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“Yeah. Probably a good idea,” Marge said as she pushed herself to standing. “Gotta put the puppies first. I’ll save killing Doris for later.”
Doris wailed, and her shoulders shook with her sobs.
“Marge!” I scolded. “She’s already feeling bad enough. Now stop teasing her and tell her you’re okay.”
Marge twisted her face then let out a long sigh. “We’re okay, Doris. I’m just kidding. Don’t feel bad.”
“But I do. I do feel bad.” She looked up with teary eyes.
“How about this,” Marge said. “You can stop feeling bad as long as you make me a promise.”
“Okay?” Doris blinked, her eyes lighting up at the suggestion.
“Never, and I meanneveragain anytime you are within my vicinity will you operate anything. No cars. No four wheelers. No dog sleds. Nothing. If you’re near me, you’re a passenger, even if Sylvie tells you otherwise.”
“Yes! Okay! Yes! I promise!” Doris responded with a sniffle. “Never again.”
Marge stuck out her hand, and Doris gave it a good shake.
“There. It’s settled,” I said as I rose to standing. “Now everyone has made up, Doris promises never to drive anything again, and we are all alive. So, let’s go find our poor doggies.”
“I’ll be here waiting. Someone send a snow chariot or something. I’m not walking all the way back in the snow.” Alice leaned back on her hands.
“There are bears out here, you know,” Marge said nonchalantly. “So, just keep an eye open for them. I mean, I wouldn’t worry about getting eaten by one since you look like that, but I would be worried you’ll be mistaken for one and some giant grizzly is gonna try to get frisky with you.”
Alice twisted her face then spat. “Ugh! Fine! I’m not staying out here alone with the bears. Let’s go.”
Marge gave us a wink, and she and Alice headed off in one direction. I slipped an arm around Doris’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go.”
The two of us limped off along the trail in search of our dog sled team, and I vowed to never,everlet Doris drive anything ever again.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The snowflakes drifteddown around Doris and me as we rode along the trail on the horses we’d rented for the morning. With Alice refusing to ever set foot in the wilderness again, and Marge off on an ice fishing excursion with Olavi while he collected firewood, it had just been us two horse lovers to wander the beautiful trails around the resort.
“Good boy, Lumi.” I stroked a hand down the neck of the grey horse named appropriately because the word meant snow. He shook his head, and it sent his long, white mane flipping back and forth before settling onto his neck.
