TRAILS MERGE
by
Rachel Spangler
2008
TRAILS MERGE © 2008 BY R ACHEL SPANGLER. ALL R IGHTS R ESERVED. ISBN 10: 1-60282-039-2E ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-039-5E THIS ELECTRONIC BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY BOLD STROKES BOOKS, INC., P.O. BOX 249 VALLEY FALLS, NY 12185 FIRST EDITION: DECEMBER 2008
THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES, AND INCIDENTS ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE AUTHOR’S IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, EVENTS, OR LOCALES IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL. THIS BOOK, OR PARTS THEREOF, MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION.
CREDITS EDITORS: SHELLEY THRASHER AND STACIA SEAMAN PRODUCTION DESIGN: STACIA SEAMAN COVER DESIGN BY SHERI (
[email protected])
Acknowledgments Trails Merge has had several drafts and the story has evolved VRPHZKDWIURPP\RULJLQDOFRQFHSWEXWDWLWVKHDUWLWUHPDLQVDVWRU\ DERXWIDPLOLHV7KHUHDUHIDPLOLHVZH¶UHERUQLQWRWKHIDPLOLHVZHMRLQ and the families we create. Like my characters, I am a part of many IDPLOLHVDQG,DPJUHDWO\LQGHEWHGWRHDFKRIWKHP 7KH¿UVWLVDIDPLO\,¶YHEHHQOXFN\HQRXJKWRMRLQDW%ROG6WURNHV %RRNV7KDQN\RXWR5DGIRUFUHDWLQJWKLVIDPLO\RIZULWHUVDQGOHWWLQJ PHEHDSDUWRILW7KDQNVDOVRJRRXWWRP\DPD]LQJHGLWRU6KHOOH\ 7KUDVKHUIRUKHUHQGOHVVSDWLHQFHZLWKPHDQGWR-HQQLIHU.QLJKWIRUKHU FRQWLQXHGRYHUVLJKW$VDOZD\V6KHUL¶VFRYHUVDUHLPSUHVVLYHDQGVKH gets extra thanks this time for incorporating my own picture of a trails PHUJHVLJQWKDWZDVLPSHFFDEO\VKRWE\:LOO%DQNVDQRWKHUSHUVRQ, consider myself lucky to have as part of several of my families. I also RZHDGHEWRIJUDWLWXGHWR6WDFLD6HDPDQIRUKHU¿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and cousins have all played a part in making me who I am today. I know I could call any one of them, at any time, for any reason, and they ZRXOGEHWKHUHIRUPH,DPWUXO\EOHVVHGWRKDYHHDFKDQGHYHU\RQH of them in my life. Last and most important is the family I’ve created. Susie, the love of my life, you give me the strength and the inspiration to chase my GUHDPV:LWKRXW\RXULQÀXHQFH,¶GEHRQO\DVKDGRZRIP\WUXHVHOI $QG -DFNVRQ WKH OLJKW RI P\ OLIH \RX¶YH VKRZQ PH WKH PHDQLQJ RI XQFRQGLWLRQDOORYH,EHFDPHZKROHWKHPLQXWH,EHFDPH\RXUPRP
Dedication 7R6XVLHDQG-DFNVRQ You are my greatest adventure. $QG6XVLHLW¶VVWLOO\RXUIDXOW
TRAILS MERGE
PROLOGUE
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RACHEL SPANGLER IURPWKHFLW\DQGVKHUHVHQWHG&DPSEHOO¶VFRQQHFWLRQZLWKKHUODUJH H[WHQGHGIDPLO\6KHDOZD\VIRXQGVRPHWKLQJWRFRPSODLQDERXW²WKH ODFNRIFHOOSKRQHUHFHSWLRQWKHZD\&DPSEHOO¶VPRWKHUKRYHUHGRYHU her children, or the lack of nightlife on the mountain. Lynn didn’t have a good relationship with her own relatives, and she couldn’t understand &DPSEHOO¶VGHVLUHWRVWD\FORVHWRKHUV 6WLOO&DPSEHOOWKRXJKWDZHHNHQGRQWKHPRXQWDLQZRXOGEHJRRG IRUWKHP/\QQZDVRYHUZRUNHGDQGWKH\KDGQ¶WVSHQWDQ\TXDOLW\WLPH WRJHWKHULQZHHNV7KH\QHHGHGWRUHFRQQHFW&DPSEHOOZDVORQHO\DQG UHDG\IRUVRPHWLPHDZD\IURPWKHIXQGUDLVHUVEXVLQHVVGLQQHUVDQG ODWHQLJKWSKRQHFDOOVWKDWKDGWDNHQRYHUWKHLUOLIHLQWKHSDVW\HDUDV /\QQFOLPEHGWKHFDUHHUODGGHU &DPSEHOO¶V GD\V ZHUHQ¶W EDG VLQFH VKH ZRUNHG ZLWK DQ XQGHUSULYLOHJHG\RXWKSURJUDPDWWKHORFDO<0&$DQGHQMR\HGWKHWLPH VKHVSHQWZLWKWKHNLGV%XWKHUQLJKWVZHUHORQJDQGWKHZHHNHQGV GUDJJHGRQIRUHYHUZLWK/\QQZRUNLQJVRPXFK7KH\JRWRXWRIWHQ EXWXVXDOO\IRUDSROLWLFDOHYHQW/\QQQHHGHGWRDWWHQGDQGWKHLUSHHU JURXSFRQVLVWHGHQWLUHO\RIKHUEXVLQHVVDVVRFLDWHVDQGFROOHDJXHVZKR ZHUHDVEXV\DQGGULYHQDV/\QQ ³+H\ KRQH\´ /\QQ EXVWOHG WKURXJK WKH GRRU DQG LPPHGLDWHO\ EHJDQWRFKDQJHFORWKHV &DPSEHOO VPLOHG DW WKH ÀDVK RI SRUFHODLQ VNLQ VKH JOLPSVHG DV /\QQWUDGHGRQHGUHVVVKLUWIRUDQRWKHU/\QQZDVHYHU\ELWDVVWXQQLQJ as the day they met in college. 6KHZDVVWLOOHYHU\ELWDVSDVVLRQDWHDQGRXWVSRNHQWRRDQGKRW WHPSHUHG DV KHU ÀDPHUHG KDLU LQGLFDWHG ZKLFK ZDV ZK\ &DPSEHOO instantly fell in love with her, and that love hadn’t wavered. ³,NQRZ\RXGRQ¶WZDQWWRKHDUWKLVEXW,MXVWJRWDQLQWHUYLHZ ZLWKDVWDIIHURIRQHRIWKHVHQDWRUVZKR¶VEHHQVWDOOLQJWKHKDWHFULPHV ELOO´ ³7KDW¶VJUHDW´&DPSEHOOVDLG³
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RACHEL SPANGLER 6DGO\VKHSLFNHGXSKHUVXLWFDVHOHDYLQJ/\QQ¶VRQWKHÀRRUWKHQ slipped the key to the apartment from her pocket, placed it on the coffee WDEOHDQGFORVHGWKHGRRUEHKLQGKHU
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER ONE
Six Months Later 3DUNHU5LOH\VKRXOGHUHGRSHQWKHGRRUWRKHUQHZRI¿FHDER[ RI KHU SHUVRQDO EHORQJLQJV LQ RQH DUP DQG D VWDFN RI ¿OH IROGHUV LQ WKH RWKHU 6KH GURSSHG WKH ER[ DQG IROGHUV RQ WRS RI DQ ROG ZRRGHQ GHVN DQG ORRNHG DURXQG 7KH ZDOOV KDG SUREDEO\ EHHQ ZKLWH DW RQH SRLQWEXWWKH\ZHUHQRZGLQJ\DQG\HOORZLVK7KHWKLFNEURZQFDUSHW shaded from light to dark in various parts of the room, depending on the DPRXQWRIGLUHFWVXQOLJKWLWKDGEHHQVXEMHFWHGWRRYHUWKH\HDUV7KH FHLOLQJVLQNHHSLQJZLWKWKHDOSLQHWKHPHRIWKHROGEXLOGLQJSHDNHG KLJKDQGWKHQVORSHGGUDVWLFDOO\GRZQZDUGZLWKDZLQGRZVHWEDFNLQ the dormers on each of the outside walls. She walked over to a window and had to admit the view wasn’t XQDWWUDFWLYH 7KH IDOO FRORUV ZHUH DOPRVW DW WKHLU EULJKWHVW SDLQWLQJ EULOOLDQWUHGV\HOORZVDQGRUDQJHVDFURVVWKHURZVRIWUHHVWKDWFOLPEHG the steep incline of the terrain. ³1RWEDG´VKHPXPEOHGWRKHUVHOIWKHQVKRRNKHUKHDG³EXWLW¶V not Chicago.” 6KH WUXGJHG EDFN WR KHU GHVN DQG ÀRSSHG LQWR D ULFNHW\ VZLYHO FKDLU ,W JDYH PRUH WKDQ VKH H[SHFWHG DQG VKH JUDEEHG WKH VLGHV RI WKHGHVNWRNHHSIURPWXPEOLQJEDFNZDUG$IWHUVWHDG\LQJKHUVHOIVKH UXEEHGKHUIRUHKHDGDQGZRQGHUHGLIWKLVQHDUIDOOZDVDPHWDSKRUIRU KHUOLIH)DOOHQSROLWLFLDQVOHDGLQJWRDIDOOLQKHUFDUHHUWRSSHGRIIE\ WKHIDOOLQJDSDUWRIDWZR\HDUUHODWLRQVKLS1RZ VKHZDV UHGXFHGWR IDOOLQJRXWRIROGGHVNFKDLUVDW%HDU5XQ6NL+LOOLQ:LVFRQVLQ
RACHEL SPANGLER 7KH SRVVLELOLW\ ZDV DOPRVW WRR GHSUHVVLQJ WR FRQWHPSODWH EXW EHIRUHVKHKDGWLPHWRGZHOORQLWDNQRFNLQWHUUXSWHGKHUSLW\SDUW\ (PHU\&DUVRQKHUQHZERVVVWHSSHGWKURXJKWKHGRRUZD\ “Well, I guess you found the place all right,” he said as he glanced DURXQGWKHRI¿FH “Yeah, thanks,” Parker replied, not sure what else to say to the PDQZKRVWRRGWKHUH+HZRUH&DUKDUWRYHUDOOVDQGPXGG\ZRUNERRWV QRW H[DFWO\ EXVLQHVV DWWLUH ZKHUH 3DUNHU FDPH IURP EXW VKH ZRXOG SUREDEO\VHHDORWPRUHRILW(PHU\ZDVQ¶WDVROGDVVKHKDGDVVXPHG GXULQJKHULQLWLDOLQWHUYLHZPD\EHLQKLVPLGWRODWHIRUWLHV+HZDV FOHDQVKDYHQDQGVPHOOHGSOHDVDQWO\RI&RRO:DWHUFRORJQHEXWKHZDV far from the slick and polished Ivy Leaguers she usually worked for. $QGZKLOHVKHLPPHGLDWHO\OLNHGKLPVKHZDVDWDORVVDERXWZKDWWR VD\WRKLP)LQDOO\VKHIHOOEDFNRQWKHRQHWKLQJVKHNQHZ²KHUMRE “I should start researching the clientele demographics to see what , KDYH WR GHDO ZLWK :KHUH FDQ , JHW WKH VSHF VKHHWV RI VHDVRQSDVV KROGHUVIRUWKHSDVW¿YH\HDUV"$OVRWKHFRQIHUHQFHERRNLQJVIRUDVIDU EDFNDV\RXKDYHWKHPZRXOGEHKHOSIXO´ ³7KHFRQIHUHQFHOHGJHUVDUHLQWKHPDLQRI¿FHEXWRXUERRNNHHSHU GRHVQ¶WFRPHLQRQZHHNHQGV´(PHU\VDLGUXQQLQJKLV¿QJHUVWKURXJK KLVSHUIHFWO\FRLIIHGJROGHQKDLU³$QGZH¶YHQHYHUFRPSLOHGDQ\VSHF VKHHWV RQ VHDVRQSDVV KROGHUV :H KDYH D OLVW RI QDPHV DQG SKRQH QXPEHUVRQWKHFRPSXWHUWKRXJK´ ³2ND\WKDW¶VDVWDUW´3DUNHUWULHGQRWWROHWKHUIUXVWUDWLRQZLWKWKH ODFNRIUHFRUGNHHSLQJVKRZ³&DQ,KDYHWKRVH"´ ³7KH\¶UHLQWKHIURQWRI¿FHWRR,FDQJHW\RXDNH\EXWLI\RX ZDLWXQWLO0RQGD\WKHVHFUHWDU\ZLOOSULQWHYHU\WKLQJRXWIRU\RX:K\ don’t you take some time to settle in?” 3DUNHUWKRXJKWRIDOOWKHER[HVWKHPRYHUVKDGXQFHUHPRQLRXVO\ dropped in the living room of her apartment less than a mile from the UHVRUW³2ND\,JXHVV,FDQZDLWXQWLOWRPRUURZ´ ³1RWWRPRUURZ7RPRUURZ¶V6XQGD\´ 3DUNHUSDXVHGWU\LQJWRIROORZ(PHU\¶VORJLF ³1RERG\ZRUNV6XQGD\VKHUHGXULQJWKHRIIVHDVRQ,W¶VDGD\RI rest.” Parker stood up. Sitting down when someone else was standing SXWKHULQDRQHGRZQSRVLWLRQ³,¶PQRWUHDOO\DUHOLJLRXVSHUVRQ´ ³1HLWKHU DP ,´ (PHU\ FKXFNOHG ³%XW RQFH WKH VQRZ ÀLHV ZH
TRAILS MERGE ZRQ¶WJHWDEUHDNDURXQGKHUHIRUDVROLGVL[PRQWKVVRWDNHWKHWLPH now.” 3DUNHUQRGGHGQRWZDQWLQJWRGLVDJUHHVRHDUO\RQKHU¿UVWGD\ “If you say so.” ³6OHHSLQRUXQSDFNLQWKHPRUQLQJ7KHQ\RXFDQPHHWWKHUHVWRI WKH\HDUURXQGVWDIIDWWKHVRIWEDOOJDPHLQWKHDIWHUQRRQ´ ³6RIWEDOOJDPH"´ ³
3DUNHU FULQJHG DW WKH VLJKW RI KHU DSDUWPHQW 7KH PRYHUV KDG EHHQREOLYLRXVWRWKHRI¿FLDOODEHOVVKHKDGSDLQVWDNLQJO\FUHDWHGDQG DWWDFKHGWRHDFKER[WRGHWDLOLWVFRQWHQWVDQGZKLFKURRPLWEHORQJHG LQ,QVWHDGWKH\KDGGURSSHGHYHU\WKLQJLQDVHULHVRIKDSKD]DUGSLOHV MXVWLQVLGHWKHGRRU3DUNHUVOLSSHGWKURXJKWKHDYDLODEOHVSDFHOHIWE\ WKHKDOIRSHQGRRUDQGZRYHEHWZHHQVWDFNVRIER[HVSLFNLQJDSDWK through the mess toward the kitchen. :KHQ VKH ¿QDOO\ PDGH LW WR WKH UHIULJHUDWRU VKH IRXQG D ORQH FDUWRQRIEHHIFKRZPHLQVKH¶GSLFNHGXSRQKHUGULYHIURP&KLFDJR WR%HDU5XQ6KHJUDEEHGLWDQGVQLIIHGEHIRUHVKHVXFFXPEHGWRWKH LQHYLWDEOHDQGWRVVHGLWLQWRWKHPLFURZDYH7KHRQO\RWKHULWHPQRWVWLOO LQDER[ZDVDQXQRSHQHGERWWOHRIUHGZLQHVKHKDGERXJKWDWRQHRI
RACHEL SPANGLER WKHZLQHDQGFKHHVHKXWVWKDWVHHPHGWREHWKHRQO\W\SHRIVKRSVWKDW survived in this part of Wisconsin. ³:HOO´ 3DUNHU PXPEOHG WR KHUVHOI DV VKH JUDEEHG WKH ERWWOH RI wine, “red meat does call for red wine.” She closed the door to the now FRPSOHWHO\EDUUHQIULGJHDQGVHDUFKHGWKURXJKWKHPD]HRIER[HVIRU D FRUNVFUHZ DQG D ZLQHJODVV:KHQ VKH GLGQ¶W ¿QG WKH JODVVHV ULJKW DZD\ VKH UHDOL]HG PRVW RI KHU IUDJLOH LWHPV KDG SUREDEO\ HQGHG XS EHQHDWKVHYHUDOKHDYLHUER[HVSHUKDSVKHUERRNVRUKHUIUHHZHLJKWV 6KH ZDQGHUHG EDFN LQWR WKH NLWFKHQ DQG UHWULHYHG WKH VWHDPLQJ EHHIDQGQRRGOHVDQGXQFRUNHGWKHZLQH6LWWLQJDWWKHNLWFKHQWDEOH she used a plastic fork that came with the carryout and shrugged at KRZGHVSHUDWHVKHZRXOGORRNWRDQ\RQHZKRPLJKWVHHKHU%XWWKDW WKRXJKWGLGQ¶WVWRSKHUIURPVZLJJLQJGLUHFWO\IURPWKHERWWOH :KHQ VKH ZDV DERXW KDOIZD\ WKURXJK KHU PHDO KHU FHOO SKRQH rang shrilly. 6KH¿QLVKHGVZDOORZLQJDPRXWKIXORIQRRGOHVDVVKH¿VKHGWKH phone from her pocket. “Parker Riley.” ³*UHHQ$FUHVLVWKHSODFHWREH´VDQJVRPHRQHRQWKHRWKHUHQG of the line. 3DUNHU FKXFNOHG DW KHU EHVW IULHQG 6KH FRXOG SLFWXUH $OH[LV 5H\QROGVFOHDUO\KHUSODWLQXPEORQGKDLUIDOOLQJRYHUKHUVKRXOGHUVDQG GRZQKHUOLWKHIUDPHZKLOHKHUVKDUSEOXHH\HVGDQFHGZLWKODXJKWHU ³+L$OH[LV´ “Hello, darling. Have you fed the chickens and milked the cows yet?” ³,GRQ¶WKDYHDQ\FKLFNHQVRUFRZV$OH[LV,QIDFW,KDYHQ¶WVHHQ a single chicken since I got here.” ³%XWEHKRQHVW
TRAILS MERGE “No. I’m having Chinese food at home.” ³2K GHDU´$OH[LV VLJKHG KHDYLO\ ³, MXVW KDG WKH PRVW KRUULEOH YLVLRQRI\RXVLWWLQJDORQHVXUURXQGHGE\ER[HVHDWLQJROGPRRVKRR and drinking whiskey out of a Dixie cup.” ³,W¶V QRW ZKLVNH\ ,¶P GULQNLQJ D YHU\ QLFH FDEHUQHW´ 3DUNHU UHSOLHGLQDQDWWHPSWWRUHDVVHUWKHUGLJQLW\7KHQVKHDGGHGPRUHVRIWO\ ³$QG,FDQ¶W¿QGP\FXSV´ “Honey, you’re positively depressing. When do you plan to stop punishing yourself?” ³$OH[LV ZH¶YH EHHQ WKURXJK WKLV DOUHDG\ ,¶P QRW SXQLVKLQJ P\VHOI´3DUNHUVDLGVHULRXVO\³,¶PVWDUWLQJRYHUFOHDQVODWHEDFNWR WKHEDVLFV²´ ³2IIWR¿QG\RXUVHOILQWKHJUHDWZLOG\RQGHU´$OH[LVDGGHGZLWK fake enthusiasm. “Yes.” ³$QG LVRODWLQJ \RXUVHOI WR ZDOORZ LQ VHOISLW\ LV SDUW RI WKLV UHMXYHQDWLRQSURFHVV"´ “I’m not wallowing.” “Sitting at home and drinking alone on a Saturday night doesn’t constitute wallowing?” ³,¶PVLPSO\HQMR\LQJVRPHSHDFHDQGTXLHWIRURQFH´ “I have a feeling you plan to do that a lot in the upcoming months.” ³'RQ¶WPDNHPHVRXQGOLNHDKHUPLW$OH[LV,¶YHRQO\EHHQKHUH two days. I’m still getting settled.” ³, NQRZ ,¶P MXVW ZRUULHG DERXW \RX´$OH[LV¶V YRLFH VRIWHQHG “I can’t stand the thought of you up there alone. You’re a social FUHDWXUH KRQH\
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TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TWO
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DPSEHOO´WKHSLWFKHUVKRXWHGZKHQWKHEDOOKLWWKHSDOPRI KLVJORYH³&RROLW:H¶UHMXVWZDUPLQJXS´ &DPSEHOOODXJKHGDWKHUEURWKHUDVKHVKRRNKLVJORYHGKDQGWR relieve the sting. “Sorry, Sammy. I forget how fragile you are,” she teased. “You know I can take any heat you’ve got. Just let me warm up ¿UVW´6DPP\GHIHQGHGKLVHJR ³:KDWHYHU\RXVD\´&DPSEHOOFURXFKHGEHKLQGKRPHSODWH6KH WKHQSRXQGHGKHU¿VWLQWRWKHSLWRIKHUPLWWVLJQDOLQJIRUKLPWRTXLW talking and start throwing. Sammy wound up and, using a swift underhand motion, hurled DVRIWEDOOGLUHFWO\RYHUWKHSODWHDQGLQWR&DPSEHOO¶VPLWWZLWKDFULVS SRS$IWHUVOLSSLQJKHUPDVNRYHUKHUKHDGVKHVKRXWHGWRDJURXSRI men standing near a sideline. “We’re ready.” ³8KRK´ VRPHRQH VLWWLQJ RQ WKH PDNHVKLIW EOHDFKHUV EHKLQG D FKDLQOLQNIHQFHVDLG³&DPSEHOO¶VJRW6DPP\ZRUNHGXSDJDLQ´ &DPSEHOOFKXFNOHGDQGSXWKHUPDVNEDFNGRZQ³%DWWHUXS´ 7KH¿UVWKLWWHUDSSURDFKHGWKHSODWHDPDQLQKLVPLGWKLUWLHVZLWK DEHHUEHOO\EXOJLQJXQGHUKLVORQJVOHHYHG7VKLUW&DPSEHOOÀDVKHG KHULQGH[¿QJHUIURPKHU¿VWMXVWEHORZKHUFDWFKHU¶VPLWWVLJQDOLQJ IRU 6DPP\¶V VLJQDWXUH SLWFK +H ZRXQG XS DQG GHOLYHUHG WKH EDOO VZLIWO\DFURVVWKHLQVLGHRIWKHSODWH7KHEDWWHUVZXQJVHYHUDOVHFRQGV too late. ³6WULNH RQH´ &DPSEHOO FDOOHG DV VKH WRVVHG WKH EDOO EDFN WR Sammy.
RACHEL SPANGLER .QRZLQJWKDWVKHKDGEROVWHUHGKHUEURWKHU¶VFRQ¿GHQFHVKHRQFH DJDLQORZHUHGKHULQGH[¿QJHUWKLVWLPHÀDVKLQJLWVOLJKWO\WRWKHOHIW 6DPP\OHWORRVHDQRWKHU¿UHEDOO7KHEDWWHUVZXQJZLWKDORXGJUXQW EXWGLGQ¶WHYHQFRPHFORVH &DPSEHOO VPLOHG DV VKH ÀDVKHG WKH QH[W VLJQ$Q LQGH[ ¿QJHU KHOGVWHDG\SRLQWLQJGLUHFWO\GRZQZDUG+HUEURWKHUZDVQ¶WWKHRQO\ RQH ZLWK D FRPSHWLWLYH VWUHDN WKRXJK &DPSEHOO GLGQ¶W VKRZ KHUV DV UHDGLO\ 6DPP\ JDYH KHU DQ DOPRVW XQSHUFHLYDEOH JULQ EHIRUH KH EURXJKWWKHKHDWULJKWGRZQWKHPLGGOHRIWKHSODWH7KHEDWWHU¶VNQHHV DOPRVWEXFNOHGDVWKHEDOOÀHZE\KLP+H¶GEDUHO\JRWWHQWKHEDWRII KLVVKRXOGHUZKHQ&DPSEHOOFDOOHGRXW³2QHGRZQWZRWRJR´ 7KHVHFRQGKLWWHUDQRWKHUPDQLQKLVWKLUWLHVZHQWRXWVZLQJLQJ RQVWULNHVEXW&DPSEHOOUHDOL]HG6DPP\ZDVJHWWLQJWRRFRPIRUWDEOH 6KHQHHGHGWRUDWWOHKLPEHIRUHKHJRWWRRFRFN\ 7KH WKLUG EDWWHU D \RXQJ ZRPDQ VWHSSHG XS WR WKH SODWH DQG GXJ LQ ZLWK KHU EDFN KHHO 7KLV WLPH &DPSEHOO ÀDVKHG WZR ¿QJHUV GRZQZDUGMXVWEHORZKHUPLWW7KH\ERWKNQHZ6DPP\FRXOGQ¶WWKURZ DFXUYHEDOO+HUROOHGKLVH\HVDQGWKUHZDQRWKHURQHULJKWGRZQWKH SLSHDWEUHDNQHFNVSHHG7KHZRPDQFDXJKWDSLHFHRIWKHEDOODQGVHQW LWVWUDLJKWXSLQWKHDLU&DPSEHOOKRSSHGWRKHUIHHWDQGWKUHZRIIKHU PDVNLQWKHVDPHPRWLRQ$OLJQLQJKHUERG\GLUHFWO\XQGHUWKHEDOOVKH trapped it neatly with one hand. &DPSEHOOZLQNHGDWKHUEURWKHURQKHUZD\WRWKHVLGHOLQHV³,I \RX¶GOHDUQWRWKURZDFXUYH,ZRXOGQ¶WKDYHWREDLO\RXRXWOLNHWKDW´ That should keep him hyped up for the next inning. ³%DLOPHRXW"´6DPP\DVNHGDVKHMRLQHGKHULQWKHGXJRXW &DPSEHOOVKUXJJHGDVVKHVOLSSHGRIIKHUPLWWDQGJUDEEHGDEDW ³2QHSHUVRQJRWDEDWRQWKHEDOODOOLQQLQJEXW\RXEDLOHGPH out?” ³$P , JRLQJ WR KDYH WR VHSDUDWH \RX WZR"´ WKHLU XQFOH (PHU\ &DUVRQDVNHGFODVSLQJ&DPSEHOO¶VVKRXOGHU ³
TRAILS MERGE &DPSEHOOZDVFORVHZLWKDOOKHUIDPLO\PHPEHUVVKHDQG(PHU\VKDUHG DQ XQVSRNHQ FDPDUDGHULH WKDW UHDFKHG EDFN WR KHU HDUO\ FKLOGKRRG ³+H\,MXVWVDZVRPHRQH,ZDQW\RXWRPHHWDIWHUWKHJDPH´ ³:KR"´ &DPSEHOO KDG NQRZQ HYHU\RQH DURXQG WKH UHVRUW IRU years. ³7KHQHZPDUNHWLQJZRPDQMXVWJRWKHUH´+HQRGGHGWRZDUGD VOHQGHUZRPDQZKRVWRRGRIIWRWKHVLGHRIWKHEOHDFKHUVZLWKDSDLU RIORZULVHEOXHMHDQVVOXQJORRVHO\RYHUKHUKLSVDQGD¿WWHGJUD\VKLUW tight enough to show her curves without clinging to them. Her long dark hair was in a loose ponytail, and the corners of her mouth were turned VOLJKWO\XSZDUGLQDORRNRIDPXVHPHQWWKDWGLGQ¶WTXLWHTXDOLI\DVD VPLOH+HUH\HVZHUHKLGGHQEHKLQGVXQJODVVHVEXW&DPSEHOOWKRXJKW she was looking in their direction. She immediately felt a strange twinge LQWKHSLWRIKHUVWRPDFKEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WGHWHUPLQHZK\KHUDWWUDFWLRQ to the stunning woman unsettled her. ³+H\\RXVWLOOKHUH"´(PHU\DVNHGZDYLQJDKDQGLQIURQWRIKHU eyes. &DPSEHOO EOXVKHG ZKHQ VKH UHDOL]HG VKH¶G EHHQ FDXJKW VWDULQJ “Yeah, sorry. What did you say?” (PHU\UDLVHGDTXHVWLRQLQJH\HEURZ³
RACHEL SPANGLER WROHWDQRWKHUEDOOSDVW7KLVWLPHZKHQWKHSLWFKHUUHOHDVHGWKHEDOOVKH ZDVDOUHDG\PRYLQJWKHEDWEXWLQPLGVZLQJVKHUHDOL]HGWKHEDOOZDV RXWVLGHWKHVWULNH]RQH7RRIDUJRQHWRSXOOEDFNVKHIXOO\H[WHQGHGKHU DUPVRYHUWKHSODWHDQGIHOWWKHHQGRIWKHEDWFROOLGHZLWKWKHEDOO6KH NQHZLWZRXOGQ¶WJRIDUVRVKHTXLFNO\GURSSHGWKHEDWDQGVSULQWHG WRZDUG¿UVWEDVH $VVKHUDQWKHVKRUWVWRSVFRRSHGXSWKHEDOODQGWRVVHGLWWRWKH VHFRQGEDVHPDQZKRWDJJHGWKHEDJEHIRUH6DPP\ZDVHYHQKDOIZD\ WKHUHWKHQKXUOHGLWWRZDUG¿UVWIRUWKHGRXEOHSOD\&DPSEHOOSRZHUHG XSKHUVWULGHEXWHYHQDVKHUIRRWWRXFKHGWKHEDJVKHNQHZWKHEDVHPDQ KDGWKHRXWORFNHGXS$IWHUVKHEXUQHGRXWKHUVSHHGVKHGLGQ¶WHYHQ ORRNEDFN,QVWHDGVKHMRJJHGWRZDUGWKHEHQFKWRJUDEKHUPLWWDQG mask. $VVKHWXUQHGWROHDYHWKHGXJRXW6DPP\VWRRGLQIURQWRIKHU ZLWKKLVDUPVIROGHG³
TRAILS MERGE 3DUNHUJDYHKLPDQLQTXLVLWLYHORRN³,GLG´ ³1HZVWUDYHOVIDVWDURXQGKHUHKRQH\´,UHQH¶VSLHFLQJEOXHH\HV WKH VDPH RQHV &DPSEHOO VDZ LQ WKH PLUURU HDFK PRUQLQJ VSDUNOHG when she laughed. ³,JXHVVLWGRHV,RQO\JRWKHUH)ULGD\QLJKW´ “Do you need help unpacking?” Sammy asked, edging closer to her. “I’ve got it under control.” ³:HOOLI\RXQHHGDQ\WKLQJMXVWJLYHPHDQG&DPSEHOODFDOO:H OLYHDVKRUWZDONWKURXJKWKHWLPEHUIURPZKHUH\RXDUH´ ³$QG ZH¶UH RQO\ D ELW IDUWKHU XS WKH PRXQWDLQ´ *UHJ DGGHG “though I don’t do much walking anymore.” ³7KDQNV WKDW¶V QLFH RI \RX´ 3DUNHU UHVSRQGHG SROLWHO\ EXW GLVPLVVLYHO\7KHUHZDVDGH¿DQFHLQKHUVWDQFHWKDWPDGH&DPSEHOO suspect this woman didn’t often depend on other people for help. ³:H¶G EHWWHU JHW RQ KRPH´ ,UHQH VDLG ³'R \RX QHHG D ULGH somewhere, Parker?” “No, I’m on foot.” ³:HDUHWRR0RP´6DPP\VDLG³:H¶OOKHDGEDFNZLWKKHU´ &DPSEHOO UROOHG KHU H\HV DW KHU EURWKHU¶V WUDQVSDUHQW DWWHPSW DW chivalry. ³$OOULJKWLWZDVQLFHWRPHHW\RX3DUNHUDQGZH¶OOVHH\RXWZR later,” Irene said. 7KH IDPLO\ VDLG JRRGE\H WR RQH DQRWKHU ZLWK KXJV DOO DURXQG EHIRUH3DUNHU&DPSEHOODQG6DPP\WRRNWKHURDGWKDWFLUFOHGWKHUHVRUW DQG VXUURXQGLQJ UHVLGHQFHV7KH EUHH]H ZDV EHJLQQLQJ WR WXUQ FKLOO\ LQWKHVKDGRZVEXWWKHODWHDIWHUQRRQVXQZDVHQRXJKWRZDUPWKHP ZKHUHLWUHDFKHGEHWZHHQWKHWUHHVDQGWKHEXLOGLQJVWKH\SDVVHG &DPSEHOOZDVXQVXUHZKDWWRPDNHRI3DUNHU6KHZDVEHDXWLIXO EXWDOVRUHVHUYHG,IQRWIRUKHUSUDFWLFHGVPLOHVKHZRXOGKDYHFRPH across as aloof. Despite her cordial interactions with them, she seemed GLVWUDFWHG DV LI VKH¶G UDWKHU EH VRPHZKHUH HOVH +HU FORWKHV ZHUH D designer attempt at casual, and her perfectly manicured nails indicated that she wasn’t used to spending much time outdoors. &DPSEHOOWULHGWR¿JXUHRXWZK\WKLVZRPDQGLVFRQFHUWHGKHUEXW ¿QDOO\FRQFOXGHGWKDW3DUNHUVHHPHGVOLJKWO\XQFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKKHU company and not very eager to make small talk.
RACHEL SPANGLER Sammy, on the other hand, appeared determined to keep up a conversation with the newcomer, asking, “So, what do you think of the mountain?” “It’s very pretty with all the leaves changing colors,” she responded with seeming sincerity. ³,EHW\RXGLGQ¶WJHWPXFKIROLDJHLQ&KLFDJRGLG\RX"´ ³1R,OLYHGULJKWGRZQWRZQDIHZEORFNVRIIWKHODNHVKRUHDQG didn’t make it far from there very often.” “Were you in marketing?” “I was in politics,” Parker said, a hint of tension in her voice. &DPSEHOO ZRQGHUHG ZKDW LW ZDV DERXW SROLWLFV WKDW WKH ZRPDQ didn’t want to discuss. People in politics usually didn’t want to discuss anything else. 7KDQNIXOO\6DPP\DSSHDUHGWREHREOLYLRXVWRKHUGLVFRPIRUWDV KHUDPEOHGRQ³7KHQZKDWEURXJKW\RXXSKHUHWRRXUOLWWOHPRXQWDLQ in the woods?” ³,WZDVWLPHIRUDFKDQJHDQGWKLVZDVDELJRQH´3DUNHUVWDWHG ÀDWO\WKHQDGGHGWKDWFRQWULYHGVPLOH &DPSEHOO KHDUG WKH QRQFRPPLWWDO FRPPHQW IRU ZKDW LW ZDV DQ DWWHPSW WR GRGJH WKH KHDUW RI WKH TXHVWLRQ 7KH ZRPDQ ZDVQ¶W LQWURYHUWHGEXWJXDUGHGDQGWKDWIDFWSLTXHG&DPSEHOO¶VVXVSLFLRQV Sammy was right to wonder why a woman like this would come to a SODFHOLNH%HDU5XQ6RPHWKLQJGLGQ¶WDGGXSEXWVKHREYLRXVO\GLGQ¶W ZDQWWRWDONDERXWKHUSHUVRQDOVLWXDWLRQDQG&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WLQWHQGWR SXVKWKHVXEMHFWDQ\IXUWKHU ³
TRAILS MERGE ³$Q\WLPH´ 6DPP\ VDLG JHQLDOO\ ³,I \RX HYHU QHHG DQ\WKLQJ ZH¶UHWKH¿IWKFDELQXSRQWKHOHIW´ ³7KDQNV,¶OONHHSWKDWLQPLQG´ ³,W ZDV QLFH WR PHHW \RX´ &DPSEHOO DGGHG DV 3DUNHU WXUQHG WR leave. “You, too.” $IWHU3DUNHUOHIW&DPSEHOODQG6DPP\VORZO\VWDUWHGXSWKHKLOO settling into an easy silence that came from spending so much of their OLYHVWRJHWKHU:KHQWKH\UHDFKHGWKHLUFDELQWKH\ERWKNLFNHGRIIWKHLU VRIWEDOOFOHDWVDQGGURSSHGWKHLUJHDUMXVWLQVLGHWKHGRRUZD\6DPP\ JUDEEHGDFDQRIVRGDIURPWKHIULGJHFUDFNLQJLWRSHQDVKHÀRSSHG on the couch. &DPSEHOOUDQKHUKDQGWKURXJKKHUVKRXOGHUOHQJWKJROGHQEURZQ KDLUPDWWHGGRZQIURPWKHEDOOFDSVKH¶GZRUQDQGJODQFHGGRZQDW KHU VKLUW DQG SDQWV FRYHUHG LQ WKH UHG FOD\ RI WKH VRIWEDOO GLDPRQG “I’m going to take a shower.” ³+H\ &DP´ 6DPP\ FDOOHG DV VKH VWDUWHG WR FOLPE WKH VWDLUV WR her loft. “What?” “You think Parker plays for your team or mine?” &DPSEHOOVKUXJJHGVOLJKWO\XQFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKWKHLPSOLFDWLRQV RI KLV TXHVWLRQ7KH SRVVLELOLW\ WKDW 3DUNHU ZRXOG EH GDWLQJ PDWHULDO XQFRYHUHGWKDWROGKXUWVKHKDGZRUNHGVRKDUGWREXU\³:KDWGLIIHUHQFH GRHVLWPDNH",¶PVXUHDZRPDQOLNHWKDWZRXOGQ¶WEHLQWHUHVWHGLQVNL EXPVOLNHXV´ ³6SHDNIRU\RXUVHOI,¶PTXLWHDFDWFK´ &DPSEHOOZRQGHUHGLI6DPP\KDGKHDUGKHUVOLJKWELWWHUQHVV6KH ZDV D OLWWOHGLVFRQFHUWHG WR GHWHFW LW KHUVHOI 6RPHWKLQJ DERXW 3DUNHU had sparked it. What was more, the guarded new marketing director ZDVUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDQHYHQPRUHXQVHWWOLQJUHVSRQVH)RUWKH¿UVWWLPH LQVL[PRQWKV&DPSEHOO¶VSXOVHZDVUDFLQJ
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER THREE
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DUNHUZDVWKH¿UVWRQHWRDUULYHIRUKHUPHHWLQJZLWKWKHHQWLUH UHVRUW PDQDJHPHQW VWDII 6KH KDG EHHQ DW %HDU 5XQ IRU MXVW over two weeks and completely immersed herself in her work. She SRUHGRYHUWKHGLVRUJDQL]HGUHFRUGVRIVHDVRQSDVVKROGHUVDQGVSHQW days sifting through the names of anyone who had skied here for the SDVWIHZVHDVRQV$IWHULQSXWWLQJWKHQDPHVLQWRDVLPSOHVSUHDGVKHHW then adding the ages, or approximate ages, of the pass holders, she UDQ VRPH FRUUHODWLRQV DQG FUHDWHG D IHZ JUDSKV 2QFH VKH FRPSLOHG WKHGDWDVKHVSRWWHGDWUHQGLPPHGLDWHO\6KHZDQWHGWRWDONDERXWLW during today’s meeting. ³*RRGPRUQLQJ3DUNHU´(PHU\&DUVRQVDLGZLWKKLVZDUPVPLOH DVKHVKUXJJHGRIIKLVOLJKWGHQLPMDFNHWDQGWRVVHGLWRYHUWKHEDFNRI his chair. ³+L (PHU\´ 3DUNHU UHWXUQHG KLV VPLOH 7KH\ KDG YLUWXDOO\ QRWKLQJLQFRPPRQEXWVKHZDV¿QGLQJLWKDUGQRWWROLNHKLP+HZDV HDV\JRLQJEXWVWHDG\LQRURXWRIWKHRI¿FHDQGKLVJHQWOHSUHVHQFH made her feel at ease. He had checked on her daily and provided helpful LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ LQFRUUHFW UHJLVWUDWLRQ IRUPV RI VHYHUDO RI WKH VHDVRQ SDVVKROGHUV$SSDUHQWO\IHZSHRSOHFDPHDQGZHQWDURXQGWKHUHVRUW ZLWKRXW(PHU\NQRZLQJWKHPRUWKHLUPRWKHURUWKHLUEURWKHU ³+RZ¶VWKHVHDVRQSDVVZRUNFRPLQJDORQJ"´ ³)LQLVKHG LW ODVW QLJKW ,¶P PRYLQJ RQ WKH FRQIHUHQFH OHGJHUV today.” ³*UHDW2XUERRNNHHSHUVKRXOGEHDELJKHOS6KH¶VJRWDPHPRU\ OLNH \RX ZRXOGQ¶W EHOLHYH 6KH FDQ WHOO \RX QRW RQO\ ZKDW KDSSHQHG
RACHEL SPANGLER ZKHQDQGZKHUHEXWKRZSROLWHRUPHVV\SHRSOHZHUHZKLOHGRLQJLW´ He chuckled. ³6KH¶VEHHQZRQGHUIXOVRIDU,¶PVXUH,¶OOGHSHQGRQKHUH[SHUWLVH DORWGXULQJWKLV¿UVWVHDVRQ´3DUNHUDGPLWWHGWKLQNLQJRIWKHUHVRUW VHFUHWDU\6KHZDVQ¶WWKHPRVWPHWLFXORXVERRNNHHSHULQWKHZRUOGEXW VKHZRXOGGRDQ\WKLQJIRU\RX$OPRVWHYHU\RQHDW%HDU5XQZDVOLNH that, though part of Parker was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. ³+H\ \RX WZR´ ,UHQH DQG *UHJ ZDONHG LQ WRJHWKHU DQG ERWK KXJJHG(PHU\EHIRUHWDNLQJWKHLUVHDWVWKRXJK3DUNHUVHQVHGDVOLJKW reserve in Greg’s greeting. ³$UH\RXVHWWOHGLQ3DUNHU"´,UHQHDVNHG “I’m almost completely unpacked.” ,UHQH KDG GURSSHG E\ WKH DSDUWPHQW RQH HYHQLQJ ZLWK D ORDI RI IUHVKEDNHGEUHDGDQGDFKLFNHQFDVVHUROH,WZDVWKH¿UVWKRPHFRRNHG food Parker had eaten since she’d arrived, and she lived off it for days. -XGJLQJE\WKHLUIHZLQWHUDFWLRQV,UHQHZDV WKHPRWKHURIWKHHQWLUH mountain, always cooking for, or cleaning up after, or checking in on someone. 3DUNHU FRXOG KHDU 6DPP\ DQG &DPSEHOO ELFNHULQJ DOO WKH ZD\ down the hall, as they usually were. Not an angry argument, more OLNH JRRGQDWXUHG VLEOLQJ ULYDOU\ 7KH\ VHHPHG LQVHSDUDEOH WKRXJK &DPSEHOO VHHPHG PRUH HOXVLYH HYHQ P\VWHULRXV WKDQ KHU IRUWKULJKW EURWKHU3DUNHUZRQGHUHGLIVKHHYHUWLUHGRIVSHQGLQJDOOKHUWLPHZLWK this perpetual adolescent. “Hi, Parker. How’s it going?” Sammy said, plopping down next to her. “Good. How are you?” “Great,” he replied, with his usual grin. ³:KDWDERXW\RX&DPSEHOO"´VKHDVNHG7KHZRPDQKDGEDUHO\ spoken to her since she arrived, and Parker had yet to decide if she was shy, uninterested, or distrustful. &DPSEHOO KDG VOLSSHG RXW RI KHU MDFNHW DQG ZDV WDNLQJ RII KHU EDVHEDOOFDS:KHQVKHWXUQHGWRIDFH3DUNHUVKHVPLOHGSROLWHO\³,¶P ¿QHWKDQNVIRUDVNLQJ´ 3DUNHU QRWLFHG DJDLQ KRZ QDWXUDOO\ DWWUDFWLYH &DPSEHOO ZDV LQ DQXQUH¿QHGZD\+HUZDY\VDQGFRORUHGKDLUFXUOHGEDFNEHKLQGKHU HDUV DQG KXQJ MXVW DERYH KHU VKRXOGHUV +HU GHHSO\ WDQQHG IDFH DQG DUPVVHWRIIKHUEULJKWEOXHH\HVDQGKHUVPLOHZDVFRQWDJLRXVZKHQ
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RACHEL SPANGLER ³2K\HDK,NQRZLWUXQVZKLFKLVDVWHSXSRQODVW\HDU:H¶OO VWDUWLQVSHFWLQJWKHPWKLVZHHNEHIRUHLWJHWVWRRFROG´ ³:KDW DERXW \RX ,UHQH"´ (PHU\ DVNHG ³+RZ¶V WKH OLFHQVLQJ renewal coming for the daycare?” “So far so good. We’re up to code and three sitters are returning, VR ZH NQRZ WKH\¶OO FOHDU EDFNJURXQG FKHFNV ,¶YH JRW VRPH JRRG DSSOLFDQWVIURPWKHFRPPXQLW\FROOHJHWR¿OOWKHRWKHUVORWV:H¶OOVWDUW EULQJLQJWKHPLQIRULQWHUYLHZVVKRUWO\´ 3DUNHUOLVWHQHGDEVHQWO\WRWKHFDVXDOH[FKDQJHEHWZHHQWKHROGHU VLEOLQJVRIWKH&DUVRQIDPLO\IRUVHYHUDOPLQXWHVEHIRUHVKHUHDOL]HG WKH\ ZHUHQ¶W MXVW FKDWWLQJ 7KH\ KDG EHJXQ WKH DFWXDO PHHWLQJ 6KH immediately put her pen to work, taking notes and trying to recall ZKDWKDGDOUHDG\EHHQVDLG7KHWRQHRIWKHFRQYHUVDWLRQGLGQ¶WFKDQJH ZKHWKHUWKH\ZHUHWDONLQJDERXWWKHLUEURWKHULQODZRQWKHEHDFKRU the renewal of their childcare license. Parker was more than a little GLVFRQFHUWHG6KHZDVJRRGDWKHUMREEXWVKHZDVQ¶WWKHPRVWDGHSW DW DOO WKLV IDPLO\RULHQWHG EDQWHU DQG WKH WZR VHHPHG FRPSOHWHO\ interwoven here. -DQHOOH DGGHG ³0\ WZR VKLIW PDQDJHUV DUH EDFN LQ WKH NLWFKHQ and I need to start reviewing applications for servers and cleanup staff. ,SODQWRGURSE\WKHFROOHJHDQGWKHKLJKVFKRROODWHUWKLVZHHNDQGSXW ads in the newspaper.” ³:KDWDERXWWKHFRXQW\IRRGLQVSHFWRUV"´ ³2K,¶OOFDOO'RQLQDZHHNRUWZRDQGKDYHKLPFRPHRXWDIWHU ,¶YHJLYHQWKHNLWFKHQDJRRGVFUXE´ ³+DYH 'DKOLD DQG -XDQ KHOS , GRQ¶W ZDQW \RX GRLQJ LW DOO E\ \RXUVHOI´(PHU\VDLGVRXQGLQJPRUHOLNHDEURWKHUWKDQDERVV 3DUNHUKDGQRLGHDZKR'RQ'DKOLDRU-XDQZDVEXWHYHU\RQH else seemed to, so she didn’t want to interrupt. She was successful in DQ\MREEHFDXVHVKHOHDUQHGDVPXFKDVVKHFRXOGDERXWHYHU\DVSHFW RIWKHEXVLQHVVQRWMXVWWKHSDUWVVKHZDVGLUHFWO\UHVSRQVLEOHIRU6KH ZRXOGKDYHWRDSSURDFKWKLVUHVRUWDVDVWXGHQWZRXOGDWH[WERRN ³:KDW DERXW \RX 8QFOH (PHU\ KRZ¶V WKH ORGJH ORRNLQJ"´ &DPSEHOODVNHG+HUXQFOHRYHUVDZDOORIWKHORGJLQJLQFOXGLQJWKH conference facilities, the housekeeping staff, and the general upkeep of WKHPDLQORGJHDQGFDELQV,WZDVWKH¿UVWWLPHVKHKDGVSRNHQVLQFHWKH meeting started, and the sound of her voice almost startled Parker.
TRAILS MERGE ³:HOO,JXHVVVLQFHHYHU\RQHHOVHLVKLULQJ,¶GEHWWHUJHWDMXPS on the cleaning staff. We’ll start getting reservations for Christmas DQ\WLPHQRZVR,¶OOVWDUWZRUNLQJRQWKHUHQWDOVFKHFNLQJ¿UHSODFHV DQGSOXPELQJDQGZKDWQRW´ ³&DPDQG,DUHLQWKHVDPHERDW´6DPP\DGGHG³:HKDYHWRJHW LQWRXFKZLWKOLIWVWDIIDQGVNLLQVWUXFWRUVEXWZHZRQ¶WEHDEOHWRVWDUW training for a while.” ³6RXQGVJRRG´(PHU\VDLG³$Q\WKLQJHOVH"´ (YHU\RQHVWDUHGDW3DUNHUH[SHFWDQWO\DQGVKHIUR]H,WZDVQ¶WWKDW VKHGLGQ¶WKDYHDQ\WKLQJWRVD\6KHKDGWRRPXFKWRVD\DQGKHUEUDLQ MDPPHG ZLWK WKH ZHLJKW RI WKH SUHVHQWDWLRQ VKH KDG ZRUNHG RQ IRU GD\V6KHKDGSUHSDUHGFKDUWVDQGJUDSKVDQGSURMHFWLRQVDQGDIRUPDO VSHHFK6KHZRUHDEXVLQHVVVXLWDQGORZKHHOV1RZVKHKDGWRTXLFNO\ reassess the formality of the situation while they all stared at her. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER ÀDQQHO VKLUW DQG VOLSSHG WKHP RQ +H ÀLSSHG WKURXJK WKH SDFNHW RI information. “Well, don’t stop now. You’re on a roll.” “Women stop coming to the resort when they start having children. 2EYLRXVO\ ZRPHQ VWRS VNLLQJ EHFDXVH WKH\ GRQ¶W KDYH WKH WLPH RU resources.” ,UHQHDQG-DQHOOHERWKQRGGHGVHHPLQJWRLPPHGLDWHO\XQGHUVWDQG where she was going. “We ought to offer a women’s special one day a week.” Parker paused again and studied the expressions of the people around her. “We’d offer free childcare for any woman who has a lift ticket,” Irene said. ³$QGPD\EHDGLVFRXQWIRUOHVVRQV´&DPSEHOODGGHG 3DUNHU VPLOHG 7KH\ PLJKW EH FDVXDO EXVLQHVV SHRSOH EXW WKH\ ZHUHVWLOOEXVLQHVVSHRSOH *UHJFOHDUHGKLVWKURDW³7KLVLVDSUHWW\PDMRUGHFLVLRQWRPDNH so soon.” 3DUNHUUHJDUGHGKLPFDUHIXOO\³,W¶VDOOLQWKHQXPEHUVKHUH
TRAILS MERGE *UHJWKUHZXSKLVKDQGV³)LQHMXVWVRORQJDVLWGRHVQ¶WFRPHRXW RIP\EXGJHW´ ³3RLQW WDNHQ´ (PHU\ VDLG WKHQ WXUQHG WR 3DUNHU ³7KLV LV \RXU EDE\*HWWKHZRUGRXWDQGPDNHLW¿WLQWRWKHEXGJHWDQG\RXFDQGR whatever you want.” :LWKWKDWHYHU\RQHEHJDQWRJHWXSDQGOHDYH3DUNHUZDVSDFNLQJ KHUEULHIFDVHDQGZKHQVKH¿QLVKHGVKHDQG(PHU\ZHUHWKHRQO\RQHV left. ³*RRGMREWRGD\´KHVDLG ³7KDQNV,¶PJODG\RXDSSURYHEXW,GRQ¶WWKLQNHYHU\RQHVKDUHV your opinion.” (PHU\FKXFNOHG³'RQ¶WPLQG*UHJ+H¶VWKHROGHVWDQGWKHPRVW VWXFNLQKLVZD\V+HZDVQ¶WTXLWHVROGRQKLULQJDPDUNHWLQJSHUVRQVR KH¶OOSUREDEO\EHVORZWRDJUHHWRQHZPDUNHWLQJLGHDV%XWKH¶OOFRPH around when we show him your idea is good for the mountain. We’re DELJIDPLO\+DYH\RXHYHUPHWDIDPLO\WKDWDJUHHVRQHYHU\WKLQJDOO the time?” ³,¶OOMXVWKDYHWROHWWKHUHVXOWVSURYHPHULJKWRQWKLVRQH´3DUNHU UHSOLHG UHVROXWHO\ 6KH PLJKW QRW NQRZ PXFK DERXW VNLLQJ EXW VKH WUXVWHGWKHQXPEHUV ³*RRG1RZLVHYHU\WKLQJHOVHRND\"´(PHU\DVNHGVZLWFKLQJ JHDUV³$UH\RXJHWWLQJWRNQRZIRONVDURXQGKHUH"´ ³(YHU\RQHKDVEHHQZRQGHUIXO7KHODFNRIERRNNHHSLQJKDVEHHQ IUXVWUDWLQJEXWWKHVWDIIKDVEHHQKHOSLQJPH¿OOLQWKHEODQNV´ ³*ODGWRKHDULW´(PHU\QRGGHGLQDSSURYDO³%XWWKHUH¶VPRUHWR OLIHWKDQZRUN$UH\RXHQMR\LQJ\RXUVHOIDWDOO"´ 7KH\ VWDUWHG ZDONLQJ GRZQ WKH KDOOZD\ WRZDUG 3DUNHU¶V RI¿FH continuing their conversation. ³,¶YHEHHQVREXV\ZLWKZRUNDQGXQSDFNLQJWKDW,KDYHQ¶WKDG WLPHIRUPXFKHOVHEXW,DPHQMR\LQJWKHMRE
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHUGHFLGHGWRWDNHDFKDQFHDQGSUREHGHHSHU³6DPP\¶VEHHQ JUHDWDERXWFKHFNLQJXSRQPH&DPSEHOOLVDORWTXLHWHUWKRXJK6KH doesn’t talk much, does she?” (PHU\VWRSSHGKLVTXL]]LFDOJD]HDOLWWOHXQVHWWOLQJDVKHVHHPHG WRKHDUPRUHWRWKHTXHVWLRQWKDQVKHKDGVSRNHQ³6KHFHUWDLQO\ZDV TXLHWWRGD\QRZWKDW\RXPHQWLRQLWEXWXVXDOO\QR6KH¶VRQO\EHHQ EDFNRQWKHPRXQWDLQVL[PRQWKVEXWVKH¶VDOZD\VEHHQRXWJRLQJ+HOO when she was little, you couldn’t get her to shut up.” 3DUNHUIRUFHGDVPLOHDVVKHUHDFKHGKHURI¿FHGRRU³2ND\,ZDV MXVWZRQGHULQJ´ ³:HOOOLNH,VDLGKDYHVRPHIXQWKLVZHHNHQG´$QGZLWKWKDWKH was gone. 3DUNHU ZDONHG RYHU WR WKH ZLQGRZ 6KH VKRXOG EH WKULOOHG +HU ¿UVWSURSRVDOKDGMXVWEHHQDSSURYHGHYHQLIRQO\RQDWULDOEDVLV7KLV QHZSURMHFWZRXOGEHDFKDOOHQJHZKLFKVKHXVXDOO\WKULYHGRQ6KH KDGVRPXFKWRGRVRPDQ\GHWDLOVWREULQJLQWRIRFXV6RZK\ZDV VKHWKLQNLQJDERXW&DPSEHOOZKRZDVDSSDUHQWO\DQRXWJRLQJOHVELDQ" How had she missed that?
