, trusting he would follow. Unless... The thought occurred to her when she’d gotten halfway toward the top. Unless he was injured. Which wouldn’t surprise her, considering how far his car had fallen.
Grabbing hold of a sturdy bush, she turned to look back over her shoulder. He’d made good progress, she thought, pushing sodden hair out of her face. “Can you make it up to the road?” she shouted, the wind attempting to carry her words away.
“I think so,” he hollered back. “I have to.”
Glad he understood the situation, she resumed her climb. So cold her hands were numb, she clenched her teeth to keep them from clattering.
Finally, she reached the road. Her Jeep’s blinking hazard lights were a welcoming beacon. She hurried over to climb back into the driver’s seat, turning the heat on full blast. Chilled to the bone, from her soaked clothes and icy skin, she needed warmth. Now what? she wondered, as she waited for the man to join her. The nearest hospital would be back in Anchorage, which was over a two-hour drive. If he needed medical attention, she’d have to render aid herself. If he was too badly hurt, once she reached Blake she had the option of calling for a plane to g
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the man climbed up onto the roadway and headed straight for her vehicle.
When he got in, the first thing she noticed was that he was shivering as violently as she. The second, as he turned to face her, was that despite his rain-plastered hair and the bruises that purpled his face, he had really good looks. Rugged features, including a strong jaw and high cheekbones, and light blue eyes. He struggled to fit into the passenger seat, making her realize she hadn’t imagined his size. He appeared to be well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, large hands and long fingers.
“I’m a doctor,” she told him, her voice as brisk as she could make it. “Let me take a look at you, as best as I can in this space. Do you hurt anywhere?”
He turned, his blank stare giving her cause for concern.
“I don’t know who I am,” he said, his voice horrified. “Or where I live. I don’t know anything.”
“You must have hit your head in the crash.” Attempting to reassure him, she lightly touched his shoulder. He flinched away. Undeterred, even though she kept her hands in her lap, she continued, “The memory loss is likely only temporary.”
Some of the panic left his gaze. “Do you think so?”
“I do.” Another thought occurred to her. “One question. Do you remember if there was anyone else in the car with you?”
“I don’t know.” He rubbed his temples. “I don’t think so, but I can’t be certain.” Expression dubious, he glanced at the window and the rain still pounding them. “I’m thinking I’m not going back out there to check.”
Even if he did, he’d be too late. By now the car would have either gone under or traveled farther downstream. If someone were still trapped inside, she doubted they’d have a chance.
Keeping those thoughts to herself, she nodded. “Going back would be too risky. Buckle in and we’ll get going. I’m hoping to make it to my destination before dark. Though I’ve read it doesn’t get dark until after nine thirty around here at this time of the year.”
Silently, he did as she requested, clicking the seat belt into place. “Where are we?” he asked, swallowing hard.
“Alaska,” she answered. “A few hours northwest of Anchorage.”
When he didn’t respond, she put the shifter into drive, windshield wipers on high, and carefully pulled out onto the road. Without another vehicle to follow, she found herself creeping along, terrified she’d accidentally drive off the road or the edge of some cliff.
Even with the car heater on full blast, she couldn’t stop shivering, no doubt due to her sodden clothes. She glanced over at her still-silent passenger, who sat hunched in the front seat, arms crossed in front of him.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “After a wreck like that, if we were anywhere else, I’d be taking you straight to the nearest hospital.”
“I’m fine,” he responded, his voice a deep rumble. “Cold, a bit sore, but as far as I can tell, nothing is broken.”
Eyeing the darkening bruises on his face, she sighed. “I suspect you’re going to hurt like hell tomorrow.”
“Maybe so.” His shrug indicated the prospect didn’t bother him. “I just need my memory to come back.”
Though still raining, the intensity of the storm seemed to be letting up. She could actually see more than twenty feet in front of her. Relieved, she allowed herself to drive a little bit faster.
A sign came into view. Blake—twenty miles.
