Holiday Blog - Part Four

DeeDee Lane takes over for Sarah Stevens

With a gentle tug on his arm Cammie guided Paul to sit on the chairlift. Parkas mushed together they settled back to ascend to the final stop on their tour, top of the ridge ski area. Heat radiated where their arms, hips, and thighs brushed one another. She shivered at the contrast of warmth and the cold snowflakes dotting her cheeks with frozen pin pricks.

Reaching above their heads she grasped the metal bar. “Watch your head, your tallness.” Paul grinned as she clanged down the chest bar locking it in place across their bodies.

“Your wish is my command, your shortness.” Paul exhaled a contented sigh as he scanned the tunnel of snow flocked evergreens. “Your mountain is truly a special place.”

“Wait until you see the view from the top.” She’d hesitated to continue their tour when one of the veteran ski instructors mentioned a big storm coming in from the west. But she couldn’t imagine anyone missing this view. She marveled at how the snow changed sound making her breath, his breath, the squeak of the lift muted under its blanket. 

“You’re a great tour guide Cammie; it’s been an amazing day.”

Cammie couldn’t help the buzz of happiness at his compliment. Paul’s curiosity about the center was infectious. He’d peppered her with questions and comments that stimulated her thinking, shaken up her perceptions, and turned her “polite smile” into the genuine article. She’d been impressed by his instant grasp of what went into making the mountain a fun and safe place for snow lovers. She still questioned his “corporate” plans for the Cascadia Family Run should he and Brad become business partners, but their long conversations led her to believe his motivations were admirable.

After discovering his status as a single guy she’d given herself permission to notice his laugh caused a tiny zip in the heart strings. She’d enjoyed touring around with someone willing to try new things, to be a fool. They’d laughed their heads off at his floundering attempt with the snowshoes and no amount of coaching had helped him get the hang of things.

They’d stopped for jalapeno poppers and Caesar salads at the upper café, played a round of darts in the game room and headed up to the final stop. Her boss Brad, with his usual humor, had told her to give him the full she-bang tour. She inhaled breathing in the scent of frosty pines. She’d be sorry to see the day end.

“Is the snow coming down harder?” Paul waved his arms indicating the whitening landscape. “Or is it the change in elevation?”

Jarred out of her reverie, she surveyed the darkening sky. “Whoa, lots harder. Check out the dark cloudbank to the west.” She pulled her beanie down over her ears. “Get ready to exit.”

  Everyone knew the mountain mantra, “safety first,” she’d show him the cabin closest to the chair lift and head down the mountain. Built on the upper ridge the six small cabins were ski-in with privately enclosed outdoor hot tubs. Formerly ski patrol housing the cabins were accessible to all activities yet secluded from the main throughways up and down the mountain. Trial guests were scheduled for the weekend so yesterday she and Brad had done a final supply run to get everything ready for occupation.

Together they skied off the lift and down the small valley which opened up into a grove of snow laden evergreens. Flurries encased them in white, making visibility difficult. Unhooking her skis she directed him into the nearest entry area.

“Hey, none of this is on your current maps of the mountain or in your marketing or accounting paperwork.”

“Right. This is new.” She ducked her face towards the key box to hide her proud smile. “My contribution to increasing our profits and desirability as a couple’s getaway.” Waving away his complimentary words she propped the door open and continued. “Come on in, I’m going to give Brad a call for the weather update.”

 “Rustic charm.” Paul moved ahead into the main area of the cabin. A cushy sofa and rug sat in front of the cabin’s central fireplace, all decorated in buffalo plaid patterns of red and black. He moved into the small kitchen, ski boots clomping on the wooden floors. “You’ve even got supplies for the Cascades of Chocolate hot drink.”

Brad’s usually upbeat voice held a note of alarm when he answered her call.

“Cammie, thank goodness you phoned. The snow’s moving in fast, where are you?”

“Paul and I made it to Cabin Plaid, but I’m thinking we should head down the hill now.”

“No, stay there. We’ll send the snow mobiles up to you.” Brad hesitated. “Build a fire it might be a whi--”

His voice cut off. Cammie lowered her cellphone, puzzling over his last words.

Paul halted his explorations when he noted the expression on Cammie’s face. “You okay?”

“I think we’ll be here a bit, Brad said to build a fire.”

“I’m your man, or should I say, Eagle Scout.” He pivoted to the firebox pulling out kindling, newspaper, and wood chunks.

“I’ll make hot chocolate while we wait for the snow mobile.” Cammie opened the refrigerator and pulled out milk and the trio of chocolate sauces. “Thanks for being a good sport Paul; I know it’s not how you planned to spend the afternoon.”

“Yeah, I’m really suffering...cozy cabin, Cascades of Chocolate hot drinks, and a toasty fire.” Paul’s blue eyes sparkled. “And…if you don’t mind my saying so, a beautiful woman, who’s intelligent, fun to talk to, and has been my pleasure to meet.” 

“I don’t mind and I’ve had a great day with you.” Cammie grinned and tossed her beanie on the kitchen’s small table. “Now get the fire going city boy.”

What happens next?

A)     Cammie and Paul are rescued by the ski patrol and they head back down the mountain.

B)     Cammie and Paul have to spend the night together in the snowbound ski cottage.

Please vote in the comments section by Tuesday at midnight EST.