Snow Falls Read Online Free PDF Page A

snow. She glanced at Ryan. “Immaculate.”
    Ryan nodded. “Exhilarating.”
    Jen tilted her head, a smile on her face. “Inspirational.”
    “Splendor.”
    “Radiance.”
    Ryan laughed. “Okay. So you get the idea.” She walked on, hearing Jen following. Sierra and Kia were running ahead of them, and Ryan followed their tracks. They had a trail established, keeping the snow packed down. Not only was the ridge the only place she could get a cell signal, it was also the spot for a perfect sunset. “So, Santa Fe, huh?”
    “Yes.”
    “Rented the SUV, drove from Santa Fe, through the mountains, up Wolf Creek Pass, through Creede to Lake City. In the dead of winter. For a writer’s retreat?”
    “That’s the point. It’s the dead of winter. You’re stuck in a lodge. You don’t lose your focus. You want to get snowed in.”
    “Well, you got that part right, at least.”
    “Are you going to call me an idiot again?”
    “No, no. I think we’re past that.”
    Jen huffed behind her, her feet crunching loudly in the snow. “Like I said, I suck with directions. Always have,” she explained. “But this seemed so straightforward.”
    Ryan stopped, letting Jen catch her breath. Both dogs came running back down toward them, their tongues hanging out as they danced in the snow. Ryan petted each of them, then watched as Jen did the same.
    “So who’s going to miss you?”
    Jen looked up, frowning. “What?”
    “You know, when you don’t show at the lodge. Who are they going to call? Boyfriend? Husband?”
    Jen shook her head. “No. They’ll call Susan, my agent. Brad wasn’t all that enthused about me taking this trip. He and Susan don’t really get along, but I suppose she’ll call him.”
    “Brad?”
    “Boyfriend,” Jen said. Then she shrugged. “I guess. I mean, he wants to get married.”
    “Fiancé then?”
    Jen looked past her, to the west where the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains hovered. She had a pensive look on her face. Ryan wondered what thoughts were going through her mind. She turned back to Ryan, and again Ryan was stunned by the blueness of her eyes.
    “He hasn’t officially asked. And there’s no ring,” she said, holding up her gloved hands.
    Ryan moved on, continuing up the trail. “So you’re not ready?”
    Jen laughed. “That’s so cliché, isn’t it?”
    “Well, it’s an excuse, anyway.”
    “Yes. And I shouldn’t need an excuse.”
    Ryan stopped again. “So?”
    But Jen waved her on. “No. I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, last night you gave me the impression that you don’t like to talk. Why all the questions today?”
    What could she say? The curiosity was brought about by the writer in her. Of course, it wouldn’t do to tell Jen that. She could only imagine her reaction to that bit of news. “Just making conversation,” she said instead.
    Up this high along the ridge, trees were few and far between, only a handful of hearty firs taking hold in the rocks. A group of noisy nutcrackers gathered in one, shaking the snow from the branches as they landed.
    “What are they?” Jen asked.
    “Clark’s nutcrackers,” she said. “I’ve got some birdseed at the cabin. I’m just not real diligent about keeping the feeders filled. We can put some out later, if you like.”
    Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Jen nodded. “I’d like that.”
    Ryan walked a few more feet, taking out her cell phone. She checked the signal. Only three bars, but enough for a call. “Got a signal.”
    “Do you know the number to the lodge?”
    “No. I’ll just call Chief Daniels,” she said, finding Reese’s number in her contact list.
    “Who is that?”
    “Sheriff,” she explained. “And a friend.”
    Jen laughed. “A friend? Do hermits have friends?”
    “I’m allowed two,” Ryan said with a smile, turning away from Jen as Reese answered.
    “Hey, Ryan. What a surprise. Everything okay up there?”
    “Yeah. I guess,” she said, glancing at Jen.