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“She’s just the sweetest,” Kenna says, looking up at me from the ground and she runs her hands over both dogs. “I really would be happy to help. Abby here is still in training, too. She’s improving, but it certainly hasn’t been easy.”
“Winnie isn’t in training,” I grit out. “She’s already been trained by some of the best in the business and they sold her to me fully capable.”
Irritation is clawing at my insides, and I want to lash out. The last few months have been difficult, to say the least. After wiping out and breaking my arm at the Olympics, I spiraled—hard. Drinking, fucking anything that moved, just plowing through my savings. Things went downhill until I found myself in a hospital after a bar fight, with no one to call for help except my physical therapist. This place is supposed to be my fresh start.
Clenching my jaw, I bite down on the shitty retort already hanging on the tip of my tongue. Kenna is still on the floor, petting the dogs, and she doesn’t deserve my rage.
“But maybe we could use a little coaching,” I grind out, hating every word. The last of my savings went into buying this dog, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even like me. But I guess that’s fair; most of the time I don’t like me either. We need to figure this out, though; there aren’t many jobs available for ex-skiers with no other marketable skills. And fuck being a coach.
Kenna’s face lights up, excitement radiating from her. Her shockingly blue eyes stare at me and her brow furrows, as though not quite believing my change of heart.
“Yes, we can totally do this!” she bubbles, hopping up from the ground. “First, what do you use to praise her when she’s done well? Does she have a ball or a toy?”
Embarrassment curls within me. Shit. The center said something about that, and they gave me an entire bag of training tools which I never bothered to look at. Damnit. This is my fault.
“Uh… yeah…” I stutter, unsure what to say next, hoping Drew will get started on the next part of the meeting so I can avoid the rest of this inquisition.
Fate throws me a bone, finally, when a sudden chill slices through the room and the front door of the SAR building opens with a bang. All heads, dog and human alike, swivel as Jeremy, one of the other members, walks in.
“Hey Drew,” he calls, removing his thick black gloves. His cheeks are pink from the cold and the tip of his nose is bright red.
“Jeremy, why are you here tonight?” Drew asks, moving toward the blond man with concern etched across his features. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I was just leaving the firehouse and heading home, but they got a call that a pretty big blizzard is headed our way. Should be a few hours yet, but some of the neighboring cities are getting slammed.”
Drew runs his fingers through his short brown hair as he looks at Jeremy, deep in thought.
“Do you think we should send someone up to the snow patrol cabin?” he asks, and my ears perk up. Maybe I could ride out the storm away from prying eyes, giving me some time to look through all the training stuff they gave me for Winnie. Maybe even work on it.
Jeremy gives a quick nod. “I’m on at the firehouse, otherwise I would offer to go.”
“Yeah, no worries. I’d hate to leave Tilly during a blizzard…” he trails off and his shoulders slump in defeat.
Kenna opens her mouth, but I quickly cut her off.
“I’ll do it,” I practically shout. Silence greets my sudden outburst and all eyes turn to stare unblinkingly at me.
Shrugging, I continue, “You brought me here because of my skill in the snow. If someone should be up there, it’s me.” My heart thumps faster as the silence stretches and the weight of what I just said crashes into me. What if someone does get lost on the mountain? Could I actually find them?
“Do you really think you’re up for it, Cole?” Drew questions.
“Yes,” I lie.
He considers it for a moment longer. Studying me with critical eyes; he takes in my posture as I defiantly stare back at him. Refusing to be intimidated, I cross my arms and grin smugly. He doesn’t want to go up to the cabin, and I can see the war playing out behind his calm mask.
Bored with this game, I tug Winnie’s leash from my pocket, bending down to snap it on her collar.
“Alright, if you’re sure. But I want you to take a satellite phone to call us when you get up there… and if you need anything,” he unsurely concedes. “All the rescue calls will still be routed through me, and the cabin is already cleaned out and well stocked with food and wood. We keep it that way this time of year.”
“Sounds good,” I reply, getting my coat and an extra SAR bag. “I’ll just stop to grab a few things from my rental and drive up there. Can you text me the address?”
“Yup,” he responds, as I open the door.
“Come on Winnie,” I give her leash a little tug, but she sits on the ground, not wanting to leave the warmth of the building and all her puppy friends. My fist grasps the soft leather, pulling it a bit harder this time, and I deepen my voice. “Now.”
She whines pitifully but lumbers up onto all four paws and listens, slowly plodding out the door behind me.
“See you all soon,” I say, tossing a wave over my shoulder as I exit. Crisp air greets me. The sky is a vivid blue and there is just a dusting of snow on the ground. Little flurries fall around me, clinging to Winnie, and the white flecks dissolve, leaving droplets that absorb into her jet-black coat as we walk along the sidewalk.
