Broken Trails

“So. You and Scotch?”

Lainey sighed. Howry had warned her it was coming, and here it was. “Yeah, looks that way.”

His brow furrowed. “You’re not sure?”

“Well, it’s not like we’ve followed through on things. We’ve been concentrating on getting through this race before we explore any… options.”

“I thought you told me she was straight.”

Lainey stopped eating and closed her eyes. “Yeah. I did.” She looked at Strauss. “At the time, it was only wishful thinking on my part. I really doubted she was gay. I had no idea she would be amenable to a -” She paused, searching for the right word. Liaison? Dalliance? Affair? “A relationship,” she finished.

His eyebrows shot up at the term. “A relationship?” he repeated.

She was sure she blushed, though how he could see it through her weather reddened skin she did not know. “Yeah. I don’t think this is going to be just a fling.”

“Wow.” He sat back in his chair and stared at her.

“What?” she demanded, slightly irritated.

Strauss smiled. “I just never thought I’d see the day you’d be off the market.”

Lainey grunted in mock aggravation, though her insides shivered with trepidation. “I don’t know about that. We’ll see how it goes after the race.” She had admitted to herself that she loved Scotch, but she had no idea if Scotch felt the same. There was still a chance that her hope for more than a one night stand would be crushed, that Scotch had no desire for more. It was something on which Lainey did not want to dwell.

He seemed to understand the dangerous emotional trail she was on, and wisely refrained from making further comment. “Don seemed to be worried I’d fire you over the issue.”

“Well, I did lead you on about my real reasons for pitching the story,” Lainey said, pointing her spoon at him.

“True, but the pitch was solid or I wouldn’t have bought it. The fact that you dived into the challenge after my bosses made their changes only sweetened the pot. You could have said no to the gig.”

Lainey did not disabuse him of the notion that she could have put a halt to the entire deal. He had no idea how driven she had been to bask in everything that was Scotch Fuller. “I guess,” she said with a shrug.

Another round of greetings warned her of new arrivals. Howry slid into the chair next to Strauss, and Scotch draped her parka over the one beside Lainey before sitting down.

“Moose stew at Rainy Pass Lodge,” she said, happily tucking a napkin at her throat. “Best thing since sliced bread.”

“I agree,” Lainey said, returning to her food.

“Here you go, Scotch.” The waiter set a bowl of stew and a plate of bread and butter before Scotch. “You want hot chocolate?”

“You bet!”

“Come here often?” Howry asked after the man delivered Scotch’s beverage.

“Once or twice,” she said in an offhanded way, smiling when he laughed.

Strauss eyed Scotch. “You’ve gained a few places since the start of the race. Think you’ll win?”

She chuckled through a mouthful of stew, swallowing before answering him. “We’ve got a long way to go before we think about that. The key is to gradually pull forward, not make a run for it in the first couple of days. Exhaust the dogs now and they’ll have nothing to offer down the trail.”

“Still, you’re considered a contender this year,” Howry said.

“Doesn’t mean I’ll make it.”

“Is that modesty talking?” Strauss asked.

Scotch shook her head. “No, reality. I can have the best team, the best times, and the best weather, but anything can happen out there. Hell, if I bust my sled in the Farewell Burn and can’t find a fix or alternative on the other side, I scratch. If the weather takes a turn for the worse and blizzard conditions make visibility zero, I could easily get lost off the trail. Lots of things can happen that I have no control over.”

“Why do you do it, if not to win?”

Lainey, curious to know the answer to that question, gave Strauss an intent look. Was he putting Scotch through her paces for Lainey’s sake? Trying to draw Scotch out to measure her character and integrity, to make sure she was good enough for Lainey? For his part, Strauss ignored her, though no doubt knew what she was thinking. Lainey puzzled over a combined sense of pleasure at his paternal attempt and annoyance with his behavior. Who did he think he was, her father? He had no right to judge her choice of partner.

The conversation continued without her, and Lainey hastened to catch up.

“Why climb Mt. Everest? Why go on safari to hunt lions or rhinos? Why get up every morning?” Scotch said, her food forgotten. “It’s a challenge. Out here my survival depends on me and my actions. It’s difficult sometimes, yes, but satisfying on levels you can’t even imagine.”

Strauss watched her for a long moment. “So winning doesn’t matter?”

Scotch’s serious demeanor faded. “Didn’t say that,” she said, winking at him.

Lainey joined the others in laughter. That easy confidence Scotch held radiated around the table, and Lainey drew it in like air. This was the key, this was the foundation of the self-assurance that had first drawn her to Scotch. Knowing the basis for it did not lessen her desire one whit, either.

Howry held up his beer. “To survival.”

“And winning,” Strauss added, lifting an iced tea.

Scotch and Lainey both chimed in. “To winning.”

The indoor heat lulled her, and Lainey yawned hugely. “Sorry.”

“No. You’ve got every reason to be tired,” Strauss said, putting his glass down. “And still a long way to go.”

“If I’m going to get any sleep, now is the time to do it.” Lainey forced her feet back into damp liners and mukluks. She would definitely need to change them before catching a nap.

“Want company?” Strauss asked.

Lainey smiled at him, letting him know she understood his earlier ploy and felt no ill will. “Naw. You’ll just have to turn around and come right back here.”

He nodded. “We’re staying here another night and flying into McGrath next.”

“See you there.” Lainey gathered up her outer clothing and headed out of the lodge. Her exit was met with a chorus from the people lounging around inside, wishing her luck. She waved and closed the door against the chill, feeling immensely better now that she was not overheated.

Drew Owens still drowsed on the bench. Lainey chuckled at him and stepped into the snow.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

LAINEY DRAGGED HERSELF from her sleeping bag, reluctance in every bone. While the heat and food from the lodge had made her drowsy, once back at her sled she had difficulty falling asleep. A couple of teams remained frisky after their foray through Happy Valley, and their constant barking whenever a musher arrived or left roused her between fits of slumber. Sleeping out in the wilderness definitely had its benefits and she now regretted not blowing through the checkpoint.

She put on fresh socks and boot liners, shivering in the night chill as she stomped into her mukluks. On her way to the privy, she entertained herself with thoughts of feather beds, thick quilts, and roaring fires. By the time she returned, the exercise had warmed and woke her enough to get immediately to work.

The moose stew was still with her, so she did not cook herself a meal. Instead, as the dog food heated, she doubled up on her snack items. The extra banana breads, trail mix, jerky and pemmican would keep her going until the other side of the Dalzell Gorge. The next fifty miles would not be easy. Some said that the trail to Rohn was as bad as Happy Valley - the rough path simply took longer to travel.