Broken Trails

In the main house, she felt bone tired. It had been awhile since she had had a workout like this. She eyed the siblings with new respect; doing this day in and day out from childhood had to give them a hardiness that few their age acquired. She remembered seeing Scotch’s bare arms that morning, seeing the play of muscle beneath the pale skin, and had a good understanding where it came from.

Breakfast was over. The family sat around the table, and Lainey realized this was standard practice for them. All meetings must take place here. Helen, dressed in sweater and jeans, had a notepad and pen. Her husband, Thom, was dressed in a long sleeve white shirt, the collar undone and a t-shirt peeking from beneath. Both of them worked today, and were ready to get with it as soon as business was concluded.

“The Fuller Kennel board of directors is called to order,” he said. “All members present and accounted for.”

Lainey blinked at the formality, glancing at Bon who played under the table with an empty shoebox.

As if reading her mind, Rye smiled. “Yeah, he’s a board member, too. We all are.”

“Interesting,” Howry muttered, scribbling a note.

Thom said, “We’re here to finalize some things with Ms. Hughes and Mr. Howry at their request.”

Everyone, including Howry, looked expectantly at Lainey.

She refrained from chewing her lip at the sudden attention. Barely. All those blue eyes, patient as they regarded her, seemed guileless. What would they look like when she explained the changes the magazine had insisted upon last month? Lainey focused on Scotch, wondering if she would be all right with it or not.

“Well, as you know, I made arrangements for Don to accompany me on this adventure. I wasn’t sure what to tell you as to the why of it.” She took a deep breath. “I realize that what I tell you might be a deal breaker. If you don’t agree to the changes my editor wants, then I understand.”

“What sort of changes, dear?” Helen asked. “It certainly can’t be all that bad.”

Lainey steered her gaze away from Scotch’s wary expression. What did she think would be said? Would she decide against the idea? “I originally contracted with Cognizance to do a series on Scotch’s next run for the Iditarod. However, my editor’s bosses have decided to do another piece, as well. Don,” and she waved to indicate the man beside her, “will do the series on Scotch.”

Irish frowned. ‘so, what’ll you be doing?”

Lainey sighed. “I have been asked to run the Iditarod.”

CHAPTER NINE

“YOU MEAN LIKE enter the race on your own?” Irish asked.

“That’s the idea.” Howry said.

“What?” Rye snorted. “You don’t know the first thing about mushing.”

“Regrettably true,” Lainey said. She avoided Scotch’s eyes, not wanting to see what her response was to the news. “The magazine has done some research into the cost of such a venture. “They’re allowing me to offer you thirty thousand dollars to train me, and to give me the use of a team and equipment for the next Iditarod.”

Thom whistled at the amount. “You know some kennels would ask for more.”

She met his gaze squarely. “I know. In addition, you’ll still receive the monthly amount we originally agreed to pay for our room and board. That ultimately works out to more than what you would get for a simple training contract. Besides, Don and I will both continue working, so there’s the added manpower you won’t be required to pay for.”

“What if I refuse?”

Lainey’s heart thumped at the seriousness in Scotch’s voice, and she finally looked at her. Regardless of the uncertain position she had put the Fullers in, Scotch emanated the same confidence that had first drawn Lainey. They both had no doubt that her family would back whatever Scotch decided. She wondered if this was the source of Scotch’s self-assurance, and felt a little let down. Surely it could not be as simple as that.

Rather than blow smoke up Scotch’s ass, Lainey chose to be truthful. This young woman deserved to know the reality of the situation, and Lainey knew she could handle the information. “Then I leave. Don will remain behind to do an original piece about your training. I’ve been instructed to approach two other kennels with the training offer.”

Scotch’s ears almost perked up with interest. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “Which kennels?”

The sudden interest confused Lainey, and Howry answered. “Either the Larsen’s or Mythic Spirit Kennels.”

At the second name, Scotch scoffed, sitting upright. “The Thorpes?” she demanded. “They barely know how to point their dogs in the right direction!”

“You’d be lucky if they gave you a team worth the effort of training,” Rye said.

“Be lucky if she didn’t have to scratch the first day,” Scotch told her brother.

“Don’t they still bite their dogs’ ears?” Helen asked, receiving a round of disgusted agreement from her family.

“Biting ears?” Lainey asked slowly, wondering if they were putting her on. Her face contorted at the thought of putting a furry ear in her mouth.

Scotch’s demeanor lightened at her expression. She smiled. “Yeah, it’s a method of control some people use to keep their teams in line.”

“Uck,” Lainey said. Shaking herself, she said, “Okay, maybe not Mythic Spirit Kennels.”

The laughter died away. Everyone focused on Scotch who rubbed her jaw in thought. Beneath the table, even Bon stared at her, and Lainey found his highly tuned familial instinct intriguing. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed a family dynamic; had she missed seeing the subtle wordless play in others, or were the Fullers unnaturally receptive to one another?

“I can’t say that I like it,” Scotch finally said. “I need to concentrate on my team when I’m training for the race. I can’t allow any distractions.”

Lainey felt her spirits flag. The other kennels were located across the state. She wondered if she could break the contract with Strauss without damaging her credibility or reputation. The prospects were not that good.

“Why’d they pick you?” Rye asked.

Brought out of her musings, Lainey said, “Excuse me?”

“Why you? Why not Don?”

Lainey considered the question. “The initial pitch was mine, I guess. That and I focused my premise on a woman musher with potential for winning.” She shrugged. “They wanted a companion piece to a professional woman racer; hence a rookie woman racer.”

“So, if we don’t go through with training you, Scotch still gets the national coverage?” Thom asked.

“Oh, yes.” Howry hastened to ease their minds. “That plan remains the same. It’s just that I’ll be doing the piece instead of Lainey.”

Scotch said, “Larsen’s good, but his kennel isn’t that large. His second string will be pretty poor. And he doesn’t have the extra time to train anyone, either.” She snorted. “I’m not even going to get into the pros and cons of the Thorpes.”

“Just as well,” Helen murmured.

Lainey saw Scotch studying her with an odd intensity. Her body responded to the expression, and she was glad she had worn a heavy sweater as her nipples hardened. God, those eyes were penetrating.

Whatever Scotch was searching for, she seemed to have found it. “All right. Let’s do it.”

Ears buzzing faintly, Lainey wondered if she was going to pass out from the shock of relief flooding her system.

“You sure?’ Thom asked his daughter.

“Yeah.” She nodded, sitting back with speculative demeanor. “Rye and Irish can help train her on the basics. And I can give her the specifics she’ll need for the Iditarod itself.”