TRAILS MERGE

by

Rachel Spangler

2008

TRAILS MERGE

© 2008 BY RACHEL SPANGLER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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 (GRAPHICARTIST2020@HOTMAIL.COM)

Acknowledgments

Trails Merge has had several drafts and the story has evolved

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and the families we create. Like my characters, I am a part of many

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gets extra thanks this time for incorporating my own picture of a trails

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consider myself lucky to have as part of several of my families. I also

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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

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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

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may.

Dedication

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You are my greatest adventure.

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TRAILS MERGE

PROLOGUE

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Wisconsin. She had packed their suitcases, watered the plants, and

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She had waited on Lynn a lot over the past few years, so she should

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really have to work these particular hours on this particular Saturday

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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

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as the day they met in college.

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instantly fell in love with her, and that love hadn’t wavered.

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ELOO´

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all spring. Why wouldn’t I want to hear that?”

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tonight.”



TRAILS MERGE

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again, I wouldn’t mind.”

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knew immediately that she’d said something wrong.

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girl.”

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settle for the life you’re dreaming of. If you take that road, you’ll spend

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few options.



RACHEL SPANGLER

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slipped the key to the apartment from her pocket, placed it on the coffee

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TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER ONE

Six Months Later

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shaded from light to dark in various parts of the room, depending on the

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the dormers on each of the outside walls.

She walked over to a window and had to admit the view wasn’t

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the steep incline of the terrain.

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not Chicago.”

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“Well, I guess you found the place all right,” he said as he glanced

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“Yeah, thanks,” Parker replied, not sure what else to say to the

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far from the slick and polished Ivy Leaguers she usually worked for.

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“I should start researching the clientele demographics to see what

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don’t you take some time to settle in?”

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dropped in the living room of her apartment less than a mile from the

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rest.”

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now.”

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“If you say so.”

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for a pickup game.”

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“Sounds fun.” Parker tried to force a smile, even though she would

rather poke herself with a sharp stick than spend an afternoon playing

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she gotten herself into this time?



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through the mess toward the kitchen.

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survived in this part of Wisconsin.

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wine, “red meat does call for red wine.” She closed the door to the now

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she used a plastic fork that came with the carryout and shrugged at

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rang shrilly.

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phone from her pocket. “Parker Riley.”

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of the line.

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“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<RXKDYHVHHQFRZVKDYHQ¶W\RX"´$OH[LVVDLG

playfully.

3DUNHUORRNHGGRZQDWWKHSLHFHRIEHHIRQKHUIRUN³,JXHVV\RX

could say that.”

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IRUKHU¿UVW6DWXUGD\QLJKWLQ:LVFRQVLQ"´

³8P´²3DUNHU JODQFHG DURXQG WKH URRP²³,¶OO SUREDEO\

unpack.”

³2K FRPH RQ QRW HYHQ D GLQQHU GDWH"´$OH[LV VRXQGHG D OLWWOH

worried.



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´

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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

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FRQ¿QHPHQW´

³,NQRZ%XW,UHDOO\DPRND\,QIDFW,¶PDOUHDG\¿OOLQJP\VRFLDO

calendar.”

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VDLGZLWKRXWDGGLQJWKDWKHUERVVKDGWROGKHUWR

³$VRIWEDOOJDPH"´$OH[LVVRXQGHGSHUSOH[HG

³<HVDSSDUHQWO\LW¶VLQVHDVRQ7KHZKROHVWDIIJHWVWRJHWKHUWR

play every Sunday.” Parker tried to make the event sound appealing.



RACHEL SPANGLER

³<HV\HV´$OH[LVDIIHFWHGDVQRRW\DLU³,¶YHKHDUGRIVXFKWKLQJV

DPRQJFRXQWU\OHVELDQV6SRUWLQJHYHQWVDFFRPSDQLHGE\WKHWUDGLWLRQDO

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3DUNHU ODXJKHG ³7KHQ ,¶G EHWWHU KHDG WR :DO0DUW , KDYHQ¶W

XQSDFNHGP\ÀDQQHO\HW´

“Don’t you dare. I’d rather you drink alone than spend your

6DWXUGD\QLJKWDW:DO0DUW´

³<RX¶UHULJKW,¶OOMXVWKDYHWRIRUJRWKHÀDQQHO´

³%XWKRZZLOO\RXVLJQDOWRWKHRWKHUZRPHQWKDW\RX¶UHRQHRI

WKHP"0DWLQJFDOO"6HFUHWKDQGVKDNH"´

“No.” Parker sighed, despite her friend’s humor. “I’m through

with mating calls for a while.”

³8KRKZH¶UHEDFNWRZDOORZLQJ´

³1RQRWZDOORZLQJDWDOO7KLVLVH[DFWO\ZKDW,ZDQWIURPP\

life right now.”

“Loneliness.”

“Independence.”

³7KDQN\RX0LD´$OH[LVPXPEOHGXQGHUKHUEUHDWK

³,W¶V QRW DERXW 0LD 5HDOO\ ,¶P MXVW IRFXVHG RQ UHEXLOGLQJ P\

career and reputation. You know I want to make a difference in the

ZRUOG$QRWKHUUHODWLRQVKLSULJKWQRZZRXOGRQO\NHHSPHIURPJHWWLQJ

P\VHOIEDFNWRJHWKHU´

³(VSHFLDOO\LIVKHVKRZVPRUHLQWHUHVWLQIUDWSDUWLHVWKDQSDUWLVDQ

politics.”

³$OH[LV,PHDQLW/HDYH0LDRXWRILW7KLVLVQ¶WKHUIDXOW´3DUNHU

said, even though the ache in her chest suggested that statement wasn’t

completely true.

³:KRVDLGDQ\WKLQJDERXW0LD",ZDVVSHDNLQJK\SRWKHWLFDOO\´

$OH[LVUHVSRQGHGGU\O\³%XWLIWKHVKRH¿WV²´

³&DQZHFKDQJHWKHVXEMHFW":K\GRQ¶W\RXWHOOPHZKDW\RXSODQ

to do tonight?”

³:HOOVRPHRIWKHJLUOVIURPWKHRI¿FHKDYHWLFNHWVWRWKDW Wizard

of OzPXVLFDOEXW,¶GUDWKHUKLWWKHFOXEV´

3DUNHU WULHG QRW WR OHW KHU YRLFH UHÀHFW KHU WZLQJH RI VDGQHVV

*HWWLQJDZD\IURP&KLFDJRKDGEHHQWKHULJKWFKRLFHHYHQLILWKDGQ¶W

EHHQHDV\WRPDNH³,KHDUWKDW¶VVXSSRVHGWREHDPD]LQJ´

“Why don’t you come down next weekend and we’ll see it

together?”



TRAILS MERGE

³$OH[LV\RXNQRZ,FDQ¶W,KDYHDMREKHUH´

³<RXZRQ¶WVHHDQ\KLWPXVLFDOVDW%HDU5XQ´$OH[LVDQVZHUHG

sullenly.

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it.”

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kisses.”

“You, too.” Parker hung up and took another swig of wine

GLUHFWO\IURPWKHERWWOHEHIRUHVKHVWRRGXS'ZHOOLQJRQKHUGRXEWV

wouldn’t improve the situation, so she resigned herself to an evening

of unpacking.





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWO

CDPSEHOO´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

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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

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EXWGLGQ¶WHYHQFRPHFORVH

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DV UHDGLO\ 6DPP\ JDYH KHU DQ DOPRVW XQSHUFHLYDEOH JULQ EHIRUH KH

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KLVVKRXOGHUZKHQ&DPSEHOOFDOOHGRXW³2QHGRZQWZRWRJR´

7KHVHFRQGKLWWHUDQRWKHUPDQLQKLVWKLUWLHVZHQWRXWVZLQJLQJ

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SLSHDWEUHDNQHFNVSHHG7KHZRPDQFDXJKWDSLHFHRIWKHEDOODQGVHQW

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trapped it neatly with one hand.

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\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<HDK´6DPP\JUXPEOHGDQGVWDONHGRII&DPSEHOODQG(PHU\

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JDPH7KHUH¶VQRQHHGWRJHWKLPDOOULOHGXSOLNHWKDW´(PHU\VDLG

when Sammy was out of earshot.

³<HDKEXWWKDW¶VZKDWELJVLVWHUVDUHIRU´

(PHU\ ODXJKHG DQG WKUHZ KLV DUP DURXQG KHU VKRXOGHU :KLOH



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³+H\,MXVWVDZVRPHRQH,ZDQW\RXWRPHHWDIWHUWKHJDPH´

³:KR"´ &DPSEHOO KDG NQRZQ HYHU\RQH DURXQG WKH UHVRUW IRU

years.

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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

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VPLOH+HUH\HVZHUHKLGGHQEHKLQGVXQJODVVHVEXW&DPSEHOOWKRXJKW

she was looking in their direction. She immediately felt a strange twinge

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to the stunning woman unsettled her.

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eyes.

&DPSEHOOEOXVKHGZKHQVKHUHDOL]HGVKH¶GEHHQFDXJKWVWDULQJ

“Yeah, sorry. What did you say?”

(PHU\UDLVHGDTXHVWLRQLQJH\HEURZ³<RX¶UHXS´

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³2QH6DPP\¶VRQ¿UVW´

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her shoulder.

“Strike one,” the catcher called out, a little too enthusiastically.

&DPSEHOOJODQFHGEDFNDWKLP³7KDQNVIRUFOHDULQJWKDWXSŚhe returned her attention to the pitcher and tried to determine the EDOO¶VVSHHGDVVRRQDVLWOHIWKLVKDQG2QFHDJDLQLQWKHVSOLWVHFRQG

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mask.

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to Sammy.

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Her dad’s easy laugh rolled over her as he hugged her.

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“You notice he wasn’t out there swinging,” her mother added.

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her as well.

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couldn’t pinpoint why.

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TRAILS MERGE

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when she laughed.

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“Do you need help unpacking?” Sammy asked, edging closer to

her.

“I’ve got it under control.”

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“though I don’t do much walking anymore.”

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suspect this woman didn’t often depend on other people for help.

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somewhere, Parker?”

“No, I’m on foot.”

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chivalry.

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later,” Irene said.

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across as aloof. Despite her cordial interactions with them, she seemed

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designer attempt at casual, and her perfectly manicured nails indicated

that she wasn’t used to spending much time outdoors.

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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.

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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.

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didn’t want to discuss. People in politics usually didn’t want to discuss

anything else.

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in the woods?”

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Sammy was right to wonder why a woman like this would come to a

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She’s not even unpacked.”

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that seemed slightly more genuine than the others she’d produced.

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them.



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leave.

“You, too.”

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settling into an easy silence that came from spending so much of their

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on the couch.

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“I’m going to take a shower.”

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her loft.

“What?”

“You think Parker plays for your team or mine?”

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had sparked it. What was more, the guarded new marketing director

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LQVL[PRQWKV&DPSEHOO¶VSXOVHZDVUDFLQJ





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CHAPTER THREE

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over two weeks and completely immersed herself in her work. She

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days sifting through the names of anyone who had skied here for the

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then adding the ages, or approximate ages, of the pass holders, she

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during today’s meeting.

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his chair.

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made her feel at ease. He had checked on her daily and provided helpful

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today.”

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He chuckled.

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that, though part of Parker was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

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reserve in Greg’s greeting.

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“I’m almost completely unpacked.”

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food Parker had eaten since she’d arrived, and she lived off it for days.

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mountain, always cooking for, or cleaning up after, or checking in on

someone.

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down the hall, as they usually were. Not an angry argument, more

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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.

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spoken to her since she arrived, and Parker had yet to decide if she was

shy, uninterested, or distrustful.

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more hugs all around.

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a Carson. She had sandy hair like the rest, with a natural muscle tone,

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senior.

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the waves and the sand. I could hardly drag them away.”

