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about the elements and being able to sustain a fire. If the search and rescue missed the plane wreckage from above, he and Annie Murray would be fighting for their very lives.

Chapter Three
    A s nightfall came, Annie found herself questioning whether rescue would actually come tomorrow. Her euphoria about starting the fire had waned pretty quickly as the temperature dropped and the sky darkened. What would happen to them if rescue never came? How long could they hold on with a dwindling food supply and no promise of water? At least they could melt snow and drink it, Annie realized. They wouldn’t get dehydrated. But there weren’t even berries or nuts or anything remotely edible in their midst. And although she wasn’t opposed to losing a few pounds, she certainly didn’t want to do it via the Alaskan wilderness diet.
    She was pretty sure there were wild animals lurking in these woods. Earlier she had heard a high-pitched cry emanating from somewhere in the forest. It had nearly scared the life out of her. Declan had acted nonchalant, as if he hadn’t heard a thing. But she knew what she’d heard. Most likely it had been a wolf. Bears tended to hibernate during winter, but there were always sightings during November, especially if the winter weather was mild. So there could be bears waiting to pounce on them. Or wild moose.
    She didn’t voice her concerns to Declan. His mood had changed in the past hour or so. He seemed more contemplative and less talkative. Perhaps he, too, was worrying about rescue. Maybe he was just the strong, silent type. He certainly looked the part with his muscles and powerful physique. A few times she had caught him staring at her with a perplexed expression on his face. It wouldn’t be the first time , she thought with a sigh. Men always seemed to think she was quirky.
    You’re not unusual, pumpkin. You’re extraordinary . Again, Gram’s voice came to her like a warm breeze over the ocean. As always, pearls of wisdom from Gram fortified her as nothing else ever could.
    Eating beef jerky and trail mix, Annie and Declan shared a meal before the fire. Although they had already polished off the sixteen-ounce bottle of water, Annie had filled it back up with snow so that they would have a fresh supply of water when it melted.
    The food tasted delicious, although Annie carefully eyed their portions. If rescue didn’t come tomorrow, they needed to have a little something to fall back on for a meal. Perhaps it was time to start rationing the food. Declan was a big guy who was probably used to eating big meals.
    “So, what brings you to Love?” Declan jutted his chin in her direction. “These days that might seem like an obvious question, considering all the matchmaking going on.”
    “Operation Love is what inspired me to come to Alaska. It’s been all over the news. I’ve been very impressed by the coverage.” She felt a little self-conscious admitting it, but she wanted to find the love of her life. “I’m no different than most people. I want to find my other half. My soul mate. My husband.”
    A hint of a smile played around his lips. “Well, so far the program has been a rousing success. My best friend happens to be the town sheriff, as well as the mayor’s grandson, and he met the love of his life through Jasper’s program.”
    “Jasper? Mayor Jasper Prescott?” Annie’s heart started thumping like crazy. For a good portion of her life, that name had been a constant. Jasper had always featured prominently in Gram’s poignant stories about Love. After Gram’s death, her journal had revealed tender musings about the handsome charmer who had seemingly captured her grandmother’s heart. Her words about Mayor Prescott had made it crystal clear that she had been head over heels in love with him. Perhaps even until her dying day.
    And finally, after all these years, Annie was within reach of unraveling the mystery of her ancestry. She was within reach of uncovering her roots.