Light Snow Falling, Dave Robinson [different ereaders .txt] 📗

the window. According to the display, she was still 4.9 miles from the Ranger Station. She decided to spend the night in the cabin and finish her trip in the morning. By then her clothes should be dry and warm and so would she.


Chapter 16

“Daddy!”

The afternoon shadows were growing longer when the Forest Service helicopter circled for a landing at the Lemon Valley Ranger Station. Brian Makenna held tight to his seat as the chopper touched down in the snow. The swirling powder nearly blocked out all visibility until the main rotor slowed. Brian pulled off his headset and unbuckled his safety harness. He stepped down from the chopper and took his first deep breath since takeoff, grateful to be back on solid ground.
The crew came out the front door of the Ranger Station. The pilot made the introductions and then busied himself with loading bags in the back. Melody Robbins took Brian inside and showed him around.
“You’re welcome to stay here,” she offered. “Deanna Lander said to give you free rein and show you the area. Sorry I can’t give you a helicopter tour, it’s getting too late and it’d be after dark by the time we got back to Cordova.” Melody spent the next fifteen minutes going over a map of the area, “We built a cabin about four and a half miles upriver from here, and then there’s another at Lemon Lake. We just spent this summer brushing out the trail along the river so you shouldn’t have any problem finding your way. The radio is in here if you need it. Just connect the batteries and then disconnect when you’re done. There’s plenty of wood in the lean-to and some food in the kitchen. Any questions?”
“I’ll probably think of plenty after you’re gone, but for now I’m good,” he said.
“If I were you, I’d spend the night here,” she said, “It gets dark quickly this time of year and you wouldn’t be able to make it to the first cabin before dark.”
“Good idea,” he agreed. “Thanks for all your help, I do appreciate it.”
The rest of the crew loaded into the chopper as they walked outside. The pilot came over and shook his hand, “Good luck,” he said, “I’ll see you a week from today, hopefully before then.”
The helicopter climbed into the late afternoon sky as Brian watched from the front porch of the Ranger Station. He went inside and unpacked his new backpack, laying out his gear on the table. Some of the items still had tags on them and some were still wrapped in plastic packaging. He began going over each item and placing them strategically in his bag. Brian was well aware of the dangers of the outdoors and he knew that if he couldn’t find a piece of equipment, he may as well not have it at all.
Once he got his equipment arranged, he rolled out his sleeping bag on the bed in the side room then studied the map for a long time. He browsed through the kitchen checking out the supplies. Finally he opened a container of freeze-dried food and prepared a meal of Chicken Alfredo.

Alex lit a candle as the sun dropped out of sight behind the mountains. She rearranged her damp clothes so they would dry better and then fed the fire. The MRE was finally thawed; she opened the bag and poured it into the sauce pan. She set the pan on the stove and the aroma of warming beef stew began to fill the tiny cabin. While her dinner was heating, she made a cup of tea from the melted snow. At one point, she thought she heard a faint ‘thumping’ sound. Something way off in the distance. Then she dismissed it as only her imagination. The hot liquid gave her fresh energy and lifted her mood. As she sipped the tea, she wondered, “What if there’s no one at the Ranger Station tomorrow?” “What if I have to come all the way back to Lemon Lake?” Then she comforted herself that at least for now she was safe and warm with plenty to eat. Her stew was simmering on the stove and she pulled a chair up to the table. She would be dining alone tonight.

The Lemon Valley Ranger Station was designed to accommodate a crew of eight. There was a main room with a large wood stove, a ping pong table, a couple of tables for playing board games and a long table where the crew took their meals. A kitchen and pantry joined the great room and an assortment of bunk rooms and an office were on the other side of the building. Brian explored the building then stoked the fire, lit a lantern and picked up a paperback. It had been a long day. He had started this day in his own bed back in Oregon, now tonight; he was in an isolated lodge, in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness on what may just turn out to be a wild goose chase.
Brian woke at 4:00 AM. He heated a packet of freeze-dried scrambled eggs and ham, made a cup of instant coffee, packed his things and set out. The first gray streaks of dawn were peeking over the mountains. The frozen snow crunched under his boots, leaving no footprints. A light wind was blowing up the river, so the breeze was at his back. In an hour he had made two and a half miles.

Alex had wakened early, stoked the fire and snuggled back in her sleeping bag. When she woke again, the sun was shining in the window above her bed. She slid out of bed and pulled on her warm, dry clothes. A breakfast MRE warmed quickly on the stove and she made another cup of tea.