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“You know it.” Janelle laughed loudly. “He was drooling as much

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old swim trunks.”

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Janelle settled into her seat. “Greg, I saw one of the lifts running

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renewal coming for the daycare?”

“So far so good. We’re up to code and three sitters are returning,

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immediately put her pen to work, taking notes and trying to recall

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the renewal of their childcare license. Parker was more than a little

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interwoven here.

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and I need to start reviewing applications for servers and cleanup staff.

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ads in the newspaper.”

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else seemed to, so she didn’t want to interrupt. She was successful in

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conference facilities, the housekeeping staff, and the general upkeep of

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meeting started, and the sound of her voice almost startled Parker.



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on the cleaning staff. We’ll start getting reservations for Christmas

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training for a while.”

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reassess the formality of the situation while they all stared at her.

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pants. Surely that was a sign. She grinned in spite of herself at the

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of graphs and charts she had printed for everyone, she tried not to pay

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demographics show that only children, college students, and men in

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information. “Well, don’t stop now. You’re on a roll.”

“Women stop coming to the resort when they start having children.

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resources.”

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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.

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so soon.”

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you need to target women.”

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to try a program like this. We’ll have to advertise heavily and hire extra

employees on your ladies’ days in hopes that housewives really have

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in.”

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whatever you want.”

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left.

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your opinion.”

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around when we show him your idea is good for the mountain. We’re

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the time?”

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continuing their conversation.

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doesn’t talk much, does she?”

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when she was little, you couldn’t get her to shut up.”

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was gone.

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How had she missed that?



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER FOUR

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that she could make out only the tips of her old Rossignols as

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invigoration. Slowly the image faded, along with the feeling of

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opened her eyes.

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She hoped Lynn would come to appreciate those connections as well.

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Lynn to try to keep her away from the people and places she loved.

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Run and could imagine taking over the resort someday and moving it

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looked forward to watching her family grow and change, to helping her

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she let herself long for more.

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scenario, as she secretly referred to it. In that dream her wife was her

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heated her up even on the coldest winter nights. Someone who accepted

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Someone to create a family and grow old with.

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productive. She had the love and support of her family, and she had a

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had it all.

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least twenty degrees and the scent of frost washed over her. Snow was

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on the slopes. Her family, their livelihood, everything was tied to the

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meant good times ahead. It always had, and after several years away

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in ways it didn’t seem to in other places. Just now as the leaves were

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surroundings when she noticed movement in the woods up ahead. She

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woods this time of year. Her family worked hard to take only as many

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time, and even though she hadn’t seen any yet this morning, there were

likely several out there.

Something was moving among the trees again as she slowed to a

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could very easily do the same.

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woman. Parker glanced up, seeming startled to see her standing so

close, then pulled some small headphones from her ears.

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approached.

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killed?”

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run here every day.”

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sounded incredulous.

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you turned it on occasionally, you would know there are hunters all

over these woods right now, and they’ll shoot anything not wearing an

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hadn’t intended to lash out at Parker.

“I can’t imagine anyone allowing hunting when they could stop it.

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shot me?”

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people and nature. “Hunting is a more humane manner of death, and

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watch CNN.”

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now. “Where were you headed?”

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what Parker did on her weekends.

“I’ve got work to do,” Parker said. “I don’t have time to play.”

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I am.”

“Really? It’s pretty sad that you don’t have anything more

meaningful in your life than conference ledgers and marketing

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sounded.

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precious mountain?”

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leg over, straddling the seat, then motioned for Parker to follow her.

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came to rest lightly on her waist and caused an unexpected chill. She

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on its own accord.

She drove faster toward the top of the mountain, then along the top

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this in Chicago.

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than I would. I’m not much on overpriced places and overindulgent

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into stereotypes.”

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thrill she had on the way up. Instead, she wondered how she could have

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what was right in front of her.

When they reached the lodge, Parker let go. “Well, that was

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woman who didn’t appreciate anything the mountain had to offer.

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she stopped and turned around.

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“Yes.”

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“Now that’s out of the way,” Parker transitioned awkwardly, “have

a nice day.”

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careful on the way home.”

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me it’s safe in the woods.”

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the view.”

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six months earlier. While they would never say it, they hadn’t agreed

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dad had even tried to talk her out of it, saying the university was a

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trying to kid her into seeing his point of view. Her mother, however,

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she was welcome there anytime.

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“You took Parker up the mountain with you?” Sammy asked,

sounding more than a little surprised.

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since her interaction with Parker had stirred emotions she was still

trying to sort out.

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shot.”

“I told her that. She didn’t even know it was hunting season.”

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“I told her that, too. You know, we should do some workshops on

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city would love that, and if they’re anything like Parker, they could use

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“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

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father was stuck in his ways, and now wasn’t the time to try to push

him out of them.

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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.”

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“Well, now that you mention it, I talked to Parker last week and

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thought that was odd.”

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any reason to dislike Parker?”

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of the comment show.

Likewise the expression on Sammy’s face said he would do

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said that.”

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and politically minded, and she never seemed to leave work. She had

yet to mention her own family.

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as if on cue she recalled the way she had snapped at her earlier, her

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she felt every time Parker was around.

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to fall into place, she was disappointed in herself. She knew what it

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perception of Parker, and while she wasn’t yet ready to consider what

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she needed to make more of an effort to see Parker for who she was and

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anything more permanent than that.



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER FIVE

Parker paced around the living room of her small apartment

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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

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anticipation.

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chance to make a difference in some way that actually mattered.

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canvassing the campaign trail, the high that came from throwing herself

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campaign wagon hauling a promising candidate who said the right

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had picked a winner, one who, like all the others, said the right things

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winner, all right. He would win at any cost. Parker shuddered.

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holding true as governors’ races went to Democrats in New York and

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across the screen, showing that Democrats had also picked up senate

seats in New Hampshire and Rhode Island and congressional seats in



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“I’m on my way home to change and soak my feet.”

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come take over for me?”

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done with the glamorous world of politics.”

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I know. I’m the one who told him how.”

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come in.”

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again, not tonight.

She didn’t hear her friend’s response due to a loud knock at her

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they have to say.”

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other, seeming unsure.

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honor?”

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out of the corner of her eye.

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need?”

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come along.”

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favor of Democratic candidates.

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do.

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families weren’t her thing.

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already heading for the door.



TRAILS MERGE

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answered the phone.

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it.”

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important.”

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action.” With that she was gone, closing the door softly.

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“Yes,” she sighed, “I’m alive.”

“Did you see the news? We’re a third of the way to controlling

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on pace to take it all.”

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up.

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working on the slopes and is a ski instructor in the winter.”

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Parker continued. “She’s the one who took me up the mountain on

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permanent mailing address in the gutter?”

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shoes or something?”

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felt none of the animosity of her friend and only a hint of sadness.

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new dress and hops up onstage to take all the credit. It’s a pretty tight

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TRAILS MERGE

Party that doesn’t,” Parker said, partly out of loyalty to the party and

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You should, too.”

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SXQFK²´

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WR GR HYHU\WKLQJ SRVVLEOH WR HQMR\ LW 6KH WKRXJKW EDFN EULHÀ\ WR

&DPSEHOO¶VYLVLWDQGKRSHGWKDW$OH[LVKDGQ¶WRIIHQGHGKHUWRRPXFK

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RQDGD\OLNHWRGD\ZDVDOPRVWFRPLFDOEXW&DPSEHOOKDGDWOHDVWWULHG

to reach out to her, which had to count for something.





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER SIX

$OOULJKW1RHOGULYHXVXSWR8QFOH*UHJ´&DPSEHOOSXOOHG

WKH IDLUKDLUHG OLWWOH JLUO RQWR KHU ODS 7KH ¿YH\HDUROG

JULSSHGWKHVWHHULQJZKHHODQGWXUQHGLWJHQWO\WRWKHOHIW&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\

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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?”



RACHEL SPANGLER

³<HDK´7KHFKLOGERXQFHGRYHUWRKLPH[FLWHGWREHLQYROYHGLQ

another important task.

&DPSEHOO DQG KHU IDWKHU XQKLWFKHG WKH VQRZ FDQQRQ DQG UROOHG

it the few feet to where Sammy and Noel were uncoiling a series of

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to oversee Sammy.

&DPSEHOO VWRRG LQ WKH PLGGOH RI ZKDW ZRXOG EH NQRZQ DV WKH

EXQQ\VORSHLQDIHZZHHNV7KLVZRXOGEHKHUGRPDLQXQWLOWKHHQG

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Last year, she had missed all this, and now she wanted to take in every

aspect of the experience.

When she surveyed the land, she noticed how the terrain dipped

OLJKWO\IURPRQHRIWKHEHJLQQHUWUDLOVLQWRDVWDQGRI¿UWUHHVEHIRUHLW

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had eroded part of the hillside over the past few years as the trees grew

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VHHWKHFKDQJHXQWLOQRZ7KHQHZOD\RXWFRXOGKHOSVNLHUVZRUNRQ

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³,I ZH WRRN RXW WKRVH IRXU WUHHV ZH¶G KDYH D SHUIHFW FXWWKURXJK

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end up in the same space.”

³,W ZRXOG EH D IXQ OLWWOH GURS IRU IRONV ZKR¶UH MXVW JHWWLQJ XS

WKHLUVSHHGEXWFDQ¶WKDQGOHDIXOOVORSH\HW´&DPSEHOOUHDVRQHG³,W

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afternoon.”

³&DP,NQRZ\RX¶UHH[FLWHGEXWWKLQJVDUHZRUNLQJ¿QHDVWKH\

DUH 'RQ¶W EH LQ VXFK D KXUU\ WR FKDQJH WKH SODFH´ *UHJ VDLG WKHQ

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disrupt any of this?”

&DPSEHOO GURSSHG WKH VXEMHFW 7KHUH ZDV QR VHQVH VWDUWLQJ DQ

argument. It was a perfect day. During the past week the temperature



TRAILS MERGE

had hung steadily in the upper thirties during the day and the mid

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help for the day, and with some of the winter employees they would

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this, too.”

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couldn’t make sense of their last encounter, four days ago. Parker had

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had spent her entire adult life working in politics and was entitled to

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weeks for a place she considered not even part of the “real world”?

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was getting frustrated with all her inconsistencies.

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³*RRGPRUQLQJ&DPSEHOO´6KHVDWEHKLQGKHUGHVNZHDULQJD

purple and white sweatshirt that simply read “Northwestern” in large

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in the sweatshirt than in her power suits, which seemed contrived, as

though they were merely a calculated part of the message she tried to

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found her voice.



RACHEL SPANGLER

“Yeah, who wants to know?”

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“Which one? University of Wisconsin?”

“Yep. With honors, no less.”

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interest.

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said.

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laughter.

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She knew her expression changed immediately, and she tried to cover it

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professional persona. “What can I do for you?”

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spoiled her kidding mood.

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“I do.”

“You do what?” Parker asked, seeming confused.



TRAILS MERGE

³, KDYH D SUREOHP ZLWK KRZ \RX¶UH GRLQJ \RXU MRE´ &DPSEHOO

was tired of this conversation.

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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.”

&DPSEHOOFKXFNOHGDW3DUNHU¶VGHIHQVLYHQHVV7KHKLQWRIFRORU

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missing the point.”

³,EHJ\RXUSDUGRQ"´

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ledgers Parker had strewn across her desk. “People come here, and

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the onset of activity on the slopes. “What are they doing?”

³:H¶UH SODFLQJ WKH VQRZJXQV WRGD\ ,W¶V WKH XQRI¿FLDO VWDUW RI

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“You’re going to start making snow?”

“No, we’re going to start making snow.”

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“You think this will give me some extra insight that will help my

MRE"´

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she got a lot further with Parker when she appealed to her sense of

professionalism. While Parker might pass on an opportunity to get out

on the slopes, she wasn’t likely to miss the chance to see another side

RIWKHEXVLQHVV

Parker shrugged. “I guess it never hurts to learn something new,

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more intimate.

