Stranded Read Online Free PDF Page A

about for near-drowning? Maybe the cruise staff tried to downplay the fact she’d fallen overboard.
    â€œThe records show that no young woman was brought in last night?
    â€œCan you check with the doc on call last night just to be sure? Thanks. You can ring me back at the station.” He hung up and looked at Darcy.
    â€œI heard.” Exactly what she’d feared.
    â€œMaybe they took her somewhere else.”
    â€œThey didn’t bring her back to the ship’s clinic, and Kodiak was the nearest hospital.”
    â€œThe nurse I spoke with wasn’t on duty last night. She was just going by the computer. She’s going to check withthe crew from last night’s shift and get back with me. I’ll get word to you if I hear anything.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œIs there anything else I can do?”
    â€œNot at this point.”
    â€œSo what next?”
    â€œI show up at the excursion meeting and pray Abby is there.”

5
    Gage followed Employee Liaison Theodora Mullins to the Caribou meeting room. “The excursion team has use of this room for the next hour. That should give you plenty of time to coordinate with the team.”
    â€œThe team?”
    â€œThe Bering caters to a luxury crowd. If they are going camping, they’ll want to do it in style—which is why our activities director, in conjunction with our usual excursion liaison, has coordinated a support team for you.”
    â€œLast Frontier Adventures provides a complete land support team that will be meeting the Bering at each excursion port.”
    â€œFor the adventure portion, yes. I’m referring to your camping support team.”
    You pitched a tent and made some grub. How much support was required?
    â€œYou’ll be assigned a medic.”
    â€œWe’re all first-aid certified.”
    â€œYes, but Clint Walker is also a certified personal trainer and massage therapist. He can assist the passengers with any aches and strains they may encounter after their day of roughing it.”
    He didn’t particularly care for the tone Mullins used when talking about his living.
    â€œYou will also have a gourmet chef and two activities engineers escorting you.”
    â€œA gourmet chef?” These people really did travel in style.
    â€œYes. Unfortunately we’ve had a recent shift in our excursion support team,” she said, rounding the bend.
    â€œShift?” Gage asked with hesitation as he spotted the meeting room at the end of the corridor. A carved scene of a caribou surrounded by evergreens graced the wooden door.
    â€œOur excursion chef and one of our activities engineers have recently departed the Bering . Didn’t even bother giving proper notice . . .” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “But no matter. Replacements have already been found. Oh, and I almost forgot . . .” she said, opening the door. “You’ll have a reporter joining you.”
    â€œA reporter. For wha—?” He took a step into the room and froze. Darcy St. James.
    She stood, and his heart seized, his mouth going dry. It can’t be . “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI’m covering the exciting new hands-on adventure angle for the Bering .”
    Of all the reporters in all the world . . .
    Mullins looked between the two. “You two know each other?”
    â€œWe—” he began.
    â€œI covered the Midnight Sun Extreme Freeride Competition in his hometown this winter,” Darcy cut in.
    There’d been so much more. “And—”
    â€œAnd”—she thrust out her hand—“it’s great to see you again, Gage.”
    He cocked his head. What was going on? Why was she soexuberant, and why did she keep cutting him off? He clasped her hand in his, trying to ignore the softness of her skin.
    She pulled her hand back and shoved it in her pants pocket.
    â€œNow that we’re all caught