He was watching her closely. „Am I dreaming this, or are you real?“
„I’m real enough.“
„Who are you, and how did you find me?“
„Finding you was easy enough. I just followed the smoke through the forest.“ She wiped her hand on her jeans before extending it. „My name is Grace. Grace Marin. And you are…?“
„Josh. Josh Cramer.“ He stuck out his hand, then, spying his gloves, he grinned before slipping them off.
At her arched question he felt the need to explain. „My good luck charms.“
„They seem to have worked.“
„They do the job every time.“
„Every time? Are you telling me you’ve been through something like this before?“
„Not a plane crash. But close.“
„Are you feeling all right? No fever?“ She tentatively touched a hand to his forehead.
He experienced a rush of heat so intense he could feel it in every part of his body. How could there be such heat from one soft, cool hand? He found himself hoping she would keep it there, just so, against his flesh. He felt a wave of disappointment when she lowered her hand and sat back on her heels.
He struggled to sit up. Instinctively she placed a restraining hand on his chest. „I don’t think you should move. There may be some internal injuries.“
„I don’t feel any pain.“
„None?“ She seemed stunned by his admission.
„Except for a little twinge in my arm.“ He wiggled a foot. „And some in my leg.“ He sat up and looked around. „Where’re my friends?“
„Friends?“
This wasn’t the response he’d been expecting. „There was a second plane following me. I figured they’d put down on the lake as soon as they saw the crash.“
Grace shook her head. „Sorry. I never saw a second plane.“
„That doesn’t make any sense.“ He frowned. „What about my passenger?“
Her eyes widened before she looked away quickly. „I’m sorry. You’re the only survivor I was able to find. I just assumed you were alone, especially since I searched every inch of this area, and there was no trace of anyone else, or any remains.“
As the enormity of these events began to sink in, his demeanor became brisk and businesslike. „I need a phone. Right away.“
Grace shook her head. „There’s no power out here. Even cell phones won’t work, since there are no relay towers.“
He’d known, of course. Still, there had to be some emergency measure. „How do you summon help if you’re in trouble?“
„I was told to use the ham radio at the cabin. While you were asleep, I tried to power up the generator to report the accident, but I must have done something wrong. I couldn’t get it to work.“ Seeing his look of disgust she added, „When you’re strong enough to walk to the cabin, you can give it a try. Do you know anything about generators?“
He shrugged. „I wouldn’t call electronics my strong point, but I’m pretty good with my hands. I’ll take a look at it. I’m sure I can figure it out.“
When he started to stand Grace reached out to steady him. „Are you sure you’re strong enough?“
„I’ve got to get up and start moving. I need to get a message out to my friends right away.“
„Then let me help.“ She got to her feet and offered her arm.
He leaned on her and absorbed a quick jolt as he stared into her eyes. A trickle of sweat worked its way between his shoulders and down his back. Instinctively he pushed free and took a step away. What was the matter with him? Like any man, he enjoyed being close to a woman. Especially a beautiful woman. But he’d never had a reaction to a woman like this before. The thought of tasting those lips was almost overwhelming.
Having his emotions so close to the surface was probably a result of the crash.
„Thanks. I’m fine now.“
And he was, he realized. After a few tentative steps, he was aware that, despite a crash that had left his plane mangled and burned, he seemed to have suffered no serious injuries at all. What were the odds of such a thing? For anyone else, he supposed, a million to one.
He glanced at his watch. The crystal had shattered, the time stopped at the moment of impact. Four p.m.
He shook off the dozens of questions whirling around in his mind. Hadn’t he always accepted his extraordinary luck as his right? What he needed to concentrate on now was the fact that his mysterious passenger was missing and probably dead. As for the plane carrying Marty and the crew, they must have landed somewhere nearby, perhaps to pick up emergency provisions and medical personnel before coming to his rescue.
For now, he consoled himself, his string of luck was holding. He was alive and well. And in the care of the very beautiful and apparently very capable Grace Marin.
On the trek of the cottage, Grace paused beside a fallen log. „Would you like to rest?“
Josh shook his head. „I’m doing fine. It’s hard to believe I went through a crash.“
„No fatigue? No weakness?“
„None. I’m feeling better than I have in a long time. Probably all those hours of sleep,“ he added with a laugh. Or maybe, he thought, it was the company of this intriguing woman. He glanced over. „What are you doing in the middle of nowhere?“
„I’m a photographer witfi the World. My editor sent me out here to get some pictures of a ghost light.“
„Ghost light?“
Grace chuckled. „That’s what I’m calling it. Pilots and fishermen in the area reported seeing a light dancing across the water. Thinking it’s a boater in trouble, they follow it. But when they get close, it looks like a woman.“
„A woman? You mean a ghost that walks on water?“
Grace shrugged. „I know. It sounds crazy. The latest urban legend. Still, my editor thought it would make an interesting report.“
„So? Have you seen her?“
„No. I just got here a short time before your plane went down.“
„Sorry to mess up your plans.“
„Yeah. You had a lot of nerve crashing your plane at such an inconvenient time.“
They were both grinning as they stepped from the tangle of forest to the clearing around the cabin.
Josh looked around with avid interest. The structure was built of sturdy weathered logs, with a high-pitched roof to dispel snow. Behind the cottage was a small storage shed almost completely hidden by the vines and shrubs that had taken over. Beneath a gnarled oak sat a scarred wooden picnic table that seemed to be an extension of the tree itself. A short distance from the cabin, a long wooden dock jutted out like a bony finger into the rough waters of the lake.
„Whose place is this?“
Grace shrugged. „I never asked. I figure the World contacted the owner and rented it for the week. I just wish they’d sent someone out to check on it before sending me here. It’s a bit… primitive.“
He shot her a grin. „As long as it’s shelter, I’m not about to complain. Besides, it looks solid enough.“
„It does.“ She looked around, before nodding toward the vine-covered outbuilding. „The gas-powered generator is in there.“
Josh followed her to the little shed. While she stowed the cart, he studied the rusted parts to the ancient equipment with a frown. „No wonder you weren’t able to get it started. I wonder how long it’s been since anyone used this.“
„I can’t even guess.“ She paused beside him. „Think you can make it work?“
„I’m going to do my best.“ He looked around. „I’ll need time to take it apart and see if I can remove some of this corrosion.“
Grace nodded. „I’d like to help.“ She lay a hand on his arm. „After all that rest, I’d welcome some hard, physical work.“