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going to take it up to where Sammy and my dad are.”

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seemed interested in taking it all in, which was promising.

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toward a trail with a sharper incline that was coming into view.

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trails are for experts.”

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“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

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“Sure is.”

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“So this is a family affair,” Parker noted as they started off down

the mountain again.

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ready to work alongside the family. She depended on the mountain

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the main lodge, where several of the snowguns were already uncovered

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helped lift the heavy machinery. Despite her slender frame, she was



TRAILS MERGE

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for reasons that had nothing to do with their shared physical exertion.

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we’ll move them all over the mountain for most of the season.”

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accepting the role of student.

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even when we have a good snowfall, we’ll make snow at night too

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here.”

“Why?”

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“Why not run them when the skiers are here?”

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RIWKHVHEHIRUH´

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EUHDWKHLWLQ´

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level.

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in the fall and spring we sometimes need to go around the clock to keep

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snowguns.



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and are expelled into the air at very high speeds.”

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twins added.

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air.”

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ZLWKZKDWDSSHDUHGWREHWKHEHJLQQLQJVRIDJHQXLQHVPLOH6KHZDV

even happier to see Parker turn that little grin toward her, causing her

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ZDV PXFK PRUH OLNHDEOH WKDQ WKH RQH VKH KDG SUHYLRXVO\ FRPH WR

know.

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WKHIXQE\VD\LQJ³,¶PJRLQJGRZQDEOXHWKLV\HDU´

&DPSEHOOODXJKHG³2QO\LI\RXWDNHPHRU6DPP\ with you.”

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3DUNHUKDGDQXQPLVWDNDEOHH[SUHVVLRQRIFRQFHUQDQGLQH[SOLFDEO\

&DPSEHOOKDGDVXGGHQXUJHWRSURWHFWKHU³2QO\LI3DUNHUZDQWVWR´

3DUNHU VPLOHG QHUYRXVO\ DW WKH FKLOG ³&DPSEHOO LV SUREDEO\ D

EHWWHUWHDFKHUWKDQ,DP´

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and tightly pressed lips were much less alluring than the earlier look of

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WR¿JXUHRXWZKDWZDVJRLQJRQ

&DPSEHOOVSHQWPXFKRIWKHUHVWRIWKHGD\WU\LQJWRSLHFHWRJHWKHU

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DQG 3DUNHU HYHQ EHFDPH DQ DVVHW WR WKH WHDP E\ WKH HQG RI WKH GD\

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WKH&DUVRQIDPLO\RUIHOWDQ\PHDQLQJIXOFRQQHFWLRQWRWKHODQGEXW

at least she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She hadn’t seemed



TRAILS MERGE

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IURPOLIWLQJRUWRZLQJDQ\WKLQJ+DG&DPSEHOOPLVMXGJHGKHU"3DUNHU

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&DPSEHOOKDGDFFXVHGKHURI

In fact, the only times Parker had seemed concerned was when

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7KHQLWDOOVWDUWHGWRFRPHWRJHWKHU3DUNHUGLGQ¶WNQRZWKHFRORUFRGH

of the slopes, the purpose of the snow guns, or if she could keep up with

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&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

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&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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KXQFKHGRYHUKHUGHVNIRUKRXUVDQGZDVVWDUWLQJWRGR]HRII

Yawning, she looked out the window at the mountain and its looming

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huge piles of snow were appearing at random intervals all over the

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IDOOHQ\HWVRWKHSDUNLQJORWZDVFRYHUHGE\WKHRFFDVLRQDOSXGGOHEXW

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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

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6DPP\ DQG &DPSEHOO ZHUH GULYLQJ WKH PDVVLYH VQRZ JURRPHU

RQ WKH EHJLQQHUV¶ KLOO 7KH ODUJH \HOORZ WDQNOLNH PDFKLQH WKDW KDG

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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

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VQRZ7KHDUHDQRZUHVHPEOHGDVPDOOIURVWHGVTXDUHRIFDNHZLWKWKH

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3DUNHU UHWXUQHG WR KHU GHVN 6KH KDG ¿QLVKHG DQDO\]LQJ WKH

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data into a spreadsheet that allowed her to study the information in a

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ZLWKWKHVHDVRQSDVVHV7KHFRQIHUHQFHVZHUHH[DFWO\ZKDWVKHZRXOG

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6KHÀLSSHGWKURXJKWKHLQIRUPDWLRQIRUWKHWHQWKWLPHLQWKHSDVW

WZR KRXUV 6KH KDG REYLRXVO\ PLVVHG VRPHWKLQJ IDLOHG WR FRQVLGHU

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stood in the doorway, her hair peeking out from underneath a stocking

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WKLFNEODFNSODVWLFERRWV

³1HZSDLURIVKRHV"´3DUNHUDVNHGDQGVPLOHG6RPHWKLQJDERXW

WKLVZRPDQPDGHKHUIHHOZDUPLQVLGH7KH\KDGQ¶WH[DFWO\KLWLWRII

VR WKHLU FRQQHFWLRQ ZDV LQH[SOLFDEOH EXW XQPLVWDNDEOH 2I FRXUVH LW

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skin and rippling muscles were certainly hot enough to raise Parker’s

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“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<RXZHUHEHLQJVHULRXV"´

³1RW DERXW WKH .HQQHWK &ROH SDUW EXW \HDK WKHVH DUH \RXU VNL

ERRWV &RPH RQ ,¶YH JRW PRUH VWXII IRU \RX GRZQVWDLUV´ 7KHQ VKH

disappeared.



TRAILS MERGE

3DUNHUIUR]H I’m so busted7KLVKDGEHHQFRPLQJIURPWKHPRPHQW

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Slowly she stood and put on her coat. Pausing at the top of the

VWDLUVVKHZDWFKHG&DPSEHOOSXOORQDSDLURI*RUH7H[VNLSDQWVRYHU

KHUMHDQVDQGIHOWDÀDVKRISDQLF This is really happening. She had

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REYLRXVWKDWVKHGLGQ¶WKDYHDFOXHKRZWRVNL

,IVKHZHUHWRWULSDQGEUHDNKHUOHJZKLOHJRLQJGRZQWKHVWDLUV

VKHZRXOGKDYHDQH[FXVHQRWWRKDYHWR¶IHVVXSWRKHUELJVHFUHW Oh,

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

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PRYHVDVVKHVWHSSHGLQWRDSDLURIWKHKHDY\EODFNERRWVOLNHWKRVH

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IURQWKHUVFODVSHGLQWKHEDFN

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EHQWGRZQQH[WWRKHUDQGVDLG³/HDQIRUZDUG´6KHGLGDVWROGDQGLQ

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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

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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.

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&DPSEHOO¶VKDQGRQKHUOHJ

³+DWDQGJRJJOHV´&DPSEHOOLQVWUXFWHGDQG3DUNHUVLOHQWO\SXWRQ

the last few items of ski gear while she tried to regain her composure.

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ERRWVZKLFKZHUHKHDY\DQGFDXVHGKHUWRSLWFKIRUZDUGMXVWHQRXJK

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with one foot, then the other. She actually felt slightly disappointed

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was withdrawn.

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serenity of the moment.

She noticed two pairs of skis on the ground, one pair drastically

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TRAILS MERGE

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undercut any potential friendship.

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strategist, and it certainly doesn’t make me less dedicated to doing my

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teach you.”

“How did you know?”

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of slopes and snow.”

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right through her.

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front, and I don’t see why anyone else needs to know,” she answered

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WKDWQRRQHZLOOVXVSHFW\RXKDYHQ¶WEHHQGRLQJLWIRU\HDUV´

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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

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lies. She would have to handle this lesson very carefully so Parker

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Parker did as she was told, appearing to use every ounce of her

energy to concentrate.

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EXWDOVRKHUIDFLDOH[SUHVVLRQVDQGERG\ODQJXDJH,WZDVDEHDXWLIXO

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RI3DUNHU¶VDFWLRQV³*RRG1RZSODFH\RXUERRWRQWKHVNLELQGLQJVR

\RXUWRHDQGKHHOIDOOEHWZHHQWKRVHPHWDOSLHFHV/LVWHQFDUHIXOO\DV

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that.”

Parker mimicked her move perfectly, and her mouth twitched

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³7KLVPD\VRXQGVLOO\QRZEXWVRRQ\RX¶OOWKLQNWKDW¶VWKHVZHHWHVW

sound in the world.”

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DQ\WKLQJVR&DPSEHOOFRQWLQXHG6KHTXLFNO\VQDSSHGLQWRKHURWKHU

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already in the ski.”

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WKH UHOLHI HYLGHQW LQ KHU YRLFH7KHQ D ÀLFNHU RI IHDU UHWXUQHG WR KHU

EHDXWLIXOH\HV³6RZKDWQRZ"´

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Skiing is fun.”



TRAILS MERGE

3DUNHU UROOHG KHU H\HV ³7KDQNV IRU WKH SHS WDON EXW ZKDW GR ,

need to do?”

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from under her. “See, they don’t have minds of their own, even though

it may seem like it at times.”

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“When do I start hurtling down the mountain?”

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HYHQWKLQNDERXWWKHPRXQWDLQ´

³$QGZKDWDUHWKHEDVLFV"´

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serious positions that will determine the amount of speed and control

you have at any given point.”

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Parker regarded her skis, which were exactly parallel and slightly

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chuckled, knowing that wasn’t the position Parker wanted to start off

with.

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Parker’s cheeks were rosy from the cold, and she was still gripping

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danced with amusement and a slow smile played at the corners of her

delicate mouth. “Surprisingly, I am.”

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toward each other in the front.” She demonstrated the move as Parker

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SL]]D´

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mind had slipped into the gutter.

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“Like this?”

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or, as we tell the kids, don’t let your skis kiss. No kissing on the slopes.”

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once again it took on a completely different meaning with Parker, or at

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had nothing to do with skis.

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tangled up. If you dig in with your instep and put a little pressure into

the stance, you should slow down to a nice gentle stop.”

“Nice gentle stop,” Parker repeated softly, as if for her own

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like a children’s fantasy world?”



TRAILS MERGE

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“I’m not very in touch with my inner child,” Parker confessed.

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\RXZKDWLWIHHOVOLNHWREHDNLG´

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of relief showed on her face when she successfully made it onto the

carpet lift.

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glided to a stop a couple of feet from where Parker approached the end

of the lift.

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almost choked on the phrase as it left her mouth. Oh, my God, I just

offered to get her off, she screamed internally. What was suddenly

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thing Parker needed right now was a teacher more focused on checking

her out than helping her out.

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shook her head. Parker’s need for constant control would make these

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:LWKRXWZDLWLQJIRUIXUWKHULQVWUXFWLRQVVKHOLIWHGWKHIRRWVKHKDGMXVW



RACHEL SPANGLER

freed, tapped it with her pole, and pushed it into its ski again. She then

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it or attempt to temper it would come across as condescending.

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part of the small slope. She performed the technical aspects exactly

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approached the halfway point, her skis were edging too close together

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SL]]D´

Parker’s skis turned slightly inward so that the tips were almost

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kept going at her initial pace so she could pull in front of Parker and see

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Oh no, she’s going down. &DPSEHOO¶VKHDUWEHJDQWRSRXQG

Parker started to slide sideways as she struggled to lift the top

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to Parker, throwing an arm around her shoulder and pausing only to

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out laughing. “How did you do that?”



TRAILS MERGE

“I didn’t want to fall again,” Parker said through a mix of deep

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&DPSEHOOSXOOHGKHUFORVHULQWRWKHFURRNRIKHUDUP³,¶YHVNLHG

my whole life, and I’ve never seen anyone stay upright through sheer

force of will. I thought you were a goner.”

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KHUH\HVVWLOOVKLQLQJZLWKWKHSXUHMR\RIKHUDFFRPSOLVKPHQW

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Parker had ignited something unexpected and slightly scary. It was

more than the incidental contact they had toyed with until that point.