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER FOUR
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DPSEHOO¶VVNLVFXWWKURXJKWKHIUHVKSRZGHUVRGHHSLQSODFHV that she could make out only the tips of her old Rossignols as WKH\SDUWHGWKHVXUIDFH2FFDVLRQDOO\VKHVDZKHUEUHDWKDWUDQVOXFHQW FORXG EORZLQJ EDFN LQWR KHU IDFH DV VKH VOLFHG GRZQ WKH VLGH RI WKH PRXQWDLQ 6KH GLGQ¶W IHHO WKH FROG MXVW DQ RYHUZKHOPLQJ VHQVH RI invigoration. Slowly the image faded, along with the feeling of PRYHPHQWDQG¿QDOO\ZKHQDOOVHQVHRIWKHH[SHULHQFHZDVJRQHVKH opened her eyes. 6KH KDG EHHQ EDFN DW %HDU 5XQ IRU KDOI D \HDU QRZ WKRXJK LW KDUGO\ VHHPHG WKDW ORQJ7KH ¿UVW IHZ PRQWKV KDG SDVVHG LQ D KD]H GD\V VSHQW UHKDVKLQJ KHU GHFLVLRQ WR OHDYH DQG UHSOD\LQJ HYHU\ ¿JKW VKHDQG/\QQKDGHYHUKDG$OPRVWIURPWKHYHU\EHJLQQLQJRIWKHLU UHODWLRQVKLSDSDWWHUQKDGHPHUJHG7KHLUFRUHYDOXHVKDGDOZD\VEHHQ GLIIHUHQW/\QQZDVGULYHQVHOISRVVHVVHGDQGWKULYHGLQJRLWDORQH EDWWOHV&DPSEHOORQWKHRWKHUKDQGQHHGHGWRIHHOFRQQHFWHGZDQWHG WREHWLHGWRVRPHWKLQJRXWVLGHKHUVHOIDQGORYHGEHLQJSDUWRIDIDPLO\ She hoped Lynn would come to appreciate those connections as well. 6KHNQHZ/\QQGLGQ¶WVHHKHUVHOIDVDPRWKHUEXWGHHSGRZQ&DPSEHOO KRSHGVKHZRXOGHPEUDFHWKHLGHDDVVKHVHWWOHGGRZQDQGDJHG1RZ VKH UHDOL]HG VKH KDG DOZD\V ZDQWHG /\QQ WR JURZ LQWR VRPHRQH VKH ZDVQ¶W,WKDGEHHQDVXQIDLUWRWU\DQGFKDQJH/\QQDVLWKDGEHHQIRU Lynn to try to keep her away from the people and places she loved. 1RZ EDFN DPRQJ KHU IDPLO\ VKH ZDV EHJLQQLQJ WR IHHO VHFXUH LQKHUVHOIRQFHPRUH7KHSDLQRIORVLQJKHU¿UVWORYHZDVIDGLQJDQG ZKLOHOHVVRQVVKHDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHORVVZHUHVWLOOIUHVKVKHZDV¿QDOO\ ¿QGLQJWKHVWUHQJWKWRFRQVLGHUKHUIXWXUH6KHORYHGKHUZRUNDW%HDU
RACHEL SPANGLER Run and could imagine taking over the resort someday and moving it IURP D ZLQWHU SOD\JURXQG WR D \HDUURXQG RXWGRRUV GHVWLQDWLRQ 6KH looked forward to watching her family grow and change, to helping her FRXVLQVJURZLQWRDGXOWVDQGEHLQJWKHUHIRU6DPP\DQGKLVNLGVZKHQ WKDWWLPHFDPH2QO\RFFDVLRQDOO\RQWKHPRVWUHVWOHVVRIQLJKWVGLG she let herself long for more. 6KHVWLOOGUHDPHGRIKDYLQJLWDOOWKHOHVELDQLeave it to Beaver scenario, as she secretly referred to it. In that dream her wife was her SDUWQHU LQ ERWK ORYH DQG OLIH VRPHRQH ZLWK ZKRP VKH FRXOG VKDUH HYHU\WKLQJ6RPHRQHZKRVHQWKHUKHDUWUDFLQJZLWKMXVWRQHORRNDQG heated her up even on the coldest winter nights. Someone who accepted DQGORYHGKHUIRUZKRVKHZDVZKLOHVWLOOFKDOOHQJLQJKHUWREHEHWWHU Someone to create a family and grow old with. 6KH QHYHU LQGXOJHG LQ WKRVH IDQWDVLHV IRU ORQJ 7KH\ ZHUHQ¶W productive. She had the love and support of her family, and she had a MREVKHZDVSDVVLRQDWHDERXW:DVQ¶WWKDWHQRXJK"1RERG\HYHUUHDOO\ had it all. 7KH VXQ ZDV RQO\ EHJLQQLQJ WR FUHHS WKURXJK WKH KDOIRSHQ ZLQGRZ RI KHU EHGURRP 6KH OD\ VWLOO EUHDWKLQJ GHHSO\ HDFK EUHDWK ¿OOLQJKHUOXQJVZLWKWKHFULVSFRRODLU7KHWHPSHUDWXUHKDGGURSSHGDW least twenty degrees and the scent of frost washed over her. Snow was VWLOODIHZZHHNVRIIEXWWRGD\IRUWKH¿UVWWLPHDOOIDOOVKHFRXOGIHHO LWFRPLQJ,WZDVRQO\WKH¿UVWZHHNHQGLQ1RYHPEHUEXWWKHVHQVDWLRQ ZDVXQPLVWDNDEOH,WUDQWKURXJKWRKHUERQHV6QRZZDVRQWKHZD\ &DPSEHOOSXOOHGRQDSDLURIMHDQVDQGDVZHDWVKLUWVKHKDGOHIWRQ WKHÀRRU6KHFRXOGQ¶WJREDFNWRVOHHS7KLVPRUQLQJKHOGWRRPXFK HQHUJ\ WRR PXFK SURPLVH IRU WKH VHDVRQ DKHDG $QG HYHU\RQH HOVH RQWKHPRXQWDLQZRXOGNQRZLWWRREHFDXVHWKH\KDGVSHQWWKHLUOLIH on the slopes. Her family, their livelihood, everything was tied to the ZHDWKHURQWKLVPRXQWDLQDQGWKHFKDQJHRIHYHU\VHDVRQ(DUO\VQRZ meant good times ahead. It always had, and after several years away &DPSEHOOZDVUHDG\WRIDFHWKDWSURPLVH 6KHZHQWRXWVLGHSXOOLQJRQDQRUDQJHZLQGEUHDNHUDVVKHFOLPEHG RQWRDQROGIRXUZKHHOHU6ORZO\VKHUROOHGWKH$79RQWRWKHVORSHWKDW UDQDORQJWKHEDFNRIKHUKRXVH$VROLGOD\HURIIURVWFRDWHGWKHJUDVV WKDWZDVDOUHDG\WXUQLQJEURZQ/LIHHEEHGDQGÀRZHGRQWKHPRXQWDLQ in ways it didn’t seem to in other places. Just now as the leaves were IDOOLQJ DQG WKH JUDVV KDG VWRSSHG JURZLQJ WKH ZRUOG VHHPHG WR EH
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RACHEL SPANGLER VHDVRQ"´ &DPSEHOO IRXJKW WR FRQWURO WKH WRQH RI KHU YRLFH EXW VKH FRXOGQ¶WKLGHKHUIHDUDQGGLVEHOLHI 7KHFRORUGUDLQHGIURP3DUNHU¶VIDFH³+XQWLQJVHDVRQ"´ ³
TRAILS MERGE ,KDYHWROLNHLW´3DUNHUPXWWHUHG³,¶OOEHPRUHFDUHIXO$QG,PLJKW HYHQZDWFKWKHORFDOQHZVRQFHLQDZKLOH7KDWLVLI\RX¶OOSURPLVHWR watch CNN.” ³'HDO´&DPSEHOOQRGGHGDQGWRRNDGHHSEUHDWKWRKHOSUHJDLQ KHUFRPSRVXUH7KLVZRPDQZRXOGQ¶WODVWDW%HDU5XQXQWLO&KULVWPDV 6KH¶GSUREDEO\UXQEDFNWRKHUVRSKLVWLFDWHG&KLFDJROLIHVW\OHDQ\GD\ now. “Where were you headed?” ³7RWKHRI¿FH´ ³$W VHYHQ RQ D 6DWXUGD\ PRUQLQJ"´7KLV ZRPDQ ZDV XQUHDO$ ZDYHRIIUXVWUDWLRQURVHLQ&DPSEHOOEXWVKHZDVQ¶WVXUHZK\VKHFDUHG what Parker did on her weekends. “I’ve got work to do,” Parker said. “I don’t have time to play.” &DPSEHOOVKRRNKHUKHDG³+RZFDQ\RXVSHQGDGD\OLNHWKLVLQ DQRI¿FH"´ ³,VSHQGDOPRVWDOORIP\GD\VLQDQRI¿FH,W¶VZKDW,GR,W¶VZKR I am.” “Really? It’s pretty sad that you don’t have anything more meaningful in your life than conference ledgers and marketing FDPSDLJQV´&DPSEHOOVQDSSHGWKHQUHDOL]HGKRZQDVW\WKHFRPPHQW sounded. ³'LG \RX IRUJHW WKDW WKRVH PDUNHWLQJ FDPSDLJQV EHQH¿W \RXU precious mountain?” &DPSEHOOQRGGHGWRZDUGWKHIRXUZKHHOHU³&OLPERQ´ 3DUNHUKHVLWDWHGH\HLQJWKH$79VXVSLFLRXVO\&DPSEHOOVZXQJD leg over, straddling the seat, then motioned for Parker to follow her. 7KHZRPDQWRRNDGHHSEUHDWKDVLISUHSDULQJKHUVHOIIRUWKHZRUVW WKHQFOLPEHGRQ&DPSEHOOZDVDERXWWRVKRZKHUKRZWRKROGRQWR WKHFDUULHUUDFNRQWKHEDFNRIWKHIRXUZKHHOHUZKHQ3DUNHU¶VKDQGV came to rest lightly on her waist and caused an unexpected chill. She NQHZ3DUNHU¶VDFWLRQZDVFRPSOHWHO\LQQRFHQWEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WVWRS WKHJRRVHEXPSVWKDWURVHRQKHUVNLQDVVKHVWDUWHGXSWKHPRXQWDLQ 6KHKDGQ¶WIHOWDZRPDQ¶VWRXFKLQDORQJWLPHDQGKHUERG\UHDFWHG on its own accord. She drove faster toward the top of the mountain, then along the top RIWKHULGJH7KHVXQZDVVKLQLQJKLJKHUDERYHWKHPZKHQ&DPSEHOO VWRSSHG6KHGLVPRXQWHGWKH$79DQGQRGGHGIRU3DUNHUWRIROORZKHU ULJKWXSWRWKHHGJHRIDVWHHSGURSRII
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TRAILS MERGE &DPSEHOO¶VSXOVHTXLFNHQHGDQGKHULUULWDWLRQPHOWHG6KHZDVQ¶W VXUSULVHGE\WKHVWDWHPHQWEXWE\KHURZQUHDFWLRQWRLW³2ND\´ “Now that’s out of the way,” Parker transitioned awkwardly, “have a nice day.” ³
³:KHUHGLG\RXJRWKLVPRUQLQJ"´6DPP\DVNHG&DPSEHOORYHU EUHDNIDVWDWKHUSDUHQWV¶KRXVH (YHU\RQHVWRSSHGHDWLQJDQGZDLWHGIRUKHUDQVZHU &DPSEHOO¶VIDFHZDUPHGDVVKHUHPHPEHUHGWKHEULHIFRQIXVLQJ PRPHQWVVKHKDGVKDUHGZLWK3DUNHU³,ZHQWXSWRWKHGURSRIIWRHQMR\ the view.” +HUSDUHQWVJODQFHGDWHDFKRWKHUTXLFNO\7KH\KDGFOHDUO\EHHQ ZRUULHGDERXWKHUVLQFHVKH¶GUHWXUQHGWRWKHPRXQWDLQXQH[SHFWHGO\ six months earlier. While they would never say it, they hadn’t agreed ZLWKKHUGHFLVLRQWROHDYHZKHQVKH¿UVWPRYHGDZD\WRWKHFLW\+HU dad had even tried to talk her out of it, saying the university was a ZDVWHRIWLPHWKDWWKH\FRXOGQ¶WWHDFKKHUDQ\WKLQJKHFRXOGQ¶WDERXW UXQQLQJ D VNL UHVRUW $QG KH ZRXOGQ¶W HYHQ FKDUJH KHU KH¶G VDLG trying to kid her into seeing his point of view. Her mother, however, KDGPHUHO\UHPDUNHGWKDWLWZRXOGQ¶WKXUWKHUWRVHHVRPHWKLQJEHVLGHV %HDU5XQ :KHQ&DPSEHOOPRYHGEDFNKHUGDGGLGQ¶WVD\³,WROG\RXVR´ EXWKHGLGQ¶WKDYHWR:KDWHYHUKHUSDUHQWVWKRXJKWWKH\OHWKHUNQRZ she was welcome there anytime. ³,VDZWKHIRXUZKHHOHUSDUNHGDWWKHEDVHORGJHZKHQ,ZHQWE\ WKLVPRUQLQJ´(PHU\VDLGDEVHQWPLQGHGO\ ³, GURSSHG 3DUNHU RII WKHUH EHIRUH , FDPH RYHU´ &DPSEHOO
RACHEL SPANGLER DQVZHUHG UHDOL]LQJ WKDW HYHQ D FDVXDO VWDWHPHQW ZDV ERXQG WR VSDUN PRUHTXHVWLRQV “You took Parker up the mountain with you?” Sammy asked, sounding more than a little surprised. ³:HOO,GLGQ¶WLQWHQGWR,VDZKHUMRJJLQJRQRQHRIWKHFURVV FRXQWU\WUDLOV´6KHWRRNDELWHRISDQFDNHKRSLQJWRDYRLGWKHVXEMHFW since her interaction with Parker had stirred emotions she was still trying to sort out. ³7KDW¶V D SUHWW\ GDPQ GXPE WKLQJ WR GR WKLV WLPH RI WKH \HDU´ *UHJPXPEOHGZLWKKLVPRXWKIXOO ³2XU QH[WGRRU QHLJKERU LV RXW WKHUH KXQWLQJ ULJKW QRZ´ ,UHQH VDLGVRXQGLQJZRUULHG³7KDW¶VDJUHDWZD\IRU3DUNHUWRJHWKHUVHOI shot.” “I told her that. She didn’t even know it was hunting season.” ³,W¶VEHHQDOORYHUWKHQHZV´KHUPRWKHUVDLGVKDNLQJKHUKHDG “I told her that, too. You know, we should do some workshops on QDWXUHFRQVHUYDQF\PD\EHKROGHGXFDWLRQDOSURJUDPV3HRSOHIURPWKH city would love that, and if they’re anything like Parker, they could use VRPHLQVWUXFWLRQVRQKRZWRJHWDORQJRXWKHUH´&DPSEHOOVXJJHVWHG “We’re a ski resort, not a nursery school.” Greg waved off the idea. “We should stick to doing what we know. It’s not our fault Parker’s too GXPEWRNHHSIURPJHWWLQJVKRWDW´ ³:HOO,KRSHVKH¶OOEHPRUHFDUHIXOIURPQRZRQ´(PHU\VDLG ³, WKLQN VKH ZLOO´ &DPSEHOO GURSSHG WKH HGXFDWLRQ LGHD +HU father was stuck in his ways, and now wasn’t the time to try to push him out of them. ³6R \RX WRRN KHU WR WKH RI¿FH"´ *UHJ DVNHG ³6KH RXJKW WR JHW RXWPRUH1RJRRGFDQFRPHRIKHUEHLQJDWZRUNDOOWKHWLPH6KH¶V SUREDEO\JRWDIXOOGD\DKHDGRIKHUWKLQNLQJXSZD\VWR¿[WKLQJVWKDW ZHUHZRUNLQJ¿QHWREHJLQZLWK´ ³,WROGKHUVKHVKRXOGQ¶WEHZRUNLQJRQDGD\OLNHWKLV´&DPSEHOO DQVZHUHGVKRUWO\WDNLQJDELWHRIEDFRQHYHQWKRXJKWKDWWDFWLFKDGQ¶W helped so far. “You talked an awful lot,” Sammy said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “I thought you didn’t like her much.” &DPSEHOOVWDUHGDWKLPEODQNO\³,QHYHUVDLGWKDW´ “Well, now that you mention it, I talked to Parker last week and ,WKLQNVKHPLJKWKDYHJRWWHQWKHVDPHLPSUHVVLRQ´(PHU\VDLG³6KH
TRAILS MERGE PHQWLRQHG VRPHWKLQJ DERXW \RX EHLQJ DZIXOO\ TXLHW DURXQG KHU , thought that was odd.” ,UHQHFDPHWRKHUGDXJKWHU¶VGHIHQVH³:K\ZRXOG&DPSEHOOKDYH any reason to dislike Parker?” ³%HFDXVH 3DUNHU UHPLQGV KHU RI /\QQ´ 6DPP\ VXJJHVWHG EOXQWO\ 7KHURRPIHOOTXLHW&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WPLVVWKHORRNRIGHHSFRQFHUQ WKDWSDVVHGEHWZHHQKHUSDUHQWV6KHNQHZWKH\ZRUULHGDERXWWKHSDLQ KHUEUHDNXSZLWK/\QQKDGFDXVHGKHUDQGVKHWULHGQRWWROHWWKHVWLQJ of the comment show. Likewise the expression on Sammy’s face said he would do DQ\WKLQJWRWDNHKLVZRUGVEDFN³,¶PVRUU\&DP,GRQ¶WNQRZZK\, said that.” ³,W¶V ¿QH´ &DPSEHOO VKUXJJHG KHU WKURDW WLJKW ³'RQ¶W ZRUU\ DERXWLW´ 6KHWULHGWRVKDNHWKHFRPPHQWIURPKHUKHDG7KRXJKWKHPHQWLRQ RI/\QQVWXQJVKHZDVDIUDLG6DPP\PLJKWEHULJKW+DGVKHEHHQUXGH WR3DUNHUEHFDXVHVKHZDVDIUDLGRIEHLQJDURXQGDQRWKHUZRPDQOLNH KHUH["$QRWKHUSRZHUVXLW±FODGOHVELDQZLWKDODGGHUWRFOLPEDQGDQ D[WRJULQG"3DUNHUFDPHIURPDVLPLODUEDFNJURXQGKLJKO\HGXFDWHG and politically minded, and she never seemed to leave work. She had yet to mention her own family. &DPSEHOO VKXGGHUHG DV VKH UHDOL]HG VKH ZDV FRPSDULQJ 3DUNHU WRWKHZRPDQZKRKDGWRUQKHUKHDUWDSDUWRQO\KDOID\HDUDJR7KHQ as if on cue she recalled the way she had snapped at her earlier, her FRPPHQWDERXWWKHORFDOQHZVEHLQJEHORZ3DUNHUDQGKHUDQJHUDERXW 3DUNHUZRUNLQJRQD6DWXUGD\ PRUQLQJ:DV WKDWZKHUHKHU RXWEXUVW KDGFRPHIURP"+DGVKHEHHQYHQWLQJROGIUXVWUDWLRQDERXW/\QQWRWKH QH[WVLPLODUWDUJHW"7KDWZRXOGH[SODLQWKDWP\VWHULRXVVHQVHRIXQHDVH she felt every time Parker was around. 1RZ WKDW VKH WKRXJKW DERXW LW VKH UHDOL]HG VKH KDGQ¶W GRQH D VLQJOHWKLQJWRUHDFKRXWWR3DUNHUVLQFHVKHDUULYHG&DPSEHOOZDVWKH RQO\RQHLQKHUIDPLO\ZKRKDGQ¶WRIIHUHGWRKHOSKHUPRYHLQ(YHQ 6DPP\ KDG VWRSSHG E\ WR FKHFN RQ KHU DQG &DPSEHOO KDGQ¶W JRQH DORQJ$WWKHWLPHVKHKDGQ¶WJLYHQLWDQ\WKRXJKW$VWKHSLHFHVEHJDQ to fall into place, she was disappointed in herself. She knew what it ZDV OLNH WR PRYH WR D QHZ WRZQ WR VWDUW D QHZ MRE WR EH IDU DZD\ IURPHYHU\WKLQJIDPLOLDU6KH¶GREYLRXVO\OHWKHURZQELDVHVFORXGKHU
RACHEL SPANGLER perception of Parker, and while she wasn’t yet ready to consider what WKDWPHDQWDERXWKHURZQUHVLGXDOIHHOLQJVIRU/\QQVKHGLGUHDOL]HWKDW she needed to make more of an effort to see Parker for who she was and QRWWKHLPDJHVKHKDGSURMHFWHGRQWRKHU &DPSEHOOVWD\HGDWWKHWDEOHXQWLOEUHDNIDVWZDVRYHUWKHQPDGH DQH[FXVHDERXWZDQWLQJWRJHWVRPHVWXIIGRQHDURXQGWKHKRXVH6KH KXJJHG HYHU\RQH JRRGE\H DQG GLGQ¶W IDLO WR QRWLFH WKDW HDFK RI KHU SDUHQWVJDYHKHUDQH[WUDVTXHH]HEHIRUHVKHOHIW,WZDVQLFHWRNQRZ WKH\FDUHGEXWQRZWKDWWKHZRXQGKDGEHHQUHRSHQHGVKHKDGWRGHDO ZLWKLWRQHZD\RUDQRWKHU(YHQLI3DUNHULUULWDWHGKHUVKHZRXOGWU\WR UHDFKRXWWRKHU7KH\KDGWRPDNHSHDFHZLWKRQHDQRWKHU:KRNQHZ PD\EHWKH\FRXOGEHFRPHIULHQGV3DUNHUFHUWDLQO\GLGQ¶WTXDOLI\IRU anything more permanent than that.
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER FIVE
P
arker paced around the living room of her small apartment ZLWK &11 SOD\LQJ RQ KHU 79 WKH VRXQG WXUQHG ORZ VR VKH FRXOGKHDU135RQKHUUDGLR7RGD\WKHUHVWRIWKHQDWLRQZDVFKRRVLQJ WKHSROLWLFLDQVZKRZRXOGFRQWURO:DVKLQJWRQ'&DQGE\H[WHQVLRQ LQÀXHQFH PXFK RI WKH ZRUOG 7RGD\ ZDV PLGWHUP HOHFWLRQ GD\$QG KHUHVKHZDVVWXFNLQWKHERRQLHVSRULQJRYHUOHGJHUVDQG¿QLVKLQJ WHGLRXVZRUNWKDWVHHPHGLQFRQVHTXHQWLDO:LWK*UHJRSSRVLQJKHUVKH PLJKWQHYHUWRPDNHDQ\PHDQLQJIXOFKDQJHVWKDWZRXOGKHOS%HDU5XQ JURZLQWRWKHW\SHRIHQWHUSULVHLWFRXOGEHFRPH 2FFDVLRQDOO\ VKH ZRXOG VLW GRZQ RQ WKH FRXFK ORQJ HQRXJK WR PRXVHRYHUDQHZDUWLFOHRQKHUODSWRS6KHZDVEHLQJVLOO\VLQFHWKH (DVW &RDVW UHVXOWV ZRXOGQ¶W HYHQ VWDUW FRPLQJ LQ IRU DQRWKHU KRXU EXW VKH FRXOGQ¶W KHOS KHUVHOI 6KH ZDV JRLQJ VWLUFUD]\ ZLWK QRWKLQJ SURGXFWLYH WR GR 6KH IHOW KHOSOHVV 7KLV ZDV WKH ¿UVW HOHFWLRQ VLQFH she was old enough to vote that she wasn’t in the streets passing out information or in the war room of some campaign coordinating the ¿QDOWKUXVWRIDQRSHUDWLRQWRHOHFWZKDWHYHURI¿FLDOVKH¶GWKURZQKHU ZHLJKWEHKLQG 7KDWROGYHUVLRQRIKHUVHOIWKHWUXHEHOLHYHUKDGEHHQKLGGHQVLQFH VKH¶G DUULYHG LQ :LVFRQVLQ 7KDW SDUW RI KHU KDG EHHQ EDGO\ EHDWHQ OHIWIRUGHDG%XWWRGD\HOHFWLRQGD\LWZRXOGQRWEHVXSSUHVVHG+HU SROLWLFDOZRQNVLGHZDVGHWHUPLQHGWRUHVXUIDFHLIRQO\IRUDIHZKRXUV (DUO\ SURMHFWLRQV ZHUH SRVLWLYH IRU SURJUHVVLYH FDQGLGDWHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\DQGWKHROG3DUNHUKDGWKHQHZ3DUNHUKROGLQJKHUEUHDWKLQ anticipation. 6KHZDQWHGWRFDOO$OH[LVRUDQ\RWKHUROGIULHQGZKRVKHNQHZ
RACHEL SPANGLER ZRXOGEHIHHOLQJWKHVDPHVLFNHQLQJH[FLWHPHQWVKHGLG6KHKDGHYHQ SLFNHGXSWKHSKRQHDQGVWDUWHGGLDOLQJWKHDUHDFRGHRI&KLFDJR EXWVKHVWRSSHGNQRZLQJWKDWDQ\RQHZKRIHOWOLNHVKHGLGLQ&KLFDJR WRGD\ZRXOGQ¶WKDYHWLPHWRFKDWDERXWLW(YHU\RQHZDVEXV\QRWEXV\ ZDWFKLQJUHVXOWVEXWEXV\VKDSLQJWKHP 3DUNHU ZDV VXUURXQGHG E\ SHRSOH ZKR KDG QR XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKHRXWVLGHZRUOG(YHQ&DPSEHOOWKHRQO\OHVELDQVKHKDGPHWLQKHU ¿UVWPRQWKDW%HDU5XQPLJKWDVZHOOKDYHEHHQDVWUDLJKWJLUOIRUDOO KHU0LGZHVWHUQVHQVLELOLWLHV7KHZRUOGZDVFKDQJLQJVRUDSLGO\EXW DW%HDU5XQWLPHVHHPHGWRFUDZOOLNHDVQDLO:KLOH3DUNHUZDVEXV\ WU\LQJ WR SXOO KHUVHOI EDFN WRJHWKHU VKH PLJKW EH PLVVLQJ RXW RQ WKH chance to make a difference in some way that actually mattered. (YHU\RQH KDG ZDUQHG KHU WKDW WKRVH IHHOLQJV ZRXOG RYHUFRPH KHUHYHQWXDOO\6KHZDVVXUSULVHGVKHKDGQ¶WH[SHULHQFHGWKHPEHIRUH 7KH RYHUZKHOPLQJ UHJUHW WKH ORQJLQJ WR EH EDFN LQ WKH KXQW WR EH canvassing the campaign trail, the high that came from throwing herself LQWRVRPHWKLQJVRPXFKJUHDWHUWKDQKHUVHOI²LWZDVDWULSDQDGGLFWLRQ WKHUHDVRQVKHKDGWRJHWDVIDUDZD\IURPWKDWZRUOGDVSRVVLEOH +DG VKH VWD\HG LQ &KLFDJR VKH ZRXOG KDYH QR GRXEW FDYHG E\ QRZ6KHNQHZKHURZQZHDNQHVV6KHZRXOGKDYHMXPSHGRQWKH¿UVW campaign wagon hauling a promising candidate who said the right WKLQJ DW WKH ULJKW WLPH DQG VKH ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ ZHOFRPHG DERDUG 6KH ZDV DZDUH RI KHU RZQ SRZHUV HVSHFLDOO\ KHU DELOLW\ WR KHOS SXW SHRSOH LQ SRVLWLRQV RI SRZHU 6KH KDG ZRUNHG RQ RYHU KDOI D GR]HQ PDMRUFDPSDLJQVDQGFODLPHGDVKDUHRIWKHYLFWRU\LQHDFKRQHDIDFW VKHKDGEHHQSURXGRIXQWLOVL[PRQWKVDJR/LNHHYHU\WLPHEHIRUHVKH had picked a winner, one who, like all the others, said the right things DWWKHULJKWWLPHRQHZKRFRXOGJRIDUEH\RQGWKHVWDWHVHQDWHDQGZDV SUHSDUHGWRWDNH3DUNHUZLWKKLPDOOWKHZD\WRWKHWRS+HZRXOGEHD winner, all right. He would win at any cost. Parker shuddered. 6KHUHDOL]HGVKHKDGEHHQUHOLYLQJKHUIDOOIURPJUDFHORQJHUWKDQ VKHWKRXJKW,WZDVVHYHQR¶FORFNDQGWKHSROOVDORQJWKH(DVW&RDVW ZHUH FORVLQJ 5HVXOWV ZHUH EHJLQQLQJ WR FRPH LQ 6KH WXUQHG XS WKH VRXQG RQ KHU79 LQ WLPH WR KHDU WKDW WKH SURMHFWLRQV DSSHDUHG WR EH holding true as governors’ races went to Democrats in New York and 0DU\ODQG7KHEULJKWEOXHFRQJUHVVLRQDOVHDWLQJFKDUWJUDSKLFÀDVKHG across the screen, showing that Democrats had also picked up senate seats in New Hampshire and Rhode Island and congressional seats in
TRAILS MERGE DWOHDVWIRXUVWDWHV3DUNHUVPLOHGEURDGO\7KHSROLWLFDOV\VWHPPLJKW EHEDGO\EURNHQEXWLWZDVWKHRQO\RQHDYDLODEOHDWWKHPRPHQWDQGLW VHHPHGWREHVZLQJLQJLQIDYRURIKHUYLHZV 7KHSKRQHUDQJDQGVKHMXPSHGWRSLFNLWXS³+HOOR"´ ³'DUOLQJ LI \RX JHW LQ WKH FDU QRZ \RX FDQ EH KHUH DURXQG PLGQLJKW7KHSDUW\ZLOOMXVWEHJHWWLQJJRRGE\WKHQ´ ³$OH[LV:KDWDUH\RXGRLQJ"´ “I’m on my way home to change and soak my feet.” ³%XWWKHSROOVDUHRSHQIRUDQRWKHUKDOIKRXU´3DUNHUUHSULPDQGHG OLJKWO\7KHUHZDVVWLOODFKDQFHWRVZD\DIHZPRUHYRWHV $OH[LVODXJKHG³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³+L 3DUNHU´ &DPSEHOO VKLIWHG KHU ZHLJKW IURP RQH IRRW WR WKH other, seeming unsure. ³+H\&DPSEHOO&RPHLQ´3DUNHUVDLG³7RZKDWGR,RZHWKLV honor?” ³,WULHGWRFDWFK\RXDWZRUNWRGD\EXW,PLVVHG\RX´ 7KH\ERWKVWHSSHGEDFNLQWRWKHDSDUWPHQWFORVLQJWKHGRRU³, OHIW ULJKW DW ¿YH WRGD\ WR ZDWFK WKH HOHFWLRQGD\ FRYHUDJH´ 3DUNHU¶V DWWHQWLRQZDVPRVWO\RQ&DPSEHOOEXWVKHZDVVWLOOZDWFKLQJWKH79 out of the corner of her eye. ³,GLGQ¶WPHDQWRLQWHUUXSWDQ\WKLQJ´&DPSEHOOVDLGREYLRXVO\ DZDUHWKDW3DUNHU¶VDWWHQWLRQZDVGLYLGHG³,¶OOOHW\RXJHWEDFNWRLW´ 3DUNHU IDFHG KHU IXOO\ 7KH FRYHUDJH ZDV LPSRUWDQW EXW ZKDW &DPSEHOO KDG FRPH RYHU IRU SUREDEO\ ZDV WRR ³1R ZKDW GLG \RX need?” ³1RWKLQJUHDOO\´&DPSEHOOVKUXJJHGQHUYRXVO\³,ZDVMXVWJRLQJ WRDIRRWEDOOJDPH0\FRXVLQVSOD\DQG,WKRXJKW\RXPLJKWOLNHWR come along.” ³1RUPDOO\,ZRXOGEXW«´3DUNHUDEVRUEHGDEXOOHWLQWKDWÀDVKHG DFURVVWKHVFUHHQ7ZRPRUHFRQJUHVVLRQDOUDFHVZHUHEHLQJFDOOHGLQ favor of Democratic candidates. ³1RLW¶VRND\´&DPSEHOOVDLGWXUQLQJWROHDYH³,WZDVVLOO\RI PHWRVWRSE\WRQLJKW
TRAILS MERGE ³2ND\WKDQNVIRUFRPLQJE\,ZLVK,FRXOGJRZLWK\RX´3DUNHU VDLG DQG UHDOL]HG VKH DOPRVW PHDQW LW 7KHUH ZDV VRPHWKLQJ VSHFLDO DERXW&DPSEHOOWKDWVKHFRXOGQ¶WSXWKHU¿QJHURQ7KHJDPHPLJKWEH EHDUDEOHVLWWLQJQH[WWRKHU &DPSEHOOVPLOHG³0D\EHVRPHRWKHUWLPH´ ³3DUNHU GDUOLQJ SLFN XS WKH SKRQH´ $OH[LV FDOOHG IURP WKH answering machine. 3DUNHU ÀXVKHG DV VKH UHDOL]HG &DPSEHOO ZRXOG EH DEOH WR KHDU HYHU\WKLQJ$OH[LVZDVDERXWWRVD\6LOHQWO\VKHFXUVHGKHUVHOINQRZLQJ KHU IULHQG¶V SURSHQVLW\ IRU UXQQLQJ KHU PRXWK 6KH VKRXOG KDYH MXVW answered the phone. ³+DYH \RX GURZQHG LQ WKH EODFN KROH RI FLYLOL]DWLRQ XS WKHUH"´ $OH[LVFRQWLQXHG³,¶PQRWVXUHLIWKH\KDYHWKHVHQHZIDQJOHGWKLQJV FDOOHGWHOHYLVLRQVZKHUH\RXDUHEXWKHUHLQWKHUHDOZRUOGZH¶UHWDNLQJ EDFNFRQWURORI&RQJUHVV$QVZHUWKHSKRQHDQG,¶OOWHOO\RXDOODERXW it.” &DPSEHOOUDLVHGDQH\HEURZEOXVKLQJVOLJKWO\EXW3DUNHUGLGQ¶W NQRZ LI VKH ZDV DQJU\ HPEDUUDVVHG RU VRPHWKLQJ HOVH ³6RXQGV important.” ³&DPSEHOOVKH¶VMXVW«´3DUNHUIXPEOHG ³,W¶V ¿QH 7KH\ GRQ¶W SOD\ VPDOOWRZQ IRRWEDOO JDPHV RQ µQHZIDQJOHG¶WHOHYLVLRQVVR,KDYHWROHDYHLI,ZDQWWRVHHWKHER\VLQ action.” With that she was gone, closing the door softly. 3DUNHU ÀRSSHG OLPSO\ RQWR WKH FRXFK DQG SLFNHG XS WKH SKRQH ³$OH[LV²´ ³2KJRRG\RX¶UHVWLOODOLYH´$OH[LVODXJKHG “Yes,” she sighed, “I’m alive.” “Did you see the news? We’re a third of the way to controlling &RQJUHVVDQGRQO\¿IWHHQSHUFHQWRIWKHUDFHVKDYHEHHQFDOOHG:H¶UH on pace to take it all.” ³,GLGVHHWKDWRQP\WHOHYLVLRQ$OH[LV1RWRQO\GR,KDYHRQH LQP\OLYLQJURRPEXWLQWKHEHGURRPWRR´VKHVQDSSHGLUULWDWHGWKDW &DPSEHOOKDGEHHQ¿QDOO\UHDFKLQJRXWWRKHURQO\WRFORVHULJKWEDFN up. ³:KDW¶VZLWKWKHVRXUPRRGDOORIDVXGGHQ",VZDWFKLQJ79DOO \RX¶YHEHHQGRLQJLQ\RXUEHGURRPODWHO\"´ ³$OH[LV,KDGFRPSDQ\´3DUNHUDQVZHUHGÀDWO\ ³$ZRPDQ"´$OH[LV¶VWRQHJUHZVHULRXV
RACHEL SPANGLER ³$VDPDWWHURIIDFW\HVEXWLW¶VQRWZKDW\RX¶UHWKLQNLQJ,WZDV &DPSEHOO´ ³$QGWHOOPHDJDLQZKLFKRQHLV&DPSEHOO"´ 3DUNHUKDGVSRNHQZLWK$OH[LVRQDUHJXODUEDVLVVLQFHPRYLQJEXW KHUIULHQGKDGOLWWOHLQWHUHVWLQOHDUQLQJDERXWWKHGD\WRGD\RSHUDWLRQV RIDVPDOOWLPHVNLUHVRUW³6KH¶VWKHQLHFHRIWKHUHVRUWPDQDJHU+HU GDGVXSHUYLVHVWKHOLIWVDQGKHUPRPUXQVWKHFKLOGFDUH6KH¶VEHHQ working on the slopes and is a ski instructor in the winter.” 7KHUHZDVVLOHQFHRQ$OH[LV¶VHQGRIWKHOLQH Parker continued. “She’s the one who took me up the mountain on WKHIRXUZKHHOHU´ ³6KH¶VWKHOHVELDQ´$OH[LVVKRXWHGVRXQGLQJJLGG\ ³
TRAILS MERGE Party that doesn’t,” Parker said, partly out of loyalty to the party and SDUWO\ EHFDXVH FRPSOHWHO\ GLVFUHGLWLQJ 0LD ZRXOG UHPLQG KHU RI KHU RZQODSVHLQMXGJPHQW $OH[LVVLJKHG³,NQRZ7HFKQLFDOO\WKHPDQLVP\ERVV¶VERVVEXW ,VWLOOFDQ¶WVWDQGWKHZD\0LDSOD\HGWKHSDUWRIKLVOLWWOHODSGRJZKHQ WKHVHQDWRUJRWFDXJKWZLWKKLVKDQGLQWKHFRRNLHMDUWKLVVXPPHU6KH ZDV\RXUORYHUIRU*RG¶VVDNH7KDWVKRXOGKDYHPHDQWVRPHWKLQJ´ ³,W¶VRYHU$OH[LV´3DUNHUIRXJKWWRNHHSKHUYRLFHOHYHOGHVSLWH WKHIDPLOLDUWKLFNQHVVEHJLQQLQJWRHQJXOIKHUWKURDW³,¶YHPRYHGRQ You should, too.” ³6WLOO´ $OH[LV¶V WRQH OLJKWHQHG ³, FRXOG MXVW VSLOO D OLWWOH SXQFK²´ ³$OH[LV´3DUNHUODXJKHGDJDLQ³JRHQMR\WKHSDUW\
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER SIX
$
OOULJKW1RHOGULYHXVXSWR8QFOH*UHJ´&DPSEHOOSXOOHG WKH IDLUKDLUHG OLWWOH JLUO RQWR KHU ODS 7KH ¿YH\HDUROG JULSSHG WKH VWHHULQJ ZKHHO DQG WXUQHG LW JHQWO\ WR WKH OHIW &DPSEHOO gave the rusty old pickup truck a little gas, and they started slowly up the mountain. &DPSEHOOKDGEHHQDZD\IURPWKHPRXQWDLQIRUPRVWRI1RHO¶V OLIH EXW VLQFH VKH¶G UHWXUQHG VKH¶G WULHG WR EXLOG D UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK her young cousin. Noel represented the future of the family, the next generation of Carsons. She already seemed interested in the family EXVLQHVVDQGHYHQDW¿YHVKRZHGDUHVSHFWIRUWKHODQGWKDWKDGEHHQ LQWKHLUIDPLO\IRUWKUHHJHQHUDWLRQV&DPSEHOOVRXJKWWRQXUWXUHWKDW FRQQHFWLRQHDUO\WKHZD\KHUROGHUIDPLO\PHPEHUVKDGGRQHIRUKHU KRSLQJWKDWVRPHGD\1RHOZRXOGEULQJKHURZQGUHDPVWRWKHIDPLO\ EXVLQHVVMXVWDV&DPSEHOOKDGUHWXUQHGKRPHWRGR 7KH3ROH&DWVQRZPDNHUWKH\ZHUHWRZLQJ²DEODFNFDQQRQOLNH VWUXFWXUH²ZDV UROOLQJ VWHDGLO\ DORQJ 7KH\ ZHUHQ¶W JRLQJ IDU EXW LW ZDV LPSRUWDQW WR NHHS HYHU\ VQRZPDNHU LQ WLSWRS FRQGLWLRQ 7KH\ ZRXOGEHGHSHQGHQWRQWKH3ROH&DWVWRKHOSFUHDWHWKHEDVHRIVQRZ WKDWZRXOGEODQNHWWKHUHVRUWIRUWKHQH[W¿YHRUVL[PRQWKV 1RHOVHHPHGWRWDNHKHUMREDVGULYHUVHULRXVO\DVVKHWXUQHGWKH VWHHULQJZKHHOQRPRUHWKDQDQLQFKRUWZRDWDWLPH&DPSEHOOVPLOHG as they reached their destination and Sammy and her father waved for WKHPWRVWRS6KHVKLIWHGLQWRSDUNDQGVHFXUHGWKHKLOOEUDNHEHIRUH JLYLQJ1RHODOLWWOHVTXHH]H³*RRGGULYLQJNLGGR´ ³+H\ 1RHO´ 6DPP\ FDOOHG DV WKH\ FOLPEHG RXW RI WKH WUXFN “want to help me hook up the hoses?”
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TRAILS MERGE had hung steadily in the upper thirties during the day and the mid WZHQWLHVDWQLJKW7KH\ZRXOGVWDWLRQDOOWKH3ROH&DWVRQWKHEHJLQQHU WUDLOVWRGD\DQGKRSHIXOO\WKH\ZRXOGSODFHVRPHRIWKHKHDYLHUVLQJOH EDUUHOVQRZJXQVRQWKHLQWHUPHGLDWHVORSHV7KHHQWLUHIDPLO\ZRXOG help for the day, and with some of the winter employees they would ¿QLVKVHFXULQJWKHUHVWRIWKHVQRZPDNHUVODWHULQWKHZHHN ³+H\3DUNHU¶VFDULVLQWKHORGJHSDUNLQJORW´(PHU\FDOOHGWR *UHJDQG6DPP\³6RPHERG\JHWKHURXWKHUH6KHVKRXOGEHDSDUWRI this, too.” &DPSEHOO NQHZ KHU IDPLO\ ZDV ZRUULHG DERXW KHU DIWHU ODVW 6DWXUGD\¶VEUHDNIDVWFRQYHUVDWLRQVRVKHWULHGWRUHPDLQFDVXDODERXW WKHUHTXHVW³
RACHEL SPANGLER “Yeah, who wants to know?” ³2QH RI \RXU ELJJHVW ULYDOV WKDW¶V ZKR´ &DPSEHOO WRRN XS D SOD\IXOO\GH¿DQWVWDQFH “Which one? University of Wisconsin?” “Yep. With honors, no less.” ³&XP ODXGH"´ 3DUNHU DVNHG DV WKRXJK WKDW IDFW KDG SLTXHG KHU interest. ³0DJQD´&DPSEHOOIHOWKHUVHOIEOXVKVOLJKWO\6KHZDVQ¶WXVHGWR EUDJJLQJDERXWKHUVHOIOLNHWKLV ³7KDW¶VLPSUHVVLYH´ ³'RQ¶WVRXQGVRVKRFNHG´&DPSEHOOWHDVHG³'LG\RXWKLQN\RX ZHUHWKHRQO\RQHRQWKHPRXQWDLQZLWKD%LJ7HQEDFNJURXQG"´ ³:HOOQR´VKHUHSOLHGÀXVWHUHGEXW&DPSEHOOZDVSRVLWLYHIURP 3DUNHU¶V UHDFWLRQ WKDW VKH SUREDEO\ KDG PDGH DVVXPSWLRQV DERXW KHU OHYHO RI HGXFDWLRQ 6KH GLGQ¶W EX\ LW ZKHQ 3DUNHU WULHG WR FRYHU E\ VD\LQJ³,MXVWGLGQ¶WNQRZZHZHUHULYDOV´ ³
TRAILS MERGE ³, KDYH D SUREOHP ZLWK KRZ \RX¶UH GRLQJ \RXU MRE´ &DPSEHOO was tired of this conversation. 3DUNHUÀXVKHGHLWKHUZLWKDQJHURUIUXVWUDWLRQ³,GRQ¶WVHHZKHUH working too much has ever deterred someone from researching effective marketing strategies. So unless your degree is in marketing, I suggest you stick to your own work and let me focus on mine.” &DPSEHOO FKXFNOHG DW 3DUNHU¶V GHIHQVLYHQHVV7KH KLQW RI FRORU ULVLQJLQKHUFKHHNVZDVPRUHÀDWWHULQJWKDQWKHJORZRIWKHÀRUHVFHQW OLJKWV:HUHWKHUHDQ\PRUHSOHDVDQWZD\VWRPDNHKHUEOXVK"³
RACHEL SPANGLER D VQRZ FDQQRQ 7RJHWKHU WKH\ VKRYHG WKH FDUULDJH LQWR SRVLWLRQ DQG KLWFKHGLWWRWKHEDFNRIWKHWUXFN³7KLVLVD3ROH&DWVQRZJXQ:H¶UH going to take it up to where Sammy and my dad are.” ³2ND\´3DUNHUVKUXJJHGDQGFOLPEHGLQWRWKHWUXFN ³7KH3ROH&DWVZLOOEHVWDWLRQHGDOORYHUWKHEDVHDUHDWKHÀDWVRQ WKH PRXQWDLQWRS DQG WKH EHJLQQHU VORSHV´$V &DPSEHOO UHOD\HG WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ VKH ZDWFKHG 3DUNHU FDUHIXOO\ IRU DQ\ VLJQ RI ERUHGRP DIUDLGVKHZRXOG¿QGWKLVW\SHRIZRUNEHQHDWKKHU3DUNHUKRZHYHU seemed interested in taking it all in, which was promising. ³:KDW DERXW WKH LQWHUPHGLDWH WUDLOV"´ 3DUNHU DVNHG JODQFLQJ toward a trail with a sharper incline that was coming into view. ³7KHVHPDFKLQHVDUHWRRWRSKHDY\WREHSODFHGRQVWHHSWHUUDLQ :H¶OOVWDWLRQVRPHRIRXUVLQJOHDQGGRXEOHEDUUHOJXQVRQRXUORQJHU KHDY\WUDI¿FEOXHVDQGEODFNV´ ³%OXHVDQGEODFNV"´ :DV3DUNHUVHULRXV"³%OXHWUDLOVDUHLQWHUPHGLDWHRQHVDQGEODFN trails are for experts.” ³2KULJKW7KDW¶VKRZWKH\VKRZXSRQWKHWUDLOPDSULJKW"´ ³5LJKW´ &DPSEHOO QRGGHG FDXJKW RII JXDUG WKDW VRPHRQH ZKR ZRUNHGDWDVNLUHVRUWZRXOGEHVRFOXHOHVVDERXWWKHEDVLFWUDLOUDWLQJ V\VWHPEXWVKHGLGQ¶WKDYHWLPHWRSUREHIXUWKHU “Hi, Sammy. I hear you’re getting ready to make some snow,” Parker called as soon as the truck stopped. “We should start tonight,” Sammy said, with his characteristic EURDGER\LVKVPLOH³3UHWW\H[FLWLQJKXK"´ “Sure is.” 3DUNHU¶VVPLOHIHOOVRPHZKHUHVKRUWRIH[XEHUDQW “So this is a family affair,” Parker noted as they started off down the mountain again. ³0RVWWKLQJVDURXQGKHUHDUH´&DPSEHOOZRQGHUHGLI3DUNHUZDV ready to work alongside the family. She depended on the mountain QRZMXVWOLNHWKHUHVWRIWKHPDQGWKDWERQGFRXOGEHDVWKLFNDVDQ\ EORRGUHODWLRQEXWVKHGRXEWHG3DUNHUXQGHUVWRRGWKDW\HW 7KH\VWRSSHGQH[WWRDODUJHVWRUDJHVKHGDURXQGWKHFRUQHUIURP the main lodge, where several of the snowguns were already uncovered DQGDVVHPEOHGRQWKHLUPHWDOVOHGIUDPHVDQGTXLFNO\ORDGHGVHYHUDO JXQV LQWR WKH WUXFN EHG &DPSEHOO ZDWFKHG DSSUHFLDWLYHO\ DV 3DUNHU helped lift the heavy machinery. Despite her slender frame, she was
TRAILS MERGE DQ\WKLQJEXWIUDLO:KHQVKHSXVKHGXSWKHVOHHYHVRIKHUVZHDWVKLUW UHYHDOLQJ WKH VXEWOH ÀH[ RI KHU ELFHSV &DPSEHOO¶V WHPSHUDWXUH URVH for reasons that had nothing to do with their shared physical exertion. ³7KRVHJXQVZHMXVWORDGHGZHUH6QRZ*LDQWVLQJOHEDUUHOVQRZJXQV´ &DPSEHOO VDLG ³7KH\¶UH D ORW PRUH SRZHUIXO WKDQ WKH 3ROH&DWV VR we’ll move them all over the mountain for most of the season.” ³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³+HUH¶V D VWDWLRQ´ &DPSEHOO VDLG DV VKH SRLQWHG WR WZR SLSHV SURWUXGLQJDIHZ IHHW RXW RI WKH JURXQG MXVW RQ WKH HGJH RI D OLQH RI WUHHV³2QHSLSHLVIRUWKHZDWHUSXPSHGIURPWKHODNHDQGWKHRWKHULV IRUWKHFRPSUHVVHGDLU7KH\ERWKIHHGLQWRWKHEDUUHORIWKHJXQKHUH and are expelled into the air at very high speeds.” ³$QG WKDW IUHH]HV LQWR VQRZ DQG PDNHV KXJH SLOHV´ RQH RI WKH twins added. 7KHRWKHUER\MXPSHGLQ³7KHQ\RXVNLRYHUWKHPDQGJHWELJ air.” &DPSEHOOZDVSOHDVHGWRVHH3DUNHUUHZDUGWKHER\V¶HQWKXVLDVP ZLWKZKDWDSSHDUHGWREHWKHEHJLQQLQJVRIDJHQXLQHVPLOH6KHZDV even happier to see Parker turn that little grin toward her, causing her EUHDWKWRHPHUJHLQVKRUWHUEXUVWV7KLVOHVVJXDUGHGYHUVLRQRI3DUNHU ZDV PXFK PRUH OLNHDEOH WKDQ WKH RQH VKH KDG SUHYLRXVO\ FRPH WR know. 7KHH[FLWHPHQWLQHYHU\RQH¶VYRLFHZDVHYLGHQW(YHQ1RHOMRLQHG WKHIXQE\VD\LQJ³,¶PJRLQJGRZQDEOXHWKLV\HDU´ &DPSEHOOODXJKHG³2QO\LI\RXWDNHPHRU6DPP\ with you.” ³2U3DUNHU"´WKHFKLOGDVNHGVWDULQJH[SHFWDQWO\XSDWWKHP 3DUNHUKDGDQXQPLVWDNDEOHH[SUHVVLRQRIFRQFHUQDQGLQH[SOLFDEO\ &DPSEHOOKDGDVXGGHQXUJHWRSURWHFWKHU³2QO\LI3DUNHUZDQWVWR´ 3DUNHU VPLOHG QHUYRXVO\ DW WKH FKLOG ³&DPSEHOO LV SUREDEO\ D EHWWHUWHDFKHUWKDQ,DP´ &DPSEHOO UHDOL]HG 3DUNHU KDGQ¶W PDGH WKH VWDWHPHQW RXW RI PRGHVW\ 6KH DSSHDUHG JHQXLQHO\ FRQFHUQHG DQG KHU IXUURZHG EURZ and tightly pressed lips were much less alluring than the earlier look of KDSS\DPXVHPHQW6RPHWKLQJZDVZURQJEXWEHIRUH&DPSEHOOFRXOG TXHVWLRQKHUIXUWKHUWKHNLGVZHUHFODPEHULQJWRXQORDGWKHVQRZJXQV 6KHUHWXUQHGKHUDWWHQWLRQWRWKHFXUUHQWWDVNEXWVKHGH¿QLWHO\QHHGHG WR¿JXUHRXWZKDWZDVJRLQJRQ &DPSEHOOVSHQWPXFKRIWKHUHVWRIWKHGD\WU\LQJWRSLHFHWRJHWKHU 3DUNHU¶VRGGUHDFWLRQV7KH\KDGSODFHGZHOORYHUKDOIRIWKHVQRZJXQV DQG 3DUNHU HYHQ EHFDPH DQ DVVHW WR WKH WHDP E\ WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ 6KHZDVDTXLFNOHDUQHUDQGHYHQWXDOO\ZDUPHGWRWKHPRUHWHFKQLFDO DVSHFWVRIWKHWDVNOHDUQLQJWKHLQWULFDFLHVRIVQRZPDNLQJ&DPSEHOO GRXEWHGWKDW3DUNHUDSSUHFLDWHGWKH¿QHUSRLQWVRIZRUNLQJDORQJVLGH WKH&DUVRQIDPLO\RUIHOWDQ\PHDQLQJIXOFRQQHFWLRQWRWKHODQGEXW at least she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She hadn’t seemed
TRAILS MERGE FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH SK\VLFDO ODERU HLWKHU QHYHU RQFH VK\LQJ DZD\ IURPOLIWLQJRUWRZLQJDQ\WKLQJ+DG&DPSEHOOPLVMXGJHGKHU"3DUNHU REYLRXVO\ZRXOGQHYHUEHDKDSS\PHPEHURIWKH%HDU5XQWHDPEXW SHUKDSVVKHKDGPRUHGHSWKWKDQWKH³IUDJLOHERXUJHRLVVHQVLELOLWLHV´ &DPSEHOOKDGDFFXVHGKHURI In fact, the only times Parker had seemed concerned was when WKH\ WDONHG DERXW VNLLQJ &DPSEHOO FRXOGQ¶W ¿JXUH RXW ZKDW ZRXOG FDXVH VXFK UHDFWLRQV LQ D ZRPDQ ZKR ZDV QRUPDOO\ VR VHOIDVVXUHG 7KHQLWDOOVWDUWHGWRFRPHWRJHWKHU3DUNHUGLGQ¶WNQRZWKHFRORUFRGH of the slopes, the purpose of the snow guns, or if she could keep up with D¿YH\HDUROG3DUNHUGLGQ¶WNQRZKRZWRVNL &DPSEHOO¶VWHPSHUÀDVKHGKRW6KHKDGEHHQDERXWWROHW3DUNHU RII WKH KRRN RQO\ WR ¿QG RXW 3DUNHU KDG PLVOHG KHU DQG KHU IDPLO\ DERXWVRPHWKLQJVRFHQWUDOWRWKHLUOLYHV7KHZRPDQZDVPDGGHQLQJ (DUO\RQVKHFRXOGKDYHVLPSO\VWDWHGWKDWVKHGLGQ¶WVNLDQGQRRQH ZRXOGKDYHKHOGLWDJDLQVWKHUEXWQRVKHZDVWRRVWXEERUQWRDGPLW she was less than perfect in any way. Now she had dug herself into a KROHVKHZDVQ¶WOLNHO\WR¿QGKHUZD\RXWRIDQGLWVHUYHGKHUULJKW &DPSEHOO ZDQWHG VR EDGO\ WR JLYH LQ WR KHU VHQVH RI VHOI righteousness, wanted to feel vindicated in knowing she had simply misread Parker, and she wanted to take pleasure in exposing her. ,QVWHDGVKHIHOWIUXVWUDWHGWKDWVKHZDVDOUHDG\WKLQNLQJRIZD\VWREDLO Parker out.
