Page 67 of Chased

Yeah. So did he.

Madison grabbed her purse and a jacket, and ran out of her cabin to find Sanchez rolling up the hill in his truck. Once inside, she settled back into the seat.

“So now do I get to know where we’re going?”

“No. But I hope you went to the bathroom, because it’s about two and a half hours.”

She wondered how long it would be before she could sneak a look at Google Maps on her phone. Because the suspense was driving her crazy.

As they drove past the parking area, Mikey’s bright red truck pulled out behind them. Madison could see that Jaeda really had closed up the office, because she and Breanna were in the truck with Mikey, music already blasting.

Behind them, another truck pulled out. Madison craned her neck. “Is that Cisco and Matéo?”

Sanchez sighed. “They really wanted to come, but they thought your lapin might be afraid to be in the same truck with them. They still feel bad about last night, and they want to do something for you. Whatever they do, please pretend you like it even if it’s horrific.”

Madison giggled. “They’re really sweet, aren’t they.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but their hearts are in the right place. More or less. Last night their wolves wanted to bring you a fresh kill to apologize.”

“I’m glad they went with the flowers and cookies.”

“Yeah, maybe there’s hope.”

Madison was selfishly glad it was just her and Sanchez in the truck. He was surprisingly easy to be with. They talked a little—apparently he could do small talk when he was relaxed—and he told her to play whatever music she wanted on the satellite radio.

Then he made fun of it, of course, because it was all cheesy pop music. But not in a mean way, so she let him. She just sang at the top of her lungs, until finally he joined in.

“You do sing!” she said.

“If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”

She figured out about halfway there where they must be going—Lake Placid, famous ski resort and site of the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics.

Now it was a thriving tourist town at all times of the year. It must have really been packed in the summer, Madison thought, but now that it was the middle of September and before the leaves turned colors, there was a little breathing space.

They found a parking lot and got out, waiting for the girls and Cisco and Matéo. Madison gazed up at the huge Olympic ski jump standing against the sky, towering over the trees.

“Okay, that’s cool,” she said. “In a ‘no chance in hell would I ever do that’ kind of way.” She’d had no idea those things were so tall.

“I would,” Michelangela said, as she came up with Breanna and Jaeda.

Breanna said, “Of course you would.”

“What, you don’t ski?”

“I grew up in the plains and I had no money,” Breanna said. “So no.”

“I do,” Madison said. “I’m from Colorado. But I can’t fly, and I have no desire to.”

Flying is wrong, said Vixen. No burrows. Eagles can snatch you right out of the sky. Bad plan.

Mikey said, “I might try jumping sometime. My brothers come here a lot in the winter, and I’ll probably come over and see them next time they’re here. They’re snowboarders in the winter, and skateboarders in the summer. In the spring and fall they’re just slackers.”

Madison laughed. “That’s so weird. You all must be really different. I can imagine you doing a lot of things—including ski jumping—but slacking isn’t one of them.”

“I got the entire quota of ambition for my generation.” But Madison could hear the affection in her voice—she was obviously fond of her ‘slacker’ brothers.

When Cisco and Matéo had parked and they were all assembled, they walked off down the main street. Lake Placid was adorable—kitschy and touristy mixed in with some really gorgeous, upscale shops. At first they just ambled along, window shopping—and then Madison saw a window display with the most gorgeous tunic top and asymmetric jacket.