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the way across the hill.”

Parker easily made the turn, following exactly in the tracks

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opportunity to spend longer periods of time skiing and less time on the

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her somewhat. Parker’s intense focus was, however, appealing, and at

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“I thought you said these things don’t have a mind of their own,”

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speed?”

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Without another word they turned downhill, this time cutting their

turns closer together and hitting the last little steep with some speed.

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forth across the slopes in an elegant SVKDSHGSDWWHUQ&DPSEHOOIHOWOLNH

a teenager again. She was happy, relaxed, and even thrilled to share the

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swaying in the wind, and when you’re on the powder, it’s like you’re

riding right along with it.”

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off, though.”

“Would you like to spend the day with me and my family?”

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all the trimmings, and then we spend the afternoon on the slopes. It’s



TRAILS MERGE

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Parker eyed the controls of the lift carefully. She knew how to

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she allowed one of the chairs to whisk her up the mountain. She spent

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attitude and demeanor, and it was a little disconcerting how well she

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She exited the chair at the top of the mountain and examined the

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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

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more lately. No matter how many times it happened, Parker was never

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Shaking her head, she pushed off lightly. Right now she needed to

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which was running faster than usual. She turned in a wide arc to control

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one in the opposite direction. She followed this shaky pattern all the

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that housed the lift controls.

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kind of toy? What made you think you had the right to touch the lift

controls without so much as asking for a lesson in how to use them?”

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“So you what? You felt entitled to it? You thought the rules didn’t

apply to you?”

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her own emotions. “It’s not rocket science. Grease monkeys and college

dropouts run these things all season.”

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TRAILS MERGE

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staff?”

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hands and pulled her in so that their noses were almost touching, and

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centered to wait a few minutes.”

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pleading with her, seeming to search for any sign of understanding, and

Parker melted into them. Her emotions were so raw there was no room

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would have wondered if they had actually kissed.

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she chose the latter.

“We’re done for the day. If you want to ski any more, I’ll see you

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$V WKH VKRFN DQG H[FLWHPHQW RI WKH HQFRXQWHU ZRUH RII 3DUNHU

watched her leave, feeling cold, empty, and confused.





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER EIGHT

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She’d missed the experience last year, like so many other things. She’d

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the holiday with her colleagues. She shook her head at the memory,

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recalled the years they had shared.

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working. He loved his family and the mountain too much and was

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protected everything he loved and was leery of anything or anyone who

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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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

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soon as the kids wake up from their nap.”

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fastened snugly. “Sounds good.”

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then hugged her. “Have I told you lately how happy I am that you’re

home?”

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what she’d returned home for, the type of connection she’d missed with

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when she touched the smooth skin of Parker’s face and fell into those

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fused into something primal, something raw, and the expression of it

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what Parker must think of her (though she had made no move to pull

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weighing on her mind.

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put her arm around Parker’s shoulder to offer some sense of comfort,

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ready.”

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through her attempt.

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a little more softly added, “Does that mean you like me?”

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wasn’t what Parker needed from her right now. She cleared her throat

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you out here right now.”

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Parker would see right through her attempts to focus on anything and

everything neutral. “You coming up?” she called to Sammy.



RACHEL SPANGLER

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he?” Parker asked.

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is good for this early in the year.”

“Does that mean we’ll have a good season?”

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covered lift exit. Leaning slightly forward, they let their momentum

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to them, she decided to offer a more moderate route.

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with your gear.” It was a lame excuse, since none of the Carsons would

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pulled ahead, tucking low into their stance and picking up speed. Parker

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on this slope the last two evenings. She knew this was where the family

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surroundings, and it seemed like she did. She moved gracefully into a



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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

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the resort.

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managed to slide to a stop gracefully, winning an appreciative nod from

Sammy.

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were on the lift again.

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the lift. We ran it yesterday and you did great.”

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“I envy you,” Parker said. “We never had holiday traditions. We

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another.”

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sense, though that aspect of their friendship still weighed heavily on

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again.

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Parker mimicked her every move the entire way down, cutting and

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conversation from the previous lift ride in the way skiers often did.

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“It’s not like we don’t get along,” Parker continued, seeming

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considered successful without having a relationship with his or her

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accomplished.”

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point.”

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her shoulder a time or two and smiled as Parker followed exactly in her

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slopes for the day, they would have a lot more people to contend with

over the next few months.

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skis with anticipation.

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approached.

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Greg slowed the lift to allow the women to help the kids into the chair,

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“Can that little guy really ski?” Parker asked.

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he takes off.”

“You guys don’t waste any time, do you?”

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“Sounds painful for the Carson women,” Parker teased.

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“Hmm, was that comment directed at me or you?”

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neither of them had any real control over?

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kept picking his nose until Janelle pulled his hand away and wiped it

with a tissue.

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“You get that from your cousin,” Janelle teased, winking at

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asked Parker.

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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.”

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forgotten soon.





RACHEL SPANGLER

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“Cam?” Sammy said, a few minutes into SportsCenter.

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³<RXGLGDJRRGMREWHDFKLQJ3DUNHUWRVNLŚhe stared at him. “How did you know?”

“You were two hours late getting home every night, I saw fresh

tracks on the slopes every morning, and Parker follows you on the

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anyone else knows?”

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Dad.”

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anything to Parker, will you?”

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easy for him.

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dig me.”

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now wasn’t the time to mention that point.

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have anyone over, I could make myself scarce.”

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that.”

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Nothing good could come from letting herself think that way. “We’re

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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"Śammy shrugged. “Like she sees how special you are.”

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what he’d said. As if I needed something else to keep me awake tonight.

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all afternoon. Her skin had almost literally tingled every time they

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from Parker’s new love of skiing and their mutual occupations, they

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Parker?





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER NINE

%ear Run, Parker Riley speaking.” Parker tilted her head so she

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her hands free to continue sorting through the paperwork on her desk.

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warrant for your arrest on the charge of social suicide.”

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under your desk.”

“I wish.” Parker laughed.

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“Do you ever think of anything other than sex?”

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everything out.”

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clinics start right after New Year’s and I’ve only started the advertising.

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Parker could see a steady stream of skiers riding up the mountain

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action.

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single new account. “Why?”

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even though she already knew that the week after New Year’s was the

deadest week on the travel calendar. “We’re completely open.”

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meeting space would you need?”

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campaign and congressional seasons as well as the stress of holiday

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enemies and employers.

“You know this place isn’t upscale,” Parker warned. “I can hardly

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you don’t have to.”

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over the holiday? Please tell me you didn’t work.”

“No, I didn’t. I slept practically all day. Well, until early afternoon.

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“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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motives.”

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lessons every night for two weeks and didn’t ask for anything in

return?”

“Nothing,” Parker replied. Except for the kiss we almost blundered

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“She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.”

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serious.

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had grown so used to spending their evenings together that she found

herself feeling lonely despite the massive amount of work she’d had to

do.

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to family events?”

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does what she loves.”

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yours.”

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like any of the people who normally skied here.

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was a lull in the conversation.

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Year’s.”

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week.”

Parker grinned slightly at the compliment. “It’s the Chicago

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inappropriate to tell you I love you?”

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listen.

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friendly resort, and this type of group will really change the feel of the

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snooty.”

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shoulder.

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not,” Parker said, trying to hide her frustration. How was she supposed

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³'DG´&DPSEHOOVDLGVRIWO\³,W¶VJRRGIRUEXVLQHVVDQGZH are

still in charge. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to, and if



TRAILS MERGE

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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,

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to speak to him so he’d listen.

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a little high maintenance.”

(PHU\QRGGHG³*RWFKD:H¶OOGRWRXU i’s and cross our t’s.”

“I hope this turns out like you all think it will,” Greg told Parker

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EHWKH¿UVWRQHWRVD\,WROG\RXVR´

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and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward.

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EOXHH\HV

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EHHQVRKDSS\WRKDYHDPDMRUFRQIHUHQFHERRNLQJVKHKDGQ¶WWKRXJKW

DERXWZKDWLWZRXOGPHDQIRUKHUSHUVRQDOO\

“Who would have ever thought your political connections would

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said.

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WHDVHVPH²´

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“Yes, she will, and I’ll personally thrash her if you’d like.”

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prove my dad wrong.”



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“You know, to thank you for teaching me to ski,” Parker

continued.

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groomer works.”

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“It’s the company that makes it classy.” Parker laughed easily,

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&DPSEHOO

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“Sounds good.”

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DGDWH´ZDVMXVWDQH[SUHVVLRQEXWWKLVGLGIHHONLQGRIOLNHDGDWH7KDW

thought was enough to place a silly smile of anticipation on her face for

the rest of the day.



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TEN

7he sun had disappeared over the mountain, leaving only a thin

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running almost an hour earlier, and while a few employees were still at

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the time. “Let me help you up.”

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up you can use that handle on the door frame to pull yourself in.”

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different ones,” she said. “Ham and Swiss on rye, turkey and cheddar



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wheat.”

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knowing the answer.

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had put so much thought into their evening together.

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was relaxed, loved the way Parker’s eyes danced when she was pleased

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when they fell into perfect rhythm on the slopes.

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to Parker either physically or emotionally for several days, she was

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when they had made plans to see each other again. In fact, she hadn’t

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water.

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turning this thing?”

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Parker mused.

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they rode in silence for a few minutes. She wanted to let Parker get

used to the feel of the groomer and have time to appreciate the surreal,



TRAILS MERGE

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sandwich.

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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´

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let you have a puppy?”

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the knowledge that she’d made Parker laugh so easily. “Sammy and I

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house and yard.”

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go of as you get older.”

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a puppy.”

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she had in months.

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feet up on it.”

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“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

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Parker, unprepared for the incline, threw her hands on the dash and

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of it.”

“Jesus.” Parker exhaled. “It feels like we’re going to fall right

over.”

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Without thinking, she placed a hand on Parker’s shoulder and gently

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Parker.

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went dry and her stomach clenched. She’d never seen such trust in

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opening herself to pain, and she wasn’t ready to take that chance again.

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into their seats.

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Parker laughed with only a hint of nervousness. “I wanted to get

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knew she would talk in her own time, not a minute sooner. She had



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“I was very good at getting people elected, selling a candidate to

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real deal.”

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involved in some minor sex scandal with a woman who claimed she’d

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politician.

“I thought he was different,” Parker continued. “He had so much

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VLOO\²´

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least not when Parker said it.

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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

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³7KHHVWDEOLVKPHQWVLGHGZLWKKLPRIFRXUVH7KH\GLGQ¶WFDUH

ZKDW KH EHOLHYHG DV ORQJ DV KH GLG ZKDW WKH\ ZDQWHG +H ZDV WKHLU

JROGHQER\DQGWKH\DOOUDOOLHGDURXQGKLPEXW,MXVWFRXOGQ¶WEHDSDUW

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“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



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DW3DUNHUEXWRXWLQWRWKHGDUNQHVV

“I don’t know.”

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&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

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to forget that reality anytime soon. Holding on to someone who wasn’t

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“Did I say something wrong again?” Parker asked softly.

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and the conversation had stopped. “No. What do you mean?”

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was unsetting nonetheless. Had she reacted to the thought of Parker’s

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didn’t mean to.”

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igniting a heat that did more than comfort her. “I didn’t mean to either,

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word seems to hurt you.”

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TRAILS MERGE

honestly. She at least deserved the same. “I fell in love there, for the

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thinking.

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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.

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“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.”

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³<HDK"´&DPSEHOO¶VVSLULWVEHJDQWRULVH

“I can’t imagine you anywhere else.”

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light.

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&DPSEHOODQG,¶PVXUHVRPHGD\WKHULJKWZRPDQZLOOFRPHDORQJDQG

share your dreams.”