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER SEVEN
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DUNHU VWRRG XS DQG VWUHWFKHG RXW KHU EDFN 6KH KDG EHHQ KXQFKHGRYHUKHUGHVNIRUKRXUVDQGZDVVWDUWLQJWRGR]HRII Yawning, she looked out the window at the mountain and its looming JUD\FORXGV7KHVQRZJXQVKDGEHHQEORZLQJIRUDOPRVWDZHHNDQG huge piles of snow were appearing at random intervals all over the VORSHV7KHHQWLUHVFHQHZDVUDWKHUVXUUHDO1RWPXFKQDWXUDOVQRZKDG IDOOHQ\HWVRWKHSDUNLQJORWZDVFRYHUHGE\WKHRFFDVLRQDOSXGGOHEXW RQWKHRWKHUVLGHRIWKHEXLOGLQJDZLQWHUZRQGHUODQGZDVVSULQJLQJ XS7KH SLOHV RI VQRZ KDGQ¶W GHYHORSHG RXW RI WKLQ DLU DQG VKH ZDV unusually proud of having helped create them. Working alongside the Carson family made her feel part of something larger than herself. Her involvement wasn’t as thrilling as her work in politics and certainly didn’t matter as much in the grand VFKHPHRIWKLQJVEXWLWZDVVRPHWKLQJ$VVKHUHFDOOHGWKHDIWHUQRRQ VKHKHOSHGSODFHWKHVQRZJXQVVKHUHDOL]HGDJDLQKRZPXFKVKHKDG HQMR\HG ZRUNLQJ E\ &DPSEHOO¶V VLGH 6KH KDG LVRODWHG KHUVHOI VLQFH DUULYLQJDW%HDU5XQEXWQRZLWZDVJRRGWRKDYHVRPHRQHWRWDONWR HYHQLIWKH\GLGRFFDVLRQDOO\WUDGHEDUEV 6DPP\ DQG &DPSEHOO ZHUH GULYLQJ WKH PDVVLYH VQRZ JURRPHU RQ WKH EHJLQQHUV¶ KLOO 7KH ODUJH \HOORZ WDQNOLNH PDFKLQH WKDW KDG EHHQSDUNHGRXWEDFNZKHQVKH¶GDUULYHGWKDWPRUQLQJVHHPHGUDWKHU ominous despite its cheerful color. Set on conveyor treads half as tall DV VKH ZDV LW IHDWXUHG D KXJH FRUUXJDWHG PHWDO SORZ WKDW &DPSEHOO DQG6DPP\KDGEHHQXVLQJWRSXVKWKHSLOHVLQWKHEHJLQQHUV¶DUHDIRU
RACHEL SPANGLER VHYHUDOKRXUVVRWKDWWKH\DOOEOHQGHGLQWRRQHHYHQOD\HURIPDQPDGH VQRZ7KHDUHDQRZUHVHPEOHGDVPDOOIURVWHGVTXDUHRIFDNHZLWKWKH UHVWRIWKHLFLQJKHDSHGLQKDSKD]DUGJOREV 3DUNHU UHWXUQHG WR KHU GHVN 6KH KDG ¿QLVKHG DQDO\]LQJ WKH FRQIHUHQFHOHGJHUVKDYLQJUHRUJDQL]HGDOOWKHUHFRUGVDQGSOXJJHGWKH data into a spreadsheet that allowed her to study the information in a QXPEHURIZD\V1RWUHQGMXPSHGRXWDWKHUOLNHVKHKDGGLVFRYHUHG ZLWKWKHVHDVRQSDVVHV7KHFRQIHUHQFHVZHUHH[DFWO\ZKDWVKHZRXOG H[SHFW$ORWRIFKXUFKJURXSVVRPH%R\6FRXWDQG*LUO6FRXWWURRSV DQG VRPH DFDGHPLF GHSDUWPHQWV IURP QHDUE\ FROOHJHV KHOG HYHQWV DQG DQQXDO UHWUHDWV WKHUH7KH VPDOO UHVRUW DOVR SXOOHG LQ VRPH ORFDO EXVLQHVVHVIURPWLPHWRWLPH$VIDUDVVKHFRXOGVHHWKHFRQIHUHQFH FHQWHUZDVQ¶WODFNLQJDQ\WKLQJEXWLWZDVQ¶WRXWVWDQGLQJHLWKHU 6KHÀLSSHGWKURXJKWKHLQIRUPDWLRQIRUWKHWHQWKWLPHLQWKHSDVW WZR KRXUV 6KH KDG REYLRXVO\ PLVVHG VRPHWKLQJ IDLOHG WR FRQVLGHU VRPHDQJOH$VRIWNQRFNRQWKHGRRUURXVHGKHUDQGWKHQ&DPSEHOO stood in the doorway, her hair peeking out from underneath a stocking FDSDQGKHUEOXHH\HVKLQWLQJRIPLVFKLHI,QKHUKDQGVZDVDSDLURI WKLFNEODFNSODVWLFERRWV ³1HZSDLURIVKRHV"´3DUNHUDVNHGDQGVPLOHG6RPHWKLQJDERXW WKLVZRPDQPDGHKHUIHHOZDUPLQVLGH7KH\KDGQ¶WH[DFWO\KLWLWRII VR WKHLU FRQQHFWLRQ ZDV LQH[SOLFDEOH EXW XQPLVWDNDEOH 2I FRXUVH LW GLGQ¶WKXUWWKDW&DPSEHOOZDVEXLOWOLNHDZLOGHUQHVVJRGGHVV+HUWDQ skin and rippling muscles were certainly hot enough to raise Parker’s ERG\WHPSHUDWXUHDIHZGHJUHHV “Yeah, they’re Kenneth Cole and so WKLV VHDVRQ´ &DPSEHOO affected a superior tone. ³2KP\*RGWKH\¶UHGLYLQH,¶YHDOZD\VZDQWHGDSDLUMXVWOLNH that.” ³6L]HHLJKW"´ “Seven and a half.” &DPSEHOO JULQQHG ³&ORVH HQRXJK , KRSH \RX¶UH ZHDULQJ WKLFN socks.” ³
TRAILS MERGE 3DUNHUIUR]H I’m so busted7KLVKDGEHHQFRPLQJIURPWKHPRPHQW VKHOLHGWR(PHU\&DUVRQLQKHU¿UVWLQWHUYLHZ%XWVKH¶GWKRXJKWVKH KDGDQRWKHUZHHNRUWZRWR¿JXUHRXWDZLQQLQJVWUDWHJ\ 6RZKDWLIVKHKDGLPSOLHGVKHFRXOGVNLPD\EHHYHQVXJJHVWHG VKHHQMR\HGVNLLQJRQDUHJXODUEDVLV"6KHKDGUDWLRQDOL]HGKHUGHFHLW LQVHYHUDOZD\V6KHZDVQ¶WWRWDOO\O\LQJ²VKHGLGQ¶WKDWHWRVNLRUVNL SRRUO\)RUDOOVKHNQHZVKHZDVDJUHDWVNLHU6KHVLPSO\KDGQ¶WWULHG WR¿QGRXWDQGVKHZDVQ¶WWKDWH[FLWHGDERXWGRLQJVRQRZ Slowly she stood and put on her coat. Pausing at the top of the VWDLUVVKHZDWFKHG&DPSEHOOSXOORQDSDLURI*RUH7H[VNLSDQWVRYHU KHUMHDQVDQGIHOWDÀDVKRISDQLFThis is really happening. She had ZRUNHGKDUGRYHUWKHSDVWWZRPRQWKVWRHVWDEOLVKKHUFUHGLELOLW\DVD NQRZOHGJHDEOHPDUNHWLQJVWUDWHJLVWDQGZRXOGORVHLWZKHQLWEHFDPH REYLRXVWKDWVKHGLGQ¶WKDYHDFOXHKRZWRVNL ,IVKHZHUHWRWULSDQGEUHDNKHUOHJZKLOHJRLQJGRZQWKHVWDLUV VKHZRXOGKDYHDQH[FXVHQRWWRKDYHWR¶IHVVXSWRKHUELJVHFUHWOh, for God’s sake, Parker, are you seriously considering bodily harm to avoid being found out?6KHKXUULHGGRZQWKHVWDLUVEHIRUHVKHVHULRXVO\ considered the option. &DPSEHOOVPLOHG³6XLWXS:H¶UHDERXWWRPDNHWKH¿UVWWUDFNV of the season.” ³:RZ WKDW VRXQGV OLNH TXLWH DQ KRQRU´ 3DUNHU KRSHG WKH QHUYRXVQHVVLQKHUYRLFHZDVQ¶WWRRREYLRXV6KHSXOOHGRQWKHH[WUDSDLU RISDQWV&DPSEHOOKDGODLGRXWIRUKHUWKHQWULHGWRPLPLF&DPSEHOO¶V PRYHVDVVKHVWHSSHGLQWRDSDLURIWKHKHDY\EODFNERRWVOLNHWKRVH VKHKDGEURXJKWIRU3DUNHU%XWZKHQVKHVOLSSHGKHUIHHWLQVLGHVKH UHDOL]HG WKDW XQOLNH &DPSEHOO¶V ZKLFK KDG D URZ RI FOLSV GRZQ WKH IURQWKHUVFODVSHGLQWKHEDFN %HIRUHVKHKDGDFKDQFHWRPDNHVHQVHRIWKHVWUDSV&DPSEHOO EHQWGRZQQH[WWRKHUDQGVDLG³/HDQIRUZDUG´6KHGLGDVWROGDQGLQ RQHPRWLRQ&DPSEHOOEXFNOHGKHULQ7KHQ&DPSEHOO¶VKDQGVWLJKWHQHG DURXQGWKHWRSRIWKHERRWZKHUHLWPHWKHUFDOIPXVFOH³+RZGRHV that feel?” “Uh, that’s good,” Parker replied softly, her mouth dry from the unexpected heat of their contact. She tried not to dwell on the fact that DZRPDQNQHOWLQIURQWRIKHUEXWKHUERG\UHDFWHGRQLWVRZQDQGKHU temperature rose rapidly. Focus, Parker, you’re about to be revealed
RACHEL SPANGLER as a fraud, and here you are thinking about Campbell’s face between your legs. ³*RRG +HUH DUH VRPH JORYHV´ &DPSEHOO VDLG REOLYLRXV WR WKH IDFWWKDWKHULQQRFHQWWRXFKKDGEXUQHGWKURXJKERWKWKHVNLSDQWVDQG MHDQV DQG ZDV VWLOO KHDWLQJ 3DUNHU¶V VNLQ 6KH SXOOHG RQ WKH JORYHV ZLWKRXWOHWWLQJKHUH\HVZDQGHUWRDQ\SDUWRI&DPSEHOO¶VERG\3HUKDSV $OH[LVZDVULJKWDQGVKHhadEHHQVOHHSLQJDORQHIRUWRRORQJ6KHZDV DERXWWREHFDXJKWLQDSUHWW\ELJOLHDQGDOOVKHFRXOGWKLQNDERXWZDV &DPSEHOO¶VKDQGRQKHUOHJ ³+DWDQGJRJJOHV´&DPSEHOOLQVWUXFWHGDQG3DUNHUVLOHQWO\SXWRQ the last few items of ski gear while she tried to regain her composure. 7KH\VWDUWHGWRZDUGWKHGRRUEXW3DUNHUVWXPEOHGVOLJKWO\LQKHU ERRWVZKLFKZHUHKHDY\DQGFDXVHGKHUWRSLWFKIRUZDUGMXVWHQRXJK WR DIIHFW KHU EDODQFH &DPSEHOO WXUQHG WR KHU ZLWKRXW MXGJPHQW RU PRFNHU\ LQ KHU H[SUHVVLRQ PHUHO\ D JHQWOH JULQ ³7KH\¶UH DOZD\V D OLWWOHDZNZDUGDW¿UVW´ &DPSEHOOOHGKHURQWRWKHGHFNDQGGRZQWKHVWDLUVEHIRUHVKHWXUQHG WRRIIHUKHUDKDQG3DUNHUWKRXJKWDERXWUHVLVWLQJ7KRXJKVKHFRXOGQ¶W VNLVKHZDVQ¶WKHOSOHVVEXWWKHJHVWXUHZDVVRQDWXUDOVRXQDVVXPLQJ WKDWVKHDFFHSWHGLWDQGOHWKHUVHOIEHVWHDGLHGDVVKHWRRNHDFKVWDLU with one foot, then the other. She actually felt slightly disappointed ZKHQVKHUHDFKHGWKHERWWRPDQGEURNHWKHFRQWDFWEHWZHHQWKHP,W KDGEHHQDORQJWLPHVLQFHVKHKDGIHOWWKHFDVXDOWRXFKRIDZRPDQ DQGHYHQDKHOSLQJKDQGZDVEHWWHUWKDQWKHHPSWLQHVVZKHQWKHFRQWDFW was withdrawn. 4XLHWO\VKHIROORZHG&DPSEHOODERXWIRUW\\DUGVWRWKHEDVHRI WKHQHZVQRZWKDWKDGEHHQVSUHDGRXWMXVWDIHZKRXUVHDUOLHU,WZDV WZLOLJKWRQD7XHVGD\HYHQLQJDQGWKHPRXQWDLQZDVTXLHWH[FHSWIRU WKH GLVWDQW UXPEOH RI WKH VQRZJXQV IDUWKHU XS WKH VORSHV 2QO\ WKH UDSLGEHDWLQJRIKHURZQKHDUW²IHDUDWEHLQJFDXJKWPL[LQJZLWKWKH H[FLWHPHQWRIVKDULQJDQLQWLPDWHPRPHQWZLWK&DPSEHOO²EURNHWKH serenity of the moment. She noticed two pairs of skis on the ground, one pair drastically VKRUWHUWKDQWKHRWKHUDQGZRQGHUHGZK\&DPSEHOOZDVWKHRQHVKH ZRXOGKDYHWRFRQIHVVWR6KHVKRXOGKDYHWROG(PHU\WKHWUXWK,WZRXOG KDYHEHHQKDUGWRDGPLWVKH¶GOLHGWRKHUERVVEXWHPEDUUDVVLQJKHUVHOI LQ IURQW RI &DPSEHOO VHHPHG ZRUVH *RUJHRXV VWURQJ RSLQLRQDWHG &DPSEHOO DQG MXVW ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH VWDUWLQJ WR PDNH VRPH SURJUHVV
TRAILS MERGE 7KLVOLHFRXOGFRVWWKHPWKHJXDUGHGUHVSHFWWKH\KDGHVWDEOLVKHGDQG undercut any potential friendship. &DPSEHOO VWHSSHG LQWR D VPDOO ZRRGHQ KXW D IHZ IHHW DKHDG RI KHU DQG VRPH OLJKWV DERYH WKHP ÀLFNHUHG WR OLIH$ VHFRQG ODWHU WKH FRQYH\RUEHOWLQIURQWRIWKHKXWFUHDNHGDQGZKLUUHGDVLWEHJDQWRWXUQ VORZO\6KHKDGWRVD\VRPHWKLQJVRRQEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶W¿QGWKHULJKW ZRUGVVRZKHQ&DPSEHOOH[LWHGWKHKXWVKHMXVWEOXUWHG³,FDQ¶WVNL´ &DPSEHOOVPLOHGEURDGO\³,NQRZ´ ³, GRQ¶W VHH KRZ WKDW ZLOO LPSDLU P\ MXGJPHQW DV D PDUNHWLQJ strategist, and it certainly doesn’t make me less dedicated to doing my MREDQG²ZKDW"´ &DPSEHOO ODXJKHG ³, NQRZ \RX FDQ¶W VNL7KDW¶V ZK\ , SODQ WR teach you.” “How did you know?” ³,FRXOGWHOOODVWZHHNHQGZKHQZHZHUHWDONLQJDERXWWKHW\SHV of slopes and snow.” ³:DV , WKDW REYLRXV"´ 3DUNHU DVNHG 0D\EH HYHU\RQH KDG VHHQ right through her. ³1RW DW DOO´ &DPSEHOO VPLOHG DJDLQ ³
&DPSEHOO SLFNHG XS KHU VNL SROHV DGMXVWLQJ WKHP VR WKDW KHU JORYHGKDQGV¿WGLUHFWO\LQWRWKHJURRYHVRIWKHUXEEHUJULSV6KHWKHQ handed a slightly shorter pair to Parker and said, “Just do what I do, okay?” Parker nodded and gripped the poles with her usual determined
RACHEL SPANGLER H[SUHVVLRQ EXW XQGHUQHDWK LW &DPSEHOO GHWHFWHG VRPHWKLQJ PRUH something fragile. Learning to ski didn’t have as much to do with ego DVLWGLGZLWKVHOIUHVSHFWZKLFKZDVPXFKPRUHDSSHDOLQJWKDQWKH VHOIFHQWHUHGQHVV&DPSEHOOKDGDVVXPHGDVWKHPRWLYDWLRQIRU3DUNHU¶V lies. She would have to handle this lesson very carefully so Parker FRXOGJDLQDELOLW\ZLWKRXWORVLQJDQ\GLJQLW\ ³8VHRQHRIWKHSROHVWRKHOS\RXEDODQFHDV\RXOLIW\RXUIRRW´ &DPSEHOOGHPRQVWUDWHG³*RDKHDGDQGXVHWKHRWKHUSROHWRWDSWKH VLGHRI\RXUERRW7KLVVQRZLVSUHWW\WKLFNDQGLILWVWLFNVWRWKHERWWRP RI\RXUERRW\RX¶OOKDYHWURXEOHORFNLQJLQWR\RXUVNLV´ Parker did as she was told, appearing to use every ounce of her energy to concentrate. &DPSEHOOZDWFKHGKHUFORVHO\QRWRQO\VWXG\LQJKHUPRYHPHQWV EXWDOVRKHUIDFLDOH[SUHVVLRQVDQGERG\ODQJXDJH,WZDVDEHDXWLIXO ERG\OHDQDQGOLWKHEXWVKHWULHGWRVWD\IRFXVHGRQWKHWHFKQLFDODVSHFWV RI3DUNHU¶VDFWLRQV³*RRG1RZSODFH\RXUERRWRQWKHVNLELQGLQJVR \RXUWRHDQGKHHOIDOOEHWZHHQWKRVHPHWDOSLHFHV/LVWHQFDUHIXOO\DV \RXSXVK\RXUIRRWGRZQ´)RUHPSKDVLVVKHVWHSSHG¿UPO\RQWRKHU VNLFDXVLQJLWWRVQDSLQWRWKHELQGLQJZLWKDQDXGLEOHFOLFN³-XVWOLNH that.” Parker mimicked her move perfectly, and her mouth twitched VOLJKWO\ XSZDUG LQ WKH KLQW RI D VPLOH ZKHQ WKH ERRW FOLFNHG LQWR SRVLWLRQ&DPSEHOOZDVRQFHDJDLQVWUXFNE\KHUEHDXW\3DUNHU¶VGHHS EURZQ H\HV ZHUH LQWHQVH ZLWK IRFXV DQG &DPSEHOO ZRQGHUHG RQFH PRUHZKDWLWZRXOGEHOLNHWRKDYHWKDWW\SHRIDWWHQWLRQGLUHFWHGDWKHU ³7KLV PD\ VRXQG VLOO\ QRZ EXW VRRQ \RX¶OO WKLQN WKDW¶V WKH VZHHWHVW sound in the world.” 'RXEWZDVZULWWHQSODLQO\DFURVV3DUNHU¶VIDFHEXWVKHGLGQ¶WVD\ DQ\WKLQJVR&DPSEHOOFRQWLQXHG6KHTXLFNO\VQDSSHGLQWRKHURWKHU VNLDQGPRYHGRYHUWRKHOSVWHDG\3DUNHUZKLOHVKHGLGWKHVDPH³7KLV RQHLVMXVWWKHVDPHEXW\RX¶OOEHOHVVEDODQFHGZLWK\RXURWKHUERRW already in the ski.” ³, JRW LW´ 3DUNHU VDLG ZKHQ WKH RWKHU ERRW FOLFNHG LQWR SODFH WKH UHOLHI HYLGHQW LQ KHU YRLFH7KHQ D ÀLFNHU RI IHDU UHWXUQHG WR KHU EHDXWLIXOH\HV³6RZKDWQRZ"´ ³)LUVWRIDOOMXVWUHOD[´&DPSEHOOVPLOHGJHQWO\³7KLVLVQ¶WDMRE Skiing is fun.”
TRAILS MERGE 3DUNHU UROOHG KHU H\HV ³7KDQNV IRU WKH SHS WDON EXW ZKDW GR , need to do?” &DPSEHOOELWKHUWRQJXH6KHZDVOHDUQLQJWKDW3DUNHU¶VDEUXSWQHVV ZDVRQO\DEXIIHUWRKLGHKHUDSSUHKHQVLRQ³-XVWZLJJOHDURXQGDOLWWOH 6OLGH\RXUVNLVEDFNDQGIRUWKWRJHWXVHGWRWKHZD\WKH\IHHO´3DUNHU EUDFLQJKHUVHOIZLWKKHUSROHVPDGHDIHZWHQWDWLYHPRYHVZLWKKHUIHHW DQGVHHPHGVOLJKWO\FRPIRUWHGZKHQWKHVNLVGLGQ¶WLPPHGLDWHO\À\RXW from under her. “See, they don’t have minds of their own, even though it may seem like it at times.” ³,¶G OLNH WR UHVHUYH MXGJPHQW RQ WKDW´ 3DUNHU VPLOHG ZHDNO\ “When do I start hurtling down the mountain?” &DPSEHOO JDYH D OLJKW ODXJK ³/HW¶V OHDUQ WKH EDVLFV EHIRUH ZH HYHQWKLQNDERXWWKHPRXQWDLQ´ ³$QGZKDWDUHWKHEDVLFV"´ ³:HOOWKH\¶UHYHU\FRPSOLFDWHG´&DPSEHOOVWDWHGJUDYHO\³YHU\ serious positions that will determine the amount of speed and control you have at any given point.” ³:RQGHUIXO´3DUNHUPXPEOHGVDUFDVWLFDOO\³ZKDWDUHWKH\"´ 6WLOO UHIXVLQJ WR FUDFN D VPLOH &DPSEHOO VDLG ³7KH\¶UH FDOOHG µSL]]D¶DQGµ)UHQFKIULHV¶´ 3DUNHUFRFNHGKHUKHDGWRRQHVLGH³µ3L]]D¶DQGµ)UHQFKIULHV"¶´ ³+H\´&DPSEHOO¿QDOO\DOORZHGKHUVHOIWRJULQ³,WROG\RXWKLV LVQ¶WURFNHWVFLHQFH7U\WRKDYHIXQ´ ³)LQH´3DUNHUVLJKHG³KRZGR,GRD)UHQFKIU\"´ ³:KDW DERXW WKDW"´ &DPSEHOO SUHWHQGHG WR EH DPD]HG ³
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TRAILS MERGE ³%HFDXVHLWLV´&DPSEHOOODXJKHG³$QGWKHVRRQHU\RXOHDUQWR VHHLWIRUZKDWLWLVWKHPRUH\RX¶OOHQMR\LW´ “I’m not very in touch with my inner child,” Parker confessed. ³:HOO MXVW VFRRW \RXU VNLV XS KHUH´ &DPSEHOO SXVKHG IRUZDUG ZLWKKHUSROHVXQWLOWKHFRQYH\RUEHOWFDXJKWKHUVNLVDQGVWDUWHGUROOLQJ KHUXSWKHKLOO³0D\EHDIHZWULSVGRZQWKHEXQQ\VORSHZLOOUHPLQG \RXZKDWLWIHHOVOLNHWREHDNLG´ 3DUNHU DSSHDUHG VNHSWLFDO EXW VKH GLG DV LQVWUXFWHG DQG D ZDYH of relief showed on her face when she successfully made it onto the carpet lift. ³&KLOGOLNH OHVVRQ QXPEHU RQH *R ZLWK WKH ÀRZ´ &DPSEHOO FDOOHG³$WWKHWRSWKHOLIWZLOOVOLGH\RXRQWRWKHVQRZ
RACHEL SPANGLER freed, tapped it with her pole, and pushed it into its ski again. She then GH¿DQWO\IDFHG&DPSEHOO³/HW¶VJR´ &DPSEHOOVKUXJJHGDQGIDFHGGRZQKLOO6KHZRXOGQ¶WGR3DUNHU DQ\IDYRUVE\WU\LQJWRUHVWUDLQKHUREYLRXVGHWHUPLQDWLRQ7KDWOHYHORI UHVROYHFDPHIURP\HDUVRIVHOIUHOLDQFHDQGVHOISUHVHUYDWLRQ7RGHQ\ it or attempt to temper it would come across as condescending. ³$OOULJKWQRZZH¶UHJRLQJWRSL]]DDOOWKHZD\WRWKHERWWRP MXVWVR\RXFDQJHWDIHHOIRULW´ 3DUNHUQRGGHGKHUH\HVIRFXVHGVRPHZKHUHWRZDUGWKHERWWRPRI WKHKLOO:LWKDGHHSEUHDWKVKHSXVKHGRII&DPSEHOOIROORZLQJDIHZ \DUGV EHKLQG 6KH ZDWFKHG 3DUNHU ZREEOH DQG ZHDYH GRZQ WKH ¿UVW part of the small slope. She performed the technical aspects exactly DVVKH¶GEHHQLQVWUXFWHGEXWKHUEDODQFHZDVYLVLEO\VKDN\:KHQVKH approached the halfway point, her skis were edging too close together DQGVKHZDVSLFNLQJXSVSHHGVR&DPSEHOOFDOOHGRXW³3L]]D3DUNHU SL]]D´ Parker’s skis turned slightly inward so that the tips were almost WRXFKLQJDQGKHUVSHHGVWDUWHGWRGHFUHDVHMXVWDVLWVKRXOG&DPSEHOO kept going at her initial pace so she could pull in front of Parker and see KHUH[SUHVVLRQEXWMXVWDVVKHSDXVHGEHVLGHKHU3DUNHU¶VVNLVFURVVHG Oh no, she’s going down.&DPSEHOO¶VKHDUWEHJDQWRSRXQG Parker started to slide sideways as she struggled to lift the top VNL RII WKH ERWWRP RQH &DPSEHOO KHOSOHVVO\ ZDWFKHG KHU VOLS IDUWKHU GRZQ WKH KLOO KHU HDUOLHU H[SUHVVLRQ RI GHWHUPLQDWLRQ SHQHWUDWHG E\ IHDUKHUIDFHFRQWRUWHGZLWKIUXVWUDWLRQ)LQDOO\3DUNHUORVWKHU¿JKW IRUEDODQFHDVVKHGURSSHGLQWRWKHVQRZ&DPSEHOOZLQFHGDQGGXJ KHUVNLVWRDQDOPRVWLQVWDQWDQHRXVVWRSEXWWRKHUDPD]HPHQW3DUNHU SRSSHG ULJKW EDFN XS DV LI VKH KDG ERXQFHG RII WKH VQRZ +HU H\HV ZLGHZLWKVXUSULVHVKHKDGWKHSUHVHQFHRIPLQGWRWXUQKHUVNLVEDFN LQWRWKHSL]]DSRVLWLRQDQGZLWKKHUPRPHQWXPDOUHDG\VORZHGE\KHU HDUOLHUVWUXJJOHVVKHZDVDEOHWRJOLGHWRDVWRSRQO\DIRRWRUWZRIURP WKHERWWRPRIWKHFDUSHWOLIW &DPSEHOOSRLQWHGKHUVNLVLQWKDWGLUHFWLRQDQGVWRSSHGULJKWQH[W to Parker, throwing an arm around her shoulder and pausing only to UHJLVWHUWKHLQWR[LFDWLQJIHHORIKHUOLWKHIUDPHDQGVLQHZ\OLPEVDJDLQVW KHUERG\ZKLOHVKHWULHGWR¿JXUHRXWKRZ3DUNHUKDGPDQDJHGWRVWD\ XSULJKW7KHWHQVLRQRIWKHSUHYLRXVPRPHQWVGLVVLSDWHGDQGWKH\EXUVW out laughing. “How did you do that?”
TRAILS MERGE “I didn’t want to fall again,” Parker said through a mix of deep EUHDWKVDQGKHDY\ODXJKWHU &DPSEHOOSXOOHGKHUFORVHULQWRWKHFURRNRIKHUDUP³,¶YHVNLHG my whole life, and I’ve never seen anyone stay upright through sheer force of will. I thought you were a goner.” ³7KHQ\RXXQGHUHVWLPDWHGPH&DPSEHOO&DUVRQ´3DUNHUUHSOLHG KHUH\HVVWLOOVKLQLQJZLWKWKHSXUHMR\RIKHUDFFRPSOLVKPHQW 3DUNHU¶VZRUGVFRPELQHGZLWKWKHFRQWDFWEHWZHHQWKHLUERGLHV FDXVHGDKHDWWRVSUHDGWKURXJK&DPSEHOOWKDWVKHKDGQ¶WH[SHULHQFHG LQDORQJWLPHDQGKDGQ¶WEHHQVXUHVKHZRXOGHYHUIHHODJDLQ+ROGLQJ Parker had ignited something unexpected and slightly scary. It was more than the incidental contact they had toyed with until that point. 7KLV FRQQHFWLRQ ZDV SXUSRVHIXO DQG SRZHUIXO ,W ZDV WRR JRRG WRR IDPLOLDU DQG WRR GDQJHURXV 7KH ODVW WLPH VKH IHOW OLNH WKLV VKH KDG RSHQHGKHUVHOIWRSDLQDQGGHYDVWDWLRQ6KHTXLFNO\EURNHWKHFRQWDFW EHWZHHQ WKHP DQG VDLG VHULRXVO\ ³
³7KDW¶VSHUIHFW´&DPSEHOOVKRXWHGDV3DUNHUIROORZHGKHUGRZQ WKHEHJLQQHUV¶VORSH³0DNHDIXOOCZLWK\RXUWXUQWKHQ¿QLVKLWRXWDOO the way across the hill.” Parker easily made the turn, following exactly in the tracks &DPSEHOO KDG MXVW PDGH +HU VNLV ZHUH DOPRVW FRPSOHWHO\ SDUDOOHO DQG VKH DSSHDUHG SHUIHFWO\ EDODQFHG ,W KDG EHHQ RQO\ D ZHHN VLQFH WKHLU¿UVWOHVVRQDQGDOUHDG\3DUNHUKDGEHJXQWRVKRZWKHIRUPRIDQ LQWHUPHGLDWH VNLHU7KH\ KDG PRYHG IURP WKH EXQQ\ WUDLO WR WKH IXOO OHQJWKEHJLQQHUVORSHDQGERWKRIWKHPZHUHPDNLQJWKHPRVWRIWKH opportunity to spend longer periods of time skiing and less time on the VORZPRYLQJFDUSHWOLIW &DPSEHOOZRUNHGHYHU\GD\FRYHULQJDQGJURRPLQJWKHVORSHVLQ SUHSDUDWLRQIRUWKHUHVRUW¶VVHDVRQRSHQLQJDQG3DUNHUVHHPHGHTXDOO\ RFFXSLHGEXWWKH\ERWKPDGHWLPHWRPHHWIRUQHDUO\WZRKRXUVHYHU\ HYHQLQJDQGWKH\VWRSSHGRQO\ZKHQ&DPSEHOOIRUFHG3DUNHUWRWDNHD EUHDN6KHZDVERUGHUOLQHREVHVVLYHZKHQVKHVHWKHUPLQGWRVRPHWKLQJ DQGVKHQHHGHGIUHTXHQWUHPLQGHUVWKDWVKHZDVMXVWRXWWKHUHWRKDYH IXQ 2WKHUZLVH VKH FRXOG VOLS LQWR DQ LQWHQVLW\ WKDW ULYDOHG WKDW RI
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Parker eyed the controls of the lift carefully. She knew how to WXUQLWRQ6KH¶GVHHQ&DPSEHOOGRLWPDQ\WLPHVRYHUWKHSDVWZHHN 6KH DOVR NQHZ VKH SUREDEO\ VKRXOGQ¶W WRXFK LW ,W ZDV WKH HYHQLQJ EHIRUH7KDQNVJLYLQJDQG&DPSEHOOZDVODWHIRUWKHLUOHVVRQ7LPHZDV FORVLQJLQRQ3DUNHU7KHUHVRUWZRXOGRSHQWKHGD\DIWHUWRPRUURZDQG VKHKDGEHHQLQYLWHGWRVNLZLWKWKH&DUVRQVEHIRUHWKDW+HUUHSXWDWLRQ ZDVRQWKHOLQH/RVLQJKHUFUHGLELOLW\LQ&KLFDJRKDGVKDNHQKHUWRWKH FRUH6KHZDVDW%HDU5XQWRSXOOKHUVHOIEDFNWRJHWKHUDQGWKHODVW WKLQJVKHQHHGHGZDVWRPDNHDIRRORIKHUVHOI&DPSEHOOKDGWDXJKW KHUVRPXFKVLQFHWKHLUOHVVRQVEHJDQEXW3DUNHUZDVQ¶WVDWLV¿HGZLWK MXVWEHLQJSDVVDEOH6KHZDQWHGWRFRPHDFURVVDVFRPSHWHQW$Q\WKLQJ OHVVZRXOGEHDIDLOXUH 6KH JODQFHG DW KHU ZDWFK RQH PRUH WLPH &DPSEHOO ZDV ¿IWHHQ PLQXWHVODWH³2KVFUHZLW´VKHPXWWHUHGDQGEHJDQWRÀLSVZLWFKHV RQWKHOLIW¶VSRZHUWHUPLQDO6KHKHOGKHUEUHDWKDVWKHPDFKLQHFUHDNHG WROLIH3DUNHUZDVDOPRVWSRVLWLYHVKHKDGLWUXQQLQJFRUUHFWO\EHIRUH she allowed one of the chairs to whisk her up the mountain. She spent WKHULGHUHYLHZLQJHYHU\WKLQJ&DPSEHOOKDGWROGKHUODWHO\²³5HOD[ JR ZLWK WKH ÀRZ MXVW HQMR\ \RXUVHOI´ &DPSEHOO ZDVQ¶W JLYLQJ KHU PXFKWHFKQLFDOLQVWUXFWLRQDQ\PRUH0RVWRIKHUGLUHFWLRQVIRFXVHGRQ attitude and demeanor, and it was a little disconcerting how well she ZDVDEOHWRUHDG3DUNHU¶VPRRGV She exited the chair at the top of the mountain and examined the WUDLOEHORZKHUZKLFKVHHPHGPRUHGDXQWLQJZLWKRXW&DPSEHOOE\KHU VLGH6KHUHDOO\GLGQ¶WQHHG&DPSEHOOWKHUHDQ\PRUHEXWVKHHQMR\HG KHU FRPSDQ\ 6KH ZDV ZLWW\ DQG DOZD\V PDQDJHG WR FUDFN D MRNH DW the right time. She didn’t shrink at Parker’s nasty temper, and she
RACHEL SPANGLER could hold her own in an argument if she needed to, though thankfully WKH\KDGEHHQDUJXLQJOHVV&DPSEHOOZDVJRUJHRXVDOOWKHWLPHEXW HVSHFLDOO\ZKHQVKHVPLOHGDQGVKHKDGEHHQVPLOLQJDW3DUNHUDORW more lately. No matter how many times it happened, Parker was never TXLWHSUHSDUHGIRUWKHZD\KHUVWRPDFKWLJKWHQHG6KHZLVKHGVKHFRXOG KDYHWKHUHDVVXUDQFHRIWKDWKHDUWVWRSSLQJVPLOHULJKWQRZLQVWHDGRI MXVWWKHYDVWH[SDQVHRIWUDLOEHIRUHKHU Shaking her head, she pushed off lightly. Right now she needed to IRFXVRQVNLLQJQRW&DPSEHOO+HUVNLVJOLGHGRYHUWKHWRSRIWKHVQRZ which was running faster than usual. She turned in a wide arc to control KHUVSHHGMXVWOLNHVKH¶GEHHQWDXJKWEXWKHUHGJHVGLGQ¶WGLJLQQHDUO\ DVGHHSDVVKHKDGKRSHG,PPHGLDWHO\VKHORRNHGXSIRU&DPSEHOO¶V UHDVVXUDQFHVRUGLUHFWLRQ7KHPRYHKDGEHFRPHVRVHFRQGQDWXUHWKDW VKH¶GPRPHQWDULO\IRUJRWWHQ&DPSEHOOZDVQ¶WWKHUH6ORZO\VKHSXOOHG KHUVHOIWRJHWKHUDQGFRPSOHWHGWKHWXUQEHIRUHVKHVWDUWHGLQWRDQRWKHU one in the opposite direction. She followed this shaky pattern all the ZD\WRWKHERWWRPRIWKHVORSHDQGZDVVLOHQWO\FRQJUDWXODWLQJKHUVHOI RQQRWIDOOLQJZKHQ&DPSEHOOUXVKHGRXWRIWKHOLWWOHZRRGHQWHUPLQDO that housed the lift controls. ³:KDWWKHKHOOGR\RXWKLQN\RX¶UHGRLQJ"´&DPSEHOOVKRXWHGKHU FU\VWDOEOXHH\HV¿OOHGZLWKIXU\ ³,²,ZDV-HVXV,ZDVMXVWVNLLQJ´3DUNHUVWDPPHUHGFRPSOHWHO\ WDNHQRIIJXDUGE\WKHRXWEXUVW ³$ORQH"´&DPSEHOOFORVHGWKHGLVWDQFHVHSDUDWLQJWKHPVRWKH\ ZHUHRQO\DEUHDWKDSDUW³'LG\RXVWDUWWKDWOLIW"´ ³
TRAILS MERGE DGHJUHH\RX¶UHVRPHKRZEHWWHURUPRUHTXDOL¿HGWKDQWKHUHVWRIRXU staff?” ³1R´1RZ&DPSEHOOZDVSXWWLQJZRUGVLQWRKHUPRXWK³,MXVW PHDQWWKDWLWZDVQ¶WDVFRPSOLFDWHGDV\RX¶UHPDNLQJLWRXWWREH,GLGQ¶W EUHDNDQ\WKLQJGLG,"1RWKLQJH[SORGHG,W¶VQRWWKDWELJDGHDO´ ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER EIGHT
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DPSEHOOVDWRQWKHEDFNVWHSVRIKHUSDUHQWV¶KRXVHIDVWHQLQJ WKH EXFNOHV RQ KHU VNL ERRWV ,W ZDV D &DUVRQ WUDGLWLRQ WR VNL WKH PRXQWDLQ DV D IDPLO\ EHIRUH WKH UHVRUW RSHQHG WR WKH SXEOLF She’d missed the experience last year, like so many other things. She’d SODQQHGWREHKHUHEXW/\QQKDGZDQWHGWRVWD\LQ0DGLVRQDQGVSHQG the holiday with her colleagues. She shook her head at the memory, MXVWOLNHDOOWKHRWKHUWLPHVVKH¶GSDVVHGRQWKHWKLQJVVKHFDUHGDERXW EHFDXVHVKH¶GFDUHGDERXW/\QQPRUH ,WZDVQ¶WHQWLUHO\/\QQ¶VIDXOW&DPSEHOOKDGZRUNHGKDUGWRWU\ DQGPDNHKHURZQGUHDPV/\QQ¶VWRREXWKHUH[KDGQHYHUPLVOHGKHU DERXWZKDWVKHGLGRUGLGQ¶WZDQWLQOLIH6KHGLGQ¶WZDQWWREHSDUWRI DIDPLO\VKHUHVHQWHGVKDULQJDQ\RI&DPSEHOO¶VDWWHQWLRQDQGQRWKLQJ &DPSEHOO FRXOG KDYH GRQH ZRXOG HYHU FKDQJH WKDW ,W ZDV KHU RZQ IDXOWIRUFRQWLQXLQJWRWU\6KHZDVQ¶WDQJU\EXWVKHZDVVDGZKHQVKH recalled the years they had shared. 7KHEDFNGRRURSHQHGDQGKHUIDWKHUDSSURDFKHG+LVVOLJKWOLPS UHPLQGHGKHUWKDWKHSUREDEO\ZRXOGQ¶WEHVNLLQJZLWKWKHPWRGD\DQG VKHNQHZWKDWERWKHUHGKLP+HZDVVWLOOJRRGORRNLQJLQVSLWHRIKLV JUD\VWUHDNHGKDLUDQGWKHFUHDVHVDURXQGKLVH\HVEXWKHVHHPHGVR PXFKROGHUQRZWKDW&DPSEHOOKDGVSHQWVRPHWLPHDZD\IURPKLP +HZDVQHDULQJUHWLUHPHQWDJHEXW&DPSEHOOGRXEWHGKH¶GHYHUTXLW working. He loved his family and the mountain too much and was UHVLVWLQJ 3DUNHU¶V QHZ LGHDV EHFDXVH KH GLGQ¶W ZDQW WR OHW JR RI DQ\ SDUW RI WKH EXVLQHVV KH KDG VSHQW KLV HQWLUH OLIH EXLOGLQJ +H ¿HUFHO\ protected everything he loved and was leery of anything or anyone who WULHGWRFKDQJHLW&DPSEHOOORYHGKLPGHDUO\EXWVKHDOVRORQJHGIRU
RACHEL SPANGLER WKHWLPHZKHQKHZRXOGHQWUXVWVRPHRIWKDWUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRKHU6KH loved this mountain too and wanted people to see it as much more than a simple winter playground. “Sammy and I are going down to start the lift. Why don’t you take WKHER\VRXWLQDIHZPLQXWHV"
TRAILS MERGE KDGEHFRPHDVROLGVNLHULQXQGHUWZRZHHNVGXHWRKHUGHWHUPLQDWLRQ DQGWKHKRXUVVKH¶GVSHQWSUDFWLFLQJHYHU\QLJKWEXWWRGD\ZDVWKH¿UVW GD\VKH¶GVNLHGLQIURQWRIDQ\RQHRWKHUWKDQ&DPSEHOO7KDWKDGWREH weighing on her mind. 7KHIRXURIWKHPZDONHGWRWKHVORSHMXVWDIHZ\DUGVIURPWKH EDFNSRUFKDQGFOLFNHGLQWRWKHLUVNLV7KHER\VZHUHRIIDVHFRQGODWHU 7KHMR\RIWKH¿UVWUXQRIWKH\HDUZDVHQWLUHO\WRRPXFKIRUWKHPWR ZDLWIRU3DUNHUDQG&DPSEHOO ³+RZDUH\RXIHHOLQJDERXWWKLV"´&DPSEHOODVNHG6KHZDQWHGWR put her arm around Parker’s shoulder to offer some sense of comfort, EXWVKHVLPSO\GLGQ¶WWUXVWKHUERG\ 3DUNHU WRRN D GHHS EUHDWK DQG H[KDOHG VORZO\ ³, JXHVV ,¶P ready.” ³,W¶VMXVWOLNHZHSUDFWLFHG´ ³([FHSW\RXUZKROHIDPLO\DQGP\ERVVZLOOEHZDWFKLQJ,GRQ¶W ZDQWWRHPEDUUDVVXVERWK´3DUNHUWULHGWRFKXFNOHEXW&DPSEHOOVDZ through her attempt. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³,¶OOEHULJKWEHKLQG\RX´ ³+HZRQ¶WH[SHFWWRJRWHDULQJGRZQDQ\EODFNGLDPRQGUXQVZLOO he?” Parker asked. ³
TRAILS MERGE ZLGH DUF WR WKH SHULSKHU\ RI &DPSEHOO¶V YLVLRQ DQG ZKLOH &DPSEHOO WULHGWRHYDOXDWH3DUNHU¶VWHFKQLFDOVNLOOVVKHFRXOGQ¶WKHOSEXWQRWLFH KRZ QLFHO\ KHU VNL SDQWV ¿W RYHU KHU KLSV &DPSEHOO ZDWFKHG WKRVH KLSVFXUYHOLJKWO\ DV 3DUNHU VKLIWHG KHU ZHLJKW WR IROORZ WKH EHQG RI the trail. It was a wide slope with a consistently gentle grade the entire length. It was also one of the longest runs on the mountain, measuring DOLWWOHRYHURQHPLOH2QRQHVLGHVWRRGDURZRIFDELQVVRPHRFFXSLHG E\WKH&DUVRQVRWKHUVXVHGDVUHQWDOSURSHUWLHVIRUIDPLOLHVDQGODUJHU JURXSVZKRZDQWHGVNLLQVNLRXWDFFHVVWRWKHLUDFFRPPRGDWLRQV7KH ERWWRPRIWKHVORSHÀDWWHQHGRXWQLFHO\EHIRUHDKHGJHURZSURYLGHGD ¿QDOEDUULHUEHWZHHQVNLHUVDQGWKHURDGWKDWZUDSSHGHQWLUHO\DURXQG the resort. 6NLLQJDORQJ&DPSEHOOJD]HGDFURVVWKHVQRZ\WHUUDLQDWWKHPLOG JUDGHOLQHGE\ODUJHIURVWHGSLQHVDQGKHUKHDUWVZHOOHG7KLVZDVWKH YLHZVKHUHPHPEHUHGPRVWYLYLGO\IURPKHUFKLOGKRRGDQGZKHQVKH ZDVDZD\WKLVLPDJH¿OOHGKHUKRXUVRIORQJLQJIRUKRPH7KHEHDXW\ RIWKHVFHQHDQGWKHSOHDVXUHLWHYRNHGPDGHKHUZDQWWREHSDUWRIWKH IDPLO\EXVLQHVVDQGKHOSPRYHLWLQWRDVWURQJIXWXUH7KH\FRXOGEUDQFK RXWWRDEURDGHUFOLHQWHOHDQGVHUYHDVHGXFDWRUVDVZHOODVHQWHUWDLQHUV 3DUNHUFRXOGEHDELJSDUWRIWKDWEURDGHUDSSURDFKLIVKHZDQWHGWR &DPSEHOO UHWXUQHG KHU IRFXV WR WKH SUHVHQW DV WKH HQWLUH JURXS PDGH LWEDFNWRWKHVWDUWRIWKHOLIWZLWKRXWDQ\SUREOHPVDQG3DUNHUHYHQ managed to slide to a stop gracefully, winning an appreciative nod from Sammy. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER FROOHDJXHV WKH\ VSHQW ORQJ SHULRGV RI WLPH ZLWK RQ RQH SURMHFW RU another.” ³
TRAILS MERGE RQWR WKH QH[W DYDLODEOH FKDLU ³
RACHEL SPANGLER slopes for the day, they would have a lot more people to contend with over the next few months. :KHQWKH\DUULYHGEDFNDWWKHOLIWWKHUHVWRIWKHIDPLO\MRLQHG WKHP%RWKRI-DQHOOH¶VFKLOGUHQZHUHEXQGOHGXSDQGZLJJOLQJLQWKHLU skis with anticipation. ³+L &DPSEHOO´ -DQHOOH¶V WKUHH\HDUROG VRQ FDOOHG DV WKH\ approached. ³+H\EXGG\$UH\RXJRLQJWRVNL"´ 7KHFKLOGQRGGHGYLJRURXVO\³,¶PJRQQDJRIDVW´ ³0HWRRPHWRR´1RHOFKDQWHG ,UHQH DQG -DQHOOH ZHUH WDONLQJ WR (PHU\ DQG *UHJ DERXW WKHLU DIWHUQRRQ SODQV 7KH DGXOWV GHFLGHG WR WDNH WXUQV ZLWK WKH NLGV DQG -DQHOOHRIIHUHGWRVNLZLWKKHUWRGGOHU¿UVWVHQGLQJ1RHOZLWK,UHQH Greg slowed the lift to allow the women to help the kids into the chair, DQG3DUNHUDQG&DPSEHOOURGHEHKLQGWKHP “Can that little guy really ski?” Parker asked. ³1RWRQKLVRZQ+H¶VVWLOODOLWWOHWRR\RXQJEXWKHSOD\HGRQWKH EXQQ\VORSHDELWDWWKHHQGRIODVWVHDVRQVRLWZRQ¶WEHORQJEHIRUH he takes off.” “You guys don’t waste any time, do you?” ³&DUVRQNLGVDUHERUQZLWKVNLVRQ´ “Sounds painful for the Carson women,” Parker teased. &DPSEHOOODXJKHG³5HDOO\ZHVWDUWVNLLQJDVVRRQDVZHFDQZDON ZHOOHQRXJKWRNHHSRXUEDODQFH-DQHOOH¶VER\LVDOPRVWROGHQRXJK IRU IRUPDO OHVVRQV 1RHO LV DOUHDG\ D VROLG LQWHUPHGLDWH VNLHU DW ¿YH DQGZLOOSUREDEO\EHDEOHWRVNLEODFNGLDPRQGVE\KHUVL[WKELUWKGD\ LQ0DUFK´ ³
TRAILS MERGE ³(ZZZZ´ LQWHUUXSWLQJ &DPSEHOO¶V LQQHU ZDQGHULQJV DQG GLUHFWLQJ HYHU\RQH¶V DWWHQWLRQ WR KHU DQG KHU OLWWOH EURWKHU +H KDG UHPRYHG KLVJORYHDQGVKRYHGKLV¿QJHUXSKLVQRVHDOOWKHZD\WRWKHVHFRQG NQXFNOH(YHU\RQHODXJKHGH[FHSWIRUWKHNLGZKRMXVWJULQQHGDQG kept picking his nose until Janelle pulled his hand away and wiped it with a tissue. ³%R\VDUHLFN\´1RHOVDLGHQWKXVLDVWLFDOO\³,OLNHJLUOVEHWWHU´ “You get that from your cousin,” Janelle teased, winking at &DPSEHOO ³,OLNHJLUOVEHWWHUWRR´6DPP\MRNHGDORQJZLWKWKHP ³:KDWDERXW\RX8QFOH(PHU\"´1RHODVNHGSOHDVHGDWWKHQHZ JDPHZLWKRXWUHDOL]LQJWKHQXDQFHVRIWKHDGXOWV¶DQVZHUV ³:HOOJLUOVRQO\VHHPWRJHWPHLQWRWURXEOH´KHVDLGZLWKDJULQ QRGRXEWDOOXGLQJWRKLVPRVWUHFHQWGLYRUFH7KHQORRNLQJDWWKHWZLQV KHDGGHG³,WKLQN,¶OOMXVWVWLFNZLWKP\ER\VIRUDZKLOH´ 1RHOIURZQHGVOLJKWO\DWWKHIDFWWKDWVRPHRQHKDGFKRVHQER\V RYHU JLUOV EXW TXLFNO\ PRYHG RQ ³'R \RX OLNH ER\V RU JLUOV"´ VKH asked Parker. ³:KDW":KR"0H"´3DUNHUVWDPPHUHGKHUFKHHNVÀXVKLQJ &DPSEHOOZRQGHUHGLIVKHVKRXOGVWHSLQDQGVDYHKHUIURPSRVVLEO\ KDYLQJWRRXWKHUVHOI3DUNHUZDVQ¶WOLNHO\WRIHHOFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKWKH LPSOLFDWLRQVRIKHUDQVZHUEXWDWWKLVSRLQWLWZRXOGUDLVHVXVSLFLRQV QRWWRSOD\DORQJZLWKWKHFKLOGUHQ¶VVLOO\JDPH)XUWKHUPRUHHYHU\RQH ZDVZDLWLQJIRUWKHDQVZHUDQGHYHQLI&DPSEHOOZHUHWRMXPSLQWKH\ ZRXOGVXUHO\QRWLFHQRWRQO\WKHODFNRIDUHVSRQVHEXWDOVRZKRKDG rescued Parker, and she wasn’t sure Parker wanted that either, so she didn’t say anything. “Well,” Parker said slowly, “I’d have to say that I prefer girls.” $FRXSOHRIWKHDGXOWVVHHPHGVXUSULVHGDQG&DPSEHOO¶VSDUHQWV VKDUHGDORRNVKHFRXOGQ¶WLQWHUSUHWEXW1RHOZDVREOLYLRXVWRWKHIDFW WKDW3DUNHUKDGMXVWRXWHGKHUVHOI6KHEHJDQWRFKDQW³*LUOVZLQJLUOV ZLQ´DVVKHKHDGHGIRUWKHOLIW(YHU\RQHWRRNWKHLUFXHWRJHWEDFN WRWKHVORSHVDQGIRUWKHUHVWRIWKHGD\QRRQHVDLGDQ\WKLQJDERXW DQ\RQH¶V ER\JLUO SUHIHUHQFHV %XW WKH WRSLF SUREDEO\ ZRXOGQ¶W EH forgotten soon.
RACHEL SPANGLER /DWHUWKDWHYHQLQJZKHQ&DPSEHOODQG6DPP\DUULYHGKRPHORDGHG ZLWKOHIWRYHUVIURPWKH&DUVRQIDPLO\7KDQNVJLYLQJFHOHEUDWLRQWKH\ ÀRSSHG RQWR WKH FRXFK WR ZDWFK WKH KLJKOLJKWV IURP WKDW DIWHUQRRQ¶V IRRWEDOOJDPHV “Cam?” Sammy said, a few minutes into SportsCenter. ³:KDW"´6KHZDVVWLOOIRFXVHGRQWKH79 ³
TRAILS MERGE ³*HH]6DP-XVWEHFDXVHZH¶UHERWKOHVELDQVGRHVQ¶WPHDQZH¶UH GDWLQJ´ &DPSEHOO IRXJKW WR EDQLVK WKH PHPRULHV RI KRZ LW KDG IHOW WR WRXFK 3DUNHU¶V IDFH KRZ VKH¶G WUHPEOHG ZKHQ VKH ZDV VR QHDU Nothing good could come from letting herself think that way. “We’re MXVWIULHQGV´ ³,NQRZWKDW´1RZ6DPP\EOXVKHG³%XWVRPHWLPHVZKHQVKH looks at you, I don’t know. I mean, if things were different, I wouldn’t mind her looking at me that way.” &DPSEHOO¶VYRLFHFDXJKW³:KDWGR\RXPHDQ"´ Sammy shrugged. “Like she sees how special you are.” ³6SHFLDO´&DPSEHOOVKRYHGKLP³1RZ,NQRZ\RX¶UHIXOORILW´ ³)LQHKDYHLW\RXUZD\´KHVDLGVWDQGLQJXSDQGVWUHWFKLQJ³,¶P JRLQJWREHG*RRGQLJKW&DP´ 7KHQKHZDVJRQHOHDYLQJKHUZLWKQRWKLQJWRGREXWWKLQNDERXW what he’d said. As if I needed something else to keep me awake tonight. &DPSEHOO¶VERG\ZDVVWLOORQKLJKDOHUWIURPEHLQJVRFORVHWR3DUNHU all afternoon. Her skin had almost literally tingled every time they PDGHFRQWDFWRQWKHVNLOLIW¶VOLWWOHEHQFKDQGWKHPHPRU\RIWKHLUQHDU NLVVDQG3DUNHU¶VVRIWIXOOOLSVVHQW&DPSEHOO¶VPLQGVZLPPLQJ$VLGH from Parker’s new love of skiing and their mutual occupations, they KDGQRWKLQJLQFRPPRQ7KH\ZDQWHGGLIIHUHQWWKLQJVRXWRIOLIHKDG GLVFRUGDQWYDOXHVDQGELFNHUHGDERXWQHDUO\HYHU\WKLQJ6RZK\GLG WKLV PDGGHQLQJ SXOO EHWZHHQ WKHP NHHS GUDZLQJ KHU HYHU QHDUHU WR Parker?
