Snowbound in Montana Read Online Free PDF

such a negative person? Or was she upset about something in particular? Maybe something Jason did—like have an affair? That might explain why he seemed so anxious to make her happy. Guilty conscience and all.
    She took a sip of her coffee and laughed at herself. Here she was, inventing stories, based on no real evidence. Just because the love of her life had been an unfaithful liar, didn’t mean all men were like that.
    A minute later, Marshall and the lodge owner, Griff, came into the room. Both had frost on their hair and eyelashes, ruddy cheeks and snow-caked trousers. They’d obviously just come in from outdoors.
    “Lots of snow out there, and it’s still coming down,” Marshall announced. “But we’ll be doing the Panorama Ridge trail today, as planned.”
    “It’s track-set now,” Griff added, “But it won’t be for long.”
    “I suggest you finish your breakfasts quickly, grab one of the bagged lunches Betsy’s put out, for your packs, and meet me at the trail head in fifteen minutes.” Marshall grabbed a piece of strudel from the table, which he devoured in two bites, then went to say a few words to the Ritchies and Bracketts. A minute later he was at Eliza’s side.
    “Looking forward to another day in the snow?”
    “I am. Is everyone coming?” The Bracketts were in the process of leaving the dining room right now, while the Ritchies seemed to be arguing about something.
    “Not sure.” Marshall, too, was eyeing the Ritchie family. “I’m a little worried about Kevin. I gave him a lesson yesterday afternoon and he’s got great balance. But with all this fresh snow, it’s going to be a lot of work. I could pull him in a sled, but he’s a little big for that.” He shrugged.
    “Poor kid just doesn’t seem to fit in, anywhere, does he?”
    “If it wasn’t for this storm, we could have made it work.” Marshall straightened. “Anyway, I’d better start organizing or we’ll end up with a late start.”
    Eliza took an extra minute to finish her coffee, then was heading to the washroom when she heard Kevin shout, “But I want to go!”
    “You’re too little. Mom and I will stay back with you. Anna, you go ahead with your friends.” As soon as the father said this, his teenaged daughter took off at a run.
    “Thanks, Dad! See you later, Mom!”
    “Not fair!” Kevin stared after his sister, then punched his fist in the air.
    “It wouldn’t be fun with all this snow anyway,” his mother said. “Come on Kevin. Let’s go back to the room and get a book to read.”
    “A book? Why can’t we go sledding?”
    “Maybe later…”
    Eliza didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. She had to get a move on or she’d hold up the group.
    *
    It was hard work skiing in all the fresh powder, but Eliza loved it. Once more, she’d started out at the back of the pack, but within an hour she advanced to the front with Marshall. He’d shown her how to pole more effectively and it was really helping. Every now and then he went back to check on the others. Then, he’d return to ski with her for a bit.
    “You’re such a natural. It’s hard to believe you’ve only been skiing for two years.”
    “Too bad I didn’t start earlier. I might have been able to train for the Olympics, like you.”
    “No doubt.”
    She laughed. “Seriously, though, how did you get started on the Olympic track?”
    “I can thank my aunt for that. I lived with her and her husband in Denver for three years. They were avid skiers, up in Aspen every weekend in the winter. They enrolled me in a learn-to-ski program that included some Nordic as well as downhill. It didn’t take long for me to figure out which of the two I preferred.”
    “Were you still living with them when you were injured?”
    “No. That happened in Utah, and I was with a foster family by then, arranged by my ski coach. They kept in touch with me after my accident, but by the time I came out of the hospital, I was eighteen and able to live on my