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“Careful,” Henry warned, raising his eyebrows. “She’s been known to break hearts.”
Kashif smiled. “I fear it may already be too late.”
Following Henry back outside, Kashif immediately went to zip his jacket only to discover that it wasn’t all that cold out. Glancing around, he couldn’t help but notice the rapidly melting snow.
“I don’t suppose there’s another blizzard in the forecast?” he asked uneasily.
“No, but the weather can be a bit unpredictable around here,” Henry said with a shrug. “Now, you can choose between two lead pairs. Donna and Dasher have been leading for years, and they’re more than good together. Grant and Garland are the new up-and-comers. Kristy and I have been working with them this past year, and I know they have potential.
The two pairs were separated into two lots, and Kashif looked them over with a critical eye. Both sets looked healthy and well-formed, but Donna and Dasher were getting up there in years. Grant and Garland had much more eagerness in their eyes.
“Let’s start with Grant and Garland,” he decided. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll try Donna and Dasher.”
“Fair enough,” Henry said with a nod. “But you shouldn’t go back and forth for too long. You want your team to be comfortable with their leads, and that means a few runs.”
“Understood.” Kashif stood back while Henry whistled for the rest of the team. He hooked them up to the sled with obvious ease.
“You’ll normally carry your pack back here. Right now, I’ve got a few things in the back so that the dogs can get accustomed to the weight and you as well. Now, I don’t need to remind you that this isn’t like reining horses. The dogs are going to be moving quickly, but they’re going to wait to get their direction from you. You need to be firm, but you also need to be quick. They’re used to the practice track, but once you pick your team, you want to try them out in the fields so they get used to your commands.”
Kashif nodded and took his place on the sled. It was strange to think that the last time he’d been here was four years ago, but when the reins were in his hands, he felt the usual bubble of excitement.
Henry belted out a command, and the dogs took off. Kashif bent his knees and braced for that first push. The dogs had no trouble finding their pace, and soon they were sliding on what little bit of snow was left on the ground. Slush flew up into his face, and he yelled with excitement. The wind rushed harshly against his face, but he didn’t care. He needed speed and just a little bit of danger.
It was something that his father and his brothers didn’t understand. When he was racing, jumping, or climbing, he wasn’t the Crown Prince of Al-Harmid, and he wasn’t Sheikh Kashif Shadid. He was simply a man facing the elements the same as everyone else. The challenge invigorated him, and the hint of danger made him feel alive. Responsibilities, duty, and the palace were miles and miles away.
The minutes flew by, and vaguely, he heard Henry yelling commands at him. Adjusting the reins in his hands, he narrowed his eyes and saw the fallen branch in the middle of the track. Guiding the dogs to the left, he flew around it and nearly fell off the sled. Grinning like a fool and whooping with glee, he righted himself and brought the dogs home.
Henry whistled. “Nicely done. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that this was something that you did on a regular basis.”
Kashif shook his head, and water droplets flew from his hair. “Honestly, it felt like four years ago was yesterday. I’d forgotten how much fun this is.”
“That’s good. I like it better when mushers focus on the enjoyment rather than the competition. The dogs pick up on that, and they enjoy it more,” Henry said as he patted the dogs down. Releasing them back into the pen, he rested a foot on the post and watched as they burned off all the extra energy.
“They’ll be well-rested for tomorrow. You can try Donner and Dasher, but honestly, Grant and Garland did well today.”
“How do you choose leads?”
“Kristy can spot ’em as puppies. She likes for them to have an instant bond and the strength to be alpha. She keeps an eye on them in the first few months, and if her instincts prove correct—and they usually do—she starts training them.”
“Incredible,” Kashif murmured. “Do you think tomorrow, you can throw a few more obstacles on the track? That was awesome.”
Henry chuckled and shook his head. “If you hurt yourself, and Kristy found out that it was my fault, she’d have my head. Still, I’ll see what I can do. Looks like it’s about time for dinner.”
“You joining us?”
“No, sir. I have a date.”
Kashif slapped the man on the back and leaned in to scratch one of the dogs behind the ears. Turning back to the house, he realized that he hadn’t seen Kristy all day.
He missed her.
Picking up his step, he whistled as he entered the lodge. The “closed” sign was already up on the desk. Rounding the corner, he peered into the dining room and found Kristy was the only one at the table.
She looked exhausted. There were dark circles under her eyes, her shoulders were slumped forward, and her hair was a mess. Staring down silently at her plate, she didn’t seem to notice that he’d entered.
“Habibti?” he asked softly.
She jumped like he’d yelled at her, and her eyes flew open. He froze and stared at her. “Were you asleep?”