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER NINE
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ear Run, Parker Riley speaking.” Parker tilted her head so she FRXOGSLQWKHSKRQHEHWZHHQKHUHDUDQGKHUVKRXOGHUOHDYLQJ her hands free to continue sorting through the paperwork on her desk. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER 7KHZHHNHQGKDGEHHQDEOXUZLWKWKHRQVODXJKWRIRSHQLQJGD\ FURZGV7KHPRXQWDLQ¶VSRSXODWLRQVHHPHGWRKDYHPXOWLSOLHGE\WHQ RYHUQLJKW 7KH EXLOGLQJ EX]]HG ZLWK DFWLYLW\ DQG RXW KHU ZLQGRZV Parker could see a steady stream of skiers riding up the mountain DQG ]LSSLQJ EDFN GRZQ 6KH IUHTXHQWO\ ORQJHG WR MRLQ WKHP 6NLLQJ KDGEHFRPHDQHVFDSHDQGVKHORYHGLWVVLPSOHSXULW\RIWKRXJKWDQG action. +HUWKRXJKWVDERXWVNLLQJZLWK&DPSEHOOZHUHQ¶WWKDWVLPSOHDQG FHUWDLQO\QRWDVSXUH6KHORQJHGWREHQHDUKHUWRVHHWKDWKHDUWEUHDNLQJ VPLOHDQGWKRVHGD]]OLQJO\EOXHH\HV6KHPLVVHGWKHWKULOOWKDWFDPH IURPEUXVKLQJXSDJDLQVWKHUDQGWKHKHDWVKHIHOWLQWKHLUFORVHQHVV 6KHZDQWHGWREHRXWRQWKHVORSHVZLWKKHUULJKWQRZH[SHULHQFLQJDOO RIWKRVHVHQVDWLRQVDWRQFHEXWVKHVLPSO\KDGWRRPXFKZRUNWRGR ³+RZ DUH \RXU FRQIHUHQFHV JRLQJ"´$OH[LV DVNHG VZLWFKLQJ WR KHUPRUHRI¿FLDOEXVLQHVVYRLFH ³6ORZ´ 3DUNHU DQVZHUHG ZKLFK ZDV DQ XQGHUVWDWHPHQW 7KHUH ZHUHDIHZUHWXUQLQJFRQIHUHQFHVDQGUHWUHDWVEXWVKHKDGQ¶WERRNHGD single new account. “Why?” ³:KDW¶V\RXUDYDLODELOLW\IRU-DQXDU\VHFRQGWKURXJK¿IWK"´ 3DUNHU JUDEEHG KHU FRQIHUHQFH OHGJHU DQG ÀLSSHG WR -DQXDU\ even though she already knew that the week after New Year’s was the deadest week on the travel calendar. “We’re completely open.” ³&DQ\RXDFFRPPRGDWHWZRKXQGUHGZRPHQ"´$OH[LVDVNHGQRZ LQIXOOEXVLQHVVPRGH ³$EVROXWHO\ WKDW ZRXOG EH RXU ODUJHVW ERRNLQJ RI WKH \HDU EXW ZH KDYH FDELQV DQG WKH ORGJH URRPV WR FKRRVH IURP:KDW NLQGV RI meeting space would you need?” ³1RWPXFK7KLVUHWUHDWLVIRUSOD\DQGQHWZRUNLQJEXWZH¶GQHHG DSODFHWRPLQJOHLQWKHHYHQLQJDQGERR]HORWVRIERR]H´ 3DUNHUIHOWDVORZVPLOHVSUHDGDFURVVKHUIDFH³$UHZHWDONLQJ DERXWZKDW,WKLQNZH¶UHWDONLQJDERXW"´ ³7KH &KLFDJR :RPHQ¶V 'HPRFUDWLF &DXFXV ZRXOG OLNH WR UHVHUYH\RXUVHUYLFHVIRURXUDQQXDO%ORZ2II%DVK´7KHEDVKZDVD UDXFRXVZHHNHQGZKHUHSROLWLFDOZRUNKRUVHVEOHZRIIWKHVWHDPRIWKH campaign and congressional seasons as well as the stress of holiday HYHQW SODQQLQJ EHIRUH WKH\ KDG WR MXPS EDFN LQWR LQDXJXUDWLRQ EDOOV DQG WKH VSULQJ VHVVLRQ 7KH ZRPHQ LQYROYHG ZHUH UDUHO\ ELJWLPH
TRAILS MERGE SROLWLFLDQVEXWWKH\ZHUHPDMRUSOD\HUVLQWKHSDUW\DQGWKH\JUHDWO\ HQMR\HGRQHRIWKHLUIHZFKDQFHVWRHVFDSHWKHZDWFKIXOH\HVRIWKHLU enemies and employers. “You know this place isn’t upscale,” Parker warned. “I can hardly JHWDFHOOSKRQHVLJQDOPRVWRIWKHWLPH´ ³)RUDPDUNHWLQJH[HFXWLYH\RXVXUHNQRZKRZWRVHOODSODFH´ $OH[LVUHVSRQGHGGU\O\ ³,¶P MXVW EHLQJ KRQHVW ,W¶V EHDXWLIXO DQG SULVWLQH EXW LW¶V QRW 9DLO´3DUNHUVDLGUXEELQJKHUIRUHKHDG6KHZDQWHGWKHERRNLQJEXW VKHZDQWHGLWWREHWKHULJKWERRNLQJ³,I\RX¶UHGRLQJWKLVDVDIDYRU you don’t have to.” ³'RQ¶WEHVLOO\,ORYH\RXEXW,¶GQHYHUPDNHDEXVLQHVVGHFLVLRQ EDVHGRQRXUIULHQGVKLS:HFKRVH%HDU5XQEHFDXVHLW¶VZLWKLQGULYLQJ GLVWDQFHIURP&KLFDJRDQGFORVHHQRXJKWR*UHHQ%D\IRUWKRVHZKR ZDQWWRÀ\:HDOVRZDQWWRKDYHDSODFHWRRXUVHOYHV7KLVLVDPDMRU QHWZRUNLQJHYHQWDQGZHGRQ¶WZDQWWREHGLVWUDFWHGE\RWKHUIXQFWLRQV LQWKHDUHDRUSU\LQJH\HV:H¶UHZLOOLQJWRVDFUL¿FHVRPHOX[XU\IRUD OLWWOHSULYDF\´$OH[LVVWDWHGPDWWHURIIDFWO\ ³:HOO ZH FDQ FHUWDLQO\ RIIHU WKDW´ 3DUNHU EHJDQ WR IUDQWLFDOO\ VFULEEOHQRWHVRQDVFUDWFKSLHFHRISDSHU ³'RQ¶WJRFUD]\ULJKWQRZ-XVWSXWXVGRZQIRUWKDWZHHNHQGDQG ,¶OOID[\RXWKHGHWDLOV0RQGD\´ 3DUNHUH[KDOHG³$OH[LVWKDQN\RXVRPXFK´ ³:HOO,EHJDQWRZRUU\WKDW,¶GQHYHUVHH\RXDJDLQ,FDQ¶WEHOLHYH \RXGLGQ¶WFRPHGRZQIRU7KDQNVJLYLQJ:KDWHYHUGLG\RXGRWKHUH over the holiday? Please tell me you didn’t work.” “No, I didn’t. I slept practically all day. Well, until early afternoon. 7KHQ,ZHQWVNLLQJZLWKWKHZKROH&DUVRQIDPLO\HYHQWKHOLWWOHNLGV´ ³$W\SLFDOKROLGD\RQ:DOWRQ0RXQWDLQHK"´$OH[LVGLGQ¶WVRXQG HQWKXVHGDERXWWKHHYHQW,WZDVQ¶WKHUW\SHRIIXQDQGWREHKRQHVWLW ZRXOGQ¶WKDYHVRXQGHGOLNHPXFKWR3DUNHUDIHZPRQWKVDJREXWLW KDGEHHQHQMR\DEOHLQDGLIIHUHQWVRUWRIZD\(VSHFLDOO\WKHWLPHVKH VSHQWZLWK&DPSEHOO³,JXHVV\RXUVNLOHVVRQVSDLGRIIWKHQ´ ³$EVROXWHO\&DPVDYHGP\DVVELJWLPH´ “I’m sure that’s not all she wanted to do with that lovely ass of yours.” ³$OH[LV´3DUNHUVQDSSHG³LW¶VQRWOLNHWKDW´
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7KHFRQYHUVDWLRQDWWKHVWDIIPHHWLQJ0RQGD\DIWHUQRRQÀRZHG HDVLO\ DQG 3DUNHU GRXEWHG DQ DYDODQFKH FRXOG VKDNH WKH &DUVRQV¶ URXWLQH6KHKRSHGWKH\ZRXOGWDNHKHUELJQHZVLQVWULGH$IWHUDOOWKH FOLHQWHOHVKHKDGOLQHGXSIRUWKH¿UVWZHHNRI-DQXDU\ZDVQ¶WUHPRWHO\ like any of the people who normally skied here. ³3DUNHUORRNVOLNHVKH¶VJRWELJQHZV´6DPP\VDLGZKHQWKHUH was a lull in the conversation. ³$FWXDOO\,GR,ERRNHGDPDMRUFRQIHUHQFHIRUULJKWDIWHU1HZ Year’s.” ³:HOO,¶OOEHGDPQHG´(PHU\VDLGUXQQLQJKLV¿QJHUVWKURXJK KLVVW\OLVKQHZKDLUFXW³/HDYHLWWR\RXWR¿QGEXVLQHVVGXULQJGHDG week.” Parker grinned slightly at the compliment. “It’s the Chicago :RPHQ¶V 'HPRFUDWLF &DXFXV ZKLFK FRQVLVWV RI DERXW WZR KXQGUHG ZRPHQ6RWKLVZRXOGEHDQDOOKDQGVRQGHFNHYHQW´
RACHEL SPANGLER ³:RZ´ 6DPP\ VDLG ³WZR KXQGUHG ZRPHQ :RXOG LW EH inappropriate to tell you I love you?” ³
TRAILS MERGE WKH\GRQ¶WOLNHWKDWWKH\FDQOHDYH7KH\¶UHJLYLQJXVDFKDQFH&DQ¶W we at least do the same for them?” Parker’s heart swelled as she saw the tenderness pass from father to daughter. She knew Greg wished she’d never set foot on the mountain, EXWKHREYLRXVO\KDGDVRIWVSRWIRU&DPSEHOOZKRLQWXUQNQHZKRZ to speak to him so he’d listen. *UHJUDLVHGKLVKDQGV³$OOULJKW&DP,GRQ¶WVHHDV,KDYHPXFK FKRLFHEXWLI,FDWFKRQHRIWKHPGRLQJDQ\WKLQJWRXSVHWWKHZD\WKLV PRXQWDLQIXQFWLRQV,¶OOSHUVRQDOO\SXWKHURQDEXVEDFNWR&KLFDJR´ ³7KH\DUHQ¶WDGHVWUXFWLYHEXQFKE\DQ\PHDQVEXWWKH\DUHXVHG WREHLQJWDNHQFDUHRI´3DUNHUWULHGWRDVVXUHKLP³7KHVHDUHDOOJRRG KDUGZRUNLQJZRPHQ,GRQ¶WLPDJLQHZH¶OOKDYHDQ\UHDOSUREOHPVEXW WKH\ZLOOEHLQGH¿QLWHQHHGRIFRQVWDQWDWWHQWLRQ6RPHRIWKHPFDQEH a little high maintenance.” (PHU\QRGGHG³*RWFKD:H¶OOGRWRXUi’s and cross our t’s.” “I hope this turns out like you all think it will,” Greg told Parker DVKHOHIWWKHPHHWLQJREYLRXVO\VWLOOQRWFRQYLQFHG³,ILWGRHVQ¶W,¶OO EHWKH¿UVWRQHWRVD\,WROG\RXVR´ &DPSEHOOZDVWKHRQO\SHUVRQOHIWLQWKHURRPDIWHUKHUGDGOHIW and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward. ³:KDW"´ 3DUNHU DVNHG ÀXVKLQJ XQGHU WKH JD]H RI WKRVH EULJKW EOXHH\HV ³7KLVFRQIHUHQFHJURXS\RXXVHGWREHRQHRIWKHPULJKW"´ ³:HOO,²\HV´VKHVDLG¿QDOO\DOORZLQJKHUVHOIWRWKLQNDERXWWKH IDFWWKDWKHUSDVWDQGKHUSUHVHQWZRUOGVZHUHDERXWWRFROOLGH6KHKDG EHHQVRKDSS\WRKDYHDPDMRUFRQIHUHQFHERRNLQJVKHKDGQ¶WWKRXJKW DERXWZKDWLWZRXOGPHDQIRUKHUSHUVRQDOO\ “Who would have ever thought your political connections would SD\RIIDOOWKHZD\XSKHUHLQWKHEODFNKROHRIFLYLOL]DWLRQ´&DPSEHOO said. ³&DPSEHOODERXWWKDWFRPPHQWLWZDVMXVWDIULHQGMRNLQJ6KH WHDVHVPH²´ ³$QGZLOOWKLVIULHQGEHMRLQLQJXVIRUWKHFRQIHUHQFH"´VKHDVNHG DPLVFKLHYRXVORRNÀLFNHULQJDFURVVKHUIDFH “Yes, she will, and I’ll personally thrash her if you’d like.” ³1R´&DPSEHOOVPLOHGDQGVKRRNKHUKHDG³:H¶OOMXVWKDYHWR GRRXUEHVWWRSURYHWRKHUWKDWZH¶UHZRUWK\RI\RXUSUHVHQFH$QGWR prove my dad wrong.”
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHU VWDUHG DW KHU XQVXUH RI ZKDW WR VD\ )LQDOO\ VKH EOXUWHG ³&DQ,EX\\RXGLQQHUWRQLJKW"´ ,WZDV&DPSEHOO¶VWXUQWREHVXUSULVHG “You know, to thank you for teaching me to ski,” Parker continued. ³,¶GORYHWR´&DPSEHOODQVZHUHGVORZO\³EXW,KDYHWRUXQWKH JURRPHUDOOZHHNIURP¿YHWLOOWHQ´ ³2K´ 3DUNHU VDLG WU\LQJ QRW WR OHW KHU GLVDSSRLQWPHQW VKRZ ³2ND\,XQGHUVWDQG´ ³%XW,GRKDYHWRHDW´ ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TEN
7
he sun had disappeared over the mountain, leaving only a thin SLQN VWULS RI OLJKW DORQJ WKH KRUL]RQ 7KH OLIWV KDG VWRSSHG running almost an hour earlier, and while a few employees were still at WKHORGJHWKHVORSHVZHUHFRPSOHWHO\HPSW\-XVWDV&DPSEHOOVWDUWHG XSWKHVWHSVRIWKHEDFNGHFN3DUNHUKHDGHGWRZDUGKHU1RPDWWHUKRZ PDQ\WLPHVVKHVDZKHU&DPSEHOOVWLOOKDGQ¶WJRWWHQXVHGWR3DUNHU¶V VWULNLQJEHDXW\DQGWRGD\ZDVQRH[FHSWLRQ6KHZRUHDSDLURIEODFN FRUGXUR\SDQWVDQGDUHGWXUWOHQHFNVZHDWHUFRYHUHGE\DEODFNSHDFRDW XQEXWWRQHGKDOIZD\XSWKHIURQW+HUGDUNEURZQKDLUZDVWXFNHGXQGHU DSODLQEODFNVWRFNLQJFDSDQGWKHHQGVWXPEOHGRYHUKHUVKRXOGHUVD IHZVWUDQGVEORZLQJLQWKHVQRZ\EUHH]H ³,WDNHLWWKDW¶VRXUULGH"´6KHQRGGHGWRZDUGWKH6QR&DW&DPSEHOO KDGMXVWFOLPEHGGRZQIURP7KHPDFKLQHUHVHPEOHGDEULJKW\HOORZ VHPLWUXFNFDEVHWDWRSWDQNWUHDGV ³6XUH LV´ &DPSEHOO WXJJHG RQ WKH KDQGOH DW WKH ERWWRP RI WKH GRRU$VLWVZXQJRSHQVKHH[WHQGHGDKDQGWR3DUNHUDVLIVKHGLGLWDOO the time. “Let me help you up.” 6HWWLQJWKHEDJRIIRRGVKH¶GEURXJKWMXVWLQVLGHWKHGRRU3DUNHU SXWKHUJORYHGKDQGLQ&DPSEHOO¶V³:KDW¶VWKHEHVWZD\WRGRWKLV"´ ³/LNH\RX¶UHFOLPELQJDODGGHU,¶OOKROG\RXVWHDG\2QFH\RX¶UH up you can use that handle on the door frame to pull yourself in.” :KHQ &DPSEHOO JRW LQWR WKH GULYHU¶V VSRW 3DUNHU KDG DOUHDG\ VHWWOHGLQWRWKHSDVVHQJHUVHDWRIWKHFDE ³,GLGQ¶WNQRZZKDWNLQGRIVDQGZLFKHV\RXOLNHVR,EURXJKWIRXU different ones,” she said. “Ham and Swiss on rye, turkey and cheddar
RACHEL SPANGLER RQ VRXUGRXJK URDVW EHHI DQG SURYRORQH RQ ,WDOLDQ DQG YHJJLHV RQ wheat.” ³$UH \RX DOZD\V WKLV SUHSDUHG"´ &DPSEHOO FKXFNOHG DOUHDG\ knowing the answer. ³:KHQHYHU,FDQEH´3DUNHUUHSOLHGVHULRXVO\ ³$OOULJKWWKHQ,¶OOKDYHWKHWXUNH\´ 3DUNHUSXOOHGRXWWKHVDQGZLFK³0XVWDUG"0D\R".HWFKXS"´ ³0D\RSOHDVH´&DPSEHOOVPLOHGDVVKHZDWFKHG3DUNHUDVVHPEOH WKHLU PHDO +HU RYHUSUHSDUDWLRQ ZDV MXVW SDUW RI KHU SHUVRQDOLW\ EXW &DPSEHOOZRXOGQHYHUEHDEOHWRKDYHDUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKVRPHRQHDV DQDOUHWHQWLYHDV3DUNHU$WWKHVDPHWLPHVKHZDVWRXFKHGWKDW3DUNHU had put so much thought into their evening together. &DPSEHOOPLVVHGWKHLUVNLOHVVRQVDQGHYHQWKRXJKWKH\KDGQ¶W WDONHGDERXWPXFKEH\RQGWKHVNLLQJVKH¶GHQMR\HGVSHQGLQJWLPHZLWK 3DUNHU6KHOLNHGWKHZD\VKHODXJKHGZLWKKHUZKROHERG\ZKHQVKH was relaxed, loved the way Parker’s eyes danced when she was pleased ZLWK KHUVHOI DQG FUDYHG WKH IXOOÀHGJHG VPLOHV 3DUNHU VHQW KHU ZD\ when they fell into perfect rhythm on the slopes. 1RZ WKDW &DPSEHOO KDGQ¶W H[SHULHQFHG WKH MR\ RI EHLQJ FORVH to Parker either physically or emotionally for several days, she was ORQHO\6KHZRXOGQ¶WKDYHWKRXJKWLWSRVVLEOHWRIHHOWKDWZD\DW%HDU 5XQQRWZKHQVXUURXQGHGE\WKHSHRSOHVKHORYHGPRVWLQWKHZRUOG
TRAILS MERGE XQLTXHYLHZ3DUNHU¶VGHHSEURZQH\HVPDGHKHUIHHODVZDUPDVLIWKH\ ZHUHVLWWLQJE\D¿UHLQVWHDGRIFUXQFKLQJRYHUWKHVQRZDWGXVN ³7KLV LV DQ LPSUHVVLYH YLHZ´ 3DUNHU VDLG EHWZHHQ ELWHV RI KHU sandwich. &DPSEHOOVPLOHG,WZDVVRLPSRUWDQWWRKHUWKDW3DUNHUEHDEOHWR DSSUHFLDWHWKHPRXQWDLQWKHZD\VKHGLG,WZDVRQHRIWKHRQO\WDQJLEOH DVSHFWVRIWKHJURZLQJFRQQHFWLRQEHWZHHQWKHP³,¶YHEHHQVHHLQJLW my entire life, and I haven’t got tired of it yet.” “You must have led a charmed childhood, idyllic in a lot of ways, with the mountain, and the fresh air, and the freedom.” “Yes. I had a great family, a mountain, and plenty of adventures.” “Sounds like you had everything you wanted while growing up.” ³$OPRVW´ ³$OPRVW"´3DUNHUDVNHG³:KDWPRUHFRXOG\RXDVNIRU"´ &DPSEHOOSDXVHG³$SXSS\´ 3DUNHUWKUHZEDFNKHUKHDGDQGODXJKHG³3RRUEDE\7KH\QHYHU let you have a puppy?” ³1R´&DPSEHOOSUHWHQGHGWRSRXWEXWKHUKHDUWZDVOLJKWZLWK the knowledge that she’d made Parker laugh so easily. “Sammy and I EHJJHGDQGEHJJHGEXW'DGVDLGLWZDVWRRFROGWRKDYHDVPDOOGRJ DURXQGWKHVORSHVDQG0RPGLGQ¶WZDQWDELJGRJPHVVLQJXSKHUQLFH house and yard.” ³7KDW¶V MXVW WUDJLF´ 3DUNHU¶V H\HV GDQFHG LQ WKH PRRQOLJKW UHÀHFWLQJRIIWKHVQRZ³:KDWDERXWQRZ"´ &DPSEHOOVKUXJJHG³*XHVVWKDW¶VMXVWRQHRIWKRVHWKLQJV\RXOHW go of as you get older.” ³:HOOLILWPDNHV\RXIHHOEHWWHU,GRQ¶WWKLQN\RX¶UHWRRROGIRU a puppy.” &DPSEHOOJULQQHG+HUHYHQLQJFKRUHVKDGQHYHUEHHQVRHQMR\DEOH DVWKH\ZHUHWRQLJKW6KHDOZD\VHQMR\HGWKHYLHZDQGWKHZRUNZDV SOHDVDQWHQRXJKEXWZLWK3DUNHUE\KHUVLGHVKHIHOWPRUHDOLYHWKDQ she had in months. $IWHUVRPHPRUHWLPHRQWKHJURRPHU&DPSEHOOWXUQHGLWWRZDUG WKHHQWUDQFHRIRQHRIWKHVWHHSHUWUDLOV6KHVWRSSHGDWWKHHGJHMXVW EHIRUHWKHVORSHWRRNDGUDVWLFGRZQZDUGWXUQ³6HHWKDWEDUXQGHUWKH GDVKWKHUH"´6KHSRLQWHGWRDPHWDOEDUMXVWDERYHWKHÀRRU³3XW\RXU feet up on it.” ³2ND\´3DUNHUVDLG³:KDWLVLW"´
RACHEL SPANGLER )LJKWLQJWRVXSSUHVVDJULQ&DPSEHOOFDVXDOO\DQVZHUHG³,W¶VDQ µRKVKLW¶EDU´ “What’s it for?” Parker asked suspiciously. “I’ll show you.” She nudged the groomer forward over the steepest part of the run, causing the machine to move onto the slope at a sharp ¿IW\GHJUHHDQJOHWKHIURQWRIWKHFDESRLQWLQJGRZQZDUG Parker, unprepared for the incline, threw her hands on the dash and PXWWHUHG³2KVKLW´6KH LQVWDQWO\ORFNHGKHU NQHHV EUDFLQJDJDLQVW WKHEDUDQGSLQQLQJKHUVHOIEDFNDJDLQVWWKHVHDW &DPSEHOOJDYHDORXGERG\VKDNLQJODXJK³
TRAILS MERGE SUREDEO\EHHQVWDUWOHGHQRXJKIRURQHHYHQLQJVRZKHQWKH\UHDFKHG WKH WRS RI WKH PRXQWDLQ &DPSEHOO GHFLGHG WR JR XS RQO\ WKH VWHHS JUDGHVDQGEDFNGRZQWKHJHQWOHUWUDLOV7KH\KDGMXVWSXOOHGRQWRWKH JUHHQWUDLOWKH\¶GVNLHGDIHZGD\VHDUO\ZKHQ3DUNHU¿QDOO\VSRNH “I was very good at getting people elected, selling a candidate to WKHYRWHUVEXW,ZDVQ¶WDOOWKDWJUHDWDWGHWHUPLQLQJZKLFKRIWKHPZHUH ZRUWK\RIEHLQJHOHFWHGLQWKH¿UVWSODFH´6KHSDXVHGDQGWRRNDGHHS EUHDWK³,ZRUNHGIRUDPDQQDPHG7LP%UDG\DQG,WKRXJKWKHZDVWKH real deal.” &DPSEHOO QRGGHG KHDULQJ WKH SDLQ MXVW EHORZ WKH VXUIDFH RI 3DUNHU¶VVWHDG\WRQH6KHNQHZDOLWWOHDERXW7LP%UDG\IURPWKHIHZ QHZVVWRULHVWKDWPDGHQDWLRQDOKHDGOLQHV$VVKHUHFDOOHGKHKDGEHHQ involved in some minor sex scandal with a woman who claimed she’d EHHQVH[XDOO\KDUDVVHGEXWPRVWSHRSOHVHHPHGWRKDYHZULWWHQRIIKLV DFFXVHUDVDJROGGLJJHUWU\LQJWRPDNHDEXFNRIIDQXSDQGFRPLQJ politician. “I thought he was different,” Parker continued. “He had so much SRWHQWLDODQG,KHOSHGKLPFDSLWDOL]HRQLW,ZDVHQWLUHO\UHVSRQVLEOH IRUKLVVHQDWHFDPSDLJQIURPWKHPHGLDDSSHDUDQFHVWRIXQGUDLVLQJ VWUDWHJ\ WR VWDI¿QJ , EHOLHYHG LQ KLP , NQRZ WKDW SUREDEO\ VRXQGV VLOO\²´ ³1RWDWDOO´&DPSEHOOVDLGVRIWO\,WGLGQ¶WVRXQGVLOO\WRKHUDW least not when Parker said it. ³:HOO LW ZDV´ 3DUNHU VDLG UHVROXWHO\ ³+H WXUQHG RXW WR EH MXVW OLNHWKHUHVWRIWKHP+HVDLGZKDWHYHUQHHGHGWREHVDLGZKHWKHUKH FDUHGDERXWWKHFDXVHVKHZDVVXSSRUWLQJRUQRWDQGREYLRXVO\ZKHQLW came to the most important issues, he did not.” &DPSEHOOVDWVLOHQWO\3DUNHUZDVHYLGHQWO\UHOLYLQJVRPHSDLQIXO memories, and while a part of her ached to alleviate that hurt, she knew HQRXJKWRUHDOL]HWKDWNLQGRISDLQZDVSHUVRQDO ³7KH HVWDEOLVKPHQW VLGHG ZLWK KLP RI FRXUVH7KH\ GLGQ¶W FDUH ZKDW KH EHOLHYHG DV ORQJ DV KH GLG ZKDW WKH\ ZDQWHG +H ZDV WKHLU JROGHQER\DQGWKH\DOOUDOOLHGDURXQGKLPEXW,MXVWFRXOGQ¶WEHDSDUW RILWDQ\PRUH$QG,NQHZLI,VWD\HGWKHUH,ZRXOGEH´ “So you got as far away as you could.” ³, QHHGHG WR EH VRPHZKHUH , FRXOG ¿QG P\ VWUHQJWK DJDLQ UHPHPEHUZKDWUHDOO\PDWWHUHGJHWP\EHDULQJVVRWRVSHDN´ ³$QGZKHQ\RXGRZLOO\RXJREDFN"´&DPSEHOOEDUHO\UHDOL]HG
RACHEL SPANGLER VKHZDVKROGLQJKHUEUHDWKZKLOHVKHZDLWHGIRUWKHDQVZHUQRWORRNLQJ DW3DUNHUEXWRXWLQWRWKHGDUNQHVV “I don’t know.” 7KHWLJKWHQLQJLQ&DPSEHOO¶VFKHVWZDVDOPRVWWRRPXFKWREHDU 6KHNQHZVKHZDVEHLQJVWXSLG2IFRXUVHDZRPDQOLNH3DUNHUZRXOG ZDQWPRUHRXWRIOLIHWKDQWKLVOLWWOHPRXQWDLQFRXOGRIIHUKHUEXWVWLOO &DPSEHOOIHOWHPSW\DWWKHWKRXJKWRIKHUQRWEHLQJWKHUH/\QQ¶VYRLFH echoed through her head. I mean it. No self-respecting lesbian would ever settle for the life you’re dreaming of.&DPSEHOOZDVVLPSO\SDUW of Parker’s temporary retreat, and if she let herself dwell on that fact VKHZRXOGEHXQGHQLDEO\KXUW%XWDWWKHVDPHWLPHVKHZDVQ¶WOLNHO\ to forget that reality anytime soon. Holding on to someone who wasn’t KROGLQJRQWR\RXLQUHWXUQEURXJKWQRWKLQJEXWSDLQ “Did I say something wrong again?” Parker asked softly. ³:KDW"´&DPSEHOOUHDOL]HGVKH¶GEHHQORVWLQKHURZQWKRXJKWV and the conversation had stopped. “No. What do you mean?” ³&DPSEHOO \RX KDYH D WHUULEOH SRNHU IDFH´ 3DUNHU FKXFNOHG ³
TRAILS MERGE honestly. She at least deserved the same. “I fell in love there, for the ¿UVWWLPHWKHRQO\WLPHUHDOO\´ ³2K´ 3DUNHU¶V H[SUHVVLRQ JDYH QR LQGLFDWLRQ RI ZKDW VKH ZDV thinking. ³/\QQ ZDV DPD]LQJ OLNH QR RQH ,¶G HYHU PHW ZKLFK HQGHG XS EHLQJWKHSUREOHP:HZDQWHGGLIIHUHQWWKLQJVIURPOLIH:HZHUHWRR GLIIHUHQW WR PDNH LW ZRUN 6R VKH EXLOW D OLIH , GLGQ¶W ¿W LQWR DQG , FDPHEDFN KRPH ZKHUH , EHORQJHG´ &DPSEHOO FRXOG VWLOO KHDU /\QQ VKRXWLQJWKHGD\VKH¶GSURQRXQFHGWKHXOWLPDWXPIRUFLQJ&DPSEHOOWR FKRRVHEHWZHHQKHUORYHUDQGKHUIDPLO\You can’t have it both ways, Campbell. While I’m gone, decide whether you want to be a dyke or play heterosexual homemaker at Bear Run. &DPSEHOO VKRRN KHU KHDG WU\LQJ WR ZLSH DZD\ WKH PHPRU\ :LWKRXW UHDOL]LQJ LW VKH KDG WKUHDGHG KHU ¿QJHUV WKURXJK 3DUNHU¶V ¿QGLQJ WKH VLPSOH JHVWXUH ERWK FRPIRUWLQJ DQG H[FLWLQJ ³%HDU 5XQ LVQ¶W ZKDW PRVW SRZHU OHVELDQV ZDQW IRU WKHLU IXWXUH EXW IRU PH LW¶V KRPH0\IDPLO\LVP\SDVWDQGP\IXWXUH,EHWWKDWVRXQGVVLOO\´ “It might to anyone who doesn’t know your family,” Parker admitted. “I know they’re more than special to you.” ³/\QQVDZZKDWVKHZDQWHGWRVHH´&DPSEHOOVLJKHG³%XWLQWKH end the choice was mine.” ³:HOO,¶PJODG\RXPDGHLW´3DUNHUVTXHH]HGKHUKDQGJHQWO\ ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER ELEVEN
P
arker was spending far too much time staring out the window DQGQRWQHDUO\HQRXJKSUHSDULQJIRUWKHPDMRUFRQIHUHQFHWKDW was now little more than a month away. She pretended she had no idea ZK\ VKH ZDV VR GLVWUDFWHG EXW WKHQ VKH ZRXOG VHH &DPSEHOO RQ WKH VORSHVDQGUHPHPEHUWKHIHHORIWKHLULQWHUORFNLQJ¿QJHUVRUWKHVRIW WRXFKRIDKDQGRQKHUVKRXOGHURUWKHKHDWRIWKHLUQHDUNLVV2UVKH ZRXOG UHFDOO WKH VDGQHVV LQ &DPSEHOO¶V YRLFH ZKHQ VKH VSRNH DERXW KHU¿UVWORYH7RWKLQNDERXWVRPHRQHKXUWLQJ&DPSEHOODQGKHUVWLOO PRXUQLQJ WKH ORVV RI D ZRPDQ ZKR VR REYLRXVO\ GLGQ¶W GHVHUYH KHU GLVWXUEHG3DUNHU 6LQFH 3DUNHU KDG DUULYHG VHYHQ ZHHNV HDUOLHU LQ 2FWREHU VKH¶G JRQHIURPEHLQJVLQJOHPLQGHGO\REVHVVHGZLWKKHUMREWRZDQWLQJWR SOD\RQWKHVORSHVDOOGD\DQG&DPSEHOOKDGEHHQUHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKDW FKDQJHLQDWWLWXGH7KRXJK3DUNHUNQHZVKHVKRXOGQ¶WVKHOLQJHUHGD OLWWOH ORQJHU DW WKH ZLQGRZ ZDWFKLQJ &DPSEHOO WDNH KHU DIWHUVFKRRO JURXSPRVWO\VL[DQGVHYHQ\HDUROGVGRZQWKHPRXQWDLQDQGDURXQG DQREVWDFOHFRXUVHRIRUDQJHWUDI¿FFRQHV3DUNHUFRXOGQ¶WKHDUKHUEXW every now and then all of the kids would alter the position of their skis DWH[DFWO\WKHVDPHWLPHDQGVKHNQHZ&DPSEHOOKDGMXVWFDOOHGRXW HLWKHU³SL]]D´RU³)UHQFKIULHV´ 3DUNHUKDGQ¶WVNLHGGXULQJWKHZHHNVLQFH7KDQNVJLYLQJDQGWKDW needed to change. Not only was it important to practice her new skills, EXWVKHDOVRQHHGHGWRUHOD[DQGJHWRXWRIWKHRI¿FH7XUQLQJEDFNWRKHU work, she told herself that if she stayed late tonight and got some work GRQHVKHPLJKWWDNHWRPRUURZRIIWRKLWWKHVORSHV,WZRXOGSUREDEO\ EHDJRRGGD\IRULWVLQFHVKH¶GRYHUKHDUG(PHU\WHOOVRPHJXHVWVWKDW
RACHEL SPANGLER they were supposed to get several inches of new snow overnight. So she forced herself to focus on preparing for the conference. 6KHZDVQ¶WVXUHKRZORQJVKH¶GEHHQZRUNLQJZKHQVKHQRWLFHG WKHVQRZIDOOLQJRXWVLGHKHUZLQGRZ(YHQWKURXJKWKHFORXGVLWZDV easy to tell that the sunlight had faded and evening had set in, so it had to EHDIWHU¿YHR¶FORFNEXWVKHKDGQRLGHDKRZORQJLWKDGEHHQVQRZLQJ 7KHÀDNHVZHUHODUJHDQGVHHPHGWREHFRPLQJGRZQFRQVLVWHQWO\EXW they weren’t heavy. She fought the urge to peek outside. If she allowed KHUVHOIWREHGLVWUDFWHGRQFHDJDLQVKHPLJKWQHYHUJHWEDFNRQWUDFN Parker didn’t stop until a dull thud on her window got her attention. Unsure of what had made the sound, she listened carefully WRVHHLILWZRXOGKDSSHQDJDLQ$IWHUDPLQXWHSDVVHGVKHEHJDQWR FRQYLQFH KHUVHOI WKDW VKH¶G LPDJLQHG LW DQG ZDV MXVW DERXW WR UHWXUQ WRKHUSDSHUZRUNZKHQDVQRZEDOOKLWWKHZLQGRZUDWWOLQJLWHYHUVR slightly as some of the snow stuck to the glass. She peered through the SRUWLRQRIWKHZLQGRZWKDWZDVQ¶WSODVWHUHGZLWKVQRZ&DPSEHOOVWRRG EHORZKHUEXQGOHGXSLQKHUFRDWDQGJORYHVZLWKDVFDUIDURXQGKHU neck and her stocking cap pulled down over her ears so that only her PRXWKDQGVSDUNOLQJEOXHH\HVVKRZHG+HUFORWKLQJZDVFRYHUHGZLWK WKHUDSLGO\IDOOLQJVQRZDQGWKHPDVVLYH\HOORZ6QR&DWZDVEDUHO\ YLVLEOHDERXWWKLUW\\DUGVEHKLQGKHU Parker slid open the heavily framed pane of glass, then the smaller VWRUPZLQGRZDQGWKHIULJLGDLUUXVKHGLQSDVWKHUIDFH7KHWHPSHUDWXUH KDGGURSSHGFRQVLGHUDEO\VLQFHWKLVPRUQLQJDQGVKHVKLYHUHG ³,I\RX¶UHWU\LQJWRVWDUWDVQRZEDOO¿JKW,WKLQNWKHRGGVDUHLQ \RXUIDYRU´VKHFDOOHGGRZQWR&DPSEHOO ³, ZLVK ZH KDG WLPH WR SOD\´ &DPSEHOO VPLOHG WKDW EURDG HDV\ smile that came so naturally to her, and Parker felt awash with pleasure WKDWVKHZDVDEOHWRHQJHQGHUVXFKDUHVSRQVH$IDLQWÀXWWHUXQVHWWOHG KHUVWRPDFK³%XW,FDPHWROHW\RXNQRZLW¶VWXUQLQJLQWRDUHDOEOL]]DUG RXWKHUH´&DPSEHOOFRQWLQXHG³
TRAILS MERGE UDLVHGWREHKHDUGRYHUWKHLQFUHDVLQJZLQG³,I,¶GVHHQ\RXUOLJKWRQ I’d have come up earlier.” ³2ND\:KDWDERXW\RX"´ ³,¶PLQWKHJURRPHU,¶OOEH¿QH
RACHEL SPANGLER ZDVSUREDEO\XVHOHVVVKHJDYHWKHHQJLQHDOLWWOHJDVDQGWXUQHGWKH steering wheel, hoping the tires would catch enough traction to move WKHFDU,QVWHDGWKH\VSXQLQSODFHQRGRXEWGLJJLQJKHULQGHHSHU6KH shifted into reverse and tried again with the same results. &XUVLQJTXLHWO\VKHRSHQHGKHUGRRUDQGVWHSSHGRXWRIWKHFDU 6QRZLPPHGLDWHO\FRYHUHGWKHWRSRIKHUVKRUWVQRZERRWVDQGVHHSHG into her socks, mocking her for choosing fashion over functionality. 6KHWUXGJHGWRWKHEDFNRIWKHFDUDQGFKHFNHGWRPDNHVXUHKHUWDLOSLSH was clear, then scooped some snow away from the tailpipe, the cold SHQHWUDWLQJKHUJORYHVDQGIUHH]LQJKHU¿QJHUWLSV6DWLV¿HGVKHZRXOG EHVDIHIURPFDUERQPRQR[LGHIRUDZKLOHVKHFOLPEHGEDFNLQWRWKH driver’s seat, trying to shake off the snow and cold. 3DUNHUGXJWKURXJKWKHOHDWKHUVKRXOGHUEDJVKHFDUULHGEDFNDQG IRUWKWRZRUNDQG¿VKHGRXWKHUFHOOSKRQH)OLSSLQJLWRSHQVKHKHOG LWLQHYHU\LPDJLQDEOHSRVLWLRQWU\LQJWRJHWDVLJQDOEXWVKHNQHZVKH was only deluding herself. She rarely got a strong signal on this side RIWKHPRXQWDLQHYHQLQWKHEHVWRIFRQGLWLRQV,QDEOL]]DUGWKHSKRQH was totally useless. ³2ND\3DUNHU´VKHVDLGDORXG³GRQ¶WSDQLF
TRAILS MERGE eyes, and rested her head on the steering wheel. She needed to make a GHFLVLRQVRRQEXWQRWXQWLOVKHZDUPHGXSDELW
&DPSEHOO WXUQHG XS WKH ZLQGVKLHOG ZLSHUV RQ WKH JURRPHU DQG WKH PDVVLYH EODGHV VQDSSHG EDFN DQG IRUWK DFURVV WKH ODUJH SDQHV RI WKHJODVVWKDWPDGHXSWKHIURQWRIWKHFDE7KHWKLFNZHWVQRZKDG EHHQFRPLQJGRZQKDUGIRUKRXUV$IWHUDVWRUPOLNHWKLVWKH\ZRXOGEH DEOHWRRSHQDOOWKHVORSHVHYHQWKHRQHVWKH\KDGQ¶WEHHQDEOHWRPDNH PXFKVQRZRQ$PDMRUVWRUPGXULQJWKH¿UVWZHHNHQGLQ'HFHPEHU ZDV JRRG IRU EXVLQHVV DQG QRZ WKDW 3DUNHU KDG ¿QDOO\ JRQH KRPH &DPSEHOOFRXOGHQMR\WKHZHDWKHUPRUH 3DUNHUKDGQ¶WEHHQIDUIURPKHUWKRXJKWVDOOZHHN:KHQWKH\¶G almost kissed, they crossed a line from casual company to something PRUH3DUNHUREYLRXVO\KDGQ¶WJLYHQKHUWKHIXOOVWRU\DERXWZK\VKH ÀHG&KLFDJR6KHKDGSUREDEO\RQO\VNLPPHGWKHVXUIDFHEXWDWOHDVW QRZ&DPSEHOOXQGHUVWRRGWKDW3DUNHUZDVVKDNHQ,WPXVWKDYHEHHQ VR KDUG IRU KHU WR KDYH PLVMXGJHG 7LP %UDG\¶V FKDUDFWHU OLNH WKDW 3DUNHU GH¿QLWHO\WRRN D ORW RI SULGH LQ KHU ZRUN VR VSHQGLQJ DOO KHU efforts on someone so unworthy would have devastated her. No wonder VKH¶GWKURZQKHUVHOILQWRKHUQHZMREZLWKVXFKLQWHQVLW\6KHZDVQ¶W a workaholic. She was simply trying to prove to herself that she could do something right. $V&DPSEHOOWKURWWOHGGRZQWKHJURRPHUQHDULQJWKHEDVHRIRQH RIWKHPRXQWDLQ¶VPDLQWUDLOVVKHJOLPSVHGOLJKWVMXVWEH\RQGWKHVLQJOH OLQHRIWUHHVWKDWPDUNHGWKHUHVRUW¶VERXQGDU\1RUPDOO\VKHZRXOGQ¶W KDYHWKRXJKWDQ\WKLQJRILWEXWVRPHWKLQJDERXWWKHLUDQJOHPDGHKHU VORZ WKH JURRPHU DQG ORRN DJDLQ 6KH FRXOG EDUHO\ VHH WKURXJK WKH GULYLQJVQRZEXWWKHOLJKWREYLRXVO\ZDVQ¶WDVWUHHWODPS,WZDVPXFK WRRFORVHWRWKHJURXQGLQDQRWKHUZLVHGDUNDUHD7KHQVKHUHDOL]HGVKH ZDVVHHLQJKHDGOLJKWEHDPVFRPLQJIURPVRPHWKLQJEXULHGRQWKHIDU VLGHRIWKHVQRZEDQN ³'DPQ´ VKH PXWWHUHG UHDOL]LQJ WKDW ZKRHYHU KDG VOLG RII WKH URDGSUREDEO\QHHGHGKHOS6KHSXOOHGWKHSDUNLQJEUDNHWRDQFKRUWKH JURRPHUDQG]LSSHGXSKHUFRDW$FROGEODVWRIDLUKLWKHUWKHVHFRQG she opened the door and hopped out. She pulled down her hat, trying WRSURWHFWKHUHDUVIURPWKHELWLQJZLQGDQGWUXGJHGWRZDUGWKHOLJKWV
RACHEL SPANGLER 7KHVQRZEDQNZDVDWOHDVWVL[IHHWKLJKDQGQRWHDV\WRVFDOH&DPSEHOO VDQNXSWRKHUNQHHVZLWKHYHU\VWHS$VVKHFUDZOHGRYHUWKHSLOHRI snow several feet away from where the headlights appeared to start, she slipped several times. She was glad she hadn’t changed out of her ZHDWKHUSURRIVNLFORWKHV6KHZDVIUHH]LQJDOUHDG\DQGGLGQ¶WZDQWWR EHGDPSDOVR $V VKH VOLG GRZQ WKH RWKHU VLGH RI WKH VQRZ EDQN DQG SODQWHG KHUIHHWRQPRUHVROLGJURXQGVKH¿UVWFDXJKWVLJKWRIWKHFDU,WZDV 3DUNHU¶VEODFN9ROYRKDOIEXULHGLQWKHEDQNDQGFRPSOHWHO\FRYHUHGLQ a layer of freshly fallen snow. ³2K P\ *RG´ VKH JDVSHG VWXPEOLQJ WR WKH GULYHU¶V VLGH DV TXLFNO\ DV SRVVLEOH %UXVKLQJ WKH VQRZ IURP WKH ZLQGRZ VKH VDZ Parker slumped over the steering wheel, not moving. Her stomach clenched and she fought the urge to vomit at the prospect that she was hurt, or worse. ³3DUNHU´VKH\HOOHGDQGTXLFNO\ZKLSSHGRSHQWKHGRRU 3DUNHUMXPSHGORRNLQJVKRFNHGDQGVWDULQJ³&DPSEHOO"´ ³:KHUHDUH\RXKXUW"´&DPSEHOONQHOWQH[WWRWKHFDUWU\LQJQRW WRFU\ZLWKUHOLHI$WOHDVW3DUNHUZDVFRQVFLRXV “Holy shit,” Parker shouted. “You scared the crap out of me.” “I scared you"´ &DPSEHOO VKRXWHG EDFN ³, WKRXJKW \RX ZHUH XQFRQVFLRXVRU²´6KHFKRNHGRQWKHODVWZRUGXQDEOHWRVSHDNKHU worst fear. ³,¶PVRUU\´3DUNHU¶VYRLFHVRIWHQHG³,¶P¿QH,ZDVMXVWFDWFKLQJ P\EUHDWK´ ³
TRAILS MERGE her long, dark hair was tangled from the wind and the snow. She needed WRJHW3DUNHUVRPHSODFHVDIHDQGZDUPEHIRUHWKHVKRFNZRUHRIIDQG she crashed from exhaustion. “Come on.” She wrapped her arm around Parker’s shoulders. “Let’s get you out of here.” ,W ZRXOGQ¶W EH HDV\ WR JHW 3DUNHU EDFN RYHU WKH VQRZEDQN EXW WKHJURRPHUZDVWKHFORVHVWWKLQJWRFRPIRUW6R&DPSEHOOSORWWHGWKH HDVLHVWSDWKWKHQVWHDGLHG3DUNHURQKHUZD\XSERWKRIWKHPVWXPEOLQJ DQGIDOOLQJ7KH\ZHUHFRYHUHGLQZHWFOLQJLQJVQRZEXW3DUNHUGLGQ¶W KDYHZHDWKHUUHVLVWDQWDSSDUHODQGVKHZDVVKLYHULQJKHDYLO\DVWKH\ VOLSSHGGRZQWKHRWKHUVLGHDQGZDGHGWRWKHJURRPHU&DPSEHOOSODFHG KHUKDQGVRQ3DUNHU¶VKLSVRQO\EULHÀ\QRWLFLQJWKHVXEWOHFXUYHRIVNLQ EHQHDWKKHU¿QJHUVDVVKHOLIWHG3DUNHURQWRWKHWUHDGDQGLQWRWKHFDE 6KHPHQWDOO\FKDVWLVHGKHUVHOIIRUQRWLFLQJ3DUNHU¶VERG\DWDWLPHOLNH WKLVEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WVWRSWKHWLQJOHWKDWUDFHGWKURXJKKHU $V VRRQ DV VKH KDG WKH JURRPHU¶V KHDWHU UXQQLQJ IXOO EODVW VKH slipped off her coat and wrapped it around Parker’s shaking shoulders. $W¿UVWVKHVHHPHGDVWKRXJKVKHPLJKWUHIXVHWKHFRDWEXWWKHQVKH PHUHO\PXPEOHG³7KDQN\RX´ ³-XVWKDQJRQ´&DPSEHOOVDLG³:H¶OOEHKRPHLQDPLQXWH´ )LULQJ XS WKH JURRPHU DQG WDNLQJ WKH PRVW GLUHFW URXWH WR KHU KRXVHVKHGLGQ¶WZDQWWRWKLQNDERXWWKHIDFWWKDWVKHKDGMXVWUHIHUUHG to her home as though it were Parker’s as well. Just a slip of the tongue, RUSHUKDSVVRPHWKLQJPRUH)UHXGLDQ" $IWHUVKHVWRSSHGRXWVLGHWKHVPDOOWZRVWRU\FDELQOHVVWKDQWHQ yards from the edge of the trail, she hopped out and struggled through WKHVQRZWRKHOS3DUNHUGRZQ(DFKWKUHDGHGDQDUPDURXQGWKHRWKHU¶V ZDLVWDQGWKH\VWXPEOHGXSWRWKHSRUFK:KHQ&DPSEHOOSXVKHGRSHQ the door, the warmth rushed out to greet them. She kicked off her own ERRWVDVVKHZHQWWKHQUHPRYHGKHUFRDWIURP3DUNHU¶VVKRXOGHUVRQ the way across the living room. “Upstairs,” she muttered as they headed IRUKHUEDWKURRP 6KHWXUQHGRQWKHZDWHUDVKRWDVSRVVLEOHDQGSXWWKHVWRSSHULQ WKHWXE³*HWRXWRIWKRVHZHWFORWKHV´ 3DUNHUÀXVKHG³&DPSEHOO,WKLQN,FDQWDNHLWIURPKHUH´ &DPSEHOO EOXVKHG ZKHQ VKH UHDOL]HG VKH KDG EDVLFDOO\ RUGHUHG 3DUNHUWRVWULSLQKHUSUHVHQFH$QLPDJHRI3DUNHU¶VQDNHGERG\ÀDVKHG DFURVV KHU PLQG DQG EHIRUH VKH FRXOG VWRS LW KHU SXOVH TXLFNHQHG “Right,” she stammered. “I’ll go get you some dry clothes and put them
RACHEL SPANGLER outside the door. Call me if you need anything,” she said, then turned to leave. ³&DPSEHOO"´ “Yeah?” 7KHFORXGVRIVKRFNLQ3DUNHU¶VH\HVKDGGLVDSSHDUHGUHSODFHG E\DUDZVRIWQHVVWKDWPDGH&DPSEHOOOLJKWKHDGHG3DUNHUFORVHGWKH GLVWDQFHEHWZHHQWKHPDQGZUDSSHGKHUDUPVDURXQG&DPSEHOO¶VZDLVW SXOOLQJKHUFORVHDQGUHVWLQJKHUKHDGRQ&DPSEHOO¶VFKHVW7KHPRYH FDXJKWKHURIIJXDUGEHFDXVH3DUNHUGLGQ¶WVHHPWREHWKHKXJJLQJW\SH %XWWKLVIHOWVRULJKWDQG3DUNHU¶VERG\¿WVRVQXJO\LQWRKHURZQ6KH pulled Parker to her and shivered at how good it felt to hold her. ³7KDQN\RXIRUUHVFXLQJPH´3DUNHUZKLVSHUHG ³$Q\WLPH´ 3DUNHU KDG ZRUNHG KHU ZD\ LQWR &DPSEHOO¶V KHDUW DQG DIWHU IHHOLQJ WKH OHQJWK RI KHU ERG\ DJDLQVW KHU RZQ LW ZDVQ¶W D sensation she’d soon forget.