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LPSOLFDWLRQVRIZKDWZDVOHIWXQVSRNHQ3DUNHUZDVZLVKLQJKHUWKHEHVW

EXWVKHFHUWDLQO\ZDVQ¶WRIIHULQJWR¿OOWKHUROHRI³WKHULJKWZRPDQ´





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Parker was spending far too much time staring out the window

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was now little more than a month away. She pretended she had no idea

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ZRXOG UHFDOO WKH VDGQHVV LQ &DPSEHOO¶V YRLFH ZKHQ VKH VSRNH DERXW

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every now and then all of the kids would alter the position of their skis

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HLWKHU³SL]]D´RU³)UHQFKIULHV´

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needed to change. Not only was it important to practice her new skills,

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work, she told herself that if she stayed late tonight and got some work

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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.

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WKHVQRZIDOOLQJRXWVLGHKHUZLQGRZ(YHQWKURXJKWKHFORXGVLWZDV

easy to tell that the sunlight had faded and evening had set in, so it had to

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7KHÀDNHVZHUHODUJHDQGVHHPHGWREHFRPLQJGRZQFRQVLVWHQWO\EXW

they weren’t heavy. She fought the urge to peek outside. If she allowed

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Parker didn’t stop until a dull thud on her window got her

attention. Unsure of what had made the sound, she listened carefully

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FRQYLQFH KHUVHOI WKDW VKH¶G LPDJLQHG LW DQG ZDV MXVW DERXW WR UHWXUQ

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slightly as some of the snow stuck to the glass. She peered through the

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neck and her stocking cap pulled down over her ears so that only her

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WKHUDSLGO\IDOOLQJVQRZDQGWKHPDVVLYH\HOORZ6QR&DWZDVEDUHO\

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Parker slid open the heavily framed pane of glass, then the smaller

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KDGGURSSHGFRQVLGHUDEO\VLQFHWKLVPRUQLQJDQGVKHVKLYHUHG

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\RXUIDYRU´VKHFDOOHGGRZQWR&DPSEHOO

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smile that came so naturally to her, and Parker felt awash with pleasure

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³<RX EHWWHU JR QRZ´ &DPSEHOO VDLG PRUH VHULRXVO\ KHU YRLFH



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UDLVHGWREHKHDUGRYHUWKHLQFUHDVLQJZLQG³,I,¶GVHHQ\RXUOLJKWRQ

I’d have come up earlier.”

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³<RX WRR DQG VWD\ ZDUP´ 3DUNHU FDOOHG EHIRUH FORVLQJ WKH

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wrapped up her tasks for the evening, taking only a few more minutes

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the rest to take home with her. If she got snowed in, she wanted to have

something to do.

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scrape it all off. When she pulled out onto the road that led around the

resort and past her apartment complex, she wished she’d left sooner.

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the snow was pelting down on a collision course with her windshield.

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movies she used to watch as a kid.

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to slip and she gasped as she started to slide sideway across the road. If

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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steering wheel, hoping the tires would catch enough traction to move

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shifted into reverse and tried again with the same results.

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into her socks, mocking her for choosing fashion over functionality.

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was clear, then scooped some snow away from the tailpipe, the cold

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driver’s seat, trying to shake off the snow and cold.

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was only deluding herself. She rarely got a strong signal on this side

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was totally useless.

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think.”

She mulled over her options. She could try to make it to the lodge

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snow and the cold were a strong deterrent, and without her headlights

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there.

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an hour or so she would have to get out and check the tailpipe again.

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TRAILS MERGE

eyes, and rested her head on the steering wheel. She needed to make a

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almost kissed, they crossed a line from casual company to something

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efforts on someone so unworthy would have devastated her. No wonder

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a workaholic. She was simply trying to prove to herself that she could

do something right.

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she opened the door and hopped out. She pulled down her hat, trying

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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

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a layer of freshly fallen snow.

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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.

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3DUNHUMXPSHGORRNLQJVKRFNHGDQGVWDULQJ³&DPSEHOO"´

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“Holy shit,” Parker shouted. “You scared the crap out of me.”

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worst fear.

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P\EUHDWK´

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to normal until she was completely convinced that Parker was safe.

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was trying to decide what to do.”

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to loosen. She stood up and examined the car again. It wasn’t going

anywhere tonight. Parker got out of the car and stared at it, too.

³:H¶OOKDYHWROHDYHLWKHUHIRUQRZ´&DPSEHOOVDLG³EXW,FDQ

WRZLWRXWWRPRUURZ,W¶OOEHRND\´

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she was overwhelmed. Her pants were soaked from the knee down, and



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.”

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slipped off her coat and wrapped it around Parker’s shaking shoulders.

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PHUHO\PXPEOHG³7KDQN\RX´

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to her home as though it were Parker’s as well. Just a slip of the tongue,

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$IWHUVKHVWRSSHGRXWVLGHWKHVPDOOWZRVWRU\FDELQOHVVWKDQWHQ

yards from the edge of the trail, she hopped out and struggled through

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the door, the warmth rushed out to greet them. She kicked off her own

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the way across the living room. “Upstairs,” she muttered as they headed

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“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?”

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E\DUDZVRIWQHVVWKDWPDGH&DPSEHOOOLJKWKHDGHG3DUNHUFORVHGWKH

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pulled Parker to her and shivered at how good it felt to hold her.

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³$Q\WLPH´ 3DUNHU KDG ZRUNHG KHU ZD\ LQWR &DPSEHOO¶V KHDUW

DQGDIWHUIHHOLQJWKHOHQJWKRIKHUERG\DJDLQVWKHURZQLWZDVQ¶WD

sensation she’d soon forget.



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWELVE

WKHQ3DUNHU¿QDOO\HPHUJHGIURPWKHEDWKURRPKDOIDQ

KRXU ODWHU VKH IHOW LQ¿QLWHO\ EHWWHU 7KH ZDUP ZDWHU KDG

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picking that shirt.

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I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

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dust with.”

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QHHG²´

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should have already.”



RACHEL SPANGLER

³1R´&DPSEHOOVKRRNKHUKHDGDVVKH\DZQHG³6DPP\ZLOOEH

XSEHIRUH¿YHWRPRUURZPRUQLQJWRJRJURRPWKHUHVWRIWKHVORSHV

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eyes in the shower I could still feel myself slipping and sliding on that

road.”

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during the wreck. Surely she knew Parker didn’t cope well with losing

control.

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so full and soft that Parker wondered what they would have felt like

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NLVVDZHHNHDUOLHU³2ND\KRZDERXWWKLV":K\GRQ¶W\RXJHWLQEHG

and I’ll sit with you until you fall asleep? I’ll help you keep your mind

off things.”

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DERXW &DPSEHOO¶V RIIHU VHHPHG VR JHQXLQH DQG QRW WKH OHDVW ELW

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HOERZDQGDSLOORZ

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to sleep, and then she was going downstairs. She even reclined on the

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“Your house is lovely,” Parker said, trying to take her mind

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JDYHWKHVSDFHDKRPH\IHHO7KHURRPZDVRQWKHVHFRQGVWRU\DQG



TRAILS MERGE

the large windows in front of them provided a view of the slope that ran

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sort of halfway house for his children and grandchildren. I think every

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twins and Janelle’s kids will get their turn, too.”

“So you’ll stay here until you start a family of your own?”

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anything new on the resort property. He’s a little resistant to change.”

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perfect place for your and your future family.”

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tell.”

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for them not to.”

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her.





RACHEL SPANGLER

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sounds of morning spread across the mountain. She felt wonderful,

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accurately, pressed against her. Sometime in the night she had curled

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of Parker’s stomach, slightly under her shirt.

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her nipples hardened. She fought to keep from pulling Parker tighter.

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and even then her reaction wasn’t this sudden or strong. Sure, she had

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IRU3DUNHU+HUUHDFWLRQZDVVSHFL¿FWR this woman, and the feeling was

downright dangerous. If she needed merely a physical touch, she could

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much. She was too close, the feelings too complicated.

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then tiptoed downstairs. Sammy, in his ski clothes and a stocking cap,

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poured herself a cup.

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got his attention.

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“Is she okay?”



TRAILS MERGE

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“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

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Sammy’s suggestiveness than she cared to admit. “We fell asleep while

we were talking.”

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wakes up.”

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Dad’s anyway and have them help tow her car over here so she can go

home when she wakes up.”

Sammy shrugged. “Whatever you say. I’ll hang out here until you

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Parker slowly stretched out and, during her gradual awakening,

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sat up suddenly. She wasn’t thinking of some random woman, some

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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who’d held her all night. She wasn’t ready to see in her in the soft light

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too much to let herself dwell on, so she decided to put some distance

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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

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“Cam said you had a little scare last night. How are you feeling?”

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serious, and the fact that Sammy had asked it carried a lot of weight.

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“Good.” He nodded, seeming relieved at her answer, and added

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what your intentions are with her.”

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away.

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that if anything ever were to happen somewhere down the line, you

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“Lynn?”

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to last week.

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time they’d spent in each other’s arms. Was Parker reading too much

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there for you.”

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few hours, she had experienced relief, security, comfort, arousal, and

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in directions she wasn’t sure either of them could control.





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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revealing simple, elegant earrings to match her necklace. She gave the

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DQGLQDEULHIPRPHQWRISDQLFVKHKHDUGWKHIDPLOLDUUHIUDLQ What

could a woman like that possibly see in someone like you?

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\RX¶UHMXVWWKHSHUVRQ,¶YHEHHQZDLWLQJIRU´

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skiing in over two weeks.”

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LQWRWKHLUFRPIRUWDEOHEDQWHU

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market it effectively unless I experience it.”

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right motivation.”



RACHEL SPANGLER

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the slopes.”

“Well,” Parker pretended to mull the idea over, “I really should

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together seemed perfect.

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“Where should I meet you?”

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¿QG\RX´

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need from the rest of us?”

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was? Surely not 6KH PXVW EH LPDJLQLQJ WKLQJV 7KHLU UHODWLRQVKLS

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in each other’s arms, no matter how inadvertently, would do that to a

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was way out of her league was enough to kill that mood.

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“Do you think they could DJ the employee Christmas party, too?”

Irene asked.

“I didn’t know we were having one.”

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Christmas rush gets out of hand,” Janelle explained. “It’s a way for us

to all hang out, have some fun, and meet the new staff.”



TRAILS MERGE

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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.”

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“I’ve got the food covered.” Janelle ticked through her own

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two months earlier. She still hadn’t overcome her addiction to her day

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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.

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smile.

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miss the look her parents shared as she left. She couldn’t read their

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crowd was thin, most of the skiers either local college students or those

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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

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various trails.

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to resist, so she started down the familiar green trail she’d skied with

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TRAILS MERGE

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surroundings.

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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

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measuring each turn carefully and reacting almost instinctively to the

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untouched except for the occasional signs marking the intersection of

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she already felt.

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set to collide with hers as he hurtled down the mountain on a slope

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register the fact that skiers downhill were supposed to have the right

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and inexperience, and threw her skis into the sideway position she’d

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progress. However, instead of skillfully throwing a wave of snow and

stopping gracefully, she managed only to plant her feet, leaving one ski

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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seemed like an eternity until slowly she came to rest in a small rise of

snow at the edge of the trail.

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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

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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

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Parker rose clumsily to her feet and trudged through the snow and

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said softly. Parker wondered which of them the statement was directed

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know there was a difference.”

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points.”

“I wasn’t trying to win any style points,” Parker said seriously. “I

was trying to not get hit.”

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get hit with style.”



TRAILS MERGE

Parker shook her head. “I’m not trying that again anytime soon.”

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alert. When these trails merge, you have to take some extra care. You

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Did she just wink at me? Parker couldn’t hide a smile as she

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She would never follow anyone’s lead, especially someone like

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spending the rest of her life on a remote mountain in Wisconsin. She

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would allow her to make a difference in the world.

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up the mountain.

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I told you, he doesn’t do well with change.”

