“What is that?”
“It’s our sled.”
Reagan knew her eyes were wide, but she couldn’t contain her terror. She’d lived in many areas, had grown up moving, but her parents preferred salt water and warm coastal towns.
“Technically it’s not a toboggan. Most people call it a slider, or a glider.” He bunked it on his shoulder and glanced at her. “You okay?”
She nodded as refuting thoughts ran through her mind, and she chased them away with positive affirmations. She could do this. She enjoyed water sports. This couldn’t be much different. Right?
“If you feel sick, let me know,” Garret said. “Some people are affected by the altitude.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, unsure if her statement was true. Dizziness slammed into her. Garret’s nearness incited a terror that had nothing to do with the heights.
“I figured we’d walk to where we’re going if you’re okay with that. It’s not far.”
“That’s fine.”
“I’ll take you to the back of Air Dog first. You won’t want to miss the view.”
He carried the sled and a backpack as they hiked to the back of Air Dog. The club’s backyard held a covered deck and picnic tables overlooking a view that tripped her pulse. Caution signs advised many hazards. Watch your step. Watch for ice. Watch for drops.
No warning to watch your heart.
Steps led from the deck to the snow-packed ground. The ground dipped into a trail of white leveling into a valley of more white below. A powder packed trail soared to meet majestic mountains towering into more tiers. From here, she could see people enter the ski lift and climb a mountain that appeared near even to the naked eye.
“This is like a Christmas postcard,” she whispered.
“Ice skating is just down the street.”
Reagan quickly shook her head. Ice skating was a good way to show her lack of balancing skills, and she wasn’t ready for that yet.
“You want to go first?” Garret asked, holding the sled out to her.
Reagan glanced below her and at the people nearby. Nobody paid them any attention. They were too busy making their own fun. Still, she felt she was the one in the way. “Here?”
“Might as well start right here. That’s a nice small hill to start with,” he added as he nodded downhill.
“No.” She stepped away from the bright orange flare of the slider. It taunted her, intimidated her, and it was just a silly little thing for her to sit in so she could slide down a ferocious mountain.
It wasn’t that ferocious.
Still, she wasn’t sure if the chill skating up her skull was from the thought of spiraling down the mountain on that contraption or being so near this man.
“I mean, I would rather you go first,” she continued, this time a little calmer.
He smiled a beaming, accommodating, amusing smile as if he couldn’t wait to show her how silly she was to be afraid. He plunked the sled on the ground. “Okay.” With no effort, he climbed in and slid down the hill before she had a chance to catch her breath.
Anticipation shot through her as she watched him reach bottom. She pinned her hand to her mouth, chortling like a child and doing a little dance-jump. He waved and began to scale the path to where she stood, her rickety legs threatening to fold under her as he came closer.
“That looks like a lot of fun.”
“You ready to give it a try?” he asked as he approached and handed over the sled.
She managed to control her fear and get on, screaming the entire three-second run downhill. Excitement erupted into a giggly spear of laughter when she slid to a stop at the bottom.
She glanced up at Garret. He waved and before she knew it, he was sliding down the hill on his butt.
She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“Come on,” he said as he stood and reached for her hand. “I have some other places to show you. If you don’t mind the walk.”
“No. I don’t mind.”
Her clothes swished as they hiked. Garret wasn’t kidding, it wasn’t far,
“It’s our sled.”
Reagan knew her eyes were wide, but she couldn’t contain her terror. She’d lived in many areas, had grown up moving, but her parents preferred salt water and warm coastal towns.
“Technically it’s not a toboggan. Most people call it a slider, or a glider.” He bunked it on his shoulder and glanced at her. “You okay?”
She nodded as refuting thoughts ran through her mind, and she chased them away with positive affirmations. She could do this. She enjoyed water sports. This couldn’t be much different. Right?
“If you feel sick, let me know,” Garret said. “Some people are affected by the altitude.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, unsure if her statement was true. Dizziness slammed into her. Garret’s nearness incited a terror that had nothing to do with the heights.
“I figured we’d walk to where we’re going if you’re okay with that. It’s not far.”
“That’s fine.”
“I’ll take you to the back of Air Dog first. You won’t want to miss the view.”
He carried the sled and a backpack as they hiked to the back of Air Dog. The club’s backyard held a covered deck and picnic tables overlooking a view that tripped her pulse. Caution signs advised many hazards. Watch your step. Watch for ice. Watch for drops.
No warning to watch your heart.
Steps led from the deck to the snow-packed ground. The ground dipped into a trail of white leveling into a valley of more white below. A powder packed trail soared to meet majestic mountains towering into more tiers. From here, she could see people enter the ski lift and climb a mountain that appeared near even to the naked eye.
“This is like a Christmas postcard,” she whispered.
“Ice skating is just down the street.”
Reagan quickly shook her head. Ice skating was a good way to show her lack of balancing skills, and she wasn’t ready for that yet.
“You want to go first?” Garret asked, holding the sled out to her.
Reagan glanced below her and at the people nearby. Nobody paid them any attention. They were too busy making their own fun. Still, she felt she was the one in the way. “Here?”
“Might as well start right here. That’s a nice small hill to start with,” he added as he nodded downhill.
“No.” She stepped away from the bright orange flare of the slider. It taunted her, intimidated her, and it was just a silly little thing for her to sit in so she could slide down a ferocious mountain.
It wasn’t that ferocious.
Still, she wasn’t sure if the chill skating up her skull was from the thought of spiraling down the mountain on that contraption or being so near this man.
“I mean, I would rather you go first,” she continued, this time a little calmer.
He smiled a beaming, accommodating, amusing smile as if he couldn’t wait to show her how silly she was to be afraid. He plunked the sled on the ground. “Okay.” With no effort, he climbed in and slid down the hill before she had a chance to catch her breath.
Anticipation shot through her as she watched him reach bottom. She pinned her hand to her mouth, chortling like a child and doing a little dance-jump. He waved and began to scale the path to where she stood, her rickety legs threatening to fold under her as he came closer.
“That looks like a lot of fun.”
“You ready to give it a try?” he asked as he approached and handed over the sled.
She managed to control her fear and get on, screaming the entire three-second run downhill. Excitement erupted into a giggly spear of laughter when she slid to a stop at the bottom.
She glanced up at Garret. He waved and before she knew it, he was sliding down the hill on his butt.
She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“Come on,” he said as he stood and reached for her hand. “I have some other places to show you. If you don’t mind the walk.”
“No. I don’t mind.”
Her clothes swished as they hiked. Garret wasn’t kidding, it wasn’t far,
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