Page 47 of North

I glance over my shoulder, see the others in our group approaching. Everyone’s got smiles as big as their faces as we exit the sleds. The dogs pant, their breath visible in the cold air, and we all dismount to stretch our legs while the mushers provide water for the huskies.

There’s a firepit set up with benches and thermosesof hot chocolate. Willa and Mazzy pour mugs for us all and hand them out as we gather around the fire, basking in the warmth.

“This is perfect,” Willa says, cradling her cocoa. “I might never leave.”

Foster rests against a log, his face relaxed as he nudges Mazzy’s leg. “You’re like a kid in a candy store.”

“I can say the same about you,” Mazzy says with a shrug. “Everyone here, really.”

As the conversation flows, I notice North cough softly into his glove. It’s the second or third time I’ve heard him do it today, and I’m wondering if his flushed face is from the cold or something else.

“You all right?” I ask quietly.

“Fine,” he says, brushing it off. “Just a tickle.”

The conversation shifts to Penn, a man who’s been on everyone’s minds.

“Did anyone figure out what was up with that teddy bear yesterday?” Foster asks casually, but his eyes are sharp.

“All I know is it rattled the shit out of Penn,” North says. By the grave looks on Willa’s and Mazzy’s faces, I’m guessing they’re up to date on what happened in the locker room.

King is abnormally quiet though and North shoots him a pointed look. “What do you think? You’ve always been the one who made the consistent effort with Penn.You’ve stayed behind on more than one occasion to encourage him to come hang with us and seem to have the best rapport with the dude off the ice. Not that that’s saying much.”

His expression is troubled as he glances around at us. “I know something.”

King and North stare at him slack-jawed, clearly shocked at the revelation.

“I can’t tell you details because I promised him I wouldn’t. But let’s just say he’s got reason to be the way he is.”

“Whoa, wait a minute,” Foster says. “When did you talk to him?”

“How did you get him to talk to you is the better question?” North asks.

King nods, rubbing at his jaw. We women all watch silently. “It was after the Winnipeg game a few weeks ago.”

Foster shakes his head. “That’s the one where McLendon went after Penn.”

King nods, and I remember watching that game on TV. It was obvious that McLendon had it out for Penn from the first drop of the puck. He put two nasty hits on him, the last one causing King to jump to Penn’s defense and he knocked the shit out of McLendon in retaliation, earning them both penalties.

“Look,” King says with a sigh. “I will never tell youwhat Penn told me in confidence, but I got him to talk to me ironicallybecauseof the McLendon thing.”

“I don’t track,” Foster says.

“McLendon said a few things to me on the ice and I’m not violating any promises by telling you that much since anyone could have heard it. But after his first hit on Penn, I warned him to back off and he told me to keep a close eye on Penn becausebad things happen to bad people.”

It’s Willa who gasps. “He said that about Penn? Called him bad?”

King nods, reaching over to squeeze Willa’s hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that part.”

“No, I get it,” she says, waving off his concern.

“And then after the second hit,” King continues, “after we got our penalties and were skating to the boxes, I asked him what his problem was. And he said that Penn deserved it and more. He said some things you don’t forgive.”

“What the fuck?” North growls incredulously. “What the hell does that even mean?”

King lets out a mirthless laugh. “I was curious myself, so I approached McLendon after the game and asked him. He refused to say anything but told me to ask Penn. So I did.”

“And he just poured everything out to you?” Foster asks skeptically. “I find that hard to believe.”

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