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TWELVE
W
KHQ 3DUNHU ¿QDOO\ HPHUJHG IURP WKH EDWKURRP KDOI DQ KRXU ODWHU VKH IHOW LQ¿QLWHO\ EHWWHU 7KH ZDUP ZDWHU KDG HUDGLFDWHG WKH ELWWHU FROG IURP KHU ERG\ DQG &DPSEHOO¶V VWHDG\ SUHVHQFHKDGKHOSHGFDOPKHUPLQG:KLOH3DUNHUZDVLQWKHEDWKWXE &DPSEHOOKDGFKDQJHGLQWRSDMDPDV²DQROGSDLURIÀDQQHOSDQWVDQGD ULEEHGORQJVOHHYHGVKLUW7KHVZHDWSDQWVVKHKDGOHIWIRU3DUNHUZHUH D IHZ LQFKHV WRR ORQJ EXW VKH¶G VQXJJHG XS WKH GUDZVWULQJ VR WKH\ VWD\HG¿UPO\DERYHKHUKLSV3DUNHUDOVRZRUHDORQJVOHHYHG7VKLUW ZLWKD:LVFRQVLQ%DGJHURQLW6KHFKXFNOHGDWWKHFKRLFH&DPSEHOO KDGXVHGXSDQ\EURZQLHSRLQWVVKH¶GJDUQHUHGGXULQJWKHUHVFXHE\ picking that shirt. ³7KDQNVIRUWKHFORWKHV´3DUNHUVDLGDELWVDUFDVWLFDOO\ ³,WVXLWV\RX´&DPSEHOOWHDVHGEDFN³:K\GRQ¶W\RXMXVWNHHSLW" I’ve got plenty more where that came from.” ³0D\EH , ZLOO´ 3DUNHU JULQQHG ³, FRXOG ZHDU LW WR SDLQW LQ RU dust with.” &DPSEHOO WKUHZ EDFN KHU KHDG DQG ODXJKHG DQG 3DUNHU ZDV UHOLHYHG WKH\ ZHUH EDFN WR WKHLU IDPLOLDU EDQWHU7KH VKRFN DQG FROG WKDWKDGTXLHWHG3DUNHURQWKHZD\WRWKHFDELQZDVEHJLQQLQJWRZHDU RIIEXWQRZVKHIHOWH[KDXVWHG &DPSEHOOPXVWKDYHUHDGKHUERG\ODQJXDJHEHFDXVHVKHVWDUWHG IRUWKHGRRU³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³1R´&DPSEHOOVKRRNKHUKHDGDVVKH\DZQHG³6DPP\ZLOOEH XSEHIRUH¿YHWRPRUURZPRUQLQJWRJRJURRPWKHUHVWRIWKHVORSHV DQG,PD\KDYHWRKHOS
TRAILS MERGE the large windows in front of them provided a view of the slope that ran DORQJWKHEDFNRIWKHKRXVH ³7KDQNV,W¶VRQHRIWKHRQHVP\JUDQGIDWKHUEXLOW,W¶VEHFRPHD sort of halfway house for his children and grandchildren. I think every RQHRIKLVNLGVOLYHGKHUHDWVRPHSRLQWDQG,¶PVXUHVRPHGD\(PHU\¶V twins and Janelle’s kids will get their turn, too.” “So you’ll stay here until you start a family of your own?” ³7KDW¶VWKHSODQ,ZDQWWREXLOGP\RZQSODFHDWVRPHSRLQW, HYHQKDYHWKHVSRWSLFNHGRXWEXWP\GDGGRHVQ¶WZDQWPHWREXLOG anything new on the resort property. He’s a little resistant to change.” ³
RACHEL SPANGLER :KHQ &DPSEHOO DZRNH WKH VRIW OLJKW RI GDZQ ZDV EHJLQQLQJ WRVKRZWKURXJKKHUZLQGRZ7KHVQRZKDGVWRSSHGDQGRXWVLGHWKH sounds of morning spread across the mountain. She felt wonderful, EHWWHUWKDQVKHKDGDOO\HDUEXWLWWRRNKHUDPRPHQWWRUHDOL]HZKDW PDGHWKLVGD\VRGLIIHUHQW7KHDQVZHUZDVULJKWLQIURQWRIKHURUPRUH accurately, pressed against her. Sometime in the night she had curled KHUVHOIDURXQG3DUNHUKHUIURQWWR3DUNHU¶VEDFNVSRRQLQJSHUIHFWO\ +HUDUPZUDSSHGDURXQG3DUNHUDQGKHUKDQGUHVWHGRQWKHÀDWSODQH of Parker’s stomach, slightly under her shirt. &DPSEHOOOD\YHU\VWLOOIRUIHDURIZDNLQJKHU6KHWULHGWRFRQWURO KHU EUHDWKLQJ DV KHU VOHHS\ FRPIRUW JDYH ZD\ WR DURXVDO :KHQ VKH EUHDWKHGLQWKHLUFRPELQHGVFHQWVKHUERG\EHWUD\HGKHUIXUWKHUDQG her nipples hardened. She fought to keep from pulling Parker tighter. 6KRFNHGDWKHUUHVSRQVHWRWKHLUQHDUQHVVVKHWULHGWRUHPHPEHUWKH ODVWWLPHVKH¶GIHOWOLNHWKLV1RWVLQFH/\QQKDGVKHEHHQVRDURXVHG and even then her reaction wasn’t this sudden or strong. Sure, she had EHHQDWWUDFWHGWRZRPHQ6KHKDGDSXOVHEXWLWKDGQ¶WUDFHGOLNHLWGLG IRU3DUNHU+HUUHDFWLRQZDVVSHFL¿FWRthis woman, and the feeling was downright dangerous. If she needed merely a physical touch, she could GHDOZLWKWKDWEXWKDYLQJWKDWQHHGGLUHFWHGDW3DUNHUZDVVLPSO\WRR much. She was too close, the feelings too complicated. &DPSEHOOFDUHIXOO\ZLWKGUHZIURP3DUNHU¶VZDLVW6WUXJJOLQJQRW WRJURDQDWWKHHPSWLQHVV VKH IHOW VKH HGJHG RII WKH EHG 6KH SXOOHG RQ D SDLU RI MHDQV DQG TXLHWO\ FORVHG WKH EHGURRP GRRU EHKLQG KHU then tiptoed downstairs. Sammy, in his ski clothes and a stocking cap, VDWDWWKHEDUEHWZHHQWKHNLWFKHQDQGWKHOLYLQJURRPVLSSLQJFRIIHH DQGZDWFKLQJWKHPXWHGZHDWKHUUHSRUWRQ79:RUGOHVVO\&DPSEHOO poured herself a cup. ³,VDZWKHJURRPHURXWEDFN'LG\RXEUHDNLW"´6DPP\DVNHG DEVHQWPLQGHGO\ ³1R,MXVWOHIWLWWKHUHDIWHU,EURXJKW3DUNHUKHUHODVWQLJKW´7KDW got his attention. +HTXLFNO\ÀLSSHGRIIWKH79DQGIDFHGKHUJULQQLQJZLFNHGO\ ³7KDWZDVIDVW´ ³6KHUDQKHUFDURIIWKHURDGODVWQLJKW*RWLWVWXFNLQDVQRZEDQN´ &DPSEHOOLJQRUHGKLVLQQXHQGR “Is she okay?”
TRAILS MERGE ³6KHZDVFROGDQGDOLWWOHVKDNHQXSEXWVKH¶OOEH¿QH´ “So she stayed in your room.” Sammy’s voice took on a more suggestive tone again. “Not on the couch?” “It’s not what you think, Sam.” She wanted him to know that the MRNLQJZDVLQDSSURSULDWHEXWWKHQVKHVLJKHG+RZVKHIHOWZKHQVKH ZRNHXSZLWKKHUDUPVZUDSSHGDURXQG3DUNHUZDVSUREDEO\FORVHUWR Sammy’s suggestiveness than she cared to admit. “We fell asleep while we were talking.” 6DPP\DSSHDUHGVNHSWLFDOEXWVWRSSHGWHDVLQJKHU³2ND\WKHQ ZK\GRQ¶W,¿QLVKJURRPLQJWKLVVORSH"
Parker slowly stretched out and, during her gradual awakening, VHQVHGDQHPSWLQHVVVKHFRXOGQ¶WQDPH6KHUXEEHGKHUH\HVDWWHPSWLQJ WRIRFXVRQKHUVXUURXQGLQJV7KLVZDVQ¶WKHUEHGURRPEXWLWIHOWOLNH KRPH6ORZO\VKHUHPHPEHUHGVKHZDVLQ&DPSEHOO¶VKRPH&DPSEHOO¶V EHGDQGKDGXSXQWLODVKRUWZKLOHDJREHHQLQ&DPSEHOO¶VDUPV6KH ÀXVKHG DW WKH LPDJH WKDW ZDV KDOI PHPRU\ KDOI GUHDP RI VOHHSLQJ VRXQGO\ ZUDSSHG LQ WKH VDIHW\ DQG ZDUPWK RI &DPSEHOO¶V HPEUDFH 6KHKDGH[SHFWHGWRVOHHS¿WIXOO\JLYHQWKHVWUHVVRIWKHHYHQLQJDQG WKH XQIDPLOLDU VHWWLQJ EXW LQ WKH XQJXDUGHG PRPHQWV RI VOHHS VKH VXUUHQGHUHGKHUVHOIWRWKHLQQRFHQWLQWLPDF\RI&DPSEHOO¶VWRXFK6KH sat up suddenly. She wasn’t thinking of some random woman, some VWUDQJHU WR VHHN VRODFH LQ 7KLV ZDV &DPSEHOO²VWURQJ VZHHW VH[\ &DPSEHOO²ZLWKKHUVKDUSEOXHH\HVNQHHZHDNHQLQJVPLOHVDQG¿UP PXVFOHV+HUHQWLUHERG\WLJKWHQHGLQDURXVDO 3DUNHU NQHZ WKDW &DPSEHOO ZDV JRQH (YHQ LQ KHU VOHHS VKH¶G IHOW WKH VKLIW RI WKHLU ERGLHV VHSDUDWLQJ DQG WKH HPSWLQHVV WKDW VKH¶G
RACHEL SPANGLER DZRNHQZLWKZDVWHPSHUHGE\UHOLHIDWQRWKDYLQJWRIDFHWKHZRPDQ who’d held her all night. She wasn’t ready to see in her in the soft light RIPRUQLQJ7KHP\ULDGIHHOLQJVWKDWZDVKHGRYHUKHUHYHU\WLPHVKH UHFDOOHGWKHIHHORI&DPSEHOO¶VERG\OLJKWO\SUHVVHGDJDLQVWKHUVZHUH too much to let herself dwell on, so she decided to put some distance EHWZHHQKHUVHOIDQGWKHPHPRU\ 6KHVPHOOHGFRIIHHWKHPLQXWHVKHRSHQHGWKHEHGURRPGRRUDQG instinctively headed toward it. In the kitchen Sammy sat on a stool watching an infomercial for a product that promised to make food in half the time, even though it came out slightly deformed. He smiled when she approached. “Good morning, Parker. How do you take your coffee?” “Hi, Sammy.” She returned his smile, which was nearly as FRQWDJLRXVDVKLVVLVWHU¶V³2QHFUHDPRQHVXJDU´ +HRIIHUHGKLVVWRROWR3DUNHUEHIRUHKXUU\LQJDURXQGWRWKHNLWFKHQ “Cam said you had a little scare last night. How are you feeling?” ³0XFKEHWWHUQRZWKDQNVWR&DPSEHOO´6KHVDLGWKHZRUGVEHIRUH VKHUHDOL]HGWKHLUGRXEOHPHDQLQJ ,I6DPP\QRWLFHGWKHEOXVKULVHLQ3DUNHU¶VIDFHKHGLGQ¶WVKRZ LW³*RRGWRKHDU6KHZHQWWRKDYH\RXUFDUGXJRXWEXWVKHVKRXOGEH KRPHEHIRUHWRRORQJ´+HVHWDVWHDPLQJPXJRIFRIIHHLQIURQWRIKHU WKHQKHVLWDWHGDVWKRXJKKHZDQWHGWRVD\PRUHEXWZDVXQVXUHZKHWKHU KHVKRXOG³,¶PELDVHGEXW\RXNQRZVKH¶VSUHWW\VSHFLDOULJKW"´ 3DUNHU VWRSSHG KHU PXJ SRLVHG LQ PLGDLU 7KH TXHVWLRQ ZDV serious, and the fact that Sammy had asked it carried a lot of weight. “Sammy, you are ELDVHG´VKHVPLOHG³EXWDQ\RQHZKR¶VEHHQDURXQG &DPSEHOOIRUPRUHWKDQDIHZPLQXWHVFDQWHOOVKH¶VVSHFLDO,PD\QRW NQRZKHUOLNH\RXGREXW,UHDOL]HVKH¶VRQHRIDNLQG´ “Good.” He nodded, seeming relieved at her answer, and added PRUH QHUYRXVO\ ³7KHQ ,¶OO VDYH XV ERWK WKH DZNZDUGQHVV RI DVNLQJ what your intentions are with her.” ³6DPP\ , GRQ¶W NQRZ ZKDW \RX WKLQN KDSSHQHG ODVW QLJKW«´ (YHQ DV 3DUNHU EHJDQ WKH GHQLDO VKH IHOW KHUVHOI OHDQLQJ EDFN LQWR WKHFRPIRUWRI&DPSEHOO¶VDUPVDQGKRSHGKHUIDFHZDVQ¶WKHUJLYLQJ away. ³, NQRZ´ 6DPP\ VDLG ³&DPSEHOO WROG PH LW ZDV FRPSOHWHO\ LQQRFHQWEXW,OLNH\RXDQG,ORYHKHUVR,WKRXJKW\RXVKRXOGNQRZ
TRAILS MERGE that if anything ever were to happen somewhere down the line, you VKRXOGNQRZWKDWVKH¶VEHHQKXUWSUHWW\EDGO\´ “Lynn?” ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
P
DUNHUORRNHGXSIURPWKHSDSHUZRUNVKHZDVVFDQQLQJEHIRUH WKHVWDIIPHHWLQJVWDUWHGDQGÀDVKHGDIXOOÀHGJHGVPLOH6KH ZRUHNKDNLVDQGDEODFNVZHDWHUDQGDVLQJOHUXE\KXQJIURPDGHOLFDWH VLOYHUFKDLQDURXQGKHUQHFN+HUORQJGDUNKDLUZDVSXOOHGEDFNORRVHO\ revealing simple, elegant earrings to match her necklace. She gave the LPSUHVVLRQRIEHLQJSRLVHG\HWDSSURDFKDEOHWKHHSLWRPHRIFODVV$ WZLQJHRIDURXVDOKLW&DPSEHOODJDLQZKHQVKHWKRXJKWDERXWODVWQLJKW DQGLQD EULHIPRPHQW RI SDQLF VKH KHDUG WKH IDPLOLDU UHIUDLQ What could a woman like that possibly see in someone like you? 7KHQ3DUNHUVSRNHDQGZLSHGDZD\WKDWVOLYHURIGRXEW³&DPSEHOO \RX¶UHMXVWWKHSHUVRQ,¶YHEHHQZDLWLQJIRU´ &DPSEHOO ZDV VXUH WKDW HYHU\RQH LQ WKH URRP FRXOG VHQVH KHU LQRUGLQDWHSOHDVXUH³:K\"'LG\RX¿QGDQRWKHUVQRZEDQN"´ 3DUNHUODXJKHGDQGVKRYHGKHUJHQWO\7KH\UDUHO\VKDUHGSOD\IXO SK\VLFDOFRQWDFWEXWLWVHHPHGQDWXUDOQRZ³1R,MXVWKDYHQ¶WEHHQ skiing in over two weeks.” ³:HOOWKHUH¶VDVNLKLOOULJKWRXWVLGH\RXURI¿FH´&DPSEHOOVHWWOHG LQWRWKHLUFRPIRUWDEOHEDQWHU ³6R,¶YHEHHQWROG´3DUNHUVDLG³,¶YHDOVRKHDUGWKDW,FDQ¶WUHDOO\ market it effectively unless I experience it.” ³7KDWGRHVPDNHVHQVH´ ³,MXVWFDQ¶WVHHPWRWHDUP\VHOIDZD\IURPDOOP\SDSHUZRUNDQG EXVLQHVV PHHWLQJV DQG VLQFH &KULVWPDV LV RQO\ WZR ZHHN DZD\ ,¶P RQO\JHWWLQJEXVLHU´ &DPSEHOOQRGGHGUHSUHVVLQJDJULQ³3HUKDSV\RXKDYHQ¶WKDGWKH right motivation.”
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHUSOD\HGDORQJ³$QGZKDWGR\RXVXJJHVW"´ ³0D\EH\RXQHHGWRKDYHRQHRIWKRVHEXVLQHVVPHHWLQJVRXWRQ the slopes.” “Well,” Parker pretended to mull the idea over, “I really should UHYLHZ VRPH RI WKH GHWDLOV IRU WKH VNL LQVWUXFWLRQ MXVW WR PDNH VXUH HYHU\RQH¶VRQWKHVDPHSDJHIRURXUELJXSFRPLQJFRQIHUHQFH´ ³,FRXOGSUREDEO\SHQFLO\RXLQIRUDWKUHHR¶FORFNDSSRLQWPHQW :H FRXOG UXQ WKURXJK VRPH RI \RXU FRQFHUQV EHWZHHQ P\ OHVVRQV´ &DPSEHOOIHOWDVXUJHRIMR\DWWKHWKRXJKWRIEHLQJEDFNRQWKHVORSHV ZLWK 3DUNHU$Q\ H[FXVH WR VHH KHU ZRXOG EH ZRQGHUIXO EXW VNLLQJ together seemed perfect. ³7KDWVRXQGVJUHDW´3DUNHUZURWHGRZQWKHWLPHLQKHUGDWHERRN “Where should I meet you?” ³,ZRXOGQ¶WZRUU\DERXWWKDW-XVWKHDGRXWRQWRWKHPRXQWDLQ,¶OO ¿QG\RX´ ³*UHDW´6DPP\LQWHUMHFWHG³1RZWKDW¶VVHWWOHGZKDWHOVHGR\RX need from the rest of us?” $ KLQW RI FRORU URVH LQ 3DUNHU¶V IDFH DQG &DPSEHOO UHDOL]HG HYHU\RQHKDGMXVWRYHUKHDUG WKHLU ÀLUWLQJ Flirting? Is that what that was? Surely not 6KH PXVW EH LPDJLQLQJ WKLQJV 7KHLU UHODWLRQVKLS KDGGH¿QLWHO\WDNHQRQDQHZWRQHEXWVKHUHDVRQHGWKDWZDNLQJXS in each other’s arms, no matter how inadvertently, would do that to a IULHQGVKLS6WLOOWKHLUEDQWHUKDGEHHQIULHQGO\QRWKLQJPRUHRUVRVKH WULHGWRFRQYLQFHKHUVHOI,WKDGEHHQDORQJWLPHVLQFHVKH¶GÀLUWHGZLWK DQ\RQHDQGHYHQLIVKHGHFLGHGWRVWDUWQRZUHPHPEHULQJWKDW3DUNHU was way out of her league was enough to kill that mood. 3DUNHUÀLSSHGWKURXJKKHUQRWHVDPRYH&DPSEHOOWKRXJKWZDV SUREDEO\PRUHDKDELWWKDQDQHFHVVLW\³,¶PVXUHQRRQHQHHGVWREH WROGKRZEXV\QH[WPRQWKZLOOEHEXWZH¶UHULJKWRQWUDFNIRUWKHELJ HYHQWVRI1HZ
TRAILS MERGE *UHJFKXFNOHG³6RPHRIXVHQMR\JHWWLQJRXWRIWKHRI¿FHWRKDYH fun once in a while.” “Gotcha.” Parker nodded as she took down the information, choosing to ignore the dig from Greg. “What’s the date? I’ll call the DJ.” ³:KDW DERXW WKH 7KXUVGD\ EHIRUH &KULVWPDV"´ (PHU\ VDLG ZLWKRXWHYHQJODQFLQJDWKLVFDOHQGDU³7KDW¶VEHIRUHWKHUXVKEHJLQV DQGLWJLYHVXVSOHQW\RIWLPHWRUHFRYHUEHIRUH1HZ
RACHEL SPANGLER had missed the end of the meeting. “So I’ll see you at three?” she asked Parker as she slipped on her coat. ³, ZRXOGQ¶W PLVV LW´ 3DUNHU FRQ¿UPHG ZLWK DQRWKHU PHJDZDWW smile. 7U\DVVKHPLJKW&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WIRFXVRQWKHIDFWWKDWIDOOLQJ IRU3DUNHUZDVDVXUH¿UHZD\WRJHWKXUWDJDLQ(YHU\WLPHVKHORRNHG LQWRWKRVHVWXQQLQJEURZQH\HVVKHIHOODOLWWOHIDUWKHURXWRIKHUFRPIRUW ]RQH5DWKHUWKDQWU\WR¿QGKHUYRLFHWKURXJKWKHIDLQWÀXWWHULQKHU FKHVW VKH VLPSO\ QRGGHG DQG WULHG WR H[LW JUDFHIXOO\ EXW VKH GLGQ¶W miss the look her parents shared as she left. She couldn’t read their H[SUHVVLRQDVHDVLO\DVXVXDO,WPLJKWKDYHEHHQFXULRVLW\DPXVHPHQW RUDSSUHKHQVLRQDQGDWWKDWPRPHQWDOOWKUHHZHUHMXVWL¿HG
3DUNHUZDVJLGG\DWWKHWKRXJKWRIKLWWLQJWKHVORSHVZLWK&DPSEHOO WKRXJKVKHWULHGWRSUHWHQGVKHZDVH[FLWHGDERXWWKHVNLLQJUDWKHUWKDQ WKH FRPSDQ\ 6KH VWRSSHG E\ WKH VNLUHQWDO ERRWK DQG SLFNHG XS KHU JHDUWKHQKHDGHGIRUWKHEDVHRIWKHPRXQWDLQ,WZDVDZHHNGD\VRWKH crowd was thin, most of the skiers either local college students or those ZKRKDGOLNHO\WDNHQRIIZRUNHDUO\WREHDWWKHDIWHUVFKRROUXVK $VVKHFOLFNHGKHUERRWVLQWRKHUVNLVVKHDGPLWWHG&DPSEHOOKDG EHHQULJKW7KDWFOLFNZDVTXLFNO\EHFRPLQJRQHRIKHUIDYRULWHVRXQGV She used her poles to push herself to the lift, and in a matter of seconds she was whisked up the mountain. Despite the slightly gray condition RIWKHVN\WKHVQRZZDVVPRRWKDQGSXUHZKLWHLQWHUUXSWHGRQO\E\ WKHHYHUJUHHQRIWKHSLQHWUHHVWKDWVHUYHGDVQDWXUDOEDUULHUVEHWZHHQ various trails. 6KH VFDQQHG WKH VORSHV VHDUFKLQJ IRU &DPSEHOO ZKLFK VKH GLG HYHU\WLPHVKHJODQFHGRXWKHURI¿FHZLQGRZV6KHVSRWWHGVHYHUDOUHG MDFNHWVWKHFRORUWKDWWKHVNLLQVWUXFWRUVIDYRUHGEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WPDNH RXWPXFKEH\RQGWKDW,QVWHDGVKHIRFXVHGRQWKHLPSHQGLQJGLVPRXQW IURPWKHOLIWH[HFXWLQJWKHRQFHWUHDFKHURXVPRYHZLWKHDVH 6KHZRQGHUHGZKHWKHUVKHVKRXOGZDLWWKHUHDQGFDWFK&DPSEHOO H[LWLQJWKHOLIWEXWWKHQVKHUHPHPEHUHG&DPSEHOO¶VSURPLVHWR¿QG KHU7KDWSURVSHFWFRXSOHGZLWKWKHDOOXUHRIWKHVORSHVZDVWRRKDUG to resist, so she started down the familiar green trail she’d skied with WKH&DUVRQVRQ7KDQNVJLYLQJ
TRAILS MERGE %HJLQQLQJ KHU GHVFHQW VKH VZLYHOHG KHU VNLV IURP )UHQFK IULHV WR SL]]D D FRXSOH RI WLPHV WR PDNH VXUH VKH VWLOO KDG D IHHO IRU WKH WHUUDLQ6KHPDGHDPHQWDOQRWHWRWLJKWHQKHUULJKWERRWZKHQVKHJRW DFKDQFHDQGWKHQEHJDQWRSUDFWLFHVRPHWXUQV,WIHOWVRZRQGHUIXOWR EHRXWRQWKHPRXQWDLQZLWKWKHFROGDLULQYLJRUDWLQJKHUDQGWKHJHQWOH VORSHSXVKLQJKHUWRJRIDVWHU(QHUJ\VXUJHGWKURXJKKHUJLYLQJKHUD UXVKDVVKHFXWVPRRWKO\IURPRQHVLGHWRWKHRWKHUÀRZLQJZLWKKHU surroundings. 3DUNHUGLGQ¶WIHHOUXVW\DWDOOEXWLQWXQHZLWKKHUERG\DQGHQHUJL]HG E\WKHIUHHGRPRIEHLQJRXWIURPEHKLQGKHUGHVN6KHZDQWHGWRSXVK KDUGHUDQGEHJDQWRXQGHUVWDQGKRZ&DPSEHOODQG6DPP\FRXOGWDNH off at dangerous speeds around hairpin turns. Without much thought she leaned left and pointed the tips of her skis toward an intermediate slope that intersected several of the mountain’s main thoroughfares in DSDWKWRZDUGWKHPDLQORGJH+HUVSHHGLQFUHDVHGQRWLFHDEO\ZLWKWKH VWHHSHUJUDGHDQGPRUH¿UPO\SDFNHGVXUIDFHEXWVKHVWD\HGLQFRQWURO measuring each turn carefully and reacting almost instinctively to the OLWWOHGLSVDQGULVHVRIWKHWUDLO6KHÀHZSDVWEHDXWLIXOVFHQHU\YLUWXDOO\ untouched except for the occasional signs marking the intersection of DQRWKHUWUDLORUSRLQWLQJWRYDULRXVOLIWVDQGODQGPDUNV+HUERG\PRYHG QDWXUDOO\KHUWRQHGPXVFOHVÀH[LQJDQGUHWUDFWLQJZLWKHDFKSXOORIWKH PRXQWDLQ 6NLLQJ FRXOG EHFRPH DQ DGGLFWLRQ ZLWK WKH UXQQHUV¶ KLJK she already felt. 6XGGHQO\ DQRWKHU VNLHU ÀDVKHG LQWR KHU ¿HOG RI YLVLRQ KLV SDWK set to collide with hers as he hurtled down the mountain on a slope UXQQLQJ DERYH KHUV 6KH EDUHO\ KDG WLPH WR UHDFW RU FRQVFLRXVO\ register the fact that skiers downhill were supposed to have the right RI ZD\ %XW WKH RWKHU VNLHU GLGQ¶W DSSHDU WR VHH KHU MXGJLQJ E\ KLV IXOOWKURWWOH DSSURDFK 6KH PDGH DQ LQVWLQFWXDO GHFLVLRQ RXW RI IHDU and inexperience, and threw her skis into the sideway position she’d VHHQ&DPSEHOODQGWKHRWKHU&DUVRQVXVHWRLQVWDQWO\KDOWWKHLUIRUZDUG progress. However, instead of skillfully throwing a wave of snow and stopping gracefully, she managed only to plant her feet, leaving one ski EHKLQGDVVKHKXUWOHGIRUZDUG +HUVKRXOGHUKLWWKHVQRZ¿UVWLPPHGLDWHO\IROORZHGE\WKHUHVW RIKHUERG\7KHLPSDFWNQRFNHGERWKRIKHUSROHVIURPKHUJULSDQG WKHPRPHQWXPNHSWKHUUROOLQJOLPEVÀRSSLQJOLNHDUDJGROO¶V+HU YLVLRQEOXUUHGIURPWKHUDSLGPRYHPHQWDQGKHUPLQGZDVWRRMXPEOHG
RACHEL SPANGLER WRIRFXVRQDQ\DFWLRQRWKHUWKDQWXFNLQJLQWRDEDOO6KHUROOHGIRUZKDW seemed like an eternity until slowly she came to rest in a small rise of snow at the edge of the trail. $V VKH OD\ WKHUH SDQWLQJ VKH EHJDQ WR WDNH LQYHQWRU\ RI KHU H[WUHPLWLHV ¿UVW ZLJJOLQJ HDFK ¿QJHU WKHQ HDFK WRH WR PDNH VXUH HYHU\WKLQJIXQFWLRQHGZLWKRXWSDLQ2QFHFRQYLQFHGDOORIKHUERG\SDUWV were still attached properly, she sat up and surveyed her surroundings. She was off to the side of the trail, resting in the softer snow that the JURRPHU KDGQ¶W SDFNHG VROLG 2QH VNL DQG SROH ZHUH O\LQJ QHDU KHU EXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WVHHWKHRWKHUV7KHQ&DPSEHOODSSHDUHGFDUU\LQJKHU PLVVLQJHTXLSPHQW 6KH FRXOG KDYH EHHQ D FODVVLF DGYHUWLVHPHQW IRU D PRXQWDLQ DGYHQWXUH +HU VNL FORWKHV ZKLFK ZRXOG KDYH DSSHDUHG EXON\ DQG awkward on most people, were like a second skin on her. Her hair peeked out from under her cap, and her ski goggles did little to dim the VSDUNOLQJEOXHRIKHUH\HV ³$KP\NQLJKWLQVKLQLQJVNLFORWKHV´3DUNHUVDLGZKHQ&DPSEHOO VWRSSHGQH[WWRKHU6KHZDVDWRQFHHPEDUUDVVHGDQGUHOLHYHG &DPSEHOOFKXFNOHG³6R,WDNHLW\RX¶UHRND\"´ Parker rose clumsily to her feet and trudged through the snow and EDFNRQWRWKHWUDLO³
TRAILS MERGE Parker shook her head. “I’m not trying that again anytime soon.” ³6XUH\RXDUH:H¶OOMXVWWDNHLWDWDQHYHQVSHHGDQGVWD\PRUH alert. When these trails merge, you have to take some extra care. You QHYHUNQRZZKR\RXPLJKWUXQLQWR´&DPSEHOOVDLGZLWKDZLQN Did she just wink at me? Parker couldn’t hide a smile as she FOLFNHG EDFN LQWR KHU VNLV DQG IROORZHG &DPSEHOO GRZQ WKH UHVW RI WKH WUDLO +RZ GLG &DPSEHOO PDNH DQ\WKLQJ VHHP SRVVLEOH" 6KH ZDV JRRGORRNLQJ JRRGQDWXUHG DQG JRRG WR KDYH DURXQG 6KH ZDV MXVW DOODURXQGJRRG3DUNHUZDVQ¶WVXUHVKHZRXOGVXUYLYHDQRWKHUIDOOOLNH VKH¶GMXVWWDNHQEXWZLWK&DPSEHOOLQWKHOHDGVKHZRXOGWDNHWKHULVN %XWRQO\RQWKHVORSHV She would never follow anyone’s lead, especially someone like &DPSEHOO ZKR ZRXOG EH KDSS\ ZLWK KHU RQO\ LI VKH WXUQHG LQWR D &DUVRQ FORQH :KLOH VKH ZDV EHJLQQLQJ WR OLNH PRVW RI WKH &DUVRQV DQGUHVSHFWHGWKHEXVLQHVVWKH\UDQ3DUNHUKDGODUJHUDPELWLRQVWKDQ spending the rest of her life on a remote mountain in Wisconsin. She SODQQHGWREHKHUHRQO\ORQJHQRXJKWRJHWKHUVHOIWRJHWKHU6KH¶G¿QG DQRWKHUMREWKDWVXLWHGKHUDPELWLRQVDQGLQFOLQDWLRQVEHWWHU2QHWKDW would allow her to make a difference in the world. &DPSEHOODQG3DUNHUEDUHO\SDXVHGEHIRUHFDWFKLQJWKHOLIWEDFN up the mountain. ³'R \RX UHDOO\ ZDQW WR GLVFXVV VRPHWKLQJ DERXW WKH ZRPHQ¶V FRQIHUHQFH",¶PVRUU\P\GDGJDYH\RXDKDUGWLPHDERXWLWDW¿UVW$V I told you, he doesn’t do well with change.” ³1R´3DUNHUUHPHPEHUHGWKHFKDUDGHWKH\¶GXVHGDVDQH[FXVHWR VNLWRJHWKHULQWKHPLGGOHRIDZRUNGD\³:H¶UHDOOVHW$QG\RXUGDGLV pretty typical. I can handle him.” ³$UH\RXQHUYRXVDERXWVHHLQJ\RXUROGFROOHDJXHV"´&DPSEHOO VRXQGHGKHVLWDQWDVLIVKHXQGHUVWRRGKRZFRPSOH[WKDWTXHVWLRQZDV for Parker. Parker was silent for a few seconds, considering her response. She WRRNLQWKHSULVWLQHVHWWLQJRQFHPRUHHQMR\LQJWKHQRZIDPLOLDUVLJKWV DQGVRXQGV7KHGURQHRIDVQRZPRELOHWKHJHQWOHVZD\RIWKHOLIWDQG WKHEULJKWO\FRORUHGVQRZVXLWVRQWKHVNLHUVWKDWSDVVHGEHORZKHUPDGH WKHUHVRUWVHHPVRLG\OOLF³+RQHVWO\,¶YHEHHQVREXV\SUHSDULQJWKH UHVRUWWKDW,KDYHQ¶WWKRXJKWPXFKDERXWSUHSDULQJP\VHOI,VXSSRVH WKH EXVLQHVV VLGH RI WKH HYHQW KDV JLYHQ PH D FRQYHQLHQW H[FXVH WR avoid the personal aspects.”
RACHEL SPANGLER &DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WVD\DQ\WKLQJ “If I were completely honest I’d have to say that I am a little QHUYRXVEXW,¶PQRWFRPSOHWHO\VXUHZK\´)RUWKH¿UVWWLPH3DUNHU let herself dwell on the fact that in a few short weeks her new world ZRXOGEHLQYDGHGE\WKHZRUOGVKHXVHGWRLQKDELWWKHZRUOGVKHKDG KDGWROHDYH6KHZRXOGQRGRXEWHQMR\FHUWDLQDVSHFWVRIWKHPHHWLQJ FKLHIDPRQJWKHPWKHFKDQFHWRVSHQGVRPHWLPHZLWK$OH[LV6WLOOVKH ZDVQ¶WVXUHVKHZDVUHDG\WRIDFHRWKHUSDUWVRIWKDWUHDOP(YHU\RQH there would know every detail of her most devastating failure. ³,JXHVV,¶OOMXVWKDYHWRGHDOZLWKWKDWZKHQ,KDYHWR´3DUNHUVDLG DVWKH\SUHSDUHGWRH[LWWKHOLIW6KHKRSHGVKHVRXQGHGPRUHFRQ¿GHQW than she felt. &DPSEHOOVLPSO\QRGGHG,IVKHVHQVHG3DUNHU¶VVHOIGRXEWVKH FKRVHQRWWRDFNQRZOHGJHLW³
TRAILS MERGE WKULOOEXWIHHOQRIHDU7KLVWLPH3DUNHUZDVSUHSDUHGIRUWKHLQWHUVHFWLRQ DQGVFDQQHGWKHFURVVLQJVORSHLQDGYDQFH$IHZVNLHUVZHUHXSKLOO EXWVKHTXLFNO\JDXJHGWKHLUVSHHGDQGUHDOL]HGQRQHRIWKHPZRXOG SRVHDULVN6KHDQG&DPSEHOOÀHZRYHUWKHPRVWFKDOOHQJLQJVHFWLRQ of the trail with ease, and her tension gave way to relief. 7KHUH ZDV RQO\ RQH PRUH ELJ GURS 7KLV WLPH VKH GLGQ¶W KROG EDFN7KHVORSHZDVZLGHZLWKSOHQW\RIURRPDWWKHERWWRPWREXUQ RIIH[FHVVVSHHG3DUNHUSXOOHGHYHQZLWK&DPSEHOODQGWKH\WRRNWKH H[KLODUDWLQJ¿QLVKVLGHE\VLGH ³7KDW ZDV DPD]LQJ´ 3DUNHU VDLG EUHDWKLQJ KHDYLO\ IURP WKH exertion and excitement. &DPSEHOOVPLOHGRQHRIKHUEURDGHDV\VPLOHV³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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DPSEHOOVWRPSHGWKHVQRZIURPKHUERRWVDVVKHHQWHUHGWKH PDLQORGJH7KHORZKXPRIFRQYHUVDWLRQÀRDWLQJRXWIURP WKHODUJHORXQJHDWWKHEDFNRIWKHEXLOGLQJWROGKHUWKDWWKHHPSOR\HH Christmas party was in full swing. College students only around for a winter or two milled around talking to seasoned groomers and PDLQWHQDQFHVWDIIZKRKDGPDGHDOLIHRQWKHPRXQWDLQ7KHFRPPRQ thread among them was the Carson family, and they were all there. -DQHOOHZDVVHWWLQJRXWDQRWKHUERZORIFKLSVDQGGLSZKLOH6DPP\ WDONHGWRRQHRIWKHQHZVNLLQVWUXFWRUVE\WKHSXQFKERZO(PHU\DQG KLVWZLQVVWRRGE\DJURXSRI6QR&DWGULYHUVDQG*UHJZDVODXJKLQJ DWVRPHWKLQJRQHRIWKHNLWFKHQVWDIIHUVZDVVD\LQJ&DPSEHOO¶VPRWKHU VDWE\RQHWKHODUJHZLQGRZVWKDWRYHUORRNHGWKHVORSHV Irene Carson was petite and seemed even smaller in a crowd. :KLOHVKHZDVDVPXFKDPHPEHURIWKHIDPLO\DVWKRVHZKRVKDUHG WKHEORRGOLQHVKHZDVE\QDWXUHPRUHRIDQREVHUYHUWKDQKHUKXVEDQG DQGFKLOGUHQ6KHDOZD\VVHHPHGWRVWDQGMXVWWRWKHVLGHRIPRVWIDPLO\ JDWKHULQJVZDWFKLQJZLWKDPXVHPHQWLQKHUVSDUNOLQJEOXHH\HVZKLFK &DPSEHOOKDGLQKHULWHG &DPSEHOOVWUROOHGDFURVVWKHURRPJUHHWLQJSHRSOHDVVKHZHQW 6KH EHQW GRZQ DQG NLVVHG KHU PRWKHU RQ WKH FKHHN WKHQ VDW QH[W WR her. ³+L VZHHWKHDUW´ ,UHQH VDLG ³'LG \RX MXVW JHW GRQH ZLWK WKH groomer?” ³
RACHEL SPANGLER ,UHQH FKXFNOHG ³1R \RXU EURWKHU LV PDNLQJ D ELW RI D IRRO RI KLPVHOI FKDVLQJ DIWHU WKDW QHZ VNL LQVWUXFWRU EXW RWKHU WKDQ WKDW LW¶V EHHQSUHWW\TXLHW´ ³6DP¶V DOZD\V KDG D WKLQJ IRU EORQGHV´ 6DPP\ ZDV FOHDUO\ DWWHPSWLQJWROD\RQWKHFKDUPEXWKHZDVREYLRXVO\QHUYRXVDQGWKH EORQGHORRNHGERUHG³3RRUJX\´ ³,¶P QRW ZRUULHG DERXW KLP 7KH ULJKW JLUO ZLOO FRPH DORQJ eventually.” &DPSEHOOQRGGHG+HUEURWKHUZRXOGPDNHDJUHDWKXVEDQGDQG IDWKHU6RPHZRPDQZRXOGVHHSDVWKLVVLOO\ER\LVKQHVVDQGUHFRJQL]H KLPIRUWKHPDQKHZDVEHFRPLQJDQG6DPP\ZRXOGDSSUHFLDWHKHU like she deserved. Relationships still worked like that. If not for her, then at least for people like her parents and Sammy. She was likely destined to continue falling for women out of her league. $VLIRQFXH3DUNHUHQWHUHGWKHURRPFDUU\LQJDWUD\RIIRRGDQG talking with Janelle as she worked. She wore a maroon sweater and EOXHMHDQVZLWKKHUGDUNKDLUSXOOHGEDFNIURPKHUIDFHDQGVHFXUHG ZLWKDVLPSOHVLOYHUFOLS+HUDWWLUHZDVQ¶WDOOWKDWVSHFLDOEXWVRPHKRZ LW VHHPHG HOHJDQW 7U\ DV VKH PLJKW &DPSEHOO FRXOGQ¶W KHOS IHHOLQJ EUHDWKOHVVHYHU\WLPHVKHVDZ3DUNHU5LOH\ 3DUNHUÀDVKHGKHUDEULOOLDQWVPLOH6KHZDVVWXQQLQJDQGZKHQ VKHVPLOHGOLNHWKDW&DPSEHOOZRQGHUHGZKDWLWZRXOGEHOLNHWRVHH KHU WKH ¿UVW WKLQJ LQ WKH PRUQLQJ HYHU\ PRUQLQJ ,W ZDVQ¶W KHDOWK\ WKLVREVHVVLRQVKHZDVGHYHORSLQJIRU3DUNHU,WRSHQHGROGZRXQGV 3DUNHU ZDV WRR SHUIHFW WRR JRRG WR EH WUXH RU DW OHDVW WRR JRRG IRU KHU&DPSEHOONHSWWHOOLQJKHUVHOIWKDWVKHQHHGHGWRSXWVRPHGLVWDQFH EHWZHHQWKHPLQRUGHUWRSURWHFWKHUKHDUWEXWWKHQ3DUNHUVPLOHGDQG her resolve faded. “Why don’t you go on over and talk to her?” Irene asked. ³:KDW"´&DPSEHOOUHDOL]HGVKH¶GEHHQFDXJKWVWDULQJ Her mother laughed softly. “Honey, don’t take this the wrong way, EXW\RX¶YHJRWWRJHWRXWPRUH´ &DPSEHOOVKLIWHGQHUYRXVO\LQKHUVHDW+HUPRWKHUZDVQ¶WNLGGLQJ “I thought you were happy to have me home.” ³,DPEXWPRUHWKDQDQ\WKLQJ,ZDQW\RXWREHKDSS\´ ³7KDW¶V ZK\ ,¶P KHUH ZLWK WKH SHRSOH , ORYH 7KDW PDNHV PH happy.” ³$QG ZH DOO ORYH \RX
TRAILS MERGE EHDXWLIXO DQG IXOO RI OLIH
$IWHUVHWWLQJWKHSODWWHURIFROGFXWVRQWKHWDEOH3DUNHUVFDQQHGWKH URRPRQHPRUHWLPH6KHZDVQ¶WVHDUFKLQJIRU&DPSEHOO$WOHDVWVKH KDGQ¶WUHDOL]HGVKHZDVXQWLOVKHVDZKHUHQJURVVHGLQZKDWDSSHDUHG WREHDVHULRXVFRQYHUVDWLRQZLWKKHUPRWKHU &DPSEHOO FHUWDLQO\ UHVHPEOHG KHU IDWKHU ZLWK VLPLODU FRORULQJ IDFLDOIHDWXUHVDQGPDQQHULVPV%XWVKHDQG,UHQHVKDUHGDWHQGHQF\WR QXUWXUHZLWKTXLHWLQWHQVLW\DQGWRUHÀHFWRQWKHLUVXUURXQGLQJDQGRQ other people, characteristics that set them apart from the men in their OLYHV 3DUNHU ZDVQ¶W VXUH ZKDW WKH\ ZHUH WDONLQJ DERXW EXW WKH ORYH DQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKDWSDVVHGEHWZHHQWKHPZDVDSSDUHQW6KHKDGD VWURQJXUJHWRMRLQWKHPWREHLQFOXGHGWRKDYH&DPSEHOOVKRZKHU that much unguarded faith and trust. Parker shook her head. What was going on with her? Her connection WR&DPSEHOOZDVEHFRPLQJDOPRVWPDJQHWLF6KHZDVGUDZQWRKHULQ ways that were hard to ignore and needed to restrain this attraction EHIRUHLWJRWRXWRIFRQWURO6KHKDGWRIRFXVRQZRUNRQJHWWLQJKHUOLIH EDFNWRJHWKHURQPRYLQJXSDQGRQWRELJJHUWKLQJV6KHGLGQ¶WQHHGWR IDOOIRUDFROOHDJXH6KHQHHGHGWRSXOOKHUVHOIWRJHWKHUVRVKHTXLHWO\ stepped outside, hoping the cool air would clear her mind. 7KHPRXQWDLQZDVGDUNEXWWKHZDUPJORZIURPWKHORGJHVRIWO\ illuminated the deck and cast gray shadows onto the snow. However, VKHGLGQ¶WQHHGWKHOLJKWWRH[DPLQHKHUIHHOLQJVIRU&DPSEHOOZKLFK KDGPRYHGIDUEH\RQGIULHQGVKLSDQGZHOOLQWRWKHUHDOPRIDWWUDFWLRQ 1RWMXVWSK\VLFDODWWUDFWLRQDOWKRXJKWKDWZDVFHUWDLQO\SDUWRILW7KH ZD\VKHVPLOHGWKHZD\KHUEOXHH\HVGDQFHGZKHQVKHZDVKDSS\WKH ZDUPWKDQG¿UPQHVVRIKHUERG\DVWKH\SUHVVHGDJDLQVWRQHDQRWKHULQ EHG3DUNHUJDVSHG,WZDVKDUGHQRXJKWRNHHSIURPEHLQJGLVWUDFWHG ZLWKRXW OLVWLQJ &DPSEHOO¶V ¿QHU SK\VLFDO TXDOLWLHV 6KH ZDV DOUHDG\
RACHEL SPANGLER SUHRFFXSLHG HQRXJK VLPSO\ WKLQNLQJ DERXW WKHLU HQMR\DEOH WLPHV WRJHWKHU&DPSEHOO¶VFKLOGOLNHH[XEHUDQFHRQWKHVORSHVDQGKHUDELOLW\ WRDOZD\VEHWKHUHDWMXVWWKHULJKWPRPHQW 3DUNHUVLJKHG6KH¶GEHHQGRZQWKLVURDGEHIRUH6XUH&DPSEHOO VHHPHGSHUIHFWQRZLQWKLVWLPHDQGSODFHEXWPL[LQJEXVLQHVVZLWK romance was rarely worth the risk. Her last relationship should have WDXJKWKHUWKHROGDGDJHDERXWPL[LQJEXVLQHVVZLWKSOHDVXUHZDVWUXH EXWQRQHRIWKH¿[HGUXOHVVHHPHGWRDSSO\KHUH7KH&DUVRQVGLGQ¶W VHHPWRGLVWLQJXLVKEHWZHHQWKHWZRHQIRUFHGQRERXQGDULHVEHWZHHQ ZRUNDQGIDPLO\%XWVKHZDVQ¶WRQHRIWKHPQRWUHDOO\ 6KHZDVJHWWLQJDKHDGRIKHUVHOI(YHQLIVKHZHUHUHDG\WRGDWH again, and even if she were willing to accept the risks associated with a UHODWLRQVKLSVKHKDGQRUHDVRQWREHOLHYH&DPSEHOOIHOWWKHVDPHZD\ “So it’s a moot point,” she said aloud. “What is?” ³2KVKLW´3DUNHUVSXQDURXQGDQGVDZ&DPSEHOOJULQQLQJDWKHU “You have got to stop scaring me like that.” ³6RUU\´&DPSEHOOSURSSHGKHUVHOIDJDLQVWWKHSRUFKUDLOLQJQH[W to Parker. “I didn’t mean to interrupt the conversation you were having with yourself.” 3DUNHUVKRYHGKHUSOD\IXOO\³$UH\RXPDNLQJIXQRIPH"´ ³1RW DW DOO´ &DPSEHOO¶V H[SUHVVLRQ WXUQHG VHULRXV ³, VDZ \RX come out here and was scared you were leaving.” ³,ZRXOGQ¶WOHDYHZLWKRXWVD\LQJJRRGE\H´ ³*RRG7KHQZKDWZHUH\RXGRLQJ"2WKHUWKDQWDONLQJWR\RXUVHOI that is.” “Just getting some fresh air.” Parker turned away, not wanting &DPSEHOO WR VHH WKH HPRWLRQV VKH ZDV DIUDLG ZHUH HYLGHQW LQ KHU expression. “Hmm, are you sure you weren’t snooping for your Christmas present?” “Is it here?” Parker asked, glancing around. &DPSEHOOQRGGHG³,GLGQ¶WWKLQN,¶GVHH\RXDJDLQEHIRUH\RXZHQW KRPHIRUWKHKROLGD\VVR,EURXJKWLWZLWKPH´6KHGLVDSSHDUHGDURXQG the corner, and when she returned a few seconds later, she carried a pair RIVNLVIXOO\RXW¿WWHGZLWKELQGLQJVDQGERRWVDQGVWUDSSHGWRJHWKHU with the ski poles. $VVKHJRWFORVHU3DUNHUFRXOGWHOOWKDWWKHVNLVDQGERRWVZHUH
TRAILS MERGE 5RVVLJQROV WKH EUDQG &DPSEHOO XVHG *LGG\ VKH FODVSHG KHU KDQGV WRJHWKHU³&DPSEHOOWKH\¶UHZRQGHUIXO´ &DPSEHOOEOXVKHGDQG3DUNHULPPHGLDWHO\UDQKHU¿QJHUVDORQJ WKHHGJHVIURPWKHWLSVWRWKHELQGLQJV7KHVHZHUHVRPXFKQLFHUWKDQ her rentals. ³, WXQHG WKHP HVSHFLDOO\ IRU \RX DQG WKH ELQGLQJV DUH VHW WR intermediate resistance so they won’t pop off next time you skid to a VWRS´&DPSEHOOVDLG ³
&DPSEHOOSXOOHGLQWR3DUNHU¶VGULYHZD\DIHZPLQXWHVODWHU+HU PLQGKDGEHHQUDFLQJGXULQJWKHVKRUWULGH6KHKDGQ¶WHYHQEHHQDEOHWR UHVSRQGZKHQ3DUNHUFDVXDOO\PHQWLRQHGJRLQJKRPHZLWKKHU7KRXJK the comment was completely innocent, she immediately took it into WKHSURYHUELDOJXWWHU+HUDWWUDFWLRQWR3DUNHUZDVWDLQWLQJKHUYLHZRI everything. Sometimes she and Parker had such a natural connection, DQGLWZDVEHFRPLQJHDV\WRMXVWUHOD[DURXQGKHUEXWLIVKHGLGQ¶WNHHS XSKHUJXDUGVKH¶GEHLQWURXEOH
RACHEL SPANGLER While she could fall hard for someone such as Parker, women like Parker weren’t usually happy with someone like her for long. She ZDVVPDOOWLPHFRPSDUHGWRWKHÀDVKDQGH[FLWHPHQWWKHLUKLJKSDFHG MREVDQGVRFLDOOLYHVRIIHUHGWKHP&DPSEHOOZDQWHGWRUXQWKHIDPLO\ EXVLQHVVDQGFDUU\LWLQWRWKHIXWXUHZLWKDIDPLO\RIKHURZQ3DUNHU ZDQWHGWRUHWXUQWRWKHZRUOGRISRZHUDQGSUHVWLJH&DPSEHOOQHHGHG to keep that difference in mind or she might get hurt again. Still, it was KDUGHUWRUHPHPEHUKHUUHVROXWLRQHDFKWLPHVKHORRNHGLQWRWKRVHGHHS EURZQH\HV ³:DLWKHUHIRUDVHFRQG´3DUNHUVDLGZKHQ&DPSEHOOPHWKHURQ WKHSRUFKRIKHUJURXQGOHYHODSDUWPHQW6KHGLVDSSHDUHGDQGVKXWWKH GRRUEHKLQGKHU &DPSEHOO VPLOHG DW WKH FDUH VKH ZDV WDNLQJ ZLWK WKH &KULVWPDV SUHVHQWDQGZRQGHUHGEULHÀ\ZKDWLWFRXOGEHEXWVRRQ3DUNHUUHRSHQHG WKHGRRUDQGH[WHQGHGKHUDUPV6KHKHOGRXWDODUJHEDOORIEURZQDQG ZKLWHIX]] ³2KP\*RGLW¶VDSXSS\´&DPSEHOOH[FODLPHGWDNLQJWKHGRJ DQGSXOOLQJKLPWRKHUFKHVW+HZDVREYLRXVO\D6W%HUQDUGDQGZDV DORWKHDYLHUWKDQKHDSSHDUHGDWOHDVW¿IWHHQSRXQGVZLWKEHDXWLIXO markings and fur so soft she couldn’t resist hugging him. She rested her chin on his head. “You got me a puppy.” 3DUNHU QRGGHG WHQWDWLYHO\ ³, NQRZ \RX DUHQ¶W VXSSRVHG WR EX\ SHWV IRU SHRSOH EXW \RX VDLG \RX DOZD\V ZDQWHG RQH«'R \RX OLNH him?” &DPSEHOOFKRNHGXSWRXFKHGWKDW3DUNHUKDGUHPHPEHUHGWKHLU conversation. “I love him.” $ORRNRIUHOLHIZDVKHGRYHU3DUNHU¶VIDFHDQGZDVUHSODFHGE\D JHQXLQHVPLOH³*RRG,ZDVJHWWLQJSUHWW\DWWDFKHGWRKLPEXWKH¶GEH much happier at your place than mine.” ³2K\HDK\RXDUHGH¿QLWHO\DVNLGRJDQG6DPP\¶VJRLQJWRJR FUD]\RYHU\RXWRR´&DPSEHOOWROGWKHSXS³:KDW¶VKLVQDPH"´ ³7KDW¶V XS WR \RX´ 3DUNHU VPLOHG ³,¶YH EHHQ FDOOLQJ KLP Wildcat.” &DPSEHOOODXJKHGDWWKHPHQWLRQRI3DUNHU¶VFROOHJHPDVFRW³2K QR\RX¶UHPXFKPRUHRID:LVFRQVLQ%DGJHUGRQ¶W\RXWKLQN"´7KH GRJZKLPSHUHGLQUHVSRQVHDQGWULHGWREXUURZIDUWKHULQWRKHUFRDW 3DUNHUVKRRNKHUKHDGSOD\IXOO\³,WKLQN,¶PRXWQXPEHUHG´7KHQ VKHSDWWHGWKHSXSS\¶VKHDG³2ND\%DGJHULWLV´
TRAILS MERGE ³:KHQ GLG \RX JHW KLP"´ &DPSEHOO VWLOO PDUYHOHG DW WKH WKRXJKWIXOQHVVRI3DUNHU¶VJLIW7KHSXSS\ZDVVRSHUIHFWVRSHUVRQDO VRPXFKPRUHWKDQMXVWDSUHVHQW ³$IWHUZHVNLHG\HVWHUGD\,¶GEHHQWKLQNLQJDERXWLWEHIRUHEXW after you saved me on the slopes once again I couldn’t resist. Since 6W %HUQDUGV DUH VHDUFKDQGUHVFXH GRJV DQG VLQFH ,¶YH JRWWHQ YHU\ attached to my rescuer, I decided you should have one, too.” &DPSEHOO¶VFKHVWDFKHGDVHPRWLRQVZHOOHGXSLQKHU,I3DUNHUNHSW VD\LQJWKLQJVOLNHWKDW&DPSEHOOZRXOGQHYHUUHPHPEHUZK\IDOOLQJ IRUKHUZDVDEDGLGHD7KHPRPHQWZDVVRSHUIHFWWKDWVKHGLGQ¶WNQRZ what to say, so she did the only thing that felt natural and moved toward Parker. Still holding the puppy in the crook of her arm, she lowered KHUKHDGDQGEUXVKHGKHUOLSVDFURVV3DUNHU¶VFKHHN³7KDQN\RX´VKH whispered in her ear. She meant to leave it at that. She hadn’t intended to take it further, EXWDIWHUVKHIHOWWKHVRIWZDUPWKRI3DUNHU¶VVNLQKHUSXOVHDFFHOHUDWHG 6KH EURNH WKH FRQWDFW DQG VHDUFKHG WKH GHSWKV RI 3DUNHU¶V H\HV 6KH was waiting for a reaction, a warning, any indication that she shouldn’t GR ZKDW VKH ZDV DERXW WR ,QVWHDG VKH VDZ RQO\ DQ LQYLWDWLRQ:LWK OLWWOHPRUHWKDQDEUHDWKEHWZHHQWKHPVKHFRXOGQ¶WEHDUWRSXOODZD\ so she neared once more. 7KLVWLPHKHUOLSVVNLPPHGWKHFRUQHURI3DUNHU¶VPRXWKDQGWKHQ she shifted, searching for more until their lips came fully together. She EDUHO\KDGWLPHWRUHJLVWHUZKDWVKHKDGGRQHEHIRUHVKHUHDOL]HGWKDW QRWRQO\ZDVVKHNLVVLQJ3DUNHUEXW3DUNHUZDVNLVVLQJKHUEDFN 7KH NLVV ZDV VORZ WHQWDWLYH DV WKRXJK QHLWKHU RI WKHP ZDV completely certain it was actually happening. Gradually their lips SDUWHG DQG WKH NLVV GHHSHQHG &DPSEHOO WKRXJKW EULHÀ\ WKDW VKH ZDV IDOOLQJÀRDWLQJ$Q\GRXEWVKHKDGOHIWHYDSRUDWHGDVVKHVXUUHQGHUHG FRPSOHWHO\WRWKHZDYHRIZDUPWKWKDWVXUJHGWKURXJKKHUHQWLUHERG\ $FKLQJIRUPRUHVKHUHDFKHGXSZLWKKHUIUHHKDQGDQGFXUOHG LWDURXQGWKHEDFNRI3DUNHU¶VQHFNSXOOLQJKHUFORVHUEXWWKHSXSS\ EORFNHG WKHLU FRQQHFWLRQ DQG ZULJJOHG DQG ZKLPSHUHG LQ SURWHVW VR WKH\EURNHDSDUW “Wow,” Parker murmured. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER DJDLQVW WKH GRRU DV LI WU\LQJ WR UHJDLQ KHU EDODQFH 6KH VHHPHG DV XQVWHDG\DV&DPSEHOOIHOW ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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very detail of the elegant interior of the Lockwood restaurant said old money, from the plush upholstery to the crystal FKDQGHOLHUV WR WKH LPSHFFDEO\ GUHVVHG FOLHQWHOH 7KH UHVWDXUDQW ZDV located in the Palmer House, one of the most luxurious hotels in the heart of Chicago’s Loop district. Parker was spending Christmas morning KDYLQJEUXQFKZLWK$OH[LVEHIRUHVKHZHQWWRDIRUPDOJDWKHULQJRIKHU SDUHQWV¶EXVLQHVVDVVRFLDWHVDQG$OH[LVDWWHQGHGDSROLWLFDOIXQFWLRQDW the governor’s private residence on the lakeshore. 7KH RSXOHQFH RI KHU VXUURXQGLQJV FRQVWDQWO\ UHPLQGHG KHU KRZ IDUVKHZDVIURPWKHUXVWLFORGJHDW%HDU5XQDQG3DUNHUZRQGHUHG what it was all worth in the grand scheme of things. Were the people LQWKLVUHVWDXUDQWKDSSLHUWKDQWKHSHRSOHDW%HDU5XQ"'LGWKH\OHDG EHWWHUOLYHV"'LGWKH\OHDYHDOHJDF\DQ\PRUHSRZHUIXOWKDQWKHRQHV WKH&DUVRQVOHIWWKHLUFKLOGUHQ",WZDVGLI¿FXOWWRLPDJLQHDQ\RIWKHP HQMR\LQJWKHLUKROLGD\PRUHWKDQVKHKDGGXULQJWKRVHIHZPRPHQWV VKHDQG&DPSEHOOH[FKDQJHGJLIWV7KHVNLVZHUHQ¶WWKHELJJHVWRUPRVW H[SHQVLYH SUHVHQW VKH¶G HYHU UHFHLYHG EXW VKH FRXOGQ¶W WKLQN RI DQ\ WKDWKDGEHHQPRUHSUHFLRXV ³0HUU\ &KULVWPDV GDUOLQJ´ $OH[LV VDLG UDLVLQJ KHU FU\VWDO FKDPSDJQHÀXWHDQGEULQJLQJ3DUNHURXWRIKHUSKLORVRSKLFDOPXVLQJ 3DUNHU¶VEHVWIULHQGZDVVWXQQLQJDEORQGHZLWKK\SQRWLFJUHHQH\HV that stood out against her porcelain skin. Her voice carried the slight OLOWVRFRPPRQDPRQJ&KLFDJR¶V1RUWK6KRUHHOLWH+HUEODFNVODFNV FUHDPFRORUHGEORXVHDQGVOLQJEDFNKHHOVKHOGODEHOVWKDWUHDGOLNHD who’s who of the world’s most prestigious designers. She would easily EHPLVWDNHQIRUDGHEXWDQWHRUWURSK\ZLIHH[FHSWIRUWKHZLFNHGZLW
RACHEL SPANGLER and sharp tongue she exercised on anyone who dared make such an assumption. ³0HUU\&KULVWPDV$OH[LV´3DUNHUVLSSHGKHUPLPRVD ³2K *RG , KDYH PLVVHG \RX´ $OH[LV VDLG GUDPDWLFDOO\ ³
TRAILS MERGE ³,W¶OO EH D OLWWOH VXUUHDO WR KDYH HYHU\RQH IURP KHUH XS WKHUH´ Parker admitted. “You sound nervous.” ³,JXHVV,DP7KHODVWWLPH,VDZPRVWRIWKRVHZRPHQZDVEHIRUH the whole ordeal,” Parker said, referring to the unhappy topic they had MXVWDJUHHGWRDYRLG ³1RRQHEODPHV\RXIRUZKDWKDSSHQHG´$OH[LVVDLGVRIWO\ ³0D\EH QRW IRU ZKDW KDSSHQHG EXW WKH\ FHUWDLQO\ WKLQN , overreacted to the whole thing.” Strangely, the people with all the GHWDLOVDERXWZKDWKDGKDSSHQHG²ZKRNQHZDERXWHYHU\XQGHUKDQGHG PRYHDQGGLUW\WULFN²VWLOOWKRXJKWVKHZDVRXWRIKHUPLQGWRJLYHXS DSULPHFDPSDLJQVORWZKHQ&DPSEHOOZKRGLGQ¶WHYHQNQRZWKHKDOI of it, seemed to accept her decision as though it were the most logical DQG VDQH WKLQJ SRVVLEOH$OH[LV ZDV WKH RQO\ RWKHU SHUVRQ VKH NQHZ who supported her. ³:HOOVRPHSHRSOHGRQ¶WVKDUH\RXUPRUDOFDOLEHUEXW,VD\IXFN ¶HP´$OH[LVJULQQHG³$QGWRRQHLQSDUWLFXODUJRRGULGGDQFHWREDG trash.” ³$OH[LV OHW LW JR , NQRZ 0LD ZLOO SUREDEO\ EH WKHUH DQG ,¶P ¿QH ZLWK WKDW´ 6KH QRWHG WKH KLQW RI UHVLJQDWLRQ WKDW KDG UHSODFHG the sadness she used to feel when she mentioned her ex. “Really, I’ve moved on.” “Right, we’ve moved on to a mountain that comes complete with LWVRZQOHVELDQVNLLQVWUXFWRU´ 3DUNHU ÀXVKHG LQYROXQWDULO\ DQG WULHG WR KLGH KHU UHDFWLRQ E\ IRFXVLQJRQKHUHJJV%HQHGLFW ³3OHDVH WHOO PH WKHUH¶V VRPHWKLQJ DERXW WKH PRXQWDLQ WKDW MXVW PDGH \RX EOXVK´$OH[LV VDLG VHULRXVO\ ³EHFDXVH LI LW ZDV WKH PHUH mention of your ski instructor, you’ve failed to tell me something, and I NQRZ\RXZRXOGQ¶WNHHSDQ\MXLF\GHWDLOVIURP\RXUEHVWIULHQG´ ³,W¶VSUREDEO\QRWKLQJ´3DUNHUDQVZHUHG$WOHDVWLWPLJKWQRWKDYH PHDQWDQ\WKLQJWR&DPSEHOOVKHWROGKHUVHOI6KHRQWKHRWKHUKDQG KDGQ¶WEHHQDEOHWRWKLQNRIDQ\WKLQJHOVHIRUWKHSDVWIHZGD\V(YHQ QRZWKHGXOOWKURERIDURXVDOSXOVHGWKRXJKKHUZKHQVKHUHPHPEHUHG WKHNLVVWKH\¶GVKDUHG6KHNQHZLWZDVDEDGLGHDWROHWKHUVHOIIDOOIRU &DPSEHOOHYHQWHPSRUDULO\,WZRXOGFRPSOLFDWHPDWWHUVERWKDWZRUN DQG LQ UHODWLRQ WR KHU ORQJWHUP SODQV 6KH GLGQ¶W ZDQW WR EH SLQQHG down, at least not metaphorically. She had a sudden mental image
RACHEL SPANGLER RI &DPSEHOO KROGLQJ KHU GRZQ RQ WKH EHG ZKLOH VKH GLG DOO VRUWV RI GHOLFLRXVWKLQJVWRKHUDQGKHUERG\UHDFWHGDFFRUGLQJO\6KHVKRRNKHU head in a futile attempt to clear it and said, “I mean it. It’s nothing.” ³:KDWPD\,DVNWKHQLVWKLVµQRWKLQJ¶\RX¶UHUHIHUULQJWR"´ ³:HMXVWJDYHHDFKRWKHURXU&KULVWPDVSUHVHQWVDQGVKHNLVVHG me, and then she went home and I came here.” Parker rattled off the DEEUHYLDWHGVHTXHQFHRIHYHQWVWU\LQJQRWWRSXWWRRPXFKHPSKDVLV RQ WKH NLVV GHVSLWH WKH IDFW WKDW VKH FRXOG VWLOO IHHO &DPSEHOO¶V OLSV FODLPKHUV-XVWWKLQNLQJDERXWLWVHQWJRRVHEXPSVXSKHUDUPV:K\ FRXOGQ¶WVKHJHW&DPSEHOORXWRIKHUKHDG"$OOWKH\¶GGRQHZDVNLVV ³6KHNLVVHG\RXZKHUH"´$OH[LVDVNHGFRROO\ ³2QWKHPRXWK´3DUNHUDQVZHUHG³:HOORQWKHFKHHNDQGWKHQ on the mouth.” “I should hope it was on the mouth, dear. I meant where were you when this happened?” ³2K´ 3DUNHU ÀXVKHG DJDLQ ³:H ZHUH VWDQGLQJ RXWVLGH P\ apartment.” ³$QGWKHQVKHGUDJJHG\RXUVH[\DVVLQVLGHDQGKDGKHUZD\ZLWK \RX"´$OH[LVDVNHGH[SHFWDQWO\ ³1RWKHQVKHVDLG0HUU\&KULVWPDVDQGOHIW´ “She’s sexy, right?” “God, yes,” Parker almost gushed. “She’s got this gorgeous mane RIJROGHQEURZQKDLUWKDWFXUOVXSDWWKHHQGVDQGEOXHH\HV\RXFRXOG drown in.” ³7LJKWERG\")LUPDVV"´$OH[LVSURGGHG ³8KKXK´ ³$QGNLVVHVOLNHDZHWGUHDP"´ Parker let out an exasperated sigh. “Yes, are you trying to torture me?” “Just trying to get a visual here so I can understand why the hell you didn’t invite her inside and rip her clothes off.” ³,GLG´3DUNHUH[FODLPHGDELWWRRORXGO\DWWUDFWLQJWKHDWWHQWLRQ RIDIHZRWKHUSDWURQV6KHORZHUHGKHUYRLFH³,PHDQZHGLGQ¶WEXW QRWIRUODFNRIWU\LQJRQP\SDUW,DVNHGKHUWRFRPHLQEXWVKHVDLG no.” $OH[LV¶VH\HEURZVVKRWXS³$UH\RXVXUHVKH¶VUHDOO\DOHVELDQ"´ ³
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&DPSEHOO VORZHG WKH OLIW DV D IDWKHU DQG KLV \RXQJ GDXJKWHU DSSURDFKHG7KHJLUOZDVDERXWVL[\HDUVROGDQGZDVREYLRXVO\EUHDNLQJ LQ KHU &KULVWPDV SUHVHQW D EUDQGQHZ EULJKW SXUSOH VQRZERDUG7KH PRXQWDLQZDVIXOORISHRSOHMXVWOLNHWKHPIDPLOLHVGHFNHGRXWLQQHZ JHDUDQGJLGG\ZLWKWKHH[FLWHPHQWRIWKHKROLGD\&KULVWPDVZDVDELJ GD\DW%HDU5XQZLWKDOOWKHORFDOVLWFKLQJWRWU\RXWWKHLUQHZHVWWR\V$ IDLUQXPEHURIYDFDWLRQHUVZHUHDOVRPDNLQJXVHRIWKHLQQDQGFDELQV for their Christmas getaways. While the entire Carson family spent the DIWHUQRRQZRUNLQJLQRUGHUWRJLYHVRPHRIWKHVWDIIWKHÀH[LELOLW\WR EHZLWKWKHLURZQIDPLOLHVWKH\DOVRPDGHWKHPRVWRIWKHLUWLPHRII the slopes.
