“Do you think we should get off the trail?” Maggie asked nervously.
The other machine appeared up ahead and immediately slowed. It coasted to a stop just in front of theirs, head to head.
The driver, a tall person wearing a warm-looking coverall, removed her helmet to reveal a smiling face. “Hi! I’m Doreen. You all were gone long enough that Mauro started to worry, so I said I’d run out and have a look around.”
Sam grinned at Maggie. “You were right, they did send someone.” She gave him a brief smile back. “Thanks for looking. We would have started back soon, but since you came from the opposite way we did, I’m not sure if we’d have just ended up more turned around.”
“You made a big loop,” Doreen said cheerfully. “You would’ve gotten there eventually, I’m sure, but I’m just gonna turn around and then you can follow me back.”
“You’d better drive,” Maggie said to Sam.
“I’d happily ride behind you anytime.”
Maggie’s cheeks pinked further. “I know, but I think I’d rather just sit and look around for a while. I’ll leave the driving to other people.”
“My lady’s wish, et cetera.”
Blushing even harder, Maggie put her helmet back on. Once they were settled on their machines, Doreen revved hers, backed up, and then—somewhat to Sam’s alarm—left the trail and took the machine at breakneck speed through the unbroken snow under the trees in a wide loop. A rooster tail of snow flung up behind her. In a few moments she roared back onto the trail and then slowed down to let them catch up.
Maggie leaned forward, bumping into Sam’s back, to talk without having to put her helmet visor up. “I think we’d both end up headfirst in a snowbank if we tried that.”
Sam couldn’t help thinking that Fawkes and Leah, especially Leah, would absolutely love this form of recreation. He wasn’t sure whether to suggest it, or leave them in blissful ignorance, considering the havoc Leah might get up to on a snowmobile.
Maggie nestled against his back. He gave the engine a little burst of gas and lurched forward to catch up with Doreen.
It was cold and he was getting hungry. He hoped there was hot chocolate and good food waiting for them at the end of thetrail. But at the same time, with Maggie resting her head on his shoulder, he wished the ride would never end.
MAGGIE
By the timethey got back to the lodge, Maggie was exhausted, feeling the drain of the cold and the pull of muscles unaccustomed to heavier use. But there was no time to rest. “I’m already late for kitchen duty, sorry,” she called, flinging herself off the back of the machine. Then she ran back to peel off the helmet and the outerwear she had borrowed.
“It’s fine, I’ll put things away and check in with Mauro,” Sam told her. “Go get ready.”
Hester flagged her down on her way through the lobby. “I’m sorry!” Maggie called. “We got a little turned around on the trails. I just need to change.”
“We can definitely use you, but that’s not what I wanted to see you about,” Hester returned. “We found a room for you.”
Maggie skidded to a halt. “What?”
“One of our housekeeping staff had a family emergency, so she left this afternoon, and her room is free. It’s in employee housing behind the lodge, so it’s dorm style, but at least you’ll no longer be sharing with Sam and his daughter.”
“No longer sharing,” Maggie echoed. “Yeah. That’s ... wonderful.”
Hester frowned. “I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am happy,” Maggie lied. She tried to put on a more convincing smile. “That’s great. After my shift, I’ll pack my things.”
She was in a hurry, distracted, and assumed Charlie was out somewhere. The idea that the girl might still be in the room didn’t even occur to her until she had already inserted her key and opened the door.
Charlie was sitting on the bed with her head in her hands. As soon as the door opened, she jerked up and sprang to her feet.
“Are you okay?” Maggie asked. She was no expert in teenagers, or in Charlie, but it looked very much as if Charlie had been crying.
“I’m good.” Charlie dashed at her eyes.
Maggie hesitated. She needed to change and get to her kitchen shift. But if something was truly wrong, she didn’t feel right about walking away.
“Do you need me to get your dad?”