“We’re almost there,” she said, more relieved than she cared to admit.
He swung his head around to stare at her. “Is Blake the name of the town where you live?”
“It will be, yes. They call it a village instead of a town though. I’ve actually never been there. I’m from Texas. I’m a new doctor and I signed a contract to provide medical care in Blake for the next two years. In exchange, they’ll take care of my not-insignificant medical school debt.”
“That’s a thing?” he asked.
“It is.” She smiled. “I couldn’t pass up such a generous offer, even if it means I’ll be living and working in the middle of nowhere.”
“What are you going to do with me once we get there?” he asked, his voice as tight as his expression. “I have no idea who I am or where I belong. You can’t just dump me off somewhere.”
He had a point. “I wasn’t planning on it,” she told him. “If you’re from around here, maybe someone in Blake will recognize you.”
“I can’t do that.” His flat tone and closed-off expression concerned her. “Not yet. Please. I need at least a day to try and figure things out.”
Considering, she kept her gaze on the road. She might be crazy, but she had a gut feeling about this. It would be all right. How could she not help this man, who’d managed to survive the not survivable?
“You can stay with me,” she softly replied. The raw gratitude on his handsome face made her heart hurt. “For now, we’re in this together. Hopefully, the rest will sort itself out.”
Expression once again shuttered, he nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“I’m McKenzie Taylor,” she said. “Kenzie for short.”
“Dr. Taylor.”
Pleased, she nodded. “Yes. I’d ask your name, but you said you don’t know it.”
He thought for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s not there. Yet. I’m hoping you’re right and that it’ll soon come to me.”
“It will. Here.” Reaching into the console, she pulled out her phone and handed it to him. “Open up my photos. I’ve got a screenshot in there with directions to the cabin where I’ll be living. Can you take a look at it and read it out loud to me?”
As his large hand closed over her phone, she shivered. To cover, she made a quick remark about getting out of these wet clothes, which only made things worse. Cheeks flaming, she shook her head, wondering what on earth had gotten into her.
If he noticed, he gave no sign. Instead, he turned her phone over in his hands as if he wasn’t sure what to do with it. But then, he appeared to figure things out, touching the photos icon on the screen and pulling up her albums.
“It should be the first picture,” she said, suddenly and absurdly nervous about him scrolling through her personal pics.
“I’ve got it.” He glanced at her, his blue eyes glazed. “We need to check the next mile marker. It says there’s no street sign on the turnoff road.”
Sure enough, they were almost there. She turned off on the dirt—now mud—road, glad she’d gotten a vehicle with four-wheel drive. Still, she couldn’t help but worry she’d get stuck.
Luckily, she didn’t.
“There.” He pointed. Set in a clearing surrounded by trees, the small wooden cabin looked more primitive than she’d been led to believe.
Maybe the rain made it look worse than the photo they’d sent her. She pulled up near the covered front porch and eyed her companion. “Ready to make a run for it?”
He grinned. “I am.”
The change in his expression completely lit up his face. Boyish charm combined with rugged good looks could be a dangerous combination.
“Do you have a key?” he asked.
Somehow, she found her voice. “They said they left one under the doormat.”
“Do you have luggage?”
“Yes.” She turned and pointed to her three suitcases in the back. Dry clothes would be heavenly. “I’ll get them. You go on inside. I’ll be right there.”
Instead of doing what she’d asked, he came around and grabbed her largest bag, hefting it up like it weighed nothing. Once he had that, he grabbed another, leaving the third for her to bring in. He trudged up the steps, setting the suitcases down on the covered porch, and rummaged under the doormat until he found the key. Right behind him, she waited while he unlocked the front door, his sheer size making her feel absolutely tiny.
As they entered, she flipped the switch just inside, immediately flooding the room with light. “I’m glad they had the power turned on.”
“Me too,” he rumbled. “Though it’s still cold. But look.” He pointed, still shivering violently. “You have a fireplace. With dry kindling stacked on the hearth. Let me see if I can get a fire started.”
