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Sam smiled to himself, stuffed his hands into the pockets of his battered black leather jacket and turned his face into the wind. Here at the top of Snow Vista, the view was, in his opinion, the best in the world. Damned if he hadn’t missed it.
He’d been all over the planet, stood on top of the Alps, skied amazing slopes in Germany, Italy and Austria, yet this was the view that for him couldn’t be beaten. The pines were tall and straight in the wind, and the bare branches of the oaks and aspens chattered like old women gossiping. Soon, the trees would green up, the wildflowers would be back and the river through the canyon would run fresh and clear again.
His gaze swept across the heavily wooded slope that was unusable for skiing. The alpine ride he wanted installed would make great use of that piece of land. Like a roller coaster but without the crazy dips and climbs. It would be a slower, open-air ride through the trees, displaying the fantastic views available from the top of the mountain. Like Park City, Snow Vista could become known for summer as well as winter fun.
He could see it all. The lifts, the alpine coaster, the restaurant offering great food at reasonable prices. Hell, Sam told himself, as he turned to shift his view to the meadow, still blanketed in snow, with a gazebo and a few other additions, they could open the resort to weddings, corporate getaways...the possibilities were endless.
And he’d be here, to see it all. He waited for the urge to leave and when it didn’t come, he smiled. It really was good to be back.
“I know the sun’s out, but it’s still too cold to be standing around outside.”
Chuckling, Sam turned to face his sister.
“It’s spring, Kristi,” Sam said. “Enjoy the cool before the summer heat arrives.”
She walked toward him, her hair pulled back from her face, a black jacket pulled over a red sweater and jeans. As she approached, her features were as cool as the wind sliding across the mountain. His little sister hadn’t really said anything about his decision to stay and Sam knew that she and Lacy were the ones he’d have to work hardest to convince. He was pretty sure he had Lacy halfway there, but maybe now was his chance to get through to his sister.
“You haven’t even been back a full month and you’ve got the whole mountain running to catch up with your ideas.”
Sam shrugged. “Now that I’ve decided to stay, there’s no point in holding back.” He looked away from Kristi and sent a sharp-eyed look at the men working the half-frozen ground. “I want the resort to be up and offering new things as quickly as possible.”
“Hence the bonus money offered the crew if they get both foundations poured before April 1?”
Sam grinned. “Money’s a great motivator.”
“It is,” she acknowledged. “And Dad’s really happy with everything you’re doing.”
“I know.” It felt good, knowing that his father was excited about the future. That meant he was thinking ahead, not about the past or about his own health issues. Sam was still stopping in at the lodge every day to go over the plans with his father. To keep the older man engaged in what was going on. To get his input and, hell—just to be with him. Sam had missed that connection with his parents over the past two years. Being here with them again was good for the soul—even with the ghost of Jack hanging over all of them, whether he was spoken of or not. But even with that, with the memories of sorrow clinging close, even with the complications nearly choking him, it was good to be on familiar ground again.
“What about you, Kristi?” His gaze shifted to her again. “How are you feeling about all of this? About me?”
She took a breath and let it out. “I like all of the plans,” she said, lifting her eyes to meet his. “But the jury’s still out on what I’m thinking of you.”
Sam felt his good mood drift away and decided that now was the time to get a few things straightened out with his little sister. “How long are you going to make me pay?”
“How long have you got?” Kristi shrugged, but her eyes were clouded with emotion rather than anger.
“I can’t keep saying I’m sorry.” Apologizing had never come easy for Sam. Not even when he was a kid. Having to swallow the fact that he’d screwed up royally two years ago wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. But he was doing it.
“I came back,” he told her. “That has to count, too.”
“Maybe it does, because I am glad you’re back, Sam. Really.” She shoved both hands into her jacket pockets and tossed a strand of hair out of her eyes with a single jerk of her head. “You being here is a good thing. But what you did two years ago affected all of us and that’s not so easy to get past.”