RACHEL SPANGLER $WUDGLWLRQDO&DUVRQ&KULVWPDVFRQVLVWHGRI&KULVWPDV(YHZLWK WKHHQWLUHH[WHQGHGIDPLO\DWWHQGLQJFKXUFKVRPHWKLQJ&DPSEHOOKDG missed over the past few years. While not particularly religious, she loved the golden candlelight and familiar hymns that accompanied the VHUYLFH$IWHU FKXUFK HYHU\RQH FRQJUHJDWHG DW KHU SDUHQWV¶ KRXVH WR exchange presents. Lynn had never wanted to spend the night, so it KDGEHHQDZKLOHVLQFH&DPSEHOOKDGVHHQKHUFRXVLQVRSHQWKHJLIWV VKHERXJKWWKHP7KLV\HDUVKHPDGHXSIRUDOOWKRVHPLVVHGKROLGD\V E\JLYLQJWKHPVHYHUDO\HDUV¶ZRUWKRISUHVHQWVEXWWKHIXQVKH¶GKDG playing with the kids was worth it. Christmas morning was more intimate, spent with Sammy and her SDUHQWVEHIRUHWKHVORSHVRSHQHGDWQRRQ7KH\VKDUHGDELJEUHDNIDVWRI decadent pastries and hot chocolate while checking out their stockings DQGDIHZH[WUDJLIWVDOZD\VODEHOHG³IURP6DQWD´HYHQDIWHUWKH\SDVVHG LQWRDGXOWKRRG7KLVZDVWKHRQO\SDUWRIWKHULWXDOVKHKDGEHHQSUHVHQW for lately, and while Lynn had conceded that sliver of the holiday with KHUIDPLO\&DPSEHOOKDGEHHQWHQVHNQRZLQJWKDW/\QQGLGQ¶WUHDOO\ ZDQWWREHWKHUH 7KLV\HDU&DPSEHOODOORZHGKHUVHOIWRUHOD[DQGVDYRUHYHU\PLQXWH of those family traditions. She was home for Christmas, in the place VKHORYHGVXUURXQGHGE\WKHSHRSOHVKHORYHG,WKDGEHHQHYHU\WKLQJ VKH¶GZDQWHGLWWREHHYHU\WKLQJVKH¶GORQJHGIRUGXULQJWKRVH\HDUV DZD\DQGHYHU\WKLQJVKH¶GORRNHGIRUZDUGWRZKHQVKH¿QDOO\UHWXUQHG KRPH7KHKROLGD\KDGEHHQYLUWXDOO\SHUIHFWVRZK\ZDVVKHVLWWLQJDW WKHEDVHRIWKHOLIWWKLQNLQJDERXWWKHRQHWKLQJWKDWZDVPLVVLQJ" “Hey, Cam,” Sammy called as he slid to a stop next to her. He ZDV RQ KLV VQRZERDUG DQG ZHDULQJ D QHZ FRDW DQG ERRWV WKDW KH¶G JRWWHQWKHQLJKWEHIRUH+LVKHDGZDVXQFRYHUHGKLVVDQG\EURZQKDLU DZLQGEORZQPHVV “Hi, Sam. What’s up?” He nodded toward the lift. “It’s closing time. Go ahead and shut her down.” &DPSEHOOJODQFHGDWKHUZDWFK6KH¶GEHHQVRORVWLQWKRXJKWVKH KDGQ¶WQRWLFHGWKHVXQGURSSLQJEHORZWKHKRUL]RQ1RPDWWHUKRZKDUG VKHWULHGVKHKDGQ¶WEHHQDEOHWRJHW3DUNHURIIKHUPLQGDOOGD\RUDOO week for that matter. She had mentally replayed that kiss ever since it KDSSHQHGEXWWKDWKDGQ¶WGRQHDQ\WKLQJWROHVVHQWKHHIIHFWWKHPHPRU\ KDGRQKHU-XVWWKLQNLQJDERXWLWQRZPDGHKHUZDUPDOORYHU
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RACHEL SPANGLER “Sammy, are you trying to play matchmaker again?” ³,¶PMXVWVD\LQJLWLV1HZ
TRAILS MERGE ³,¶YHVSHQWVRPHWLPHZLWK$OH[LV,JRWWRKDQJRXWZLWKP\EURWKHU DQGKLVZLIHDOLWWOHELWDQGQRZ,¶PDWP\SDUHQWV¶KRXVH´ ³7KDWVRXQGVOLNHIXQ´&DPSEHOOÀRSSHGGRZQRQWRWKHFRXFK and drew her knees up to her chest. Parker’s voice was comforting, even if it did remind her how much she missed having her there. ³,W UHDOO\ LVQ¶W´ 3DUNHU VDLG ³$OO WKHLU FROOHDJXHV DUH RYHU ,W¶V D SUHWW\ VWXII\ FURZG DQG P\ IDWKHU¶V EXVLQHVV SDUWQHU KDV KDG WRR PDQ\FRFNWDLOVDQGLVSUHWHQGLQJWREHLQWHUHVWHGLQWDONLQJDERXWP\ MREVRKHFDQNHHSVWDULQJDWP\FKHVW8JK,GRQ¶WNQRZKRZ,HYHU managed to attend events like these several times a week. It all seems VRFRQWULYHGQRZ,FDQ¶WZDLWWRJHWRXWRIKHUH,MXVWKRSH,FDQEHIRUH any of the guys try to get handsy.” &DPSEHOOFULQJHGDWWKHLPDJHRI3DUNHUGRGJLQJWKHLUDWWHQWLRQ “I’m sorry.” ³,W¶VRND\,¶PMXVWUHDOL]LQJWKDW,GRQ¶WFDUHIRUKROLGD\VZLWKP\ IDPLO\QHDUO\DVPXFKDV,HQMR\VSHQGLQJWLPHZLWK\RX´ &DPSEHOO¶VEUHDWKFDXJKWDWWKHVLQFHULW\RIWKHVWDWHPHQW$JDLQ Parker had gotten her to let down her guard, and without thinking she said, “I missed you today.” “I’ve missed you all weekend.” $VKXGGHUUDQWKURXJK&DPSEHOO¶VERG\DWWKHLQWLPDF\LQ3DUNHU¶V WRQH³:KHQDUH\RXFRPLQJEDFN"´ ³7ZRPRUHGD\V´ ³&DQ , VHH \RX"´ &DPSEHOO KHOG KHU EUHDWK DIUDLG VKH VRXQGHG desperate. ³,¶G OLNH WKDW YHU\ PXFK , VKRXOG EH DURXQG WKH RI¿FH LQ WKH afternoon.” ³, KDYH OHVVRQV´ &DPSEHOO UXEEHG KHU IRUHKHDG DV VKH WULHG WR think of a way to see Parker immediately. She didn’t want to wait any ORQJHUWKDQVKHKDGWR³:H¶OOEHVZDPSHGVLQFHWKHVFKRROVDUHDOORXW EXW,FRXOGWU\WRFRPHLQEHWZHHQFODVVHV´ ³1R MXVW VWD\ RQ WKH VORSHV´ 3DUNHU VDLG ³,¶OO ¿QG \RX WKLV time.” “Sounds good. See you then.” &DPSEHOOKXQJXSDQGKHDGHGXSVWDLUVVPLOLQJ1HLWKHURIWKHP had mentioned their kiss, and she still wasn’t sure where she and Parker ZHUHKHDGHGEXWVKHKDGWRDGPLWVKHZDVHQMR\LQJWKHULGH
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
P
arker stopped at her condo only long enough to change and SLFNXSKHUQHZVNLVEHIRUHVKHKHDGHGWR%HDU5XQ,WGLGQ¶W matter that she got on the road at six o’clock that morning, or that she KDGQ¶W FKHFNHG KHU HPDLO RU YRLFH PDLO 6KH GLGQ¶W HYHQ JR WR KHU RI¿FHEXWKHDGHGGLUHFWO\IRUWKHEHJLQQHUV¶OLIW&DPSEHOOZDVPRVW OLNHO\FRQGXFWLQJOHVVRQVRQWKHEXQQ\WUDLOV3DUNHUGLGQ¶WPDNHDQ\ H[FXVHVIRUEHLQJRQWKHVORSHV6KHZDVWKHUHWRVHH&DPSEHOODQG admitting that made the trip seem that much sweeter. 7KHGD\ZDVVWXQQLQJDQGZKLOHWKHVQRZZDVPRUHPDQXIDFWXUHG WKDQQDWXUDOVKHGLGQ¶WPLQG,QIDFWVKHZDVSURXGWREHDEOHWRWHOO WKHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKHWKLFNHUEDVHWKDWWKHVQRZJXQVFUDQNHGRXW DQG WKH OLJKWHU WRS FRDWLQJ WKDW EOHZ LQ RQ LWV RZQ 6KH VKXIÀHG KHU VNLVEDFNDQGIRUWKIRUDIHZVHFRQGVWKHQURFNHGIURPVLGHWRVLGH LQKHUELQGLQJVWRJHWDIHHOIRUKHUQHZHTXLSPHQW1RWVXUSULVLQJO\ HYHU\WKLQJIHOWZRQGHUIXO&DPSEHOOKDGWXQHGDQGVL]HGHYHU\SLHFH WRSHUIHFWLRQNQRZLQJKHUQHHGVEHWWHUWKDQ3DUNHUNQHZWKHPKHUVHOI 6KHVPLOHGDQGZRQGHUHGEULHÀ\LIWKHVDPHZRXOGKROGWUXHLQRWKHU areas. Slow down, Parker. Let’s take this one step of at a time, she DGPRQLVKHGKHUVHOIJHQWO\DVVKHERDUGHGWKHOLIW When she exited the chair she turned right and spotted one skier in a red coat standing at least a foot taller than anyone else around, ZKLFKZDVSUREDEO\&DPSEHOOZLWKDFODVVRINLGV$VVKHJRWFORVHU VKHUHDOL]HGWKHNLGVZHUHZLQGLQJWKURXJKDQREVWDFOHFRXUVHRIWUDI¿F
RACHEL SPANGLER FRQHVDQGSODVWLFÀDJV&DPSEHOOVWLOOKDGKHUEDFNWRKHUFDOOLQJRXW instructions as her students progressed. )HHOLQJOLNHDQ H[XEHUDQW FKLOG 3DUNHU VOLG LQWR OLQH EHKLQG WKH ODVWVWXGHQWDQGIROORZHGKLPDURXQGWKHREVWDFOHV ³:KDW¶VWKLV"´&DPSEHOOVDLGORXGO\³7KDWKDVJRWWREHWKHWDOOHVW WHQ\HDUROG,¶YHHYHUVHHQ´ 7KHNLGVDOOODXJKHGDV3DUNHUVWRSSHGDQGJULQQHG³&RPHRQ &RDFK,ZDQQDEHRQWKHVNLWHDP´ ³:HOO WKHQ´ &DPSEHOO PRWLRQHG IRU KHU WR FRQWLQXH ³OHW¶V VHH what you’ve got.” Parker wound slowly around one of the cones, then made the turn WRZDUGWKHIDUWKHVWÀDJ6KHPRYHGKHUVNLVSDUDOOHOWRRQHDQRWKHUDQG PRYHGIDVWHUWKURXJKWKHODVWWZRWXUQVDQGDFURVVWKH¿QLVKOLQHZKHUH everyone waited for her. 6KHÀRSSHGGRZQLQWRWKHVQRZZLWKDOOWKHFKLOGUHQSUHWHQGLQJ WREHH[KDXVWHGDQGDVNHG³:HOO&RDFKKRZGLG,GR"´ “I don’t know. What do you guys think? Can Parker come ski with XVIURPQRZRQ"´7KHNLGVDOOVKRXWHGRXWDFRXUVHRI\HVHVJLJJOLQJ ³$OOULJKWWKHQ´&DPSEHOOVDLG³:H¶OOGRWKLVDOODJDLQWRPRUURZDQG Parker can come too if she wants.” 7KH JURXS HUXSWHG DJDLQ DQG 3DUNHU JDYH VHYHUDO RI WKHP KLJK ¿YHV &DPSEHOOGLVPLVVHGWKHFODVVDQGZDWFKHGWKHPVNLRYHUWRWKH GHFNZKHUHKHUPRWKHUZDLWHGWROHDGWKHPEDFNLQWRWKHGD\FDUHURRP :KHQVKHZDVFHUWDLQWKH\ZHUHDOODFFRXQWHGIRUDQGVXSHUYLVHGE\ another adult, she turned to Parker, who still sat on the ground. Parker grinned at the amusement and pleasure on her face, and ZKHQ &DPSEHOO RIIHUHG KHU KDQG WR KHOS KHU XS VKH JODGO\ WRRN LW 6KH DOORZHG KHUVHOI WR EH SXOOHG EDFN RQWR KHU VNLV EXW GLGQ¶W KDYH WLPHWRGLJLQDQGHVWDEOLVKKHUEDODQFHIXOO\EHIRUHVKHEHJDQWRVOLGH GRZQKLOO:LWKRXWWKLQNLQJVKHODWFKHGRQWR&DPSEHOOWKURZLQJRQH DUPDURXQGKHUQHFNDQGWKHRWKHUDURXQGKHUZDLVW&DPSEHOOKHOG VWHDG\HYHU\ELWDVJURXQGHGRQVNLVDVVKHZDVZKHQVWDQGLQJÀDW IRRWHG6KHPHUHO\SODFHGKHUKDQGVRQ3DUNHU¶VKLSVWRVWDELOL]HKHU ³7KDQNV´3DUNHUVDLGVWDULQJXSLQWRWKRVHFU\VWDOEOXHH\HVDQG GLGQ¶W PRYH LPPHGLDWHO\ WR EUHDN WKHLU FRQWDFW 6KH ZRXOGQ¶W KDYH WKRXJKW LW SRVVLEOH WR JHW WXUQHG RQ ZLWK VR PDQ\ OD\HUV RI FORWKLQJ
TRAILS MERGE EHWZHHQWKHPEXWVKHJUHZZDUPDQGNQHZVKHKDGWREHEOXVKLQJ However, she also detected the slightest hint of pink creep into &DPSEHOO¶VDOUHDG\FROGFKHHNV ³8K KRZ ZDV \RXU YDFDWLRQ"´ &DPSEHOO DVNHG FOHDUO\ WKURZQ RIIJXDUGE\WKHXQH[SHFWHGHPEUDFH ³1RW QHDUO\ DV HQMR\DEOH RU UHOD[LQJ DV EHLQJ KHUH´ 3DUNHU DQVZHUHGDQGUHDOL]HGWKDWZDVWUXH6KHKDGDOZD\VOLNHGZKDWVKH GLGIRUDOLYLQJDQGIRXQGKHUZRUNIXO¿OOLQJHYHQH[KLODUDWLQJEXWVKH would never have called it fun, and certainly not relaxing. “It was good WRVHHP\IDPLO\DQG$OH[LVEXW,¶PJODGWREHEDFN´ ³,¶P JODG \RX¶UH EDFN WRR´ &DPSEHOO OLJKWO\ NLVVHG 3DUNHU¶V lips. ³$KHP´ 6RPHRQH FRXJKHG DQG D VQRZERDUG JURXQG WR D VORZ VWRSEHVLGHWKHP3DUNHUEURNHKHUFRQWDFWZLWK&DPSEHOODQGSXVKHG RIIFOXPVLO\RQKHUVNLVSXWWLQJDUHVSHFWDEOHGLVWDQFHEHWZHHQWKHP ³'RQ¶W PLQG PH´ 6DPP\ FRQWLQXHG PDNLQJ D ELJ VKRZ RI SUHWHQGLQJQRWWRORRNDWWKHP³EXW,WKRXJKW&DPSEHOOPLJKWOLNHWR know her one o’clock lesson group is suiting up.” ³5LJKW´&DPSEHOOH[KDOHGVORZO\³7KDQNV´ ³
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHUKDGQ¶WEHHQDVNHGRXWRQDGDWHLQ\HDUVDQGGLGQ¶WWKLQN VKH¶G HYHU UHFHLYHG VXFK D VZHHW LQYLWDWLRQ ³&DPSEHOO WKHUH LVQ¶W DQ\RQH,¶GUDWKHUEULQJLQWKHQHZ\HDUZLWK´
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TRAILS MERGE PRXQWDLQIRUHYHUVKHGLGQ¶WFDUHIRUWKHELJIDPLO\HYHQWV&DPSEHOO UHOLVKHGVRPXFKDQGZKLOHVKHZDVOHDUQLQJQRWWREHVRXSWLJKWDOO WKHWLPHVKHVWLOOZDVQ¶WOLNHO\WREHFRQWHQWZLWKWKHHDV\JRLQJZD\RI OLIH&DPSEHOOVWURYHIRU ³6WRS WKDW ,W¶V MXVW RQH GDWH ,¶P QRW DVNLQJ KHU WR PDUU\ PH ULJKW"´ &DPSEHOO PXPEOHG DQG %DGJHU WR SHUNHG XS KLV HDUV 6KH VPLOHGDWKLVDWWHQWLYHQHVVDQGSDWWHGKLVKHDGEHIRUHVKHKHDGHGRXW the door. She continued to talk to herself as she drove toward the lodge. 7KH\ZHUHWZRDGXOWVZKRHQMR\HGHDFKRWKHU¶VFRPSDQ\YHU\PXFK VKHUHDVRQHGWZRJURZQZRPHQZLWKDPXWXDODWWUDFWLRQZKRKDGERWK EHHQ DORQH IRU IDU WRR PDQ\ PRQWKV7KHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ ZURQJ ZLWK VSHQGLQJ WLPH WRJHWKHU DQG H[SORULQJ VRPH SRVVLELOLWLHV 6KH GLGQ¶W KDYHWRJRRYHUERDUG6KHFRXOGWDNHLWVORZDQGMXVWKDYHDSOHDVDQW HYHQLQJZLWK3DUNHU%\WKHWLPH&DPSEHOOJRWWRWKHPDLQORXQJHRI WKH ORGJH VKH KDG KHUVHOI WDONHG LQWR EHOLHYLQJ VKH ZDV LQ FRPSOHWH control of her emotions. 7KHQDFURVVWKHODUJHURRPVKHVDZ3DUNHU 6KHZRUHDVLPSOHEODFNHYHQLQJGUHVVDQGKHUORQJKDLUVSLOOHG GRZQ KHU EDFN 6KH VSRWWHG &DPSEHOO DW WKH VDPH WLPH DQG ÀDVKHG DEULOOLDQWO\XQJXDUGHGVPLOHKHUH\HVVKLPPHULQJZLWKGHOLJKW7KDW ORRNWKDWVPLOHVHQW&DPSEHOORYHUWKHGURSRIIDQGZLWKRXWPDNLQJ the conscious effort to move, she was drawn to her. $OOWKHPHPRULHVRISDVWPLVWDNHVGLVDSSHDUHG7KHIHDUDQGWKH SDLQIDGHGUHSODFHGE\WKHLPDJHRI3DUNHUZDWFKLQJKHUOLNHVKHZDV WKHRQO\RWKHUSHUVRQLQWKHURRP7KHVRXQGRIKHURZQUDSLGO\EHDWLQJ KHDUWGURZQHGRXWDOOKHUVHOIZDUQLQJVDERXWQRWJHWWLQJFDUULHGDZD\ $VVKHPRYHGKHOSOHVVO\WRZDUG3DUNHUDOOVKHFRXOGWKLQNZDVHere I go again.
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RACHEL SPANGLER FRXSOHV KDG WKHLU ¿UVW GDWH ZKHUH WKH\ ZRUNHG DQG ZLWK WKHLU HQWLUH H[WHQGHGIDPLO\LQWKHURRPEXW&DPSEHOOWKRXJKWLWVHHPHG¿WWLQJ 7KLVZDVKHUOLIHWKHOLIHVKHFKRVHWRUHWXUQWRDQG3DUNHUKDGFKRVHQ it, too, at least for now. Parker was stunning and gracious, and even when they weren’t WRJHWKHU &DPSEHOO FRXOGQ¶W WDNH KHU H\HV RII KHU &DPSEHOO ORYHG the way she moved around the room talking to staff and guests. She could make everyone feel welcome and important, and must have EHHQDPD]LQJRQWKHFDPSDLJQWUDLO7KHPHQDQGDIHZRIWKHZRPHQ EODWDQWO\DSSUDLVHGKHUSK\VLFDOIHDWXUHVVHYHUDODVNLQJIRUGDQFHVRU RIIHULQJWREX\KHUGULQNV3DUNHUGHFOLQHGHDFKRQHZLWKVXFKFKDUP WKDWWKHDGPLUHUKDUGO\QRWLFHGWKHUHEXII ,Q EHWZHHQ VRFLDO FKRUHV DQG KRVWHVV GXWLHV 3DUNHU DOZD\V UHWXUQHGWR&DPSEHOO¶VVLGHHYHQLIRQO\IRUDIHZPLQXWHV$VPLOH RUDEULHIFDUHVVFRQVWDQWO\UHPLQGHG&DPSEHOOWKDWWRQLJKWZDVQ¶WMXVW DQRWKHUVRFLDOIXQFWLRQDWZRUN7RQLJKWWKH\ZHUHQ¶WMXVWFROOHDJXHV 7KH\ZHUHQ¶WMXVWIULHQGV7KH\ZHUHDFRXSOHDQGZKLOHLWZDVQ¶WFOHDU when they crossed that line, evidently they had. Where were all the warnings she had given herself? Wasn’t Parker VWLOOGHVWLQHGWREUHDNKHUKHDUW":DVQ¶W&DPSEHOOVWLOOGHGLFDWHGWRD OLIH3DUNHUZDQWHGOLWWOHSDUWRI":HUHWKH\ERWKKHDGHGGRZQDGHDG HQG"7KHDQVZHUZDVVWLOO\HVVRZK\FRXOGQ¶W&DPSEHOOVWRSIHHOLQJ DZHVWUXFNHYHU\WLPH3DUNHUORRNHGDWKHUZLWKWKRVHELJEURZQH\HV" $V PLGQLJKW DSSURDFKHG &DPSEHOO VWRRG SRXULQJ ÀXWHV RI FKDPSDJQHZKHQKHUXQFOH(PHU\WDSSHGKHURQWKHVKRXOGHU³:KDW FDQ,GRIRU\RX"´VKHDVNHGRSHQLQJDERWWOHRIVSDUNOLQJZLQH “Let me do that while you go ask that young lady to dance.” He QRGGHGWRZDUG3DUNHUZKRZDVMXVWOHDYLQJWKHNLWFKHQ &DPSEHOOSDXVHGOLVWHQLQJWRWKHVORZVRQJSRXULQJWKURXJKWKH DJ’s speakers. “I don’t know if our clientele is ready to see two girls VORZGDQFH´ (PHU\ UHJDUGHG KHU VHULRXVO\ ³7KLV LVQ¶W MXVW D EXVLQHVV &DP 7KLVLVWKH&DUVRQV¶IDPLO\KRPH/DVWWLPH,FKHFNHG\RXUODVWQDPH ZDV&DUVRQDQGXQOHVV,¶YHPLVUHDGWKHZD\\RXWZRKDYHEHHQPDNLQJ eyes at each other all night, you and Parker are headed in a direction WKDW,IRURQHDPYHU\KDSS\DERXW´ &DPSEHOOQRGGHG DQG JODQFHG RYHU DW 3DUNHU ZKR UHWXUQHG KHU DWWHQWLRQZLWKRQHRIWKRVHEULOOLDQWVPLOHV
TRAILS MERGE ³7KDQNV 8QFOH (PHU\´ VKH VDLG EHIRUH VKH VWUROOHG RYHU WR Parker. “Would you like to dance with me?” She felt a little awkward DQGKRSHGVKHGLGQ¶WVRXQGWRRPXFKOLNHDQHLJKWKJUDGHUDWKHU¿UVW school dance. 3DUNHUQRGGHG³,ZDVEHJLQQLQJWRWKLQN\RXZRXOGQ¶WDVN´ &DPSEHOOWRRNKHUKDQGDQGOHGKHUDIHZIHHWWRWKHGDQFHÀRRU Still holding Parker’s hand in her palm, she slipped her other arm DURXQG3DUNHU¶VZDLVWDQGJHQWO\SXOOHGKHUQHDU&DPSEHOOZDVRQO\ slightly taller than Parker, who looked up into her eyes, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “You feel good,” she whispered. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER “Less than one minute to midnight,” the DJ announced. ³&RPHRQOHW¶VJHWVRPHFKDPSDJQH´3DUNHUVWHSSHGEDFNEXW GLGQ¶W OHW JR RI &DPSEHOO¶V KDQG &DPSEHOO ZDV KDSS\ WR IROORZ VR ORQJDVVKHFRXOGHQMR\WKHWRXFKRI3DUNHU¶VVNLQDJDLQVWKHURZQ 7KH FRXQWGRZQ EHJDQ MXVW DV 3DUNHU SDVVHG KHU RQH RI WKH FKDPSDJQHÀXWHVVKH¶G¿OOHGDIHZPLQXWHVHDUOLHU³7HQQLQHHLJKW´ &DPSEHOOJD]HGDW3DUNHUWKHQGRZQDWWKHLULQWHUWZLQHG¿QJHUVDQG tried to remind herself not to get too used to that feeling. Parker would PRYHRQDQGOHDYHKHUDORQHZRXOGQ¶WVKH"6KHVWUXJJOHGWRUHPHPEHU ZK\LWZDVDEDGLGHDWRIDOOIRUWKLVZRPDQZKRVHHPHGVRSHUIHFW ³6HYHQVL[¿YH´6KHZDVJRLQJWRVWDUWWKHQHZ\HDUVXUURXQGHG E\ KHU IDPLO\ LQ WKH SODFH VKH ORYHG PRUH WKDQ DQ\ RWKHU ZLWK DQ DPD]LQJZRPDQE\KHUVLGH:DVQ¶WWKDWZKDWVKH¶GDOZD\VGUHDPHG of? What did it matter what things were like a year from now? Why VKRXOGQ¶W VKH HQMR\ ZKDW VKH KDG ULJKW QRZ" 6XGGHQO\ WKH SDVW DQG future lacked importance compared to her yearning for Parker right now. ³)RXUWKUHHWZR´:KLOHIDPLO\FRQÀLFWVDQGEXVLQHVVGHDOVDQG IXWXUHSODQVZHUHERXQGWRFDWFKXSZLWKWKHPHYHQWXDOO\ULJKWQRZWKH RQO\WKLQJEHWZHHQWKHPZDVFDULQJXQGHUVWDQGLQJDQGDQDEXQGDQFH of sexual tension. Why was she trying to resist? What more was she ZDLWLQJIRU"7KHLGHDOZRPDQVWRRGQH[WWRKHUDQGHYHU\PRYH3DUNHU PDGHDOOQLJKWLQGLFDWHGWKDWVKHZDVRIIHULQJKHUVHOIIXOO\WR&DPSEHOO 1RZ&DPSEHOOMXVWKDGWR¿QGWKHFRXUDJHWRDFFHSW ³2QH´
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RACHEL SPANGLER XQGLGWKHEXWWRQRQKHUNKDNLVZKLFKVKHWRRNDVHQFRXUDJHPHQWWR FRQWLQXH $V VKH VOLG &DPSEHOO¶V ]LSSHU GRZQ KHU NQXFNOHV JUD]HG EDUHVNLQDQGQRZVKHPRDQHG1HYHUEHIRUHKDGVXFKDVPDOOKLQWRI WKLQJVWRFRPHVWLUUHGKHUVRWKRURXJKO\-XVWRQHEUXVKDJDLQVWWKHWDXW ÀHVKRI&DPSEHOO¶VDEGRPHQDOPRVWPDGHKHUPHOW &DPSEHOO WRRN DGYDQWDJH RI KHU OXVWLQGXFHG KD]H WR WXUQ KHU DURXQGDQGSXOOKHUFORVHDJDLQQRZSODFLQJNLVVHVDORQJWKHEDFNRI her shoulders and neck. She unhooked the clasp on Parker’s dress, then GUHZWKH]LSSHUVORZO\GRZQWKHOHQJWKRIKHUEDFN3DUNHUVKXGGHUHG DQGELWKHUOLSDV&DPSEHOOVOLSSHGWKHVWUDSVIURPKHUVKRXOGHUVDQG WKHGUHVVIHOOIUHHIURPKHUERG\LQWRDSRRODWKHUIHHW&DPSEHOOWKHQ turned her around so that they once more faced each other and, cradling WKHEDFNRIKHUKHDGWHQGHUO\ORZHUHGKHUWRWKHEHG 3DUNHUJUDEEHGD¿VWIXOORI&DPSEHOO¶VVKLUWDQGSXOOHGKHUGRZQ ZLWKKHU7KHQVKHUROOHGWKHPRYHUVRVKHZDVRQWRSRI&DPSEHOO VWUDGGOLQJ KHU ZDLVW 7KH OXVW LQ &DPSEHOO¶V H\HV RQO\ PDGH 3DUNHU ZDQWKHUPRUHVRVKHSODQWHGDGHHSEXWEULHINLVVRQKHUOLSVEHIRUH JOLGLQJGRZQ&DPSEHOO¶VQHFNDQGFKHVW6KHVORZO\XQGLGHDFKEXWWRQ RIKHUVKLUWSODFLQJDNLVVXQGHUHDFKRQHDVVKHZHQW7KHQVKHWUDLOHG her mouth across the tightly muscled torso, reveling in the feel of EDUHVNLQRQKHUOLSV&DPSEHOOZDVQ¶WZHDULQJDEUDVRZKHQ3DUNHU UHDFKHGWKHODVWEXWWRQVKHSXVKHGWKHVKLUWRIIKHUVKRXOGHUVOHDYLQJ her naked from the waist up. Not wanting to stop there, she hooked her KDQGVLQWRWKHZDLVWRI&DPSEHOO¶VER[HUVDQGLQRQHPRWLRQUHPRYHG them and the khakis. 3DUNHU WRRN LQ WKH H[TXLVLWH ERG\ EHQHDWK KHU &DPSEHOO ZDV HYHU\WKLQJ VKH H[SHFWHG KHU WR EH DQG VR PXFK PRUH +HU GDUN complexion lightened only slightly where she wasn’t tanned, and her HQWLUHERG\ZDVVPRRWKO\PXVFOHG%HORZKHUVPDOO¿UPEUHDVWVWKH lightly rippled plain of her stomach descended into soft golden curls at the apex of her thighs. “God, you’re gorgeous,” Parker whispered, awed. &DPSEHOOVDWXSDQGZUDSSHGKHUDUPVDURXQG3DUNHU¶VEDFNWKHQ SUHVVHGKHUFKHHNWRKHUFKHVW3DUNHUKHOGKHUFORVH&DPSEHOO¶VEUHDWK RQKHUVNLQIROORZHGE\KHUPRXWK&DPSEHOONLVVHGDOLQHDFURVVWKH WRSRIKHUEUDZKLOHVKHUDQKHU¿QJHUVXQGHUWKHERWWRPRIWKHODFH FXSVWHDVLQJWKHXQGHUVLGHRIKHUEUHDVWV+HUKDQGVVOLGWRKHUEDFN DQGXQFODVSHGWKHEUDWKHQGUHZWKHIDEULFDZD\IURPKHUEUHDVWV6KH
TRAILS MERGE OHDQHGEDFNRQO\ORQJHQRXJKWRORRNDW3DUNHU¶VERG\DQGPXPEOH ³6REHDXWLIXO´EHIRUHSUHVVLQJFORVHDJDLQ 3DUNHU JDVSHG DQG WKUHZ KHU KHDG EDFN DV &DPSEHOO¶V PRXWK FRQQHFWHGZLWKRQHRIKHUEUHDVWVZKLOHWKHRWKHUZDVFUDGOHGLQRQHRI KHUKDQGV6KHEHJDQWRZRQGHUKRZORQJVKHFRXOGZDLWEHIRUHORVLQJ FRQWURODQGGLGQ¶WZDQWWROHWJRXQWLOVKHIHOW&DPSEHOO6RVWLOOVLWWLQJ RQKHUODS3DUNHUVOLSSHGKHUKDQGEHWZHHQWKHLUERGLHV6KHZRUNHG KHU¿QJHUVLQFLUFOHVDORQJ&DPSEHOO¶VFKHVWFDUHVVLQJWKHVRIWVNLQRI KHUEUHDVWVDQGJUD]LQJKHUQLSSOHVZKLFKZHUH¿UPWREHJLQZLWKEXW JUHZHYHQKDUGHUDWKHUWRXFK:KHQ&DPSEHOOPRDQHGKHUDSSURYDO 3DUNHUSDXVHGWRJLYHWKHPH[WUDDWWHQWLRQEXWWKHYLEUDWLRQVIURPWKH VRXQGVHQWDEROWRISOHDVXUHWKURXJKKHURZQERG\UHPLQGLQJKHURQFH again how close she was to coming. ,WZRXOGEHVRHDV\WRVXFFXPEWRHFVWDV\EXWWKHIHHORI&DPSEHOO¶V ERG\ EHQHDWK KHU ZDV WRR H[TXLVLWH WR LJQRUH 6KH PRYHG KHU KDQG IDUWKHUGRZQDJDLQVWKHUDEVDQGVWRPDFKLQWRWKRVHVRIWJROGHQFXUOV ZKHUHVKHIRXQG&DPSEHOOZHWDQGZDLWLQJIRUKHU:KHQVKHSDUWHG WKHGHOLFDWHIROGVDQGUDQKHU¿QJHUVDFURVVWKHKDUGQHVVEHQHDWKWKHP &DPSEHOO¶VKLSVMHUNHGDQGVKHFOXWFKHG3DUNHU¶VEDFNWLJKWHU ³2K*RG3DUNHU´&DPSEHOOVDLGLQWRKHUFKHVW³7KDWIHHOVVR JRRG´ 3DUNHU FRQWLQXHG WR FLUFOH KHU ¿QJHUV GHOLEHUDWHO\ LQFUHDVLQJ WKHSUHVVXUH&DPSEHOO¶VEUHDWKLQJEHFDPHHUUDWLFDQGKHUKLSVURFNHG in a steady rhythm with her hand. ³,FDQ¶WWDNHDQ\PRUH´&DPSEHOOSDQWHG³,¶PJRLQJWRORVHLW´ ³*REDE\´3DUNHUZKLVSHUHG³/HWJR´ ³1R´&DPSEHOOSUDFWLFDOO\FKRNHGRQWKHZRUGFOXWFKLQJ3DUNHU ZLWK ERWK KHU DUPV DQG UROOLQJ KHU RYHU VORZO\ RQWR KHU EDFN DQG SURSSLQJ KHUVHOI XS RQ RQH DUP DERYH KHU ³, ZDQW WR EH LQVLGH \RX when I come.” 7KH VWDWHPHQW ZDV VR UDZ ZLWK LQWHQVLW\ DQG QHHG WKDW 3DUNHU DOPRVWH[SORGHGEXWVKHZLOOHGKHUVHOIWRVWD\IRFXVHGRQWKLVDPD]LQJ ZRPDQJD]LQJGRZQDWKHU&DPSEHOOUDQKHUKDQGXS3DUNHU¶VWKLJK DQGVOLG¿UVWRQH¿QJHUWKHQWZRLQVLGHKHUKHUWKXPEEUXVKLQJKHUFOLW as she pushed deeper. Parker cried out on the verge of orgasm and pulled &DPSEHOO¶V ERG\ ÀXVK DJDLQVW KHU RZQ:LWK RQH KDQG VWLOO EHWZHHQ WKHPVKHFRQWLQXHGWRVWURNH&DPSEHOOLQUK\WKPZLWKWKHWKUXVWVRI KHURZQERG\6KHZRXOGQ¶WODVWPXFKORQJHU+HUPXVFOHVZHUHDOUHDG\ EHJLQQLQJWRVKDNHDVVKHDUFKHGXSWRPHHW&DPSEHOO6KHIRUFHGKHU
RACHEL SPANGLER eyes open, not wanting to miss a second of the connection she felt when KHU JD]H ORFNHG ZLWK &DPSEHOO¶V EOXHV H\HV QRZ GDUN ZLWK OXVW EXW ¿OOHGZLWKVRPXFKWHQGHUQHVV7KHGHHSLQWHQVHHPRWLRQWKHUHZKHQ SDLUHGZLWKWKHSK\VLFDOVHQVDWLRQVVHQWKHUWXPEOLQJLQWRHFVWDV\ ³&DPSEHOO´ VKH VREEHG DV KHU ERG\ FRQWUDFWHG 6RPHZKHUH WKURXJKWKHURDURIKHURZQKHDUWEHDWSXOVLQJWKURXJKKHUHDUV&DPSEHOO FDOOHGRXWWRKHUDQGWKHPXVFOHVEHQHDWK3DUNHU¶V¿QJHUWLSVWLJKWHQHG 7KHLU ERGLHV VKXGGHUHG LQ XQLVRQ DQG WKH UHDOL]DWLRQ WKDW &DPSEHOO ZDVFRPLQJZLWKKHUPDGHDQRWKHUEXUVWRISOHDVXUHFRQVXPH3DUNHU $VWKH\ERWKGHVFHQGHGIURPWKHLURUJDVPV&DPSEHOOUHVWHGKHU FKHHNRQ3DUNHU¶VFKHVWKHUEUHDWKLQJEHJLQQLQJWRUHWXUQWRQRUPDO 3DUNHUZRQGHUHGLI&DPSEHOOFRXOGKHDUKRZKDUGKHUKHDUWZDVVWLOO EHDWLQJ (YHU\ QHUYH HQGLQJ LQ KHU ERG\ VWLOO EX]]HG EXW HYHQ DV WKH SK\VLFDO KLJK EHJDQ WR VXEVLGH KHU HPRWLRQV FRQWLQXHG WR ULVH &DPSEHOOKDGWRXFKHGKHUZLWKVXFKUHYHUHQFHVXFKWHQGHUQHVV6KH IHOWERWKGHVLUHGDQGFKHULVKHG:KDWKDGMXVWKDSSHQHGZDVVRPXFK PRUHWKDQVH[7KH\KDGPDGHORYH
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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DPSEHOO DZRNH WR WKH ZRQGHUIXO UHDOL]DWLRQ WKDW 3DUNHU¶V KHDGZDVUHVWLQJRQKHUFKHVW6KHZDVDVOHHSKHUEUHDWKLQJ VORZDQGHYHQ&DPSEHOOOD\LQWKHVLOHQFHVRDNLQJXSWKHSOHDVXUHRI KDYLQJKHUDUPDURXQG3DUNHUKROGLQJKHUFORVH6NLQWRVNLQFRQWDFW was something she had resigned herself to living without. Now she reveled in the luxuriousness. She didn’t know what the events of the ODVWIHZKRXUVPHDQWWR3DUNHUDQGSDUWRIKHUZDVDIUDLGWR¿QGRXW 6WLOOLILWKDGEHHQDRQHQLJKWVWDQG&DPSEHOOZRXOGQ¶WWUDGHLWIRU anything. “Happy New Year,” Parker said sleepily as she opened her eyes. ³
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHU ZDV WRR VSHFLDO WR EH KDSS\ LQ D OLWWOH VORSHVLGH FDELQ IRU long. 3DUNHUSURSSHGKHUVHOIXSRQRQHHOERZDQGUDQKHURWKHUKDQG WKURXJK&DPSEHOO¶VKDLU³
TRAILS MERGE 7KHDQJXLVKLQ3DUNHU¶VYRLFHPDGH&DPSEHOOSXOOKHUFORVHRQFH DJDLQ³7KDW¶VVRPXFKZHLJKWWRSXWRQ\RXUVHOI´ ³,NQRZ,EHWLWVRXQGVSUHWW\VWXSLG´3DUNHUVKUXJJHG³,VKRXOG EHJUDWHIXOWKDW,ZDVRQHRIWKHOXFN\RQHVDQGHQMR\DOOWKHSULYLOHJHV RIP\XSEULQJLQJULJKW"´ ³1R QRW DW DOO´ &DPSEHOO KXJJHG KHU D OLWWOH WLJKWHU ³, NQRZ H[DFWO\ZKDW\RXPHDQ:KHQ,ZDVLQ0DGLVRQ,ZRUNHGIRUD<0&$ program for underprivileged kids, and I saw exactly what you’re talking DERXW7KHFRQWUDVWLQKRZ,ZDVUDLVHGDQGZKDWWKH\KDGWRGHDOZLWK was overwhelming. I couldn’t imagine making a difference.” ³,XVHGWREHOLHYHSROLWLFVZDVWKHDQVZHUEXW,¶PQRWVXUHWKDW¶V the case anymore. I wasn’t making a difference, and I wasn’t happy. Here with you, on this mountain, I’ve found peace I didn’t know I was FDSDEOHRI´ &DPSEHOOIHOWDVRUWRIJXDUGHGHODWLRQWRKHDU3DUNHUVD\VKHZDV KDSS\ DW %HDU 5XQ 7KDW DORQH VHW KHU DSDUW IURP WKH SUREOHPV VKH KDGH[SHULHQFHGZLWK/\QQ%XWVKHNQHZEHWWHUWKDQWRDVVXPHWKDW EHFDXVHWKH\ZHUHKDSS\QRZWKH\DOZD\VZRXOGEH³
RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHU PRYHG ORZHU GUDJJLQJ KHU WRQJXH DFURVV &DPSEHOO¶V EUHDVWV DEGRPHQ DQG VWRPDFK XQWLO VKH ZDV EHWZHHQ KHU KLSV &DPSEHOOSDUWHGKHUWKLJKVDV3DUNHUUHVWHGKHUERG\EHWZHHQWKHP :KHQ3DUNHU¶VEUHDWKZDUPHGKHUFOLWHYHU\PXVFOHLQKHUERG\FRLOHG with anticipation. ³$QG QRZ"´ 3DUNHU¶V WHDVLQJ OLOW VXJJHVWHG WKDW VKH NQHZ WKH DQVZHUEXWZDQWHGWRPDNHKHUVD\LWDQ\ZD\ ³/LNH,ZDQW²´&DPSEHOOFKRNHGRQKHURZQH[FLWHPHQW³,ZDQW you to make me come.” 3DUNHU¶V RQO\ UHSO\ ZDV WKH EURDG VWURNHV RI KHU WRQJXH DW &DPSEHOO¶VYHU\FHQWHU&DPSEHOO¶VEUHDWKLQJLPPHGLDWHO\JUHZTXLFN DQG VKDOORZ DQG VKH FOXWFKHG WKH VKHHWV WR VWHDG\ KHU ERG\ DV VKH DUFKHGXSWRPHHW3DUNHU¶VPRXWK+HUSOHDVXUHEXLOWTXLFNO\GHVSLWH the fact that she had already come once that evening, and she rocked her hips with the insistent strokes of Parker’s tongue. In less than a PLQXWH WKH RQO\ VRXQG VKH KHDUG ZDV WKH URDU RI KHU RZQ WKUREELQJ SXOVH6KHZDQWHGWRPDNHWKHIHHOLQJODVWEXWKHUFRQWUROFUXPEOHG under Parker’s persistent caresses. &ORVLQJKHUH\HV&DPSEHOOVXUUHQGHUHGIXOO\WR3DUNHURSHQLQJ KHUVHOIDVWKH¿UVWWUHPRUVRIKHUFOLPD[UXVKHGRYHUKHU6KHURGHWKH H[FUXFLDWLQJO\EHDXWLIXOVHQVDWLRQWRLWVSHDNDQGH[KDOHGVORZO\DVWKH KLJKVXEVLGHG Parker returned to her side and whispered, “Now what are you feeling?” ³6DWLV¿HG´ &DPSEHOO VOLSSHG KHU DUP DURXQG 3DUNHU¶V VKRXOGHU and drew her close. “Well, then,” Parker said playfully, “I can honestly say you’re not the only one who feels that way.”