Brian Makenna was making good time, he had been on the trail for a little over two hours. He was watching for the cabin that Melody Robbins had told him about, but so far, nothing. Unknown to him, he had passed the cutoff trail that led to the cabin. He went about a hundred yards past the trail when he stopped. Something didn’t seem quite right, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. What was it? Something seemed out of place. Then it dawned on him. He took a deep breath. Wood smoke! He smelled smoke! He slowly turned and tried to pinpoint where it was coming from. There it was! A column of smoke rising from behind him, back in the trees. The breeze was blowing the smell toward him. He began to retrace his steps. Back down the trail, he saw the sign that pointed to the cabin. He could just barely see the cabin through the trees. He walked up the trail and saw that someone indeed had a fire going.
Stepping up on the front porch area, he called out, “Anybody home!”
Alex had just finished her breakfast when she heard a footstep on the porch. Then she heard someone call out. There was something familiar about that voice! She opened the door and stared into the mostly-covered face of her Daddy.
“DADDY!” she yelled, “DADDY? What are you doing here?” She couldn’t believe her eyes.
She dragged him inside. “Am I dreaming?!” she said with unbelief.
Brian pulled his parka hood back and removed his mittens. “It’s me, baby-girl, I’ve come to take you home!”
Alex threw her arms around him. “I can’t believe it, how did you…..?” Her voice trailed off. “Where did you…..?” She had so many questions.

Back at the Lemon Valley Ranger Station, Brian connected the batteries for the radio. “Lemon Valley to base,” he said into the mic.
“Go ahead Lemon Valley.”
“You’re not going to believe this,” and he poured out his story.


Chapter 17
“Happy Endings”

Lieutenant Landon Scott picked up his phone. The time was 1:00 PM. So far it had been just another day with no good news from the search planes.
“Landon this is Deanna Lander down at the District Forest Service office. Are you sitting down?”
“Yep,” he was in no mood for jokes, but he had great respect for the District Ranger.
“The girl’s been found!”

Lieutenant Scott punched another button on his phone, “Where’s Trooper Gates?” he asked of the dispatcher.
“Refueling sir,” she answered.
“Tell him to stand by, and call all the other planes in. We’ve found our missing pilot and passenger!”
Trooper Brogan Gates was literally standing beside his plane when Lt Scott pulled in to the parking lot.
“Lemon Lake,” the lieutenant said, “I’ll fill you in one the way.”

Cappy Benson was standing in the doorway of the cabin, listening for search planes. Suddenly he heard the roar of a seaplane coming up the valley. He watched as the plane touched down at the far side of the lake, then taxied up to the gravel bar. “I’ll be darned,” he said aloud, “She made it, she really made it.” Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched the two state troopers come ashore.
“UP HERE!” Cappy shouted as he grabbed his crutch and started for the lake.

At the hospital they took all her clothes and put her in a gown that opened up the back. A lady came in and introduced herself as Dr. Megan Jonathan. “I understand you’ve had quite an adventure.” It was meant as a question.
Alex nodded.
“Are you injured anywhere, any pains? How about here? Here?” Dr. Jonathan moved her hands around Alex’ abdomen and neck, then listened to her chest and back with a stethoscope, tapped her knees and shined a light in her eyes, ears and throat. She checked the cut on Alex’ leg and rebandaged it.
“Nothing wrong with you.” The doctor declared. “You’re in perfect condition, no malnutrition, no dehydration, minor injuries. A little frostbite on your toes, but you’ll be fine. You can go anytime you like.”
Bailey was waiting just outside the curtain. “I brought you some clean clothes,” she handed Alex a bundle.
“Thanks,” Alex said, “Those others were getting pretty grimy.”
As Alex was dressing, there was a commotion in the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Alex asked a nurse.
“They’re bringing in Cappy Benson,” she said.
Alex ran down the hallway, “CAPPY!” she shouted, “You made it, you made it!”
“No, little girl,” Cappy said from his ambulance gurney, “YOU made it! You’re the hero here!” Then Cappy went on and on to anybody who would listen about what a hero she was. How she had saved his life, and how she had braved twelve miles of Alaskan wilderness so they could be rescued.
Dr. Jonathan shooed everyone out and wheeled him off to x-ray.
Before long they wheeled Cappy back. “They said it’s broke, but that it’s set perfectly and they’re just going to put a cast on it and let it heal. You should be a doctor someday, young lady,” Cappy looked right at Alex.
“I don’t know yet what I’m going to do,” she replied, “But I think you can rule out bush pilot!”
Everyone laughed.
Lieutenant Scott and Brian