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pulled her close against his side and
    started back toward the campsite. Dazed and bemused, Jessica allowed herself to be guided along the edge of the
    stream. Although her mind was churning with the knowledge of what had happened, her body still remembered the
    lovemaking and it protested the exertion. Some small voice said she should be lying in Lucas’s arms until morning, not
    going back to her own bed alone.
    Just beyond the range of the nearly dead fire with its circle of sleeping people, Lucas drew her to a halt and turned
    her to face him. „Whatever happens now,“ he murmured deeply, „you belong to me.“ He bent his head to brush her
    lips.
    She stared up at him wordlessly, knowing that for die duration of the ordeal she had no choice. In this time and in
    this place she did, indeed, belong to him.
    He released her then, returning her to the cushions that were her bed and making his way back to his own. Across
    the glowing embers that were all that remained of the fire, his eyes met hers as they both settled beneath makeshift
    blankets. Knowing herself hunted and trapped, Jessica stifled a cry deep in her throat and turned to bury her face in
    the cushion. She could no longer meet the masculine possession in that steady gray gaze. Morning became a time to
    dread….
    But the brilliant glow of a desert dawn brought with it the distant drone of an aircraft engine. For Jessica there was
    no time to think about what had happened during the night. She joined the others as they slowly awakened to the
    import of the plane. In taut silence the sleepy passengers sat up in their makeshift beds one by one, staring up at the
    pearl-bright sky.
    Lucas spoke first, glancing over at Gary. „They’ll hit the ELT signal any minute now.“
    Gary exchanged a man-to-man glance with him as he sat erect amid his array of cushions and clothes. „None too
    soon, either.“
    Sensing the undercurrent of grim understanding that was running between the two men, Jessica stared from one to
    the other. „What do you mean?“ she asked.
    Lucas shrugged, his gaze shifting to her questioning face. „The ELT runs on batteries. The signal doesn’t go on
    forever,“ he replied simply.
    „How long?“ she managed tensely, as it began to dawn on her that the instrument in which they had all put so
    much trust might not have been infallible after all.
    „Six to eight days maximum for that model in the Otter,“ Gary told her ruefully.
    He had the full attention of the group now. Mabel stared at him. „You mean Lucas and you knew there was a time
    limit on that device? And you didn’t tell us?“
    „Wasn’t much point in scaring everyone,“ Lucas drawled firmly, throwing back his covers and surging lithely to
    his feet „Do you think my daddy will be in the plane?“ Matt inquired eagerly, leaping off his cushions excitedly. His
    question served to redirect the attention of the group and everyone once again stared skyward.
    „If he’s not in the plane, it’s a sure bet he’ll be waiting for you after the helicopter picks us up,“ Lucas assured the
    boy, ruffling the youngster’s hair affectionately.
    „Helicopter?“ Dave asked interestedly.
    „That’s about all they can use to get us out of this canyon,“ Gary responded seriously. „It was a stroke of luck the
    Otter made it down in one piece. No reasonable pilot would try it if there were alternatives!“
    „And here I was hoping they would send jeeps or mules at the very least!“ Jessica grumbled, getting stiffly to her
    feet She hid a small wince at the unfamiliar twinges in her body. Souvenirs of last night, she thought wryly; memories
    of what it meant to be the only available female in a herd being dominated by a virile male. She bent down to fold
    clothing in an attempt to hide the rush of red into her cheeks.
    „Why did you want them to send out jeeps or mules, Jessie?“ Sharon demanded.
    „Because I have no desire to ever fly again!“ Jessica forced herself to