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pretty typical. I can handle him.”

³$UH\RXQHUYRXVDERXWVHHLQJ\RXUROGFROOHDJXHV"´&DPSEHOO

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for Parker.

Parker was silent for a few seconds, considering her response. She

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avoid the personal aspects.”



RACHEL SPANGLER

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“If I were completely honest I’d have to say that I am a little

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let herself dwell on the fact that in a few short weeks her new world

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there would know every detail of her most devastating failure.

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than she felt.

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someone to talk to.”

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run you did last time, this time without the fall.”

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steady presence, her easygoing attitude, her eagerness to help in any

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she wasn’t prepared for the risks involved in acting on it.

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record with past relationships, she wasn’t sure it was wise to make that

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those rewards were.

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of the trail with ease, and her tension gave way to relief.

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exertion and excitement.

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“I don’t know where you’d get an idea like that. You always have

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whichever you prefer.”

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Charming always gets the girl. What you say doesn’t mesh with my

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suspected that her comments had once again triggered memories of

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anytime you need it.”

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who will rescue you?” How had Lynn wounded her so deeply?





TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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Christmas party was in full swing. College students only around

for a winter or two milled around talking to seasoned groomers and

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thread among them was the Carson family, and they were all there.

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Irene Carson was petite and seemed even smaller in a crowd.

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her.

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groomer?”

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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eventually.”

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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.

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talking with Janelle as she worked. She wore a maroon sweater and

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her resolve faded.

“Why don’t you go on over and talk to her?” Irene asked.

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Her mother laughed softly. “Honey, don’t take this the wrong way,

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“I thought you were happy to have me home.”

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happy.”

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across the room looks at you the same way you do at her.”

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Parker. “How did you know?”

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other people, characteristics that set them apart from the men in their

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that much unguarded faith and trust.

Parker shook her head. What was going on with her? Her connection

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ways that were hard to ignore and needed to restrain this attraction

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stepped outside, hoping the cool air would clear her mind.

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illuminated the deck and cast gray shadows onto the snow. However,

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romance was rarely worth the risk. Her last relationship should have

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again, and even if she were willing to accept the risks associated with a

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“So it’s a moot point,” she said aloud.

“What is?”

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“You have got to stop scaring me like that.”

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to Parker. “I didn’t mean to interrupt the conversation you were having

with yourself.”

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come out here and was scared you were leaving.”

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that is.”

“Just getting some fresh air.” Parker turned away, not wanting

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expression.

“Hmm, are you sure you weren’t snooping for your Christmas

present?”

“Is it here?” Parker asked, glancing around.

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the corner, and when she returned a few seconds later, she carried a pair

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with the ski poles.

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her rentals.

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intermediate resistance so they won’t pop off next time you skid to a

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had put so much thought into such a personal present.

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“Do you really like them?”

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much.” Parker answered sincerely, then with a mischievous smile said,

“I got you something, too.”

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“Well, I wasn’t sure if I’d say anything at all,” Parker murmured,

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and you’d think it was too much.”

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noticed the innuendo, she chose not to acknowledge it.



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the comment was completely innocent, she immediately took it into

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everything. Sometimes she and Parker had such a natural connection,

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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

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to keep that difference in mind or she might get hurt again. Still, it was

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markings and fur so soft she couldn’t resist hugging him. She rested her

chin on his head. “You got me a puppy.”

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him?”

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conversation. “I love him.”

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JHQXLQHVPLOH³*RRG,ZDVJHWWLQJSUHWW\DWWDFKHGWRKLPEXWKH¶GEH

much happier at your place than mine.”

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Wildcat.”

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VRPXFKPRUHWKDQMXVWDSUHVHQW

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after you saved me on the slopes once again I couldn’t resist. Since

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attached to my rescuer, I decided you should have one, too.”

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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

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whispered in her ear.

She meant to leave it at that. She hadn’t intended to take it further,

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was waiting for a reaction, a warning, any indication that she shouldn’t

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so she neared once more.

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she shifted, searching for more until their lips came fully together. She

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completely certain it was actually happening. Gradually their lips

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“Wow,” Parker murmured.

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imagine waiting that long to feel Parker’s mouth on her own again.

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If she didn’t leave immediately she’d end up doing something she

couldn’t undo. Parker was smart, and sexy, and oh so alluring standing

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hell to pay afterward.

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summoned all the strength left in her and got in her truck.

-XVWEHIRUHVKHFORVHGWKHGRRU3DUNHUFDOOHGRXW³+DYHDPHUU\

Christmas.”

&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WKHOSEXWVD\³,DOUHDG\KDYH´



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

(very detail of the elegant interior of the Lockwood restaurant

said old money, from the plush upholstery to the crystal

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located in the Palmer House, one of the most luxurious hotels in the heart

of Chicago’s Loop district. Parker was spending Christmas morning

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the governor’s private residence on the lakeshore.

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what it was all worth in the grand scheme of things. Were the people

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WKDWKDGEHHQPRUHSUHFLRXV

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that stood out against her porcelain skin. Her voice carried the slight

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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.

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sleeping with lately?”

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a mischievous grin. “Now, the deputy mayor’s mistress, on the other

KDQG«´

“Seriously?” Parker asked, though she wasn’t surprised. “She has

legs that go up to here.” She indicated her chin.

³$QGWKH\DUHDEVROXWHO\GLYLQH´$OH[LVDJUHHG³+RZHYHU,¶P

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deputy mayor is most certainly headed for.”

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more sadness than venom.

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demons seemed to lurk around every corner. She had yet to run into any

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one way or other, and the afternoon gathering at her parents’ house was

likely to offer more of the same.

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“Right,” Parker said resolutely. “Happy topics.”

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TRAILS MERGE

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Parker admitted.

“You sound nervous.”

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the whole ordeal,” Parker said, referring to the unhappy topic they had

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overreacted to the whole thing.” Strangely, the people with all the

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of it, seemed to accept her decision as though it were the most logical

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who supported her.

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trash.”

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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

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mention of your ski instructor, you’ve failed to tell me something, and I

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down, at least not metaphorically. She had a sudden mental image



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head in a futile attempt to clear it and said, “I mean it. It’s nothing.”

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me, and then she went home and I came here.” Parker rattled off the

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on the mouth.”

“I should hope it was on the mouth, dear. I meant where were you

when this happened?”

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apartment.”

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“She’s sexy, right?”

“God, yes,” Parker almost gushed. “She’s got this gorgeous mane

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drown in.”

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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.”

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no.”

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woman could kiss like that.”



TRAILS MERGE

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Parker had. She was almost certain of that, which made it even harder

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here.”

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colleague. I’m not sure what I want from life in the future, and she isn’t

likely to trust anyone with her heart anytime soon. If anything’s going

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not like that. She’s, well, she’s a gentleman.”

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asked seriously.

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lips touched mine.”

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for their Christmas getaways. While the entire Carson family spent the

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the slopes.



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missed over the past few years. While not particularly religious, she

loved the golden candlelight and familiar hymns that accompanied the

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exchange presents. Lynn had never wanted to spend the night, so it

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playing with the kids was worth it.

Christmas morning was more intimate, spent with Sammy and her

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decadent pastries and hot chocolate while checking out their stockings

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for lately, and while Lynn had conceded that sliver of the holiday with

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of those family traditions. She was home for Christmas, in the place

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“Hey, Cam,” Sammy called as he slid to a stop next to her. He

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“Hi, Sam. What’s up?”

He nodded toward the lift. “It’s closing time. Go ahead and shut

her down.”

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week for that matter. She had mentally replayed that kiss ever since it

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immediately, and the pup spent as many hours following Sammy as

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snow.”

“So have you heard from Parker since she left?” he asked

nonchalantly.

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up.

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herself assume that, as much as she liked the idea. “I don’t know exactly

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before she left.

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arrived at their house and were removing their outer layers of clothing

at the door.

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regarded him suspiciously. “Why?”

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together.”



RACHEL SPANGLER

“Sammy, are you trying to play matchmaker again?”

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GRHVQ¶WKDYHDGDWH²´

“You don’t have a date.”

Sammy laughed. “Hey, if I thought I was her type, I’d ask her

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prefers, you might as well make the most of it.”

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through gritted teeth.

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handset, still glowering at Sammy, who wisely left the room.

Parker’s laughter came across the line, rich and clear, and

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when I caught him and her little sister doing the same thing.”

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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.

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managed to attend events like these several times a week. It all seems

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any of the guys try to get handsy.”

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“I’m sorry.”

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Parker had gotten her to let down her guard, and without thinking she

said, “I missed you today.”

“I’ve missed you all weekend.”

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desperate.

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afternoon.”

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think of a way to see Parker immediately. She didn’t want to wait any

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time.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

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had mentioned their kiss, and she still wasn’t sure where she and Parker

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TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Parker stopped at her condo only long enough to change and

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matter that she got on the road at six o’clock that morning, or that she

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admitting that made the trip seem that much sweeter.

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areas.

Slow down, Parker. Let’s take this one step of at a time, she

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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,

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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instructions as her students progressed.

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what you’ve got.”

Parker wound slowly around one of the cones, then made the turn

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everyone waited for her.

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“I don’t know. What do you guys think? Can Parker come ski with

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Parker can come too if she wants.”

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¿YHV

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another adult, she turned to Parker, who still sat on the ground.

Parker grinned at the amusement and pleasure on her face, and

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However, she also detected the slightest hint of pink creep into

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would never have called it fun, and certainly not relaxing. “It was good

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lips.

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know her one o’clock lesson group is suiting up.”

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Parker.”

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Sammy teased.

“We actually hadn’t gotten that far.” Leave it to Sammy to keep

things moving.

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you to it.”

“I’m working on it, Sam.”

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downhill and left them alone.

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was giddy.

“Well, if you get a free minute or two at the party could you spend

them with me?”



RACHEL SPANGLER

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dismissed it and moved on to the next.

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“What do you think?” she asked the pup, who yipped in support.

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inexperienced and unaware of the risk that she hadn’t given much

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from her mind. She wasn’t nineteen anymore. She’d learned from her

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couldn’t shake the suspicion that she was headed down a similar path

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the door.

She continued to talk to herself as she drove toward the lodge.

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control of her emotions.

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the conscious effort to move, she was drawn to her.

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I go again.



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it, too, at least for now.

Parker was stunning and gracious, and even when they weren’t

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the way she moved around the room talking to staff and guests. She

could make everyone feel welcome and important, and must have

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when they crossed that line, evidently they had.

Where were all the warnings she had given herself? Wasn’t Parker

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“Let me do that while you go ask that young lady to dance.” He

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DJ’s speakers. “I don’t know if our clientele is ready to see two girls

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eyes at each other all night, you and Parker are headed in a direction

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Parker. “Would you like to dance with me?” She felt a little awkward

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school dance.

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Still holding Parker’s hand in her palm, she slipped her other arm

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slightly taller than Parker, who looked up into her eyes, the corners of

her mouth turned up slightly. “You feel good,” she whispered.

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“I’m having a good time tonight,” Parker said, resting her cheek

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“What’s your favorite part, the work or having my whole family

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favorite part.”

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didn’t try to explain her reaction away any longer. It wasn’t merely

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woman.

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attraction could consume her.



RACHEL SPANGLER

“Less than one minute to midnight,” the DJ announced.

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tried to remind herself not to get too used to that feeling. Parker would

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of? What did it matter what things were like a year from now? Why

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future lacked importance compared to her yearning for Parker right

now.

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of sexual tension. Why was she trying to resist? What more was she

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have drawn her in closer.

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twin to hers.

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though she had no intention of doing so.

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and headed for the door, leading Parker.

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then resumed with even more fervor when they reached the landing.

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together, as though miming the tango.

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was making her experience all these intoxicating sensations. In fact,

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her shoulders and neck. She unhooked the clasp on Parker’s dress, then

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turned her around so that they once more faced each other and, cradling

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her mouth across the tightly muscled torso, reveling in the feel of

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her naked from the waist up. Not wanting to stop there, she hooked her

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them and the khakis.

