Page 35 of Merry on the Mountain
CHAPTER 13
DREW
It’s takenme a couple weeks, but I finally came up with the best date idea I could figure out. Knowing that Willa loves being outside, regardless of the cold, and that she loves dogs, I came up with a plan. As soon as I shared it with Ava, she was completely on board with helping me out by watching Izzy and Maya.
“Take all the time you need,” she assures me as she unpacks her bag full of art projects for Izzy. “We’ll be so busy your girls won’t even realize you’re gone.”
“Do you know what we’re doing?” Willa asks her.
Ava mimes zipping her lips and nods her head. “You’re going to love it. Have fun,” she shoos us out of the house.
“Ready?” I ask, amused by the look of surprise on Willa’s face at having the door gently closed on us.
“I am.” She takes my hand and lets me lead her down the stairs and into the truck. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” I wait until she’s inside the cab and then close the door.
“Are we skiing?”
I look at her sideways as I back out of the driveway. “You’re not good with surprises, are you?”
“Nope,” she answers shamelessly. “I’m way too curious for my own good.”
“Lucky for you the wait won’t be long.”
She keeps guessing as we drive out of town. Somehow, I manage to give absolutely no indication whether her guesses are getting closer or not. It’s not until we pull up to the ranch that she figures it out.
The sound of excited dogs fills the thin air. Sun filters through the milky clouds, burning them away for what is bound to be a beautiful day of brilliant blue skies and sparkling white snow.
“Dog sledding?”
“Yep. I asked around to make sure they treat the dogs well here. According to Ava, they treat them like athletes.” I knew from conversations about Maya and the animal rescue that she cares deeply about the ethical treatment of animals. I definitely didn’t want to bring her somewhere they’re actively abusing dogs. That’s something I’d never support. “Have you done this before?”
“No, never.” She pushes her sunglasses up on top of her head to look out at the dogs. “They all look so happy.”
A woman walks out and introduces herself as the owner of the ranch. She gives us a tour of their facilities and talks about the dogs. We get directions on how to give them commands and meet the team that will be taking us to the cabin where we’ll have a meal and soak in the hot springs.
Once we’re introduced to our teams and guides, we each take a seat in the sleds. I’m a little worried I’ll be too big as apassenger, but the guide assures me that the dogs won’t even notice. In his words, they’re just happy to be out running in the snow. If his words weren’t enough to placate me, the way they took off at the first command definitely was. They don’t seem to have a single issue lugging me along.
He tells me so much about the geology and ecology of this area as we fly along behind Willa’s team. As someone new to the area, I had no clue about anything he’s telling me. I soak all the new little nuggets of knowledge up like a sponge, excited to take them all back to share with Izzy. Especially since she wants to do more outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing next summer.
Before packing us up and moving here, I wasn’t sure how long I’d keep us in Colorado, let alone Holly Ridge, but with every passing day, we settle in more. I learn more about the area, the town, and make friends. Izzy’s at a great Montessori school. It’s getting harder and harder to imagine her growing up anywhere else.
Willa’s cheeks are pink from being windblown when we get to the cabin. The guides show us inside where a chef is preparing our dinner. There’s a small table set for two in front of a roaring fireplace.
“Hello,” the chef greets us. “Dinner won’t be ready for another nine minutes, if you want to go enjoy the hot springs while you wait.”
“Hot springs?” Willa’s head turns quickly in my direction.
“Yep.”
“There are two robes and slippers you can wear out to them,” the chef says, pointing at a door behind us. “The changing room and bathroom is right through there, as well as the exit to the path to the spring.”
“Thank you,” I call over my shoulder as I pull her into the changing room with me.
“I don’t have a bathing suit,” she says as soon as the door closes behind us.
“Neither do I.” I unzip my coat and pull my hat off.