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TRAILS MERGE ³2K *RG´ &DPSEHOO JUDEEHG D SDLU RI MHDQV RII WKH ÀRRU DQG pulled them on in one motion as she stood. “I’ve got to get home to shower and change,” Parker thought DORXG³:KHUH¶VP\EUD"´ &DPSEHOOIRXQGWKHEUDXQGHUWKHFRPIRUWHUWKDWKDGEHHQSXVKHG WRWKHÀRRUGXULQJWKHLUORYHPDNLQJWKHQRSHQHGKHUFORVHWDQGSLFNHG DORQJVOHHYHGSRORDWUDQGRP³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³+XVK´,UHQHVDLG³0D\EH3DUNHUFDPHWRZRUNHDUO\´ 3DUNHU ÀXVKHG DV UHDOL]HG WKH\ ZHUH GHEDWLQJ ZKHWKHU VKH DQG &DPSEHOO KDG VSHQW WKH QLJKW WRJHWKHU &DPSEHOO DSSHDUHG WR EH JHQXLQHO\ HPEDUUDVVHG DQG ZDV VR FXWH WKDW 3DUNHU JDYH KHU D UHDVVXULQJ VPLOH 6KH FRXOGQ¶W KDYH &DPSEHOO ZLWKRXW LQFOXGLQJ WKH entire Carson family, and she didn’t know if that prospect was charming or irritating. 5HOXFWDQWO\ VKH OHW JR RI &DPSEHOO¶V KDQG DV WKH\ HQWHUHG WKH URRP(YHU\RQHVWRRGWRJUHHWWKHPDQGZLVKWKHPDKDSS\QHZ\HDU 6KHZDVVXUSULVHGWKDWZKHQVKHUHDFKHG,UHQHVKHKXJJHGKHU7KH Carson matriarch had always seemed to respect Parker’s personal VSDFHEXWDVVKHUHOHDVHGKHU VKH JDYH3DUNHUDFRQVSLUDWRULDOVPLOH DQGVDLG³7KDWVZHDWHULVORYHO\RQ\RX´ :KHQHYHU\RQHVHWWOHGGRZQ3DUNHUWRRNKHUVHDWQH[WWR&DPSEHOO and whispered, “Did your mother get you this sweater?” &DPSEHOO¶V H[SUHVVLRQ ZDV TXL]]LFDO ³
TRAILS MERGE PRUQLQJ7KDW¶VWKHVWDQGDUGVFKHGXOHIRUWKHQH[WWKUHHGD\VZLWKEXON FKHFNRXW RQ )ULGD\ DIWHUQRRQ´ 3DUNHU ¿QLVKHG WKH VFKHGXOH UHYLHZ ³+RZGRHVHYHU\ERG\IHHODERXWWKDW"´ 7KH &DUVRQV DVVXUHG KHU HYHU\WKLQJ ZDV WDNHQ FDUH RI DQG VKH GLGQ¶W GRXEW WKDW LW ZDV 7KH &DUVRQ IDPLO\ IRU DOO WKHLU FDVXDOQHVV rarely missed a detail. Whether their attention to minutiae came from living where they worked, or loving what they did, Parker didn’t worry DERXW WKHLU PHHWLQJ WKH QHHGV RI WKHLU JXHVWV ,Q IDFW LI DQ\RQH KDG DQ\WKLQJ WR EH DQ[LRXV DERXW LW ZDV KHU EXW KHU FRQFHUQV ZHUHQ¶W UHODWHGWRKHUMRE $VWKHFRQYHUVDWLRQVZHQWRQDURXQGKHUVKHFRQVLGHUHGWKHIDFW that in one day she would have to face the people who had witnessed KHUELJJHVWIDLOXUH$OH[LVZRXOGEHKHUHRIFRXUVHEXWVRZRXOGRWKHU staffers who had seen her fall from grace. So would the woman who KDGVKDNHQKHUIRXQGDWLRQ2QHGD\DIWHUDOORZLQJKHUVHOIWRRSHQXS WR WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI LQWLPDF\ DJDLQ VKH ZRXOG FRQIURQW WKH XOWLPDWH UHPLQGHURIZKDWFRXOGKDSSHQZKHQVKHEHOLHYHGLQVRPHRQHHOVH$ ZDYHRIQDXVHDVZHSWRYHUKHU0LDZDVFRPLQJWR%HDU5XQ ³3DUNHU"´$TXHVWLRQIURP(PHU\EURXJKWKHUEDFNWRWKHPHHWLQJ “Do you need anything else from us?” ³1R´3DUNHUUHSOLHGDEVHQWPLQGHGO\³(YHU\WKLQJZLOOZRUNRXW MXVW¿QH´6KHZDVQ¶WVXUHLIWKDWFRPPHQWZDVPHDQWWRUHDVVXUHKHU RUWKHRWKHUVEXWVKHKRSHGLWVRXQGHGPRUHFRQYLQFLQJWRWKHPWKDQ it did to her. :LWK WKH RI¿FLDO EXVLQHVV RXW RI WKH ZD\ WKH PHHWLQJ ZUDSSHG TXLFNO\+ROLGD\VZHUHEXV\RQWKHVORSHVDQGHYHU\RQHH[FHSW*UHJ UXVKHGRII+HVDWTXLHWO\JODULQJDWKHU Parker had hoped to put off a confrontation with him until after WKH FRQIHUHQFH EXW WKH WHQVLRQ LQ WKH URRP ZDV WRR PXFK IRU KHU WR EHDU6KHVQDSSHG³:KDW¶VWKHPDWWHUQRZ*UHJ"
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TRAILS MERGE Greg sighed. “I don’t want to see you hurt again, and I told her that.” &DPSEHOOVLJKHG³,DSSUHFLDWHWKDW²´ ³$SSUHFLDWHLW"´3DUNHUFRXOGKDUGO\EHOLHYHKHUHDUV&DPSEHOO was agreeing with him. “You appreciate him telling me off?” &DPSEHOOUDLVHGKHUKDQG³
RACHEL SPANGLER ³:KDWSDUWRIµKH¶VP\IDWKHU¶GRQ¶W\RXXQGHUVWDQG"´&DPSEHOO snapped. 3DUNHUZDVWDNHQDEDFNE\WKHDQJHULQ&DPSEHOO¶VYRLFH6KHZDV REYLRXVO\PRUHXSVHWWKDQVKHKDGOHWRQDQG3DUNHU¶VVXONLQJKDGQ¶W KHOSHGWKHVLWXDWLRQ³+H\OHW¶VMXVWWDEOHWKLVIRUQRZ:H¶YHERWKKDG a long night.” $WWKDW&DPSEHOO¶VH[SUHVVLRQVRIWHQHGQRWLFHDEO\ 3DUNHUFRQWLQXHG³:H¶YHJRWDELJGD\DKHDGRIXVWRRDQGWKLV DUJXPHQWZRQ¶WEHUHVROYHGQRZDQ\ZD\VROHW¶VVDYHLWIRUODWHU´ ³7KDW¶VSUREDEO\IRUWKHEHVW´&DPSEHOOVWLOOVHHPHGIUD]]OHGEXW the tension was starting to fade from her expression. 3DUNHUKRRNHGD¿QJHUWKURXJKWKHEHOWORRSLQ&DPSEHOO¶VMHDQV DQG WXJJHG KHU FORVH ³, NQRZ WKLV FRQÀLFW LV IDU IURP RYHU EXW QR PDWWHUZKDWKDSSHQVZLWKDQ\RQHHOVHMXVWUHPHPEHURQHWKLQJ´ “What’s that?” 3DUNHUNLVVHG&DPSEHOORQWKHOLSVOLQJHULQJDELWORQJHUWKDQVKH LQWHQGHGWREHIRUHVD\LQJ³,DGRUH\RX´
&DPSEHOOIHOWOLNHVKHFRXOGIDOODVOHHSVWDQGLQJXSE\WKHWLPHVKH SDUNHGWKHJURRPHUDQGFOLPEHGLQWRKHUSLFNXS6KHKDGJRWWHQRQO\ WKUHHKRXUVRIVOHHSWKHQLJKWEHIRUHDQGZRUNHGZLWKRXWDEUHDNDOO day. She should go home and get some sleep. Still, she wasn’t surprised when she pulled into the parking lot of Parker’s condo complex. She hesitated at Parker’s door. It was eleven o’clock, and Parker PLJKWEHDVOHHS7KHQDJDLQDIWHUWKH¿JKWZLWKKHUIDWKHU3DUNHUPLJKW QRWZDQWWRVHHKHUHYHQLIVKHZDVDZDNH&DPSEHOONQRFNHGVRIWO\ DQGKHOGKHUEUHDWKOLVWHQLQJIRUDUHVSRQVHIURPLQVLGH,PPHGLDWHO\ the door swung open and Parker stood smiling in the doorway. She ZRUHDSDLURIJUD\VZHDWSDQWVDQGD1:87VKLUWDQGKHUGDUNKDLU was slightly damp, as though she had recently gotten out of the shower. &DPSEHOO¶VSXOVHTXLFNHQHG “I was hoping you’d come over when you got off the slopes.” Parker led her inside. “Let me take your coat.” ³7KDW¶VDZDUPHUZHOFRPHWKDQ,H[SHFWHG´&DPSEHOOVWRRGVWLOO ZKLOH3DUNHUUHPRYHGKHUVNLMDFNHWDQGWRVVHGLWRYHUWKHEDFNRIWKH love seat.
TRAILS MERGE Parker sighed. “I have to admit I was pretty frustrated with you this morning,” ³%XW\RX¶UHQRWQRZ"´ ³,¶PVWLOOIXPLQJDW\RXUIDWKHU¶VDWWHPSWWRFRPHEHWZHHQXVDQG KRQHVWO\,¶PIUXVWUDWHGDW\RXUODFNRIRXWUDJHEXWVRPHKRZKDYLQJ \RXVRFORVHGRHVVRPHWKLQJWRP\VKRUWWHUPPHPRU\´ ³:K\¶VWKDW"´&DPSEHOODVNHGKRSHIXOO\ ³%HFDXVH ,¶P KDYLQJ D KDUG WLPH UHPHPEHULQJ ZK\ , VKRXOG EH PDG DW \RX EXW , UHPHPEHU ZKDW \RX GLG WR PH ODVW QLJKW YHU\ clearly.” &DPSEHOOVPLOHGDWWKHOXVWWKDWFORXGHG3DUNHU¶VH\HV “Don’t give me that rakish little grin,” Parker warned. “You’re not RIIWKHKRRNMXVWEHFDXVH\RX¶YHWHPSRUDULO\GLVWUDFWHGPHZLWK\RXU ¿UPDVVLQWKRVHVH[\VNLSDQWV´ ³,¶P VXUH ,¶OO SD\ GHDUO\ ODWHU´ &DPSEHOO VDLG ZLWK PRFN VHULRXVQHVV EXW VKH NQHZ WKDW ZDV SUREDEO\ WUXH 7KHUH ZRXOG EH FRQVHTXHQFHV IRU KHU UHFNOHVVQHVV ZLWK 3DUNHU DQG KHU KHDUW ZRXOG SD\WKHSULFHEXWWKDWZRXOGFRPHODWHU1RZZDVQRWWKHWLPHWRWKLQN RIWKHIXWXUHRUDERXWWKHZHGJHWKHLUUHODWLRQVKLSZDVGULYLQJEHWZHHQ her and her father. &DPSEHOOHQYHORSHG3DUNHULQDQHPEUDFHDQGLQKDOHGKHUVFHQWD VLPSOHSOHDVXUHVKHKDGQ¶WUHDOL]HGVKHPLVVHGXQWLOWKDWPRPHQW³,¶P H[KDXVWHG:H¶YHERWKJRWDORWRQRXUPLQGVDQG,GLGQ¶WFRPHRYHU KHUHWRUHKDVKDOORIWKDW,MXVWZDQWHGWRVHH\RX´ ³,¶PJODG\RXGLG´3DUNHUNLVVHGKHUVORZO\GHHSO\³,¶YHEHHQ WKLQNLQJDERXW\RXDOOGD\´ ³0HWRR´&DPSEHOOVOLSSHGKHUKDQGVXQGHUWKHKHPRI3DUNHU¶V VKLUW DQG WKH IHHO RI EDUH VNLQ NLFNHG KHU OLELGR LQWR RYHUGULYH 6KH PRYHGKHU¿QJHUVVORZO\XSZDUGPDVVDJLQJ3DUNHU¶VWRUVRDVVKHZHQW 7KHLUNLVVJUHZPRUHSDVVLRQDWHZLWKHDFKVHFRQG:KHQVKHUHDOL]HG 3DUNHU ZDVQ¶W ZHDULQJ D EUD &DPSEHOO JURDQHG LQWR KHU PRXWK 6KH EURNHWKHNLVVLPPHGLDWHO\DQGVZLIWO\UHPRYHG3DUNHU¶VVKLUWOLNHD woman possessed. She had denied her need too long. 6KHKDGQ¶WPHDQWIRUWKLVWRKDSSHQDWOHDVWQRWWKLVTXLFNO\6KH KDGLQWHQGHGIRUWKHPWRWDON¿UVW6KHZDQWHGWRNQRZKRZ3DUNHUZDV IHHOLQJ6KH¶GH[SHFWHGWRWDONDERXWKHUIDWKHU6KH¶GSODQQHGWRDVN DERXWWKHFRQIHUHQFH6KHZDVJRLQJWRPDNHVXUH3DUNHUZDVQ¶WQHUYRXV DERXWVHHLQJDOOKHUROGFROOHDJXHVDJDLQRUXQFRPIRUWDEOHDERXWZKHUH
RACHEL SPANGLER WKHLUUHODWLRQVKLSZDV KHDGHG 6KH¶G KDG WKH EHVW RI LQWHQWLRQV ZKHQ VKHZDONHGWKURXJKWKHGRRUEXWWKH\DOOOHIWKHUPLQGWKHPLQXWHVKH VNLPPHGDFURVVWKHEDUHVNLQRI3DUNHU¶VEUHDVWV 6KH ODFHG KHU ¿QJHUV WKURXJK 3DUNHU¶V ORQJ KDLU DQG GUHZ KHU FORVHRQFHDJDLQWKLVWLPHNLVVLQJDORQJKHUMDZDQGGRZQKHUWKURDW 3DUNHUWKUHZEDFNKHUKHDGH[SRVLQJWKHVOHQGHUFXUYHRIKHUQHFNIRU &DPSEHOOWRQLSDQGVXFN&DPSEHOOOHWKHUPRXWKWUDYHOORZHUDORQJ KHUFROODUERQHDQGWKHQGLSSHGWRWDNHRQHRI3DUNHU¶VQLSSOHVEHWZHHQ her lips and run her tongue across the tip. Parker moaned her approval and swayed slightly. (QFRXUDJHGE\WKHUHDFWLRQRI3DUNHU¶VERG\&DPSEHOOZRUNHG KHUIUHHKDQGEHQHDWKWKHZDLVWEDQGRI3DUNHU¶VVZHDWSDQWVDQGEHWZHHQ KHUOHJV7KHZHWQHVVVKHIRXQGEURNHWKHODVWELWRIUHVWUDLQWVKHKDG FOXQJWR6KHEDFNHG3DUNHUDJDLQVWWKHZDOODQGVWHDGLHGKHUZLWKDQ DUPDURXQGWKHZDLVWDQGDNQHHEHWZHHQKHUWKLJKV:KLOH&DPSEHOO FRQWLQXHGWRWDVWH3DUNHU¶VEUHDVWVVKHPRYHGKHU¿QJHUVGLUHFWO\WR 3DUNHU¶V FOLW 6KH VWDUWHG TXLFNO\ DQG WKHQ LQFUHDVHG KHU SDFH7KHUH was a time for patience, a time to tease, a time to take things slowly. Now was not that time. ³2K*RG´3DUNHUSDQWHGDQGOHWKHUKHDGGURSRQWR&DPSEHOO¶V shoulder. &DPSEHOOFRQWLQXHGWRVWURNHKHUEHDULQJKHUZHLJKWRQKHURZQ ZHDNHQLQJNQHHV,WZDVDVLIDGDPKDGEURNHQLQVLGHKHU'XULQJDOO the months of pretending she didn’t want this, refusing to let herself HYHQZLVKIRULWKHUTXLHWHQHUJ\KDGJDWKHUHG1RZVKHDOORZHGDOOWKH VWRUPRIKHUQHHGWRUXPEOHWRWKHVXUIDFH6KHFRXOGQ¶WHYHQKRSHWR WHPSHULW6KHFRXOGRQO\ULGHWKHZDYHRISDVVLRQ%OLQGZLWKOXVWVKH EDUHO\UHJLVWHUHGWKHIHHORI3DUNHU¶VQDLOVGLJJLQJLQWRKHUEDFN3DUNHU JUHZKDUGXQGHUKHU¿QJHUWLSV³&RPHIRUPHEDE\´VKHZKLVSHUHG EDUHO\DEOHWRVSHDNEHFDXVHRIKHUGHVLUH ³,QVLGH PH´ 3DUNHU EHJJHG EHWZHHQ UDJJHG EUHDWKV ³3OHDVH« QHHG\RX«LQVLGH´ 7KH UDZ LQWHQVLW\ RI WKH UHTXHVW DOPRVW PDGH &DPSEHOO FRPH ZLWKRXWEHLQJWRXFKHGEXWVKHKHOGRQWRKHUFRPSRVXUHDQGSXVKHG LQWR3DUNHUZLWKDVLQJOHWKUXVW3DUNHUKRRNHGRQHOHJRYHU&DPSEHOO¶V KLSDQGURGHKHUHUUDWLFPRYHPHQWVURFNLQJIRUZDUGDQGSXVKLQJEDFN HDFKWLPH&DPSEHOOOXQJHGLQWRKHU &DPSEHOO OHDQHG KHU ZHLJKW LQWR 3DUNHU SLQQLQJ WKHP ERWK WR
TRAILS MERGE WKHZDOO3DUNHUFRQWUDFWHGDURXQGKHU¿QJHUVWKHQVKRRN6KHFDOOHG RXWDQXQGLVWLQJXLVKDEOHVRXQGPXIÀHGE\WKHSUHVVRI3DUNHU¶VPRXWK DJDLQVW KHU VKRXOGHU &DPSEHOO OLIWHG KHU FRPSOHWHO\ RII WKH JURXQG ZLWKRQH¿QDOSXVKDQG3DUNHUZHQWOLPSLQKHUDUPV &DPSEHOOKHOG3DUNHUVWHDG\ZKLOHVKHUHJDLQHGKHUFRPSRVXUH She kissed the top of her head and stroked her thick, dark hair, wishing she could touch every inch of her at once. It felt wonderful to hold KHUDQG&DPSEHOOZDQWHGWRVRDNXSHYHU\VHQVDWLRQVKHFRXOG6KH NQHZWKH\ZHUHPRVWOLNHO\KHDGHGIRUGLVDVWHU7KHLUDYRLGDQFHRIDQ\ serious discussion regarding what they were doing, where they were headed, and how it would ultimately affect their lives only delayed the LQHYLWDEOH7KHFRQVHTXHQFHVRIWKHLUDFWLRQVZRXOGFDWFKXSWRWKHP HYHQWXDOO\EXWXQWLOWKH\GLG&DPSEHOOZDVFRQWHQWWRHQMR\ZKDWOLWWOH UHSULHYHWKH\¶GEHHQJLYHQ
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I
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RACHEL SPANGLER VPLOHVWKDWOLWXS&DPSEHOO¶VHQWLUHIDFHDSSHDUHGRQO\LQWKHSUHVHQFH of people she trusted. Parker felt honored to have received so many of them over the past few days. ³6R &DPSEHOO \RX¶UH D VNL LQVWUXFWRU"´ $OH[LV SRXUHG KHU D drink. $OH[LV ZDV SURELQJ IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG 3DUNHU ZDV VXUH &DPSEHOONQHZLWWRREXWWKH\DFWHGDVWKRXJKWKHFRQYHUVDWLRQZDV VLPSO\VPDOOWDONEHWZHHQWZRQHZDFTXDLQWDQFHV ³,DP'R\RXVNL"´&DPSEHOO¶VWRQHZDVOHYHOFRQYHUVDWLRQDO $OH[LVQRGGHG³,KDYHDWLPHRUWZR´ ³)RUJLYH PH LI ,¶P D OLWWOH VNHSWLFDO ,¶YH KHDUG WKDW IURP RWKHU people in this room.” $OH[LVFKXFNOHGDQG3DUNHUJDYH&DPSEHOODOLJKWVKRYH³*HH] you tell one little white lie and can never live it down.” ³3HUKDSV , VKRXOG OLH DQG VD\ ,¶P D ¿UVWWLPHU WR JHW VRPH IUHH LQGLYLGXDO LQVWUXFWLRQ´ $OH[LV VDLG FR\O\ ³$UH \RX LQ WKH KDELW RI doing such things?” ³2QO\ RQFH´ &DPSEHOO OHDQHG DJDLQVW 3DUNHU¶V GHVN KHU DUPV IROGHG ORRVHO\ DFURVV KHU FKHVW 7KH JHQWO\ GH¿DQW VWDQFH ZDV WUHPHQGRXVO\VH[\3DUNHU¶VZRUULHVKDGEHHQXQZDUUDQWHG&DPSEHOO FRXOGREYLRXVO\KROGKHURZQ ³7KHQ \RX GRQ¶W XVXDOO\ VHGXFH ZRPHQ RQ WKH VORSHV"´$OH[LV SXVKHGIXUWKHUEXW&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WHYHQÀLQFK ³$FWXDOO\,KDYHQ¶WVHGXFHGKHURQWKHVORSHV\HWEXWLIVKHJLYHV me a little more time, I’ll make sure to do so.” 3DUNHUÀXVKHG³,¶PULJKWKHUH´ ³,VHHWKDWGDUOLQJ´$OH[LVVDLG³,ZDVWU\LQJWRGLVFHUQLI\RXU SDUDPRXU ZRXOG EH LQWHUHVWHG LQ JLYLQJ PH VRPH SULYDWH LQVWUXFWLRQ tomorrow, and if so what that would entail.” ³,WKRXJKW\RXZHUHWU\LQJWRGLVFHUQLI,ZDVZRUWK\RI\RXUEHVW IULHQG¶VDIIHFWLRQV´$ÀLFNHURIPLVFKLHIÀDVKHGLQ&DPSEHOO¶VH\HV “Your directness is endearing. Parker and I don’t get that often in our line of work.” ³$FWXDOO\3DUNHUJHWVLWSOHQW\LQKHUQHZMRE´&DPSEHOODQVZHUHG TXLFNO\³,EHOLHYHWKDW¶VRQHRIWKHUHDVRQVVKHWRRNLW´ $OH[LVSXUVHGKHUOLSVEXWWKHUHZDVVWLOODPXVHPHQWLQKHUH\HV “I forget sometimes that Parker has defected. I think of her as merely EHLQJRQVDEEDWLFDO´
TRAILS MERGE $PXVFOHLQ&DPSEHOO¶VMDZWZLWFKHGDQG3DUNHUNQHZ$OH[LVKDG VWUXFNDQHUYH$OH[LVKDGFHUWDLQO\VHHQLWWRREXWEHIRUHVKHFRXOG MXPS LQ $OH[LV FRQWLQXHG ³$Q\ZD\ ZKDW GR \RX VD\ &DPSEHOO" ,QWHUHVWHGLQDVVHVVLQJP\VNLOOVPD\EHRIIHUPHDIHZSRLQWHUV"´ 3DUNHUIHOWDWZLQJHRIMHDORXV\DWWKHWKRXJKWRI&DPSEHOOJLYLQJ OHVVRQVWR$OH[LVZKLOHVKHZDVVWXFNLQKHURI¿FH ³,¶GORYHWR$OH[LV´&DPSEHOOVDLGMRYLDOO\WKHQWXUQHGWR3DUNHU “Why don’t you come, too?” ³:HOOSOD\HG´$OH[LVPXPEOHG 3DUNHUNLVVHG&DPSEHOORQWKHFKHHN³,¶GORYHWRKLWWKHVORSHV with my two favorite people.” ³*RRG´&DPSEHOONLVVHGKHUEDFNWKLVWLPHRQWKHOLSV3DUNHU OLNHGWKHSRVVHVVLYHQHVVRIWKHPRYH³,¶GEHWWHUJHWEDFNWRZRUN´ “Will you come over tonight?” Parker asked. ³,ZRXOGQ¶WPLVVLW´&DPSEHOOUHSOLHG ³:RZ´ $OH[LV VDLG RQFH &DPSEHOO ZDV RXW RI HDUVKRW 6KH pretended to fan herself with her hand. “She’s hot enough to make your teeth sweat.” 3DUNHUODXJKHGEXWGLGQ¶WGLVDJUHH ³$QGRKVRWDNHQZLWK\RX´ ³'R\RXWKLQNVR"´7KHLGHDPDGH3DUNHUJLGG\ $OH[LVUHJDUGHGKHURYHUWKHULPRIWKHVFRWFKFODVVVKHKDGUDLVHG to her lips. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that she looks at you like you’re the only woman she can see. I know she melts that romantic little heart of yours.” 3DUNHU QRWHG WKH JUXGJLQJ DFFHSWDQFH LQ$OH[LV¶V YRLFH ³'RHV this mean she passed muster?” ³,WSDLQVPHWRDGPLWLWEXW,GRWKLQNVKH¶VHYHU\WKLQJ\RXPDGH KHURXWWREH´$OH[LVGRZQHGWKHUHPDLQGHURIKHUGULQNDQGVWRRGXS ³1RZDOOWKDW¶VOHIWWREHVHHQLVKRZORQJVKHZLOOEHHQRXJKWRKROG your attention.”
&DPSEHOOVOHSWVRXQGO\OX[XULDWLQJLQWKHIHHORI3DUNHU¶VERG\ FXUOHGLQWRKHUVDQGZRNHUHIUHVKHG7KDWQHZHQHUJ\PDGHKHUDQG 3DUNHUVSHQGVRPHH[WUDWLPHWRJHWKHULQWKHVKRZHUDQGWKH\EDUHO\ PDGHLWWRWKHORGJHIRUWKH¿UVWURXQGRIOHVVRQV
RACHEL SPANGLER 6KHVWRRGRQWKHEDFNGHFNRIWKHORGJHDQGUHVWHGRQHVNLERRWHG IRRWRQWKHORZHVWSRUFKUDLOLQJDVVKHVXUYH\HGWKHEDVHDUHDRIWKH PRXQWDLQ/LIWWUDI¿FKDGLQFUHDVHGZLWKWKHPDMRULW\RIWKHFRQIHUHQFH guests on the slopes. Sammy was off to one side, corralling a group RI\RXQJZRPHQRQVQRZERDUGV6LQFHVKHDQG3DUNHUKDGEHJXQWR VSHQGWKHLUQLJKWVWRJHWKHU&DPSEHOOKDGQ¶WKDGWLPHWRWDONZLWKKLP EXWMXGJLQJE\WKHZD\WKHZRPHQZHUHFURZGLQJDURXQGKLP6DPP\ ZRXOGDOVREHEXV\SXUVXLQJDIHZLQWHUHVWVRIKLVRZQLQWKHXSFRPLQJ days. &DPSEHOOKHDUGWKHVRXQGVRIERRWVRQWKHGHFNEHKLQGKHUDQG IHOWWZRDUPVVOLGHDURXQGKHU³([FXVHPHPD¶DPEXWZKHUHZRXOG VRPHRQHJRIRUDQH[WUDVSHFLDOSULYDWHOHVVRQ"´3DUNHUZKLVSHUHGKHU OLSVEUXVKLQJ&DPSEHOO¶VHDU $ VKXGGHU UDQ WKURXJK &DPSEHOO¶V ERG\ DW WKH WKRXJKW RI ZKDW she’d do with Parker if they were in private, and she turned around. 3DUNHUZRUHDZKLWHMDFNHWDQGJUD\SDQWVZLWKKHUQHZERRWV+HUGDUN KDLU ZDV LQ D ORRVH SRQ\WDLO EHQHDWK D ZKLWH VNL FDS ³7KDW GHSHQGV RQ ZKDW W\SH RI OHVVRQ \RX ZDQW²VNLLQJ VQRZERDUG RU SHUKDSV something else?” ³&KULVW´ $OH[LV UROOHG KHU H\HV ³3OHDVH WHOO PH , ZRQ¶W EH VXEMHFWHGWRWKLVGULYHODOOPRUQLQJ´ &DPSEHOOODXJKHGDQGORRVHQHGKHUKROGRQ3DUNHUEXWGLGQ¶WOHW JRFRPSOHWHO\³*RRGPRUQLQJ$OH[LV3DUNHUDQG,ZHUHZDUPLQJXS for your lesson.” ³+RZ¶VDZRPDQVXSSRVHGWRIRFXVRQVNLLQJZLWK\RXVH[\EHDVWV going at it like that? I thought I was here for some expert instruction.” ³, DLP WR SOHDVH 0V 5H\QROGV ,I LW¶V VNLLQJ WLSV \RX¶UH DIWHU WKDW¶V ZKDW \RX¶OO JHW´ &DPSEHOO VDLG FKHHUIXOO\ 6KH OLNHG $OH[LV WKRXJKVKHZDVQ¶WVXUHZK\6KHZDVFRFN\DQGVXSHULRUEXWVKHFDUHG IRU3DUNHU7KDWJDYHKHUFUHGLELOLW\ZLWK&DPSEHOO ³,I DOO \RXU VHUYLFHV ZHUH DYDLODEOH ,¶P QRW VXUH ,¶G ZDVWH P\ WLPHVNLLQJEXWVLQFH\RXURWKHUVNLOOVDUHFXUUHQWO\PRQRSROL]HG´² VKHÀDVKHGDVO\JULQDW3DUNHU²³,¶OOKDYHWRWDNHZKDW,FDQJHW´ ³
TRAILS MERGE SDQWVWKDWKDGDSSDUHQWO\MXVWFRPHRXWRIWKHER[DQGKHUEUDQGQHZ VNLVUHWDLOHGIRUDQDEVXUGO\H[SHQVLYHSULFH+HUORRNVZHUHHTXDOO\ SROLVKHGKHUGHHSFRPSOH[LRQÀDZOHVVDQGKHUMHWEODFNKDLUSHUIHFWO\ GUDZQ EDFN DQG WLHG ZLWK D VLON ULEERQ +HU GDUN EURZQ H\HV ZHUH DOPRVW EODFN DQG &DPSEHOO GLGQ¶W FDUH IRU KRZ WKH\ ZHUH FXUUHQWO\ WDNLQJLQ3DUNHUZLWKDNQRZLQJJD]H ³0LD´3DUNHUVDLGÀDWO\ORRNLQJVOLJKWO\VXUSULVHGDWWKHJUHHWLQJ EXW EH\RQG WKDW VKH JDYH QR LQGLFDWLRQ RI KHU UHODWLRQVKLS WR WKH QHZFRPHU$OH[LVRQWKHRWKHUKDQGHPLWWHGDORZQRLVHWKDWVRXQGHG almost like a growl. ³,KDYHQ¶WVHHQ\RXLQPRQWKVDQGDOO,JHWLVµ0LD¶"´7KHZRPDQ NLVVHG3DUNHURQWKHFKHHNDQG&DPSEHOOIHOWDSRVVHVVLYHDQJHUZHOO XS³:KDWGR\RXVD\"&DUHLI,MRLQ\RXUOLWWOHJURXSOHVVRQ"´ ³7KLV LV DQ LQWHUPHGLDWH OHVVRQ 0LD , GLGQ¶W WKLQN \RX VNLHG´ Parker sounded unsure. ³,VNLHGDWLPHRUWZRLQSUHSVFKRRO,¶PVXUH,¶OOEHDEOHWRNHHS XSZLWK\RX´0LDVPLOHGZKDWVHHPHGWR&DPSEHOODSUDFWLFHGVPLOH “I’m sure your instructor won’t mind, if I promise to tip her well.” 3DUNHU¶VH\HVZHUH¿OOHGZLWKTXHVWLRQVDQGWKHKLQWRIDQDSRORJ\ EXW&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WWHOOLIVKHZDQWHGKHUDSSURYDORUKHUKHOSJHWWLQJ RXWRIWKHVLWXDWLRQ(LWKHUZD\WKHUHZDVPRUHWRWKHVWRU\WKDQHLWKHU 0LDRU3DUNHUOHWRQ&DPSEHOOUHVHQWHGKDYLQJWRUHDG3DUNHU¶VPLQG +HU¿UVWLQVWLQFWZDVWRUHEXII0LD¶VUHTXHVWEXWKHUFXULRVLW\RYHUUXOHG it. “If it’s all right with Parker, it’s all right with me.” ³*UHDW´6KHH[WHQGHGKHUKDQG¿QJHUVSRLQWHGGRZQDVWKRXJK &DPSEHOOVKRXOGNLVVLWUDWKHUWKDQVKDNHLW³,¶P0LD´ ³&DPSEHOO´6KHWULHGWRIRUFHDVPLOH³/HW¶VJRDKHDGDQGWDNH WKHOLIWXSDQGPDNHDUXQGRZQVR,FDQVHHZKHUHHYHU\RQHLVVNLOO ZLVH7KHQZH¶OOWDNHLWIURPWKHUH´ ³$OO ULJKW´ &DPSEHOO VDLG ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH QH[W LQ OLQH IRU WKH GRXEOHFKDLUOLIWWKDWUDQXSWKHFHQWHURIWKHPRXQWDLQ³$OH[LVZK\ GRQ¶W\RXULGHZLWK0LD"´ ³7KHUH¶VQRFKDQFHLQKHOORIWKDWKDSSHQLQJ´$OH[LVVDLGWHUVHO\ &DPSEHOOVWDUHGDWKHUIRUDPRPHQWFRQVLGHULQJWKHFRPPHQW Parker didn’t volunteer to ride with her either, and she couldn’t decide LIWKDWZDVEHFDXVHVKHGLGQ¶WZDQWWRRUVKHGLGQ¶WZDQWWRVD\VRLQ IURQWRI&DPSEHOO³)LQH$OH[LVDQG3DUNHUJRXS¿UVW0LDDQG,ZLOO EHULJKWEHKLQG\RX´
RACHEL SPANGLER $OH[LV DQG 3DUNHU JRW RQ WKH OLIW DKHDG RI WKHP DQG &DPSEHOO EDUHO\ DFNQRZOHGJHG 0LD DV VKH VNLHG LQWR SODFH$V WKH OLIW VZXQJ DURXQGWKH\ERWKVDWGRZQ0LDKLWWKHVHDWDOLWWOHKDUGEXWVKHVHWWOHG LQ DQG TXLFNO\ ORZHUHG WKH VDIHW\ EDU7KDW ZDV RGG VLQFH &DPSEHOO GLGQ¶WNQRZDQ\RQHZKRDFWXDOO\XVHGWKHEDUDWOHDVWQRWDQ\DGXOWV ³:RZWKHVHOLIWVDUHVPDOO,¶YHRQO\EHHQRQWKHIRXUDQG¿YH SHRSOHNLQGV´0LDVDLG ³:H¶UHDVPDOOSODFH:HGRQ¶WKDYHDQ\TXDGVKHUH´$KHDGLW ZDVFOHDUIURPWKHLUSRVWXUHWKDW$OH[LVDQG3DUNHUZHUHKDYLQJDWHQVH FRQYHUVDWLRQEXW&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WKHDUZKDWWKH\ZHUHVD\LQJ ³,W¶VDOOVRTXDLQW´0LDVDLGDKLQWRIFRQGHVFHQVLRQLQKHUYRLFH ³3DUNHUGLGQ¶WVHHPERWKHUHGE\LWWKRXJK6KHJRWRQWKHOLIWOLNHVKH does this all the time.” ³6KHGRHV´&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WPHDQWRVRXQGUXGHEXWWKHZD\WKLV ZRPDQUDWWOHGRQDERXW3DUNHUPDGHKHUXQFRPIRUWDEOH6KH¶GKRSHG WRWDONWR3DUNHURQWKHULGHXS,QVWHDGVKHZDVOHIWWU\LQJWR¿WWRJHWKHU SLHFHVRIDSX]]OHVKHZDVQ¶WVXUHVKHZDQWHGWRVHHWKHELJSLFWXUHRI “Leave it to Parker to make the most out of any situation. She QHYHUGRHVDQ\WKLQJKDOIZD\´0LD¶VWRQHKHOGLQWLPDF\DQGLQQXHQGR WKDW PDGH &DPSEHOO VLFN WR KHU VWRPDFK 0LD ZDV REOLYLRXV WR KHU discomfort and seemed to think they were having a conversation. “I DSSUHFLDWH\RXOHWWLQJPHMRLQWKHOHVVRQ,¶YHEHHQORRNLQJIRUZDUGWR WKLVZHHNHQG,W¶OOEHJUHDWWRVSHQGWLPHZLWK3DUNHU
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RACHEL SPANGLER hand, was feeling a wonderful mix of smugness at Parker’s praise and V\PSDWK\IRU0LDZKRVHIDFHZDVUHGZLWKHPEDUUDVVPHQW ³5LJKW ,¶P VRUU\´ 0LD VDLG WKHQ WXUQHG WR &DPSEHOO DQG reiterated, “I’m sorry.” :KHQ0LDZDVJRQH3DUNHUVDLG³,¶PVRUU\WRR,VKRXOGKDYH ZDUQHG\RXDERXWKHUDQG,NQRZ,RZH\RXDEHWWHUH[SODQDWLRQWKDQ WKDWEXW,¶PVXSSRVHGWRFKHFNLQZLWK-DQHOOHLQ¿IWHHQPLQXWHVDQG, KDYHWRVWRSE\WKHRI¿FHDQG²´ ³,W¶V¿QH´&DPSEHOOVDLGWKHORRNRIJXLOWRQ3DUNHU¶VIDFHPHOWLQJ KHUDQJHU³:H¶OOMXVWDGGWKLVWRWKHORQJOLVWRIXQUHVROYHGLVVXHVZH need to discuss later. You go ahead.” ³7KDWOLVWLVJHWWLQJDZIXOO\ORQJLVQ¶WLW"´ &DPSEHOOQRGGHGJUDYHO\ “Have I told you lately how much I adore you?” ³
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DUNHU WRRN D GHHS EUHDWK VWUDLJKWHQHG KHU VKRXOGHUV DQG HQWHUHGWKHPDLQORXQJHRIWKHORGJH7KHOLJKWLQJDQGPXVLF ZHUHORZ$PDNHVKLIWEDUVWUHWFKHGWKHOHQJWKRIRQHZDOO$ULQJRI FRXFKHVVXUURXQGHGWKHODUJHGRXEOHVLGHGVWRQH¿UHSODFHDQGPDQ\ VPDOOHUWDEOHVZHUHVFDWWHUHGDURXQGWKHODUJHURRPQHDUO\DOORIZKLFK ZHUHRFFXSLHGE\WKHZRPHQRI&KLFDJR¶V'HPRFUDWLF&DXFXV3DUNHU NQHZPRVWRIWKHPE\VLJKWDQGPDQ\RIWKHPE\QDPH7KH\¶GEHHQ her colleagues, her peers, even her friends. Now she had to summon all her strength to face them. (YHU\ZKHUHVKHWXUQHGROGPHPRULHVVSUDQJIRUZDUGWRVHQGKHU KHDGUHHOLQJ7KHZRPDQZKR¶GJLYHQ3DUNHUKHU¿UVWMREVWRRGE\WKH ¿UHSODFHWDONLQJWRWKHZRPDQZKR¶GUHFUXLWHGKHUWRMRLQ7LP%UDG\¶V FDPSDLJQ6DPP\HQWHUWDLQHGWZRRIKHUROGVWDIIHUVDWWKHEDU6HYHUDO RI WKH &RRN &RXQW\ SDUW\ RI¿FHUV ZHUH LQ DQ DQLPDWHG FRQYHUVDWLRQ QHDUWKH'-WDEOH:RPHQIURPWKHIXQGUDLVLQJERDUGVKHKDGVHUYHG RQZHUHWDONLQJZLWK-DQHOOHRYHUDWWKHVQDFNWDEOH 6KHZDQWHGWRUXQDZD\EXWKHUVHQVHRISURIHVVLRQDOLVPZRXOGQ¶W OHWKHU$VSRLQWSHUVRQIRUWKHFRQIHUHQFHVKHZDVREOLJDWHGWRPDNH DQDSSHDUDQFH7KH&DUVRQVDQGWKH&:'&H[SHFWHGLW Parker walked across the room purposefully, without looking at DQ\RQHGLUHFWO\DQGVLJQDOHGWR6DPP\DWWKHEDU³+L6DP&DQ,JHW an amaretto on the rocks?” “Sure thing.” Sammy wore his trademark grin as he poured her GULQN³
RACHEL SPANGLER \HDUV \RXQJHU WKDQ KHU RZQ WZHQW\QLQH \HDUV \HW KH SURMHFWHG WKH LPDJHRIWKHSURYHUELDONLGLQDFDQG\VWRUH³,¶PJODG\RXOLNHLW´ ³:KDWDERXW\RX"´+HVHHPHGWRQRWLFHKHUOHVVWKDQHQWKXVLDVWLF demeanor. “You should have some fun, too.” ³6KHZLOO6KHMXVWQHHGVDQXGJHLQWKHULJKWGLUHFWLRQ´$OH[LV said as she approached them. She examined Sammy up and down. ³+RZDERXWDVFRWFKRQWKHURFNVKDQGVRPH"´ 6DPP\¶VFKHHNVWXUQHGSLQNXQGHUKHUJD]HEXWKHPDQDJHGWR keep his tongue in his mouth. “You got it.” ³%H QLFH WR KLP +H¶V &DPSEHOO¶V EURWKHU´ 3DUNHU FKXFNOHG 6RPHWLPHV$OH[LVGLGQ¶WNQRZKRZKHUEHDXW\DQGGHPHDQRUDIIHFWHG ERWK PHQ DQG ZRPHQ 7KHQ DJDLQ VRPHWLPHV VKH NQHZ H[DFWO\ WKH HIIHFWVKHKDGRQSHRSOHDQGVLPSO\FKRVHWRHQMR\LW :KHQ6DPP\UHWXUQHGZLWK$OH[LV¶VGULQNVKHZLQNHGDQGVDLG “So you’re one of those gorgeous creatures known as the Carsons?” “Yes. Yes, I am. Sammy Carson,” he stuttered. “Nice to meet you, Sammy Carson. You aren’t my variety of &DUVRQ DQG WKDW GHYLOLVKO\ JRRGORRNLQJ VLVWHU RI \RXUV VHHPV WR EH WDNHQ WRR´ 6KH JODQFHG EULHÀ\ DW 3DUNHU ³3OHDVH WHOO PH WKHUH¶V DQRWKHUDYDLODEOH&DUVRQZRPDQ\RXFRXOGLQWURGXFHPHWR´ 6DPP\DSSHDUHGGHÀDWHGDVKHWKRXJKWDERXWWKHTXHVWLRQEXWKH VWLOOPDQDJHGWRÀDVKKHUDVPLOHDVKHVDLG³6RUU\WKHQH[WJLUOLQWKH &DUVRQOLQHLVRQO\¿YH´ $OH[LVODXJKHG³:HOOWKDWZRQ¶WGREXWZHVKRXOGQ¶WZDVWHWKDW DPD]LQJVPLOHRI\RXUVVLPSO\EHFDXVHLWGRHVQ¶WVXLWP\WDVWHV´6KH scanned the room and her eyes settled on a group of women down the EDU2QHRIWKHPZDVDQLQWHUQIURPWKHPD\RU¶VRI¿FHDQGDQRWKHUZDV the governor’s undersecretary. “Ladies, this is Sam Carson, one of the heirs to this lovely castle.” 7KHZRPHQLQWURGXFHGWKHPVHOYHVWR6DPP\ZKRDFWHGOLNHKH might die of happiness. “You all play nice while I go try to steal his VLVWHUIURPP\EHVWIULHQG´$OH[LVVDLG 6DPP\PRXWKHG³7KDQN\RX´DV$OH[LVWRRN3DUNHU¶VKDQGDQG OHGKHUDZD\IURPWKHEDU “See, I’m not totally heartless.” She steered them toward the ¿UHSODFH ³1RLWZDVVZHHWRI\RXWRPDNHVRPHZHOOWLPHGLQWURGXFWLRQV for him,” Parker admitted.
TRAILS MERGE ³,¶P JODG \RX VHH LW WKDW ZD\ GDUOLQJ EHFDXVH ,¶P DERXW WR GR WKH VDPH IRU \RX´ $OH[LV WDSSHG RQ WKH DUP RI D VWXQQLQJ $IULFDQ $PHULFDQZRPDQZKRVWRRGQHDUWKHHGJHRIDFLUFOHRIZRPHQLQWKH FHQWHURI WKHURRP ³$OGHUZRPDQ 1DGLD %DNHU ,¶G OLNH \RX WR PHHW Parker Riley. She’s our event liaison for the retreat.” 3DUNHUEDUHO\KDGWLPHWRSURFHVVZKDW$OH[LVZDVGRLQJEHIRUH WKHZRPDQLQIURQWRIWKHPH[WHQGHGKHUKDQG³0V5LOH\RIFRXUVH I’m glad to meet you.” ³/LNHZLVH $OGHUZRPDQ %DNHU´ 3DUNHU WRRN LQ KHU VWDWXHVTXH frame and dark coffee complexion. She was stunning, and her grip ZDV¿UPDVWKH\VKRRNKDQGV6KHZDVREYLRXVO\DZRPDQZKRFRXOG command an audience, which wasn’t surprising given her elected position. Parker was immediately impressed, and that said a lot, FRQVLGHULQJKHUMDGHGYLHZRI&KLFDJRSROLWLFV “Please call me Nadia. I’m not much on formalities.” ³7KDQN\RX1DGLDDQG,¶P3DUNHUSOHDVH:HGRQ¶WVWDQGPXFK on formalities around here either.” ³1RZWKDWZH¶YHJRWWKDWRXWRIWKHZD\´1DGLDVPLOHGEURDGO\ ³WHOO PH DERXW WKLV ORYHO\ UHVRUW WKDW VWROH \RX DZD\ IURP P\ IDLU city.” “Nadia, I imagine you know exactly why I left Chicago, and while the resort is lovely, I didn’t come here for the scenery.” Parker didn’t sugarcoat the situation. She didn’t need pity or someone to make H[FXVHVIRUKHUIDLOXUHVDQGWKDWZDVFHUWDLQO\ZKDWFDXVHGKHUWRÀHH her hometown, a failure. Nadia nodded appreciatively and took a sip of the drink she held LQKHUKDQG³$OOULJKW,GRNQRZZK\\RXFDPHKHUHDQG,GRQ¶WFDUH DERXWWKDW,FDUHDERXWZKDW\RX¶YHIRXQGWRNHHS\RXKHUH´ 3DUNHUZDVFRQIXVHGE\WKDWVWDWHPHQWEXWVKHNQHZ$OH[LVKDGQ¶W introduced the two of them for social purposes. She glanced around the URRP WR EX\ WLPH ZKLOH VKH FRQVLGHUHG KHU DQVZHU 7KDW ZDV ZKHQ VKH VDZ &DPSEHOO FRPLQJ WRZDUG WKHP KHU EOXH H\HV UHÀHFWLQJ WKH ÀLFNHULQJOLJKWRIWKH¿UHOLQHVRIDSSUHKHQVLRQFUHDVLQJKHUIRUHKHDG ³+RQHVWO\´3DUNHUIRFXVHGKHUDWWHQWLRQEDFNRQ1DGLD³WKHUHDUH DORWRIUHDVRQV,¶YHFKRVHQQRWWRUHWXUQWR&KLFDJR\HW)RURQHWKH company I’ve found here is even more alluring than the scenery.” 1DGLDDQG$OH[LVERWKIROORZHG3DUNHU¶VOLQHRIVLJKWDV&DPSEHOO DSSURDFKHGWKHP6KHZDQWHGWRNLVVKHUEXW&DPSEHOOVHHPHGWHQVH
RACHEL SPANGLER so she contented herself with sliding an arm loosely around her waist. (YHQZLWKWKHVWUHVVRIWKHLULQFLGHQWLQYROYLQJ0LDVWLOOEHWZHHQWKHP 3DUNHUIHOWFDOPHUZLWK&DPSEHOOE\KHUVLGH³1DGLDWKLVLV&DPSEHOO &DUVRQ&DPWKLVLV$OGHUZRPDQ1DGLD%DNHU´ 1DGLD UHJDUGHG WKHP ERWK ZLWK D ZDUP VPLOH ³&DPSEHOO LW LV truly a pleasure to meet you.” :KHQ WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQ VWDOOHG &DPSEHOO VDLG ³, KRSH , GLGQ¶W interrupt something.” ³$FWXDOO\ , ZDV DERXW WR LQYLWH 3DUNHU WR GLQQHU DW P\ FDELQ WRPRUURZ ,¶P KDYLQJ D OLWWOH JHWWRJHWKHU WR WDON DERXW D SHW SURMHFW RIPLQHDQG,¶GORYHWRKHDUKHUWDNHRQLW,W¶OOEHFDVXDO,ZRXOGEH KRQRUHGWRKDYH\RXERWKMRLQPH´ ³,¶OOGHIHUWR3DUNHURQWKDWRQH´&DPSEHOOVDLGJUDFHIXOO\EXW Parker wondered if she was simply leaving the decision to her or ZKHWKHU VKH ZDV VWLOO DQJU\ RYHU 0LD DQG XQLQWHUHVWHG LQ ZKDWHYHU Parker did. 3DUNHU DOPRVW GHFOLQHG RXWULJKW 6KH ZDV MXVW EHJLQQLQJ WR IHHO secure and content with her new life, and she had no desire to realign KHUVHOI ZLWK D &KLFDJR SROLWLFLDQ 6WLOO 1DGLD %DNHU GLGQ¶W VHHP WR EH D ZRPDQ ZKR ZDV HDVLO\ GLVVXDGHG DQG WKH IDFW WKDW$OH[LV KDG introduced them meant a lot. $VLIUHDGLQJKHUPLQG1DGLDUHDVVXUHGKHU³,ZRXOGQ¶WDVN\RX LI,GLGQ¶WWKLQN\RXZRXOGJHWDVPXFKRXWRILWDV,ZLOO7KHUH¶VQR REOLJDWLRQWRVWD\,I\RXFRXOGVWRSE\IRUDOLWWOHZKLOH,¶GDSSUHFLDWH it.” ³,¶OOWKLQNDERXWLW´3DUNHUVDLGQRQFRPPLWWDOO\6KHZRXOGKDYH WRTXL]$OH[LVIRUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQEHIRUHVKHDJUHHGWRDQ\WKLQJ ³7KDW¶V DOO , DVN´ 1DGLD VDLG WKHQ H[FXVHG KHUVHOI IURP WKHLU company. ³:KDWZDVWKDWDERXW"´&DPSEHOODVNHGVXVSLFLRXVO\ ³, KDYH QR LGHD´ 3DUNHU DQVZHUHG WKHQ SRLQWHG DW$OH[LV ZKR ZDVVWLOOFORVHE\³:KDWDUH\RXXSWR"´ $OH[LVUDLVHGKHUKDQGVDQGVWDUWHGEDFNWRZDUGWKHEDU³'RQ¶W shoot the socialite, darling. I’m going to get another drink. Need one? 1R"2ND\,¶OOEHRYHUWKHUH
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RACHEL SPANGLER VRTXLHWVLQFH,JRWKHUH,ZRUULHGWKDW\RXKDGIRUJRWWHQDOODERXWXV Honestly, sometimes you’re hard to read.” ³,UHPHPEHU´3DUNHUDVVXUHGKHU6KHGLGUHFDOODIHZJRRGWLPHV EHIRUH VKH UHDOL]HG WKDW WKH\ KDG FRPH WR WKH VDPH HQG E\ GLIIHUHQW PHDQV:KDWVKHUHPHPEHUHGPRVWYLYLGO\WKRXJKZDVKHUGHYDVWDWLRQ ZKHQVKH¿QDOO\DFFHSWHGKRZEDGO\VKHKDGPLVMXGJHG0LD¶VFKDUDFWHU for so long. She could still feel the disappointment that overwhelmed KHUZKHQVKHIDFHGWKHIDFWWKDW³OR\DOW\´DQG³HWKLFV´ZHUHZRUGV0LD knew only from stump speeches and not anything she practiced when it wasn’t convenient for her. ³*RRG EHFDXVH ,¶YH PLVVHG \RX 0RWKHU DQG 'DGG\ VHQG WKHLU love, too. You know Daddy was always proud of you.” ³0LD¶VIDWKHULVWKHFKDLUPDQRIWKH&KLFDJR'HPRFUDWLF3DUW\´ 3DUNHUFODUL¿HGIRU&DPSEHOO³$QGKHZDVQ¶WSURXGRIPHWKHGD\, VXEPLWWHGP\UHVLJQDWLRQIURPKLVJROGHQER\¶VVHQDWRULDOFDPSDLJQ´ ³$OO WKDW XJOLQHVV LV RYHU QRZ $OO¶V IRUJLYHQ ZDWHU XQGHU WKH EULGJH´0LDJDYHDZDYHRIKHUKDQGDVLIVKHFRXOGZLWKWKHÀLFNRI KHUZULVWEUXVKDZD\WKHPRVWGHYDVWDWLQJHYHQWLQ3DUNHU¶VSDVW “How magnanimous,” Parker said through gritted teeth. She ZDQWHGWRDVNZKDWH[DFWO\VKH¶GEHHQIRUJLYHQIRUVLQFHVKHZDVWKH RQHZKR¶GEHHQEHWUD\HGEXWUHKDVKLQJWKDWDUJXPHQWZRXOGRQO\GUDJ KHUEDFNLQWRVRPHWKLQJVKHKDGZRUNHGKDUGWROHDYHEHKLQG 0LDZKR¶GREYLRXVO\PLVUHDG3DUNHU¶VWRQHFRQWLQXHGWDONLQJ ³:H ZHUH DOO XSVHW ZKHQ \RX OHIW EXW , WKLQN WKLV OLWWOH KLDWXV ZDV SUREDEO\WKHEHVWWKLQJIRUHYHU\RQH´ 3DUNHU IHOW &DPSEHOO WHQVH DW WKH ZRUG ³KLDWXV´ WKH VDPH ZD\ VKH¶GUHDFWHGZKHQ$OH[LVXVHGWKHZRUG³VDEEDWLFDO´3DUNHUKDGWR VWRSWKDWOLQHRIWKRXJKWDQGPDNHLWFOHDUWRERWK&DPSEHOODQG0LD WKDWVKHZDVQ¶WLQWHUHVWHGLQUHFRQQHFWLQJZLWKKHUH[JLUOIULHQGLQDQ\ ZD\³0LD,¶PVRUU\LI,OHG\RXWREHOLHYH\RXVKRXOGZDLWIRUPH,¶YH PRYHGRQERWKLQP\FDUHHUDQGLQP\SHUVRQDOOLIH´ 0LD SXUVHG KHU OLSV LQ ZKDW 3DUNHU UHFRJQL]HG DV DQ DWWHPSW WR control her temper. It was only a momentary lapse in her otherwise perfect façade, and in a second her practiced smile was plastered EDFNDFURVVKHUIDFH³2IFRXUVH\RXKDYH,GLGQ¶WH[SHFW\RXWREH DQXQZKLOH\RXZHUHDZD\/RUGNQRZV,KDYHQ¶WEHHQ,UHDOL]H\RX KDYHQHHGV,DVVXPHGZHZRXOGERWKVHHRWKHUSHRSOHZKLOHZHZHUH separated.”