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complexion lightened only slightly where she wasn’t tanned, and her

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lightly rippled plain of her stomach descended into soft golden curls

at the apex of her thighs. “God, you’re gorgeous,” Parker whispered,

awed.

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again how close she was to coming.

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in a steady rhythm with her hand.

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when I come.”

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as she pushed deeper. Parker cried out on the verge of orgasm and pulled

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eyes open, not wanting to miss a second of the connection she felt when

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TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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was something she had resigned herself to living without. Now she

reveled in the luxuriousness. She didn’t know what the events of the

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anything.

“Happy New Year,” Parker said sleepily as she opened her eyes.

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Parker’s forehead.

“I’m glad you think so.” Parker snuggled a little closer.

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Parker searched her expression as if trying to gauge the seriousness

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mistake once, and I don’t want to go through that pain again.”

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fool.”

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long.

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easily.

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kissed her temple to accentuate her point. “You’re already shutting me

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thinking.”

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a tremor from her voice, “that you’re out of my league.” Parker started

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give you. You’re passionate, intelligent, and stunning, and you’re

accustomed to all the power and prestige that come with that.”

“You’re all of those things, too, and you’re happy here.”

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all the things that can come with it.”

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will miss it after a while. Sometimes I already do.”

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voice her pain. If Parker wanted to go, she wouldn’t do anything to

stop her. She would never again hold on to something that didn’t want

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they live, how they talk, or who their parents are. What kind of person

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program for underprivileged kids, and I saw exactly what you’re talking

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was overwhelming. I couldn’t imagine making a difference.”

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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

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What if that need to effect change resurfaces in a few months, or even

years?”

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with you, and right now there’s nothing I want more. I can’t tell you

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me if I did.”

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way.”

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Parker’s mischievous grin. “Like I’ll explode every time you look at

me.”

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ever stop doing what you’re doing.”



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with anticipation.

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you to make me come.”

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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

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under Parker’s persistent caresses.

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Parker returned to her side and whispered, “Now what are you

feeling?”

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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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meeting.”



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pulled them on in one motion as she stood.

“I’ve got to get home to shower and change,” Parker thought

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ten minutes. Wear something of mine.”

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Parker hastily pulled on the clothes, then ran her hands through

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would to have to do until later.

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In the chaos of the last few minutes, Parker had almost forgotten that

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the lips. “I want to take the time to wake you up right.”

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few feet from the open door to the conference room Parker overheard

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added.



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entire Carson family, and she didn’t know if that prospect was charming

or irritating.

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Carson matriarch had always seemed to respect Parker’s personal

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and whispered, “Did your mother get you this sweater?”

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year. Why?”

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she wouldn’t deny it either.

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reception she’d received from the rest of the family. She understood

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wondered what she had done to evoke such loathing.

“We should get started.” Parker collected herself and focused on

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Women’s Democratic Caucus should arrive tomorrow afternoon.

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full conference schedule the next day, with lessons every two hours.

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rarely missed a detail. Whether their attention to minutiae came from

living where they worked, or loving what they did, Parker didn’t worry

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that in one day she would have to face the people who had witnessed

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staffers who had seen her fall from grace. So would the woman who

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“Do you need anything else from us?”

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it did to her.

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Parker had hoped to put off a confrontation with him until after

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don’t like me?”

“I don’t like the way you and my daughter look at each other,”

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Parker was shocked at the force of his statement. “I have no idea

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haven for you, yet you still dragged my daughter into something with

no intention of sharing your life with her. I don’t like it, and I want you

to leave her alone.”

“Now, wait a minute.” Parker could understand a protective father,

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child?”

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shouted, “and let us navigate our relationship in whatever direction we

decide.”

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you two yelling all the way down the hall.”

“You heard Parker yelling,” Greg said. “I never raised my voice.”

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still.

“Dad? Please tell me you didn’t.”



TRAILS MERGE

Greg sighed. “I don’t want to see you hurt again, and I told her

that.”

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was agreeing with him. “You appreciate him telling me off?”

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can’t you make some kind of peace?”

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decision for myself. Can you do that?”

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could calm her father.

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FDQEH²´

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family. He’s the only one I can’t stand.”

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he’s still my father.”

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their relationship.

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ultimately I agreed with yours, too.”

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life?”



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snapped.

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a long night.”

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the tension was starting to fade from her expression.

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“What’s that?”

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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

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the door swung open and Parker stood smiling in the doorway. She

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was slightly damp, as though she had recently gotten out of the shower.

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“I was hoping you’d come over when you got off the slopes.”

Parker led her inside. “Let me take your coat.”

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love seat.



TRAILS MERGE

Parker sighed. “I have to admit I was pretty frustrated with you

this morning,”

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clearly.”

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“Don’t give me that rakish little grin,” Parker warned. “You’re not

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her and her father.

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woman possessed. She had denied her need too long.

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her lips and run her tongue across the tip. Parker moaned her approval

and swayed slightly.

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was a time for patience, a time to tease, a time to take things slowly.

Now was not that time.

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shoulder.

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the months of pretending she didn’t want this, refusing to let herself

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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

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serious discussion regarding what they were doing, where they were

headed, and how it would ultimately affect their lives only delayed the

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HYHQWXDOO\EXWXQWLOWKH\GLG&DPSEHOOZDVFRQWHQWWRHQMR\ZKDWOLWWOH

UHSULHYHWKH\¶GEHHQJLYHQ





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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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WKHZLQGRZ´$OH[LVFKXFNOHG

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early.”

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cascading down across her shoulders, she stood out against the dingy

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“I planned on it,” Parker admitted with a yawn. “I lost track of

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Parker laughed. “No, I don’t drink at work. I picked it up for

you.”

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onto the desk. “Now tell me what’s made you look as though you might

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sentence like that. She regarded Parker carefully and took a sip of her

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happened.”

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Year’s morning, and last night.”

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at other times the urge is overpowering. I mean, last night she took me

right up against the wall.”

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thrown moderation out the window.”

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gushed.

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were.”

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“Come off it. You’re a serial monogamist. You’re indulging your

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conversations. She makes me feel like I’ll come unglued, like she knows

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moods. She can see through all the walls I put up, and she understands

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“If that’s true, I’m happy for you, darling. You know I am,”

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remained.

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when someone knocked on the door.

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and a drink in her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

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divine creature who’s kept you up all night.”

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doesn’t pull any punches. Come have a drink with us.”

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moods. “Please,” she said. “I’ve missed you today.”

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of people she trusted. Parker felt honored to have received so many of

them over the past few days.

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drink.

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people in this room.”

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you tell one little white lie and can never live it down.”

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doing such things?”

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me a little more time, I’ll make sure to do so.”

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tomorrow, and if so what that would entail.”

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“Your directness is endearing. Parker and I don’t get that often in

our line of work.”

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“I forget sometimes that Parker has defected. I think of her as merely

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“Why don’t you come, too?”

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with my two favorite people.”

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“Will you come over tonight?” Parker asked.

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pretended to fan herself with her hand. “She’s hot enough to make your

teeth sweat.”

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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.”

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this mean she passed muster?”

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your attention.”



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guests on the slopes. Sammy was off to one side, corralling a group

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days.

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she’d do with Parker if they were in private, and she turned around.

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something else?”

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for your lesson.”

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going at it like that? I thought I was here for some expert instruction.”

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slopes with you two.”

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almost like a growl.

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Parker sounded unsure.

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“I’m sure your instructor won’t mind, if I promise to tip her well.”

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it. “If it’s all right with Parker, it’s all right with me.”

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Parker didn’t volunteer to ride with her either, and she couldn’t decide

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does this all the time.”

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“Leave it to Parker to make the most out of any situation. She

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discomfort and seemed to think they were having a conversation. “I

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if I ride with her next time, right?”

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neared the top.

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happen.”

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Parker, she would have wanted to tell her to take her tip and shove

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right up here.”

She stood as the lift reached the dismount ramp. Leaning forward

slowly, she let gravity glide her down the ramp to where Parker and

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of the lift, which caused it to halt automatically. She hadn’t made the

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turn right.”

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You need to drop from there. Slide off the edge. It’s not that far.”

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She then hung awkwardly, her arms holding her on the lift while she

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shoulders. “I’m used to having more room to work with.”

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lesson.

When they reached the start of the trail, she edged up where the

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can see your form.”



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crack.

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forward.

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scoot down the hill. “I’ll do this until it levels out.”

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don’t you try again?”

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overstated her skill level.

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the situation nor the setting was conducive to personal conversation, so

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never seen anything so painstakingly annoying, and she vowed not to

take anyone else at their word for the rest of the conference, at least not

when it came to skiing skills.

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need to check in with the ski school, then I’ll restart your lesson.”

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tomorrow.”

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pulled out a coin purse.

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venom.

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hand, was feeling a wonderful mix of smugness at Parker’s praise and

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reiterated, “I’m sorry.”

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need to discuss later. You go ahead.”

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&DPSEHOOQRGGHGJUDYHO\

“Have I told you lately how much I adore you?”

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wearily.

“I will.”

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wondered.



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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her colleagues, her peers, even her friends. Now she had to summon all

her strength to face them.

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Parker walked across the room purposefully, without looking at

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an amaretto on the rocks?”

“Sure thing.” Sammy wore his trademark grin as he poured her

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demeanor. “You should have some fun, too.”

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said as she approached them. She examined Sammy up and down.

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keep his tongue in his mouth. “You got it.”

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“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

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scanned the room and her eyes settled on a group of women down the

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the governor’s undersecretary. “Ladies, this is Sam Carson, one of the

heirs to this lovely castle.”

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might die of happiness. “You all play nice while I go try to steal his

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“See, I’m not totally heartless.” She steered them toward the

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for him,” Parker admitted.



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Parker Riley. She’s our event liaison for the retreat.”

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I’m glad to meet you.”

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frame and dark coffee complexion. She was stunning, and her grip

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command an audience, which wasn’t surprising given her elected

position. Parker was immediately impressed, and that said a lot,

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“Please call me Nadia. I’m not much on formalities.”

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on formalities around here either.”

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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

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her hometown, a failure.

Nadia nodded appreciatively and took a sip of the drink she held

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introduced the two of them for social purposes. She glanced around the

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company I’ve found here is even more alluring than the scenery.”

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so she contented herself with sliding an arm loosely around her waist.

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truly a pleasure to meet you.”

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interrupt something.”

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Parker wondered if she was simply leaving the decision to her or

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Parker did.

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secure and content with her new life, and she had no desire to realign

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introduced them meant a lot.

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it.”

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company.

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shoot the socialite, darling. I’m going to get another drink. Need one?

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me?”

“Not really. I haven’t had time. Some of your old colleagues can

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options on the menu at the lodge. She was prepared to cater to the

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them.

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of how far Parker and I have drifted apart, and I hope to change that

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didn’t know the Carsons owned the resort. I’m sure if Parker and I had

talked more over the past few months she would have told me more

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Parker winced at the remark. She’d hoped to avoid this conversation

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together for two years when I lived in Chicago.”

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Honestly, sometimes you’re hard to read.”

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for so long. She could still feel the disappointment that overwhelmed

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knew only from stump speeches and not anything she practiced when it

wasn’t convenient for her.

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love, too. You know Daddy was always proud of you.”

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“How magnanimous,” Parker said through gritted teeth. She

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control her temper. It was only a momentary lapse in her otherwise

perfect façade, and in a second her practiced smile was plastered

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separated.”



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“I’m only interested in one woman at a time, and right now I’m with

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hair as if trying to collect herself. “Really, though, how could I have

known? I mean, you’re hardly her type. She’s outgoing and driven.

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again, who would’ve thought she’d last a month out here? She thrives

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to make it work out.”

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“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I wanted to tell you in my own

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emotionless.

