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retort with a grin at the little girl. „I’ll go out
    by helicopter if that’s the only alternative, but after this, I’m sticking to ground transportation!“
    „Nonsense,“ Gary groaned, his hand going to his head. „Don’t you know statistics prove you’re far safer in an
    airplane than you are in a car?“
    „Statistics don’t always outweigh emotions,“ Lucas put in wryly, his eyes seeking out Jessica’s gaze. „I know how
    Jessie feels.“
    Before she was able to find a suitably light response, the approaching search plane swept overhead.
    „They didn’t see us!“ Sharon yelped, stricken.
    „They’ll have the signal now,“ Lucas told her calmly. „The plane will be back. Just wait“
    Sure enough, the increasing drone of the engine heralded another pass and this time the plane waggled its
    wingtips in recognition of their presence.
    „Won’t be long now,“ Gary sighed in satisfaction.
    „Does this mean no more rabbit stew?“ Abby chuckled as she climbed to her feet.
    „This means Lucas has to start working on explanations to give his bunnies at the pet shop,“ Jessica couldn’t
    resist putting in.
    „I think I’ll keep my murderous deeds a secret from them if possible,“ Lucas said dryly. „Something tells me they
    wouldn’t understand.“
    The rescuing helicopter arrived two hours later. In the flurry and excitement of the operation, there was no time for
    Jessica to dwell on the events of the previous evening. She threw herself into preparations for being rescued with a
    vengeance, gathering up the various items of clothing and repacking the suitcases. As far as Sharon and Matt were
    concerned, they now regarded the whole event as a camping trip. Abby and Mabel expressed their relief in more subtle
    ways, but it was blatantly evident. Gary and Dave helped Lucas ensure that the tire was well and truly out In a way it
    had been a camping trip, Jessica reflected with a small, disbelieving shake of her head. No one had gone hungry and
    no one had gotten cold, thanks to Lucas. Everyone and everything was well organized and ready for the helicopter,
    but no one ran forward with cries of relief when it landed. The happiness was genuine but not hysterical. There was an
    unspoken knowledge that they could have held out much longer for rescue if it had been necessary. They all boarded
    rather sedately.
    Jessica, seated in the noisy craft, saw the nod of cool, male admiration the pilot gave Lucas as he came through the
    door last. The man had obviously assessed the difference between the morale and health of this group and others he
    had been obliged to assist during the years and knew with unerring instinct who was responsible for it. Lucas took a
    seat beside Jessica as the ‘copter lifted back off the canyon floor. She was eternally grateful that the roar of whirling
    blades made it impossible to talk.
    Mart’s and Sharon’s daddy wasn’t the only one waiting when the helicopter set down on the tarmac of the small
    desert town from which the search crews had been dispatched. The children’s mother was also there, the quarrel with
    her husband evidently forgotten, at least for the duration of the ordeal. The two ran forward to embrace their laughing,
    excited offspring.
    Abby and Mabel found an entire entourage of senior citizens, all friends, plus two generations of family gathered
    in the glaring heat of the sun. Dave was met by his father, a tall man with the carriage of a retired military officer, who
    greeted his son with barely disguised emotion.
    No one came running forward to meet Lucas and as she walked beside him toward the small waiting room, Jessica
    realized that until that moment she hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might have been married. Was the
    rush of relief she now experienced only because she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about having slept with a married
    man?
    „No family here to greet you?“ he asked quietly, surveying the crowd waiting at the