TRAILS MERGE ³0LD,ZRXOGQ¶W¿OOWKRVHQHHGVZLWKVRPHRQHHOVHLI,WKRXJKW \RXDQG,PLJKWUHFRQFLOH7KHIDFWWKDW\RXZRXOGHYHQVXJJHVWWKDW SRVVLELOLW\VKRZVKRZOLWWOH\RXNQRZPH´3DUNHUZDVVKRFNHGWKDW VKHKDGWREUHDNRIIWKHLUWUDJLFH[FXVHRIDUHODWLRQVKLSDVHFRQGWLPH “I’m only interested in one woman at a time, and right now I’m with &DPSEHOO´ 0LD¶VPRXWKIHOORSHQDQGVKHJDYHKHUIXOODWWHQWLRQWR&DPSEHOO IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH DOO GD\ ³
RACHEL SPANGLER lives were all mixed up.” Parker’s voice was low and her heart heavy. 5HOLYLQJWKHVHPLVWDNHVZDVQ¶WHDV\IRUKHUEXW&DPSEHOOGHVHUYHGWR hear the truth. “You knew you didn’t want to spend the rest of your life with her, EXW\RXVWD\HGLQWKHUHODWLRQVKLSDQ\ZD\"´&DPSEHOOUHIXVHGWRORRN DWKHUEXW3DUNHUFRXOGVHQVHWKHSDLQKHUZRUGVRQO\KLQWHGDW “I don’t know how to explain it,” Parker said slowly. She struggled WRSXWLQWRZRUGVWKLQJVVKHZDVRQO\EHJLQQLQJWRFRPHWRWHUPVZLWK KHUVHOI ³0D\EH , FRXOGQ¶W EHOLHYH KRZ ZURQJ , KDG EHHQ DERXW KHU 0D\EH,KRSHGWKDWWKHORQJHUZHZHUHWRJHWKHUWKHFORVHURXUEHOLHIV ZRXOGEHFRPH0D\EH,GLGQ¶WZDQWWRDGPLWZKDWDKRUULEOHMXGJHRI character I was.” &DPSEHOOVWRRGDQGORRNHGKHULQWKHH\HVIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHVLQFH 0LD KDG DUULYHG 6KH KHOG KHU JD]H VWHDG\ IRU D ORQJ PRPHQW DQG 3DUNHUFRXOGFOHDUO\VHHWKHROGKXUWVKH¶GKRSHGKDGEHJXQWRKHDO ³2UPD\EH\RXZHUHNLOOLQJWLPHXQWLOVRPHWKLQJEHWWHUFDPHDORQJ´ 3DUNHUVKRRNKHUKHDG6KHXQGHUVWRRG&DPSEHOO¶VSDLQDQGVKH knew she’d made some mistakes in how she’d handled the situation, EXWVKHZDVWLUHGRISD\LQJIRU/\QQ¶VVLQVWRR6KHZDVLQSDLQDQG DQJU\WKDW&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WVHHSDVWKHURZQKLVWRU\ORQJHQRXJKWR UHDOL]HVKHZDVQ¶WWKHRQO\RQHZKR¶GEHHQKXUW%HWZHHQWKHSUREOHPV RI WKHLU SDVW KHU FRQÀLFW ZLWK *UHJ DQG KHU XQFHUWDLQ FDUHHU IXWXUH 3DUNHUZRQGHUHGLIKHUUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK&DPSEHOOZDVEHFRPLQJPRUH ZRUNWKDQLWZDUUDQWHG1RZ&DPSEHOOZDVDGGLQJKHURZQDFFXVDWLRQV WRHYHQWV3DUNHUDOUHDG\IHOWJXLOW\DERXWDQGLWZDVWRRPXFKIRUKHU to take at once. ³'DPQLW&DPSEHOO1RWHYHU\WKLQJ¶VDERXW\RX´VKHVDLGDQG walked away.
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TWENTY
C
DPSEHOO GLGQ¶W JHW PXFK VOHHS WKDW QLJKW DQG QRW IRU WKH SOHDVDQWUHDVRQVKHKDGEHFRPHXVHGWR6KH¶GEHHQUHVWOHVV DOOQLJKWLQKHUFROGHPSW\EHGZLWKRQO\%DGJHUWRFRPIRUWKHU6KH QHHGHG WR WDON WR 3DUNHU DERXW WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQ WKH\¶G KDG WKH QLJKW EHIRUHEXWVKHFRXOGQ¶WGRLW\HW7KHKXUWZDVWRRIUHVKDQGVKHGLGQ¶W WUXVWKHUVHOIQRWWRVD\VRPHWKLQJVKH¶GUHJUHW6KH¶GSURMHFWHGKHURZQ KLVWRU\RQWR3DUNHUDQG0LD¶VIDLOHGUHODWLRQVKLSEXWLWZDVKDUGQRW to. 6KHKDG¿QDOO\EHJXQWRWUXVW3DUNHUEXWVKH¶GGLVFRYHUHG3DUNHU KDGNHSWDKXJHSDUWRIKHUSDVWIURPKHU:RXOG&DPSEHOOKDYHHYHU IRXQGRXWDERXW0LDLIVKHKDGQ¶WFRPHWR%HDU5XQ"3DUNHUKDGVWD\HG LQDORYHOHVVUHODWLRQVKLSUDWKHUWKDQJRWKURXJKWKHWURXEOHRIEUHDNLQJ LWRII'LGVKHOHW0LDWKLQNHYHU\WKLQJZDVRND\"'LGVKHWU\WRWHOO KHU WKH\ ZDQWHG GLIIHUHQW WKLQJV IURP OLIH" 6XUH 0LD KDG KHU RZQ SUREOHPVEXW3DUNHUKDGVSHQWWZR\HDUVZLWKKHU:KDWGLGWKDWVD\ DERXW3DUNHU" 0LDWKRXJKQRWWKHPRVWREMHFWLYHVRXUFHDERXW3DUNHUKDGKLW DOORI&DPSEHOO¶VIHDUVDQGLWZDVLPSRVVLEOHWRLJQRUHKHULQVLQXDWLRQV DERXWWKHLUGLIIHULQJSHUVRQDOLWLHVDQGEDFNJURXQG3DUNHU¶VSDVWGLGQ¶W VXJJHVW VKH¶G EH KDSS\ ZLWK D VPDOOWRZQ VNL LQVWUXFWRU ,I 3DUNHU QHHGHG WKH ³KLJK OLIH´ RU ³RXWJRLQJ DQG GULYHQ´ ZRPHQ 0LD ZDV ULJKW&DPSEHOOZDVQ¶WKHUW\SH3HRSOHVDLGRSSRVLWHVDWWUDFWEXWZDV DWWUDFWLRQHQRXJKWREXLOGDUHODWLRQVKLSRQ" $V &DPSEHOO SORGGHG WR WKH VORSHV 0LD¶V ZRUGV PHUJHG ZLWK /\QQ¶VUHFULPLQDWLRQVDERXWKDYLQJWRFKRRVHEHWZHHQ%HDU5XQDQGD OHVELDQUHODWLRQVKLS
RACHEL SPANGLER 6KHGLGQ¶WZDQWWRGHDOZLWK$OH[LV¶VOHVVRQEXWVKH¶GRIIHUHGWR KHOSKHUDQGVKHZRXOGQ¶WEUHDNKHUZRUGEHFDXVHVKHZDVXSVHWZLWK Parker. ³*RRG PRUQLQJ &DP\´$OH[LV VDLG DV VKH DSSURDFKHG ³'RHV anyone ever call you Camy?” ³1RWVLQFH,ZDVWKUHH\HDUVROG´&DPSEHOODQVZHUHGWUXWKIXOO\ ³$QGZK\LVWKDW"´ ³'R,ORRNOLNHD&DP\WR\RX"´7KHDQVZHUZDVLPSOLHGLQWKH TXHVWLRQ ³1R,GRQ¶WVXSSRVH\RXGR´$OH[LVFKXFNOHGWKHQKHDGHGIRU WKHOLIWWKH\¶GWDNHQWKHGD\EHIRUH³/HW¶VJHWWKLVZRUNRXWVWDUWHGVKDOO we?” &DPSEHOOVDWEHVLGH$OH[LVDQGRXWOLQHGWKHLUOHVVRQRQWKHZD\ XS WKH PRXQWDLQ ³
TRAILS MERGE cuts, and her skis threw up a rooster tail of fresh powder. She thought WKDW PLJKW EH HQRXJK WR LPSUHVV$OH[LV EXW VKH KHDUG KHU FDOO ³2Q \RXU ULJKW´ DQG À\ SDVW KHU$OH[LV ZDV LQ D IXOO WXFN WR ORZHU KHU ZLQG UHVLVWDQFH ZKLFK DOORZHG KHU WR JR IDVWHU EXW &DPSEHOO NQHZ VKH¶GKDYHWRHDVHXSWRWDNHWKHWXUQWKH\ZHUHEHDULQJGRZQRQ6KH DGMXVWHGKHUOLQHDFFRUGLQJO\:KHQ$OH[LVVWRRGXSHDVLQJRIIVOLJKWO\ &DPSEHOOZDVDEOHWRVOLQJVKRWDURXQGKHUODXJKLQJDVVKHZHQW 7KHUHZDVDQRWKHUELJGLSEHIRUHWKHWUDLOÀRRGHGZLGHRSHQLQWR WKH PDLQ EDVLQ DQG &DPSEHOO ZDV FHUWDLQ$OH[LV ZRXOG WDNH LW LQ D IXOOFUXQFKLQWKHKRSHVRIFDWFKLQJKHUEXW&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WVDFUL¿FH style for speed. She took a slant only a native of the mountain would know. Instead of lining up on the inside track, she went wide toward WKHLQFOLQHGEDQNRIWKH¿QDOWXUQDQGXVHGWKHKHLJKWVKHJRWDORQJ ZLWK KHU RZQ PRPHQWXP WR VHQG KHU DLUERUQH +HU VNLV UHPDLQHG completely parallel and she crouched tightly as she exploded over the edge of the drop, a spray of snow in her wake. She landed and immediately threw her skis sideways, a wave of SRZGHUDUFKLQJXSLQIURQWRIKHUDV$OH[LVVOLGWRDQHTXDOO\DEUXSW VWRSEHKLQGKHU³:HOO"´&DPSEHOODVNHG ³'RQ¶W JORDW GDUOLQJ ,W GRHVQ¶W EHFRPH WKDW µDZ JHH VKXFNV¶ FRXQWU\NLGSHUVRQD\RXGRVRFRQYLQFLQJO\´$OH[LVIHLJQHGXQLQWHUHVW EXWVKHKDGDJUXGJLQJDSSUHFLDWLRQLQKHUH\HV :KHQWKH\ZHUHRQFHDJDLQKHDGHGXSWKHPRXQWDLQ$OH[LVVDLG ³7KLVWLPHGRZQ,ZDQW\RXWRVKRZPHKRZ\RXWRRNÀLJKWRIIWKDW turn.” ³6XUH´&DPSEHOODJUHHG+HUKHDUWUDWHEHJDQWRUHWXUQWRQRUPDO DIWHU WKH H[KLODUDWLRQ RI WKH ODVW UXQ ³$Q\WKLQJ HOVH \RX ZDQW WR know?” ³:HOO,¶GOLNHWRNQRZZK\P\EHVWIULHQGOHIWWKHORGJHYLVLEO\ shaken last night.” &DPSEHOOZDVMROWHGE\WKHVXGGHQVKLIWLQVXEMHFWVDQGWKHKDUVK reminder of last night’s conversation with Parker hit her like a punch LQ WKH VWRPDFK 6KH H[KDOHG VKDUSO\ EHIRUH VD\LQJ ³,I \RX VDZ RXU GHSDUWXUHWKHQ\RXDOVRVDZ0LD¶V'RHVQ¶WWKDWJLYH\RXDQLGHDRI what happened?” ³0LD,NQRZDOOWRRZHOOEXW,DOVRNQRZVKHQRORQJHUKDVWKH SRZHUWRXSVHW3DUNHU´$OH[LVUHJDUGHGKHUSRLQWHGO\³%XW\RX¶UHQRZ the unknown entity.”
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TRAILS MERGE “How cute. You thought you were the one giving me the lesson.” $OH[LVFKXFNOHG³*RDKHDG´ 7KLVWLPHZKHQ&DPSEHOOWRUHGRZQWKHPRXQWDLQVKHGLGQ¶WVWRS XQWLOVKHVWRRGDW3DUNHU¶VRI¿FHGRRU
&DPSEHOOEDUJHGWKURXJKWKHGRRUWR3DUNHU¶VRI¿FHDQGFORVHGLW EHKLQGKHU³:HQHHGWRWDON´ 3DUNHU SXW GRZQ WKH SDSHUV VKH¶G EHHQ VWDULQJ DW ZLWKRXW FRPSUHKHQVLRQ 7KH GDUN FLUFOHV XQGHU &DPSEHOO¶V H\HV WROG KHU &DPSEHOO¶VQLJKWKDGOLNHO\EHHQDVORQJDQGUHVWOHVVDVKHUV6KHGLGQ¶W ZDQWWRWDON6KHZDQWHGWRKROGKHUDQGEHKHOGE\KHU7KHORRNLQ &DPSEHOO¶VH\HVKDGKDXQWHGKHUHYHUVLQFHVKHKDGVWRUPHGRXWRIWKH lodge last night. She wanted to stay angry and felt she was entitled to, EXWDORQJQLJKWDSDUWKDGZHDNHQHGKHUUHVROYH³,NQRZ,VKRXOGKDYH WROG\RXDERXW0LDVRRQHU«´6KHGLGQ¶WNQRZKRZWRFRQWLQXH &DPSEHOOJDYHDOLWWOHTXLUNRIDVPLOH³:KHQ,VDLGZHQHHGWR talk, I meant I was going to talk and you were going to listen.” ³2K JHH]´ 3DUNHU PDQDJHG D ZHDN VPLOH DOVR 6KH NQHZ WKDW OLQH³
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TRAILS MERGE ³, WROG \RX , ZDV D SROLWLFDO VWUDWHJLVW IRU 7LP %UDG\¶V SROLWLFDO FDPSDLJQDQG,OHIWRYHUWKHVH[XDOKDUDVVPHQWVFDQGDOEXW,GLGQ¶WWHOO \RXDERXWWKH\RXQJZRPDQZKRZDVFDXJKWLQWKHPLGGOHRILWDOO´ ³1R,UHPHPEHUWKHQHZVUHSRUWVVD\LQJWKHJLUOZDV\RXQJDQG SRRU7KH\KLQWHGWKDWVKHZDVDJROGGLJJHU´ 3DUNHUVKXGGHUHGDWWKDWFKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQDVDPL[RIVDGQHVVDQG anger rushed over her once again. Her voice wavered. “She was an intern, a recent grad from Northwestern with a full academic scholarship, tons RI SRWHQWLDO D UHDO LGHDOLVW²\RXQJ DWWUDFWLYH DQG VPDUW EXW QDwYH Sound like anyone else you know?” &DPSEHOO¶V IDFH WXUQHG GLVWLQFWO\ SDOHU DQG 3DUNHU WRRN WKDW DV sign that she understood the connection. “She reminded me of myself, and I wanted to help her succeed. I personally recruited her for the campaign, and I threw her in the senator’s company every chance I got. I was determined to make sure she had every opportunity she deserved. I thought that’s what I was providing her with.” &DPSEHOOJURDQHG³$QGWKHZKROHWLPHWKDWGLUWEDJZDVWU\LQJWR force himself on the girl.” 3DUNHUORZHUHGKHUJD]HDJDLQDQGKHUYRLFHIDGHGWRDZKLVSHU 6KHFRXOGEDUHO\EULQJKHUVHOIWRJLYHYRLFHWRWKHUHVWRIWKHVWRU\³6KH ZDVUXLQHG7LP%UDG\ZDVHOHFWHGWRWKH,OOLQRLV6WDWH6HQDWHDQG,¶OO never forgive myself.” ³7KDW¶VULGLFXORXV´&DPSEHOOVDLGYHKHPHQWO\³
RACHEL SPANGLER KRSHDQGIDLWK,¶GLQYHVWHGWRPDNHRXUUHODWLRQVKLSDVXFFHVVKDGEHHQ RQHVLGHG´ :KHQ 3DUNHU ORRNHG XS VKH VDZ WKH WHDUV LQ &DPSEHOO¶V H\HV “You poured your heart and soul into everything, only to have your personal and professional relationships destroyed all at once, and I had WKH QHUYH WR VXJJHVW WKDW \RX¶G PHUHO\ EHHQ µZDLWLQJ IRU VRPHWKLQJ EHWWHUWRFRPHDORQJ¶´&DPSEHOOJURDQHGDQGMXPSHGWRKHUIHHW³&DQ \RXHYHUIRUJLYHPHIRUEHLQJVRVHOIDEVRUEHG"´ ³,W ZDVQ¶W WRWDOO\ \RXU IDXOW
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RACHEL SPANGLER 3DUNHU ODXJKHG EXW PRYHG IDUWKHU RXW RI KHU UHDFK ³
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
C
DPSEHOO¶VVWRPDFKZDVLQNQRWVZKHQVKHDQG3DUNHUDUULYHG DW1DGLD¶VFDELQWKDWHYHQLQJ1DGLDZDVDQLPSRUWDQWZRPDQ who had likely sensed Parker’s potential and was eager to include her LQWKHSHWSURMHFWVKHPHQWLRQHG:KLOH&DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WKDYHDFOXH ZKDWWKHSURMHFWHQWDLOHGVKHZDVFHUWDLQLWLQYROYHG3DUNHUUHWXUQLQJ to Chicago, and that scared her. Still, she couldn’t keep Parker cut off IURPWKHUHVWRIWKHZRUOGDQGHYHQLIVKHFRXOGWKDWZRXOGEHXQIDLU Nadia took their coats and ushered them into a living room that EOHQGHG LQWR D GLQLQJ DUHD DQG ZDV VHSDUDWHG IURP WKH NLWFKHQ E\ D EDU ,W ZDV RQH RI WKH EHWWHUIXUQLVKHG FDELQV RQ WKH PRXQWDLQ DQG &DPSEHOONQHZLWZHOO(LWKHUWKHIDPLOLDUVXUURXQGLQJVRUWKHLQIRUPDO DWPRVSKHUH1DGLDKDGHVWDEOLVKHGZLWKKHUZDUPJUHHWLQJHDVHGVRPH RI&DPSEHOO¶VWHQVLRQ ³/HWPHLQWURGXFH\RXERWKWRWKHUHVWRIRXUOLWWOHJURXS´1DGLD VDLGDVWKHRWKHUZRPHQURVHWRPHHWWKHP³7KLVLV+DQQDK0F%ULGH WKHGLUHFWRURIVRFLDOVHUYLFHVIRUWKHJUHDWHU&KLFDJRDUHDDQG0DUWD 5RGULJXH]GLUHFWRURI0D\RU'DOH\¶V&LW\
RACHEL SPANGLER ³:DWHUIRUPH´&DPSEHOOVDLG ³6RUU\GDUOLQJ7KLVLVDEXVLQHVVPHHWLQJ:HQHYHUGREXVLQHVV ZKLOHVREHU´$OH[LVWHDVHG ³7KHQ,¶OOKDYHZKDW\RX¶UHKDYLQJ´&DPSEHOOVDLGWKRXJKVKH wasn’t sure what that was. ³6DPHIRUPH´3DUNHUDGGHGDVWKH\WRRNWKHLUVHDWDWWKHGLQLQJ URRPWDEOH ³&DPSEHOO´ 1DGLD VDW GRZQ DFURVV IURP WKHP ³,¶YH GRQH P\ KRPHZRUNRQ3DUNHUEXW\RX¶UHDQXQNQRZQ:KHUHDUH\RXIURP"´ ³+HUH´&DPSEHOOWRRNDKHVLWDQWVLSRIWKHVFRWFK$OH[LVKDQGHG KHU6KH¶GQHYHUEHHQDGULQNHU “Here, as in Wisconsin?” ³,JUHZXSRQWKHPRXQWDLQ0\JUDQGIDWKHUEXLOWWKLVFDELQ0\ SDUHQWVOLYHWZRKRXVHVGRZQWKHURDG0\SODFHLVIDUWKHUGRZQWKH hill.” ³7KDW¶V LPSUHVVLYH´ 1DGLD VDLG DQG WKH VHQWLPHQW VRXQGHG JHQXLQH³,WPXVWEHDPD]LQJWRKDYH\RXUURRWVUXQGHHSLQDSODFH like this.” ³,WLV,¶YHEHHQEOHVVHG´ ³,W¶VJRRGWKDW\RXUHDOL]HWKDW0RVWRIWKHNLGVLQWKHQHLJKERUKRRG ,JUHZXSLQFRXOGQ¶WGUHDPRIYLVLWLQJDSODFHOLNH%HDU5XQPXFKOHVV living here.” &DPSEHOOUHDOL]HGWKDWFRPPHQWKDGQ¶WEHHQPDGHRIIKDQGHGO\ ³
TRAILS MERGE ³,FRXOGQ¶WDJUHHPRUH´&DPSEHOOWKRXJKWRIKHURZQFKDUPHG FKLOGKRRG :LWKRXW WKDW IRXQGDWLRQ VKH ZRXOGQ¶W EH KDOI WKH SHUVRQ VKH ZDV WRGD\ 6KH DOVR NQHZ 3DUNHU IHOW WKH VDPH ZD\ DERXW WKH RSSRUWXQLWLHVKHUDIÀXHQWXSEULQJLQJKDGSURYLGHGKHU ³7KHQ \RX¶OO XQGHUVWDQG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI WKH SURJUDP ZH¶UH KHUHWRGLVFXVV´1DGLDSXOOHGVRPHSDSHUVRIIWKHEDUDQGVOLGWKHP DFURVVWKHWDEOHWR3DUNHUDQG&DPSEHOO³7KH%URDG+RUL]RQV
RACHEL SPANGLER WKH\JRKRPHWKH\FDQKROGHDFKRWKHUDFFRXQWDEOHDQGKDYHDVXSSRUW group when things get hard again.” ³,V LW D RQHWLPH HYHQW"´ 3DUNHU ZDV LQ IXOO ZRUN PRGH QRZ &DPSEHOOFRXOGSUDFWLFDOO\VHHKHULQWHUQDOL]LQJWKHLQIRUPDWLRQDQG her enthusiasm escalated with each answer. “No, we encourage the students to stay in touch with the hosts WKH\EXLOGUHODWLRQVKLSVZLWKDQGUHWXUQWRWKHLUVLWHVDVPDQ\VXPPHUV as they wish to,” Hannah answered. ³7KDWZRXOGJLYHWKHPVRPHWKLQJWRORRNIRUZDUGWRHDFK\HDU which in turn would help them stay on track,” Parker concluded. “It also gives the site coordinators a chance to use the positive experiences of the returning participants to acclimate the newer ones. ,W¶VDOHDUQLQJH[SHULHQFHIRUHYHU\RQH´0DUWDZDVIHHGLQJ3DUNHU¶V excitement. ³:KDWDERXWLQWHUHVWLQWKHFRPPXQLW\"´&DPSEHOODVNHG³$UH kids from the south side of Chicago eager to get shipped off to the country for an entire summer?” ³7KHVHNLGVDUHKXQJU\IRUDFKDQFHWRVXFFHHG7KH\JRWKURXJK a rigorous application program and have to get recommendations from community leaders, and there’s still a long waiting list. We have more kids than we have sites to place them in.” “Sounds like everything is up and running,” Parker said, and &DPSEHOOFRXOGUHDGWKHELJTXHVWLRQLQKHUH\HVHYHQEHIRUHVKHDVNHG it. “What do you still need, Nadia?” ³:KDWHYHU\FKDULWDEOHRUJDQL]DWLRQQHHGV´ ³0RQH\´WKH\VDLGLQXQLVRQ ³:HQHHGDOREE\LVWZKR¶OOJHWWKHSURJUDPZULWWHQLQWRVWDWHDQG IHGHUDO EXGJHW SURJUDPV´ $OH[LV H[SODLQHG ³VRPHRQH ZKR NQRZV WKHV\VWHPDQGSHRSOHLQYROYHGEXWLVQ¶WWLHGWRDQ\RQHSROLWLFLDQRU VSHFLDOLQWHUHVWJURXS´ ³,W¶VDIXOOWLPHSRVLWLRQ3DUNHUDQG\RX¶GKDYHWKHIXOOEDFNLQJ RI0D\RU'DOH\DVZHOODVVHYHUDOKLJKUDQNLQJFLW\RI¿FLDOV
TRAILS MERGE ³,¶P VRUU\ EXW , OHIW SROLWLFV IRU D UHDVRQ´ 3DUNHU VWDWHG emphatically. “I have no interest in working for dignitaries and legislators.” ³'DUOLQJ \RX ZRQ¶W EH ZRUNLQJ IRU WKH SROLWLFLDQV
Parker was glad to see the conference end. She felt like she’d EHHQUXQQLQJIRUWKUHHGD\VZLWKRXWDEUHDN6KHPLVVHGWKHSHDFHDQG TXLHWVKH¶GJURZQDFFXVWRPHGWRDW%HDU5XQDQGGLGQ¶WNQRZKRZVKH KDGOLYHGDWVXFKDUDSLGSDFHIRUPRQWKVGXULQJDFDPSDLJQ$IHZ days of such activity was enough to exhaust her. Still, she was proud WKDW WKH HYHQW ZDV VXFFHVVIXO DQG WKDW SHRSOH KDG EHJXQ WR GLVFXVV
RACHEL SPANGLER ERRNLQJWKHORGJHIRUQH[W\HDU7KHZRPHQRIWKH&KLFDJR:RPHQ¶V 'HPRFUDWLF &DXFXV KDG HQMR\HG EHLQJ DEOH WR VNL GLQH DQG PLQJOH without interruptions from the press or constituents, and the Carson family met all their needs. In return, the women paid well for their VHUYLFHVDQGWLSSHGJHQHURXVO\IRUDQ\H[WUDDWWHQWLRQ(YHU\RQHZDV happy with the arrangement. Parker had even seen Greg smile a time or WZRDQGZKLOHVKHGLGQ¶WSODQWRUXEWKDWUHDFWLRQLQVKHZDVSOHDVHG to prove him wrong. ³
TRAILS MERGE QLJKW³,FDQ¶WGRLWWRKHU$OH[LV,I\RXNQHZZKDW&DPSEHOOKDGEHHQ through, you’d understand why.” ³
RACHEL SPANGLER $OH[LVKXJJHG3DUNHUDQGKHDGHGIRUWKHGRRU%HIRUHVKHZDONHG RXWRIWKHRI¿FHVKHVDLG³,¶OOVHH\RXLQ&KLFDJR´
&DPSEHOONQHZVRPHWKLQJZDVZURQJDVVRRQDVVKHVDZ3DUNHU WKDWHYHQLQJ6KHZDVFOHDUO\H[KDXVWHGWKRXJKWKDWFRXOGEHH[SODLQHG E\WKHUHFHQWFRQIHUHQFHRUWKHLUODFNRIVOHHSEHFDXVHWKH\FRXOGQ¶W NHHSWKHLUKDQGVRIIHDFKRWKHU,IVKH¶GPHUHO\EHHQWLUHG&DPSEHOO ZRXOGQ¶WKDYHZRUULHGEXWVKHZDVFOHDUO\VDGWRR ³+L´ &DPSEHOO WULHG WR IRUFH D VPLOH DV VKH SODFHG D NLVV RQ 3DUNHU¶VOLSVEXWVKHVWRSSHGWKHUH7KH\FRXOGQ¶WSXWRIIWKHLQHYLWDEOH &DPSEHOOWRRN3DUNHU¶VKDQGDQGOHGKHUDFURVVWKHURRPWRWKHFRXFK 6KHVWHHOHGKHUVHOIIRUWKHFRQYHUVDWLRQVKH¶GEHHQGUHDGLQJDQGJHQWO\ asked, “What have you decided?” ³&DPSEHOO´3DUNHUVDLGWKHQH[KDOHGVORZO\³,KDYHQ¶WGHFLGHG anything for sure. We need to determine this together. If you tell me not to go, I won’t.” &DPSEHOOVKRRNKHUKHDGXQDEOHWR¿QGWKHULJKWZRUGV6KH¶G EHHQ KHUH EHIRUH 6KH¶G OHDUQHG KRZ LW IHOW WR KROG RQ WR VRPHRQH whose heart was somewhere else. “I won’t do that. I can’t, and you know why.” “It’s not like that,” Parker said softly. “I don’t want to leave. I love LWKHUH7KLVPRXQWDLQIHHOVDOPRVWOLNHKRPHQRZDQG\RXUIDPLO\KDV EHHQZRQGHUIXOWRPH´6KHVPLOHGZHDNO\³$QG\RX«´ &DPSEHOO ORRNHG LQWR WKRVH GHHS EURZQ H\HV DQG VDZ KHU RZQ SDLQPLUURUHGWKHUHDV3DUNHUVDLG³
TRAILS MERGE ³,W¶VQRWVHWLQVWRQH´3DUNHUVDLG³,MXVWQHHGWRJLYHLWDFKDQFH 0D\EHZKHQ,OHDUQPRUHDERXWWKHSURJUDPLWZRQ¶WVRXQGDVJRRG, UDQDZD\IURPWKDWOLIHRQFHEHFDXVH,FRXOGQ¶WGRZKDW,QHHGHGWRGR WKHUH0D\EHWKDW¶VVWLOOWUXH´ ³,XQGHUVWDQG´&DPSEHOOZKLVSHUHGDVVKHVWURNHG3DUNHU¶VKDLU 6KHGLGXQGHUVWDQGEXWWKDWGLGQ¶WPDNHLWKXUWDQ\OHVV³:KHQZLOO you leave?” ³7KHGD\DIWHUWRPRUURZ2QO\IRUWZRGD\VWROHDUQPRUH´ “Will you stay with me tonight?” ³,¶GOLNHWKDW´3DUNHUVDLGEHWZHHQVQLIÀHV ³0HWRR´&DPSEHOONLVVHGKHUDJDLQWKLVWLPHPRUHWKRURXJKO\ 6KHGLGQ¶WFDUHZKDW3DUNHUVDLGQRZ2QFHVKHOHIWVKHZRXOGEHJRQH IRUJRRG(YHQLIVKHGLGFRPHEDFNWRWKHPRXQWDLQDIWHUWKHLQWHUYLHZ KHUKHDUWZRXOGDOUHDG\EHJRQH7KLVZRXOGEHWKHLUODVWWLPHWRJHWKHU ZLWKQRWKLQJHOVHEHWZHHQWKHP6KHZDQWHGWRVDYRUHYHU\PLQXWH
TRAILS MERGE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
P
DUNHU KDG EHHQ DW D VWDQGVWLOO RQ /DNH 6KRUH 'ULYH IRU RYHU WZHQW\PLQXWHV7KHEXPSHUWREXPSHUWUDI¿FZDVPDGGHQLQJ DQGWKHIUHH]LQJUDLQWKDWKDGEHHQIDOOLQJRQWKHFLW\IRUWKHSDVWKRXU GLGQ¶WKHOS6KH¶GEHHQLQWKHFDUIRUWRRORQJVLQFHLWZDVOHVVWKDQ WHQPLOHVIURP$OH[LV¶VDSDUWPHQWRQ*UDQGDQG0LFKLJDQWR1DGLD¶V RI¿FH DFURVV IURP &RPLVNH\ 3DUN RU 86 &HOOXODU )LHOG DV LW ZDV QRZQDPHG6KHIHOWFODXVWURSKRELFDVVKHZRXQGEHWZHHQVN\VFUDSHUV DQGVSRUWVVWDGLXPVEXLOWDPRQJDQGRQWRSRIFHQWXU\ROGZDUHKRXVHV 6KH¶GDOZD\VORYHGROG&KLFDJREXWWRGD\LWZDVGLVRULHQWLQJQRWWREH DEOHWRVHHWKHKRUL]RQ 6RPHRQHODLGRQWKHKRUQEHKLQGKHUDVWKRXJKKRQNLQJZRXOG PDNHWKHWUDI¿FGLVDSSHDU6KH¶GDOUHDG\VHHQWZRIHQGHUEHQGHUVDQG VHYHUDO RWKHU GULYHUV VFUHDPHG RU JHVWXUHG ZLWK WKHLU PLGGOH ¿QJHUV H[WHQGHGLQWKHGLUHFWLRQRIWKHLUIHOORZFRPPXWHUV7KH&DUVRQVUDUHO\ raised their voice in anger. 6KH PLVVHG &DPSEHOO VR PXFK KHU FKHVW DFKHG 6KH PLVVHG sleeping with her, she missed waking up next to her, she missed ZDWFKLQJKHURQWKHVORSHV6KHVWLOOFRXOGQ¶WIRUJHWKRZ&DPSEHOO¶V EOXHH\HVVKLPPHUHGZLWKWHDUVZKHQWKH\SDUWHGWKHGD\EHIRUH$OH[LV KDGGRQHKHUEHVWWRWDNHKHUPLQGRIIKHUORQHOLQHVVE\WDNLQJKHURXW WRGLQQHUDQGWKHQWRWKHWKHDWHUEXW3DUNHUKDGQ¶WKDGPXFKDSSHWLWH DQGZRQGHUHGGXULQJWKHHQWLUHSOD\ZKDW&DPSEHOOZDVGRLQJ6KH¶G SLFNHG XS WKH SKRQH WR FDOO KHU VHYHUDO WLPHV EXW KHDULQJ KHU YRLFH would only make things harder. 6KH FLUFOHG WKH EORFN WKDW 1DGLD¶V RI¿FH ZDV RQ VHYHUDO WLPHV
RACHEL SPANGLER EHIRUHVKHIRXQGDSDUNLQJORWZLWKVSDFHDYDLODEOHDQGQRWHGWKDWLW would cost her thirteen dollars an hour to leave her car there. When she HQWHUHGWKHEXLOGLQJDSROLWHEXWREYLRXVO\EXV\UHFHSWLRQLVWJUHHWHG KHU DQG WROG KHU WR KDYH D VHDW WKDW 1DGLD ZRXOG EH ZLWK KHU VRRQ 3DUNHUUHDFKHGLQWRWKHOHDWKHUEULHIFDVHVKH¶GSXOOHGRXWRIKHUFORVHW for this occasion and retrieved an antacid and two aspirin. She’d had a VWRPDFKDFKHDQGDKHDGDFKHVLQFHVKHDUULYHGLQWKHFLW\0D\EHLWZDV VWUHVVPD\EHLWZDVWKHVPRJRUWKHODFNRIVOHHSEXWVKHIHOWWHUULEOH HPRWLRQDOO\ DQG SK\VLFDOO\ 6KH GU\VZDOORZHG WKH SLOOV D KDELW VKH had picked up on the campaign trail, and studied her surroundings. 6KHZDVDZIXOO\PLVHUDEOHIRUVRPHRQHDERXWWRKDYHDOLIHORQJGUHDP come true. 7KHUHFHSWLRQDUHDZDVUHODWLYHO\EDUHEXWVRPHSLFWXUHVRQWKH opposite wall caught her eye. She crossed the room to examine them PRUHFORVHO\2QHVKRZHGVHYHUDOWHHQDJHUVDOORIWKHPHLWKHUEODFN RU/DWLQRVWDQGLQJDURXQGDWUDFWRULQDQRSHQ¿HOG7KH\ZRUHKXJH VPLOHVDQG3DUNHUDVVXPHGWKHJURXSZDVSDUWRIWKH%URDG+RUL]RQV SURJUDP7KHQH[WZDVRI1DGLDZLWKD\RXQJJLUOLQDJUDGXDWLRQFDS DQG JRZQ 3DUNHU VHDUFKHG WKH SUHYLRXV SLFWXUH DQG UHDOL]HG WKH JLUO ZDVRQHRIWKHWHHQDJHUVVWDQGLQJEHVLGHWKHWUDFWRU7KHVHFRQGSLFWXUH WHVWL¿HGWRWKHVXFFHVVRIWKH¿UVWDQG3DUNHUZDVJODGWREHUHPLQGHG why she was here. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people like these. 7KHQH[WSLFWXUHWKRXJKUHPLQGHGKHURIZKDWVKHZDVOHDYLQJ EHKLQG ,W ZDV 1DGLD¶V ZHGGLQJ SLFWXUH 3DUNHU JXHVVHG KHU WR EH DERXWWHQ\HDUV\RXQJHUDVVKHVWRRGZLWKKHUQHZJURRPRQDKLOOVLGH VXUURXQGHGE\WKHLUH[WHQGHGIDPLOLHV7HDUVRQFHDJDLQIRUPHGDWWKH corner of her eyes as she wondered which picture Nadia held more dear. ,IVKH¶GEHHQIRUFHGWRFKRRVHZRXOGVKHEHLQWKLVRI¿FHULJKWQRZ RUZRXOGVKHEHRQWKDWKLOOVLGH"6KHZDVVWLOOSRQGHULQJWKDWTXHVWLRQ when the secretary informed her that Nadia was ready to see her.
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TRAILS MERGE 3DUNHUWRR+HFRXOGFHUWDLQO\VHQVH&DPSEHOO¶VVRXUPRRGEHFDXVHKH GLGQ¶WWU\WRIROORZKHUZKHQVKH¿QDOO\JRWRXWRIEHG She conferred with Sammy, and they decided to take a few early runs down the slopes to see if conditions were safe for the general SXEOLF 7KH\ UDUHO\ VKXW GRZQ WKH PRXQWDLQ EXW VLQFH LFH FRXOG EH deadly on certain trails, they occasionally had to restrict access to WKRVH DUHDV &DPSEHOO KDWHG LFH DQG GUHDGHG KDYLQJ WR VNL WKH PRVW FKDOOHQJLQJSRUWLRQVRIWKHPRXQWDLQRQLWZKLOHIUHH]LQJUDLQSHOWHG her in the face. ³/LNHWKLVGD\ZDVQ¶WVKLWW\HQRXJKDVLWZDV´VKHPXPEOHGDV they hunkered down on the lift. “You didn’t have to come.” Sammy pulled his hat down to his JRJJOHVDQGWXJJHGWKH]LSSHURQWKLVFRDWRYHUKLVPRXWKVRWKDWRQO\ the tip of his nose caught the cold, stinging ice pellets that swirled on the wind. “I was only lying around feeling sorry for myself at home,” &DPSEHOODGPLWWHG6KH¶GWULHGWRJHWKHUPLQGRII3DUNHU¶VDEVHQFH EXW VKH FRXOGQ¶W OHW JR \HW 6KH VKRXOG¶YH NQRZQ EHWWHU WKDQ WR SXW KHUVHOILQWKLVSRVLWLRQLQWKH¿UVWSODFH6KHVKRXOG¶YHVHHQLWFRPLQJ and in many ways she had. She’d always suspected that when Parker’s FRQ¿GHQFHUHWXUQHGVKHZRXOGPRYHRQDQGVWLOO&DPSEHOOIHOOIRUKHU (YHQNQRZLQJZKDWVKHNQHZQRZKRZHYHUPXFKVKHKXUWVKHGLGQ¶W feel any regret. She’d tortured herself all night wondering whether VKH¶GWDNHLWDOOEDFNLIVKHFRXOGDQG¿QDOO\GHFLGHGVKHZRXOGQ¶WWUDGH WKHWLPHVKH¶GKDGZLWK3DUNHUIRUDQ\WKLQJ%XWZDVVKHGHVWLQHGWR make the same mistake time and time again? $IWHUDIHZPLQXWHVRIVLOHQFH6DPP\VDLG³,NQRZLW¶VQRWWKH VDPHEXW,¶OOPLVVKHUWRR´ ³7KDQNV 6DP´ &DPSEHOO ZRXOG KDYH QHYHU EHOLHYHG DIWHU WKDW ¿UVWVWDIIPHHWLQJWKDW3DUNHUZRXOGKDYHDGDSWHGWROLIHRQWKHPRXQWDLQ DVZHOODVVKHKDG6KHHYHQJRWDORQJZLWKWKHPDMRULW\RIKHUIDPLO\ 6KHZRXOGKDYHPDGHDJUHDWDGGLWLRQWRWKH&DUVRQFODQLI&DPSEHOO¶V IDWKHUKDGQ¶WREMHFWHG,WZRXOGKDYHEHHQQLFHLIWKH\FRXOGKDYHPDGH peace. She was sure her dad would have grown to like Parker if they KDGWDNHQWKHWLPHWRVHHLQHDFKRWKHUZKDW&DPSEHOOVDZLQHDFKRI WKHP&DPSEHOOFXUVHGKHUVHOIIRUGZHOOLQJRQZKDWFRXOGKDYHEHHQ It wasn’t going to happen.
RACHEL SPANGLER ³,W¶VQRWWRRODWHWRDVNKHUWRVWD\´6DPP\VDLGVRTXLHWO\WKDWVKH FRXOGEDUHO\KHDUKLPRYHUWKHZLQG ³,ZRQ¶WGRLW6DP´&DPSEHOOVQDSSHG³,IVKHZDQWHGWRVWD\ she would have chosen to.” ³6RUU\´6DPP\VKRRNKLVKHDG³,¶PWU\LQJWRKHOS7KHUHVKRXOG EHDEHWWHUFRPSURPLVH\RXNQRZ"´ ,WZDVQ¶WDVWKRXJKWKDWWKRXJKWKDGQ¶WFURVVHG&DPSEHOO¶VPLQG EXWLWZDVMXVWZLVKIXOWKLQNLQJ
TRAILS MERGE 6DPP\ORRNHGDWKHUOLNHWKHEORZWRKHUKHDGKDGPDGHKHUWDON nonsense. “I’m sick of coming in second, Sammy. Why am I lying here cold DQGKXUWDQGDORQH"$OO,ZDQWLVWROLYHWKHOLIH,ZDQWZLWKWKHZRPDQ ,ORYH´&DPSEHOOVWRRGVKDNLO\DQGFOLFNHGEDFNLQWRKHUVNLV³,WKLQN I deserve that much.” “Did you say you love her?” &DPSEHOOGLGQ¶WHYHQKHVLWDWH³
&DPSEHOOEDUJHGWKURXJKKHUSDUHQWV¶EDFNGRRUZLWKRXWNQRFNLQJ ³'DG"0RP"´VKHFDOOHGDVVKHVWRUPHGWRZDUGWKHNLWFKHQ%RWKKHU SDUHQWVZHUHVLWWLQJDWWKHEUHDNIDVWWDEOHKHUIDWKHULQÀDQQHOSDMDPDV DQGKHUPRWKHULQDIDGHGQLJKWJRZQ7KH\MXPSHGXSVWDUWOHGE\KHU ERLVWHURXVHQWU\ ³)RU*RGVDNHV&DPSEHOOZKDW¶VZURQJ"´*UHJDVNHG ³:KDWKDSSHQHG":KHUH¶V6DPP\"$UH\RXKXUW"´+HUPRWKHU examined her carefully. ³,¶PKXUW´&DPSEHOOVDLGLQDUXVKKHUHPRWLRQVRYHUUXQQLQJKHU FRPSRVXUH³,¶PKXUWEHFDXVH3DUNHULVJRQH´ ³.LGGR,KDWHWRVD\,WROG\RXVREXW²´ ³7KHQ GRQ¶W 'DG EHFDXVH VKH¶V QRW WKH RQO\ RQH WKDW KXUW PH You hurt me, too.” ³%HFDXVH,FDOOHGLWOLNH,VDZLW"´KHDVNHGLQFUHGXORXV ³1R EHFDXVH \RX KDG VR OLWWOH IDLWK PH EHFDXVH \RX¶UH VWLOO WUHDWLQJPHOLNHDFKLOGEHFDXVH\RXDFWOLNH\RX¶UHWKHRQO\RQHZKR FDUHVDERXWWKLVPRXQWDLQ´
RACHEL SPANGLER “What’s gotten into you?” Her father was clearly astonished to KHDUKHUVSHDNVREOXQWO\ “Love, Dad. I’m in love with Parker and I’m going after her.” &DPSEHOOZDVVXUSULVHGDWKHURZQIRUFHEXWVKHGLGQ¶WZDYHU ³,WKLQN\RX¶UHPDNLQJDELJPLVWDNHDQG,GRQ¶WDSSURYH´ 7KHQ LW¶V P\ PLVWDNH WR PDNH DQG ,¶P QRW DVNLQJ IRU \RXU DSSURYDOEXW,¶GOLNH\RXUVXSSRUW´ ,UHQHFXWLQIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH³
TRAILS MERGE ³7KDW¶VDOO,¶PDVNLQJIRU'DG´ +HH[WHQGHGKLVKDQGDQG&DPSEHOOVKRRNLW³,W¶VQRWJRLQJWREH easy, though. You may have to point it out to me if I’m not giving you your due.” &DPSEHOOVPLOHG6KHIHOWOLNHVKHDQGKHUIDWKHUKDGHQWHUHGD QHZVWDJHLQWKHLUUHODWLRQVKLS6KHRQO\KRSHGKHUHDOL]HGWKDWWRR “I’ll hold you to that.” +HFKXFNOHGVOLJKWO\DQGSXOOHGKHULQWRDKXJ³,GREHOLHYH\RX will.”
$IWHUOXQFK3DUNHUVDWLQ1DGLD¶VRI¿FHIRUWKHVHFRQGWLPHWKDWGD\ 7KH\KDGWRXUHGWKHQHLJKERUKRRGZKHUHPRVWRIWKH%URDG+RUL]RQV \RXWKOLYHGWKHQPHWZLWKSURJUDPVWDIIIURPDURXQGWKHFLW\7KH\DWH lunch with two of the program participants in a taquería where they ZHUHWKHRQO\RQHVVSHDNLQJ(QJOLVK7KHH[SHULHQFHUHPLQGHG3DUNHU again how much this world differed from the one where she grew up, only a few miles away. Parker’s spirits rose when she talked with the \RXQJZRPHQZKRVSRNHSDVVLRQDWHO\DERXWWKHLUH[SHULHQFHVLQWKH program, the connections they’d made with their site coordinators, and WKHUHODWLRQVKLSVWKH\VWLOOVKDUHGZLWKWKHLUIHOORZSDUWLFLSDQWV7KRVH FRQYHUVDWLRQVFHPHQWHGLQKHUPLQGWKDWWKLVRUJDQL]DWLRQZDVH[DFWO\ ZKDWVKH¶GWUDLQHGKHUZKROHOLIHWREHDSDUWRI%XWEDFNLQ1DGLD¶V RI¿FH3DUNHUFRXOGQ¶WEULQJKHUVHOIWRIRUPDOO\DFFHSWWKHMRERIIHU $V 1DGLD WDONHG DERXW WKH VSHFL¿FV RI WKHLU EXGJHW JUDQWV DQG JRYHUQPHQWVXEVLGLHVWKH\¶GDOUHDG\UHFHLYHG3DUNHU¶VPLQGZDQGHUHG EDFN WR %HDU 5XQ 6KH KDG EHHQ WKHUH RQO\ D IHZ PRQWKV \HW VKH couldn’t imagine going home anywhere else at night. She thought of VNLLQJWKH¿UVWWUDFNVRIWKHVHDVRQZLWK&DPSEHOODQGZRQGHUHGKRZ LWZRXOGIHHOWRPLVVWKDWQH[W\HDU:KDWZRXOGLWEHOLNHZKHQWKH¿UVW VQRZIHOODQGVKHZDVLQVRPHFLW\KLJKULVH":RXOGVKHORQJIRUWKH VORSHV":RXOGVKHJREDFNWRYLVLW%HDU5XQ"+RZZRXOGLWDIIHFWKHU WRVHH&DPSEHOODQGQRWKROGKHU"2UZRUVH\HWVHHVRPHRQHHOVHKROG her? She had to swallow a lump in her throat at that thought. Not wanting to lose her composure in front of Nadia, she focused RQDSRVWHURQWKHRSSRVLWHZDOO,WZDVDSLFWXUHRI0DKDWPD*KDQGL DQGXQGHULWUDQKLVIDPRXVTXRWH³
RACHEL SPANGLER WRVHHLQWKHZRUOG´3DUNHUKDGKHDUGWKHZRUGVPDQ\WLPHVEXWWKLV time when she read them something new struck her. You have to be the FKDQJHQRW¿JKWIRUWKHFKDQJHQRWIXQGWKHFKDQJHQRWOREE\IRUWKH FKDQJHEXWbe. Be. ,IVKHIHOOEDFNLQWRDZRUOGWKDWKDGPDGHKHUPLVHUDEOHVKH¶G EHGRLQJH[DFWO\ZKDW%URDG+RUL]RQVWULHGWRVDYHNLGVIURP6XUH VKHZRXOGQ¶WWXUQWRFULPHRUOLYHLQSRYHUW\EXW&DPSEHOOKDGVKRZQ KHU D EHWWHU ZD\ WR OLYH DQ DOWHUQDWLYH 6KH¶G JLYHQ KHU KRSH IRU D EULJKWHU IXWXUH DQG 3DUNHU ZDV WXUQLQJ DZD\ IURP LW 1R DPRXQW RI good intentions could sugarcoat the hypocrisy in such a decision. She’d PDGHXSKHUPLQG6KHZRXOGJREDFNWR%HDU5XQWRDEHWWHUOLIHWR &DPSEHOO 6WLOOVKHZDQWHGWREHLQYROYHGZLWKWKH%URDG+RUL]RQVSURJUDP %XWWKRVH\RXQJSHRSOHGHVHUYHGVRPHRQHZKRFRXOGJLYHWKHLUZKROH KHDUW WR WKHLU FDXVH$QG ZKLOH VKH ZDVQ¶W WKDW SHUVRQ VKH FDUHG IRU WKRVHNLGV,WVLPSO\ZDVQ¶WULJKWWKDWVKHZDVDEOHWROHDYHWKLVFLW\ that suffocated her while the teens she’d met today were stuck here. She wished she could take them all with her. ³7DNHWKHPDOOZLWKPH´VKHVDLGDORXGDQGVWDUWHGWRODXJK “What?” Nadia asked, her confusion evident in her expression. 3DUNHU FRXOG EDUHO\ WDON7KH MR\ RYHUZKHOPHG KHU DV VKH VDLG ³,¶PQRWWKHULJKWSHUVRQIRUWKLVMRE1DGLD,¶GEHDK\SRFULWHLI,FDPH EDFNWRWKHFLW\DIWHUZRUNLQJDW%HDU5XQ,¶GEHDWHUULEOHUROHPRGHO IRUWKHNLGV,¶GEHWU\LQJWRKHOS´ 1DGLDQRGGHGEXWKHUGLVDSSRLQWPHQWZDVFOHDU³,XQGHUVWDQG EXWIRUJLYHPHLI,GRQ¶WVKDUH\RXUHQWKXVLDVP7KHNLGVZRXOGKDYH EHQH¿WHGIURP\RXUH[SHUWLVH´ Parker could feel her grin stretch across her face. “I didn’t say I couldn’t work with the program. I said I wasn’t the right person for this MRE´ Nadia leaned forward attentively. “I’m listening.”
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RACHEL SPANGLER ³:KDW"´ &DPSEHOO ZDVQ¶W FHUWDLQ VKH¶G KHDUG FRUUHFWO\ 6XUHO\ she was dreaming. “You two have some talking to do, so I’ll leave you to it.” ³,GLGQ¶WWDNHWKHOREE\LVWMRE,WXUQHGLWGRZQ´3DUNHUVRXQGHG giddy now that her tears had slowed. ³:K\"´&DPSEHOOWULHGWRSURFHVVWKLVQHZSLHFHRILQIRUPDWLRQ ³,GRQ¶WZDQW\RXWRJLYHXS\RXUGUHDPVEHFDXVHRIPLQH:HFDQ¿QG DZD\WRKDYHERWK:HFDQKDYHDORQJGLVWDQFHUHODWLRQVKLS,¶OOFRPH WR &KLFDJR LQ WKH RIIVHDVRQ DQG \RX FDQ FRPH WR %HDU 5XQ ZKHQ &RQJUHVVLVQ¶WLQVHVVLRQ,GRQ¶WNQRZDOOWKHGHWDLOVEXW,NQRZ,ORYH \RX´&DPSEHOO¶VHPRWLRQVSRXUHGRXWDORQJZLWKKHUZRUGV “I love you, too, and I don’t want to spend another night away IURP\RX,ZDQWDUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK\RXIXOOWLPHQRWRQHEDVHGRQWKH ski season or the congressional calendar.” Parker kissed her again. ³%XWZKDWDERXWFKDQJLQJWKHZRUOG"´&DPSEHOODVNHG “You have to be the change you wish to see in the world,” Parker VDLGVHULRXVO\WKHQODXJKHGDWWKHFRQIXVLRQRQ&DPSEHOO¶VIDFH³'R \RXUHPHPEHUWKHPHHWLQJZHKDGZLWK1DGLDZKHQVKHVDLGWKHRQO\ WKLQJWKH\QHHGHGDVPXFKDVPRQH\ZDV²´ ³6LWHFRRUGLQDWRUV´&DPSEHOOVDLG6KHVWDUWHGWRSXWWKHSLHFHV together and wondered why she hadn’t thought of the solution. ³$SSDUHQWO\SODFHVZLWKURRPDQGZRUNIRUDJURXSRIWHHQDJHUV and a staff that can provide a family atmosphere are scarce. Can you WKLQNRIDQ\SODFHEHWWHUVXLWHGWRWKDWWKDQ%HDU5XQ"´3DUNHUDVNHG VRXQGLQJVOLJKWO\KHVLWDQW³,PHDQLI\RXZDQWWREHSDUWRIWKLVWRR, VKRXOGQ¶WDVVXPHWKDW²´ &DPSEHOO VLOHQFHG KHU ZLWK D NLVV ³
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About the Author 5DFKHO6SDQJOHUDYRLGHGJHWWLQJDUHDOMREE\VWD\LQJLQVFKRRO for way too long, and she loved (almost) every minute of it. She holds GHJUHHVLQSROLWLFVDQGJRYHUQPHQWZRPHQ¶VVWXGLHVDQG(QJOLVKDV well as a master’s in college student personnel administration from ,OOLQRLV6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\7KURXJKRXWKHUFROOHJHH[SHULHQFHVKHZDV DFWLYHO\LQYROYHGZLWK3)/$*35,'()0/$DQG6DIH6FKRROVDOO RIZKLFKLQÀXHQFHGYDULRXVDVSHFWVRIKHU¿UVWQRYHO/HDUQLQJ&XUYH 6KHDOVRKDVDVKRUWVWRU\WLWOHG³%DE\6WHSV´LQWKH%ROG6WURNHV%RRNV DQWKRORJ\5RPDQWLF,QWHUOXGHV 'LVFRYHU\ Rachel and her partner, Susan are raising their son in western New York. During the winter they make the most of the lake effect snow RQ ORFDO VNL VORSHV D KREE\ WKDW LQVSLUHG WKH VHWWLQJ IRU KHU VHFRQG QRYHO7UDLOV0HUJH,QWKHVXPPHUWKH\ORYHWRWUDYHODQGZDWFKWKHLU EHORYHG6W/RXLV&DUGLQDOV5HJDUGOHVVRIWKHVHDVRQ5DFKHODOZD\V makes time for a good romance, whether she’s reading it, writing it, or living it. 5DFKHO FDQ EH UHDFKHG DW 5DFKHOB6SDQJOHU#\DKRRFRP RU ZZZP\VSDFHFRPUOVSDQJ
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