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“It’s not like that. We were never partners, not in the true sense

of the word. I misread her involvement in politics as interest, and I got

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lives were all mixed up.” Parker’s voice was low and her heart heavy.

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hear the truth.

“You knew you didn’t want to spend the rest of your life with her,

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“I don’t know how to explain it,” Parker said slowly. She struggled

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character I was.”

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0LD KDG DUULYHG 6KH KHOG KHU JD]H VWHDG\ IRU D ORQJ PRPHQW DQG

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knew she’d made some mistakes in how she’d handled the situation,

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DQJU\WKDW&DPSEHOOFRXOGQ¶WVHHSDVWKHURZQKLVWRU\ORQJHQRXJKWR

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to take at once.

³'DPQLW&DPSEHOO1RWHYHU\WKLQJ¶VDERXW\RX´VKHVDLGDQG

walked away.



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWENTY

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SOHDVDQWUHDVRQVKHKDGEHFRPHXVHGWR6KH¶GEHHQUHVWOHVV

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to.

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Parker.

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anyone ever call you Camy?”

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³$QGZK\LVWKDW"´

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we?”

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XS WKH PRXQWDLQ ³<RX JRW RII WKH KRRN \HVWHUGD\ EHFDXVH RI 0LD¶V

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your ski level.”

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slope. I chose to work on her level.”

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today. Why don’t we take it up a notch and see if you can keep up with

me.”

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mouth.”

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No one could test her skills here. If nothing else, a good workout would

help clear her head.

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was the mountain’s most challenging trail, narrow and steep, with its

slightly uneven terrain left ungroomed where it wound through several

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cuts, and her skis threw up a rooster tail of fresh powder. She thought

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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

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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

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turn.”

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know?”

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shaken last night.”

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reminder of last night’s conversation with Parker hit her like a punch

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what happened?”

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the unknown entity.”



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FODULI\%\ we, I mean I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen.

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pull your head out of that sweet ass of yours and pay some attention to

who she really is.”

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might actually do it if she had the right support in her life. Do you want

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“Your suggestion that I’d ever intentionally hurt Parker shows

how little you know me.”

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Parker suffering was enough to damper her own pain for a moment.

“Why don’t you go ask her yourself?”

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worried. What had she missed?

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lesson short once again.”



TRAILS MERGE

“How cute. You thought you were the one giving me the lesson.”

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lodge last night. She wanted to stay angry and felt she was entitled to,

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talk, I meant I was going to talk and you were going to listen.”

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dispelling her remaining resentment.

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“Do we have to go into this now?” Parker didn’t want to relive her

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conversations for too long. If we want any chance at a real relationship,

we need to put in some real effort, and I’m willing to do that if you

are.”

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opinion of her own, and that was enough to reel me in.

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made in heaven.’ Imagine, the young upstart who worked miracles

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Democratic Party’s elder statesman. We were the Democratic party’s

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your relationship came across to other people than how healthy it was

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her family and our friends who rewarded that commitment with their

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chance to succeed.”

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anger rushed over her once again. Her voice wavered. “She was an intern,

a recent grad from Northwestern with a full academic scholarship, tons

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Sound like anyone else you know?”

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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.”

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force himself on the girl.”

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never forgive myself.”

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must have shaken your foundations.”

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girlfriend.”

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pretty dress, plastered that fake smile on her face, and followed her

daddy to the podium to address the press. She was on the front line of

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“You poured your heart and soul into everything, only to have your

personal and professional relationships destroyed all at once, and I had

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sight.”

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should’ve taken the time to listen to you. I should’ve trusted you.”

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away from her any longer. She needed to touch her.

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multiplied it.”

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Parker lowered her head. She wasn’t sure which one of them moaned

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thought of someone interrupting them made her increase her pace. She

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her hands on Parker’s waist and drew her close.

³1R\RXGRQ¶W´3DUNHUSXVKHGKHUDZD\³<RXKDYHWRJHWEDFN

to work and so do I.”

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RQ,FDQWHOO\RXZDQWPHDVEDGDV,ZDQW\RX´



RACHEL SPANGLER

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which is why you have to get out of here right now or you’ll miss your

next lesson.”

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spend the night with me tonight.”

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she swatted her hand away.

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“Go,” Parker commanded through her laughter, and playfully

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TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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who had likely sensed Parker’s potential and was eager to include her

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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

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EDU ,W ZDV RQH RI WKH EHWWHUIXUQLVKHG FDELQV RQ WKH PRXQWDLQ DQG

&DPSEHOONQHZLWZHOO(LWKHUWKHIDPLOLDUVXUURXQGLQJVRUWKHLQIRUPDO

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RI&DPSEHOO¶VWHQVLRQ

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they were approaching this evening’s meeting. Whatever was laid on

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³$QG ,¶P $OH[LV 5H\QROGV TXHHQ RI DOO WKLQJV´ $OH[LV VDLG

“What can I get you to drink?”



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wasn’t sure what that was.

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URRPWDEOH

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“Here, as in Wisconsin?”

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hill.”

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like this.”

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living here.”

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&DPSEHOO´

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leaned forward with interest.

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unemployment and crime. We lose too many of our young people to

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her soft accent.

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life they’re living.”

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“What does it entail?” Parker asked as she ran through the statistics.

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early staff meetings as she tried to rapidly gather and evaluate new

information.

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“While at the site, they receive counseling in a wide range of

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making models,” Hannah said excitedly.

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employment and living skills that they don’t have modeled for them at

home,” Nadia added.

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do in fact have one.”

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with disadvantaged kids was their overwhelming sense of hopelessness,

and that was the key component of this program. It offered hope for a

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group when things get hard again.”

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her enthusiasm escalated with each answer.

“No, we encourage the students to stay in touch with the hosts

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as they wish to,” Hannah answered.

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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.

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excitement.

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kids from the south side of Chicago eager to get shipped off to the

country for an entire summer?”

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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

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it. “What do you still need, Nadia?”

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of legislators and dignitaries in all three cities.”

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Run.



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emphatically. “I have no interest in working for dignitaries and

legislators.”

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voice.

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added softly. “I wouldn’t ask you to put your faith in another politician,

not even me. I’m asking you to put your faith in these young people,

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and I were given.”

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wouldn’t hesitate now if it weren’t for her, and she didn’t know if she

should feel honored or guilty.

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you want to hear more, give me a call and we’ll set up a time for you

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some of our kids.”

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compete with.



Parker was glad to see the conference end. She felt like she’d

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days of such activity was enough to exhaust her. Still, she was proud

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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without interruptions from the press or constituents, and the Carson

family met all their needs. In return, the women paid well for their

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happy with the arrangement. Parker had even seen Greg smile a time or

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to prove him wrong.

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for two days.”

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$OH[LVVDLGPLVFKLHYRXVO\

“She is divine, isn’t she?” Parker felt dreamy at the thought of

&DPSEHOO

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MRERIIHU´

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gravity of the conversation, and neither was ready to face what Nadia’s

offer meant for them yet. Instead they’d spent the previous night making

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pass up a chance to make a real difference in these kids’ lives in favor of

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through, you’d understand why.”

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“Don’t do that.” Parker raised her voice more in desperation than

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and this program is it.”

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her head and her heart warring within her, almost tearing her apart.

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ask that of you.”

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voice cracked with emotion.

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shot. If you walk away, you’ll regret it, and you’ll resent her in the end.

You both deserve better. ”

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She could lose it all. She couldn’t guarantee that staying would save

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their status as a couple. She could pass up this opportunity and still not

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asked, “What have you decided?”

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anything for sure. We need to determine this together. If you tell me not

to go, I won’t.”

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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

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of my dreams.”

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dreams, too.”

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you leave?”

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“Will you stay with me tonight?”

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TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

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DEOHWRVHHWKHKRUL]RQ

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raised their voice in anger.

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sleeping with her, she missed waking up next to her, she missed

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would only make things harder.

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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would cost her thirteen dollars an hour to leave her car there. When she

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for this occasion and retrieved an antacid and two aspirin. She’d had a

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had picked up on the campaign trail, and studied her surroundings.

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come true.

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opposite wall caught her eye. She crossed the room to examine them

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why she was here. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of

young people like these.

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corner of her eyes as she wondered which picture Nadia held more dear.

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when the secretary informed her that Nadia was ready to see her.



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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

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deadly on certain trails, they occasionally had to restrict access to

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her in the face.

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they hunkered down on the lift.

“You didn’t have to come.” Sammy pulled his hat down to his

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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,”

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and in many ways she had. She’d always suspected that when Parker’s

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feel any regret. She’d tortured herself all night wondering whether

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make the same mistake time and time again?

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VDPHEXW,¶OOPLVVKHUWRR´

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peace. She was sure her dad would have grown to like Parker if they

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It wasn’t going to happen.



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she would have chosen to.”

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and a happy homemaker.

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I’m already going through.” She tipped her skis over the edge and

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knocked the wind from her, and she slid farther down the slope. She

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to have snapped, and not in the physical sense.

Sammy was next to her in an instant. “Cam, are you hurt?”

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“Where?” He pulled off his scarf and goggles and stared at her.

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messes like this.”



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nonsense.

“I’m sick of coming in second, Sammy. Why am I lying here cold

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I deserve that much.”

“Did you say you love her?”

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her,” she repeated, letting the full impact of her words sink in. “Holy

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her to leave.”

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genuine.

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WDNHFDUHRIVRPHWKLQJ¿UVWŚammy stared at her for a second, then shouted, “Well, what are

you waiting for? Go!”



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examined her carefully.

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You hurt me, too.”

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RACHEL SPANGLER

“What’s gotten into you?” Her father was clearly astonished to

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“Love, Dad. I’m in love with Parker and I’m going after her.”

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plan to make her part of my life, part of our lives for as long as she’ll

let me.”

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to lie and say I’m happy for you?”

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interfere every chance you get.”

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your life?”

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need you to respect me and stop trying to protect me. I’m ready to take

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that I have as much invested in the future of our home as you do.”

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how hard it is see your children as adults.”

She smiled slightly at the softening of his voice. “I hope I do, and

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I’ll trust them to make the right decisions.”

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you.”



TRAILS MERGE

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easy, though. You may have to point it out to me if I’m not giving you

your due.”

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“I’ll hold you to that.”

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will.”



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lunch with two of the program participants in a taquería where they

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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

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program, the connections they’d made with their site coordinators, and

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couldn’t imagine going home anywhere else at night. She thought of

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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

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RACHEL SPANGLER

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time when she read them something new struck her. You have to be the

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FKDQJHEXW be.

Be.

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good intentions could sugarcoat the hypocrisy in such a decision. She’d

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&DPSEHOO

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that suffocated her while the teens she’d met today were stuck here. She

wished she could take them all with her.

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“What?” Nadia asked, her confusion evident in her expression.

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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

MREŃadia leaned forward attentively. “I’m listening.”



TRAILS MERGE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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that she’d misunderstood. “I didn’t say that to make you stay. I want

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your home, our home.”



RACHEL SPANGLER

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she was dreaming.

“You two have some talking to do, so I’ll leave you to it.”

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giddy now that her tears had slowed.

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“I love you, too, and I don’t want to spend another night away

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ski season or the congressional calendar.” Parker kissed her again.

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“You have to be the change you wish to see in the world,” Parker

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together and wondered why she hadn’t thought of the solution.

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and a staff that can provide a family atmosphere are scarce. Can you

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always assume that if something is important to you, it’s important to

me, too. We can work out the details later.”

“If we can get your father to agree,” Parker said. “I don’t want my

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Parker smiled mischievously. “I can think of another way for us to

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“Care to take me home?”



TRAILS MERGE

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About the Author

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for way too long, and she loved (almost) every minute of it. She holds

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well as a master’s in college student personnel administration from

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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

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makes time for a good romance, whether she’s reading it, writing it, or

living it.

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and what they desire most is not what either of them had planned.

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Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE