Free Fox Afield (Madison Wolves) by Robin Roseau Page A

in the crack. I leaned away from the wall, testing it, and my hand stayed firmly in place. Then I began moving my feet up, pressing my feet against the wall, giving them friction, my butt hanging well away from the wall, my feet edging up, and my left hand the only thing holding me to the cliff.
    I worked my legs up as far as I could, bent over, then I pushed with my legs, held on with my left hand, and my body levered up. My right hand reached and readily clasped not the handhold I'd been after, but the one immediately above it. I hung on that way for a moment, made sure I was secure, then pulled myself up by my right arm, finding hand and toe grasps for the rest of my appendages.
    "Well done," Simone said.
    The rest of the climb was easy, and when we were both at the top, I hugged Simone in jubilation.
    We looked around for a minute, then after making sure we were well-belayed, we took our rides back down to the bottom.
    We switched sides. Brooke told us both routes were about the same, but of course the handholds would be a little different. We all went up the left side, Brooke and Simone taking a break, and once I was firmly on the ground, I grinned and said, "So, time for some races?"
    "Definitely," said Elisabeth. "Ready?"
    I laughed. "I just got down, but I'll be ready for the next one."
    Simone and Brooke sighed. "Fine," said Brooke. "We'll handle the belays. Anyone who falls is going to lose ten feet. And no interfering with each other or we'll stop this cold."
    "No screwing around," Lara affirmed.
    Gia offered to race Serena, betting a favor to the winner. Serena won, but it was a close race.
    "I want to see the sisters race," I said. "So Karen, that means you and me."
    "All right," she said. "If I win, I want your chopsticks."
    "Really?"
    She nodded. "And if you win, I have a little something in my bags you're going to like even more."
    "I don't know, I like my chopsticks quite a bit."
    She whispered into my ear. "It's a little two-shot derringer with silver bullets. It's exceedingly slender and you can wear it in place of one of your ankle sheaths or carry it in a purse."
    "Agreed," I said. "But you only get two of my chopsticks. I have four more, but they're at home."
    "No they aren't," Lara said. "I packed them."
    "Agreed," Karen said. "My little toy for two of your chopsticks, but I get to pick which two."
    "You have to pick a pair," I said, and she nodded. "You can pick which side you want," I told her.
    "Left," she said. The right had the one spot that was difficult for me.
    We got ready, Simone and Brooke were on belay, and Lara called our start.
    Karen got an early lead, but I erased it quickly and was well in front of her when I reached the difficult spot. She caught up to me just as I did my move, and she passed me as I was getting ready to climb again.
    We climbed over the top toget her, then laughed at each other, offering a quick hug.
    "Trade?" I offered. She grinned and nodded.
    Lara and Elisabeth went next, and Lara was winning when she fell.
    Brooke let her fall a full ten feet before arresting the descent. It took more time for Lara to catch hold of the wall, and Elisabeth made it to the top before Lara was fully recovered. Lara finished her climb, and we watched the two of them hug at the top. I didn't hear whether they had a wager.
    Once they were firmly on solid ground, Brooke said, "Everyone had enough?"
    "I want to race Lara," I said.
    She grinned at me. "Fine, but I want the left side this time."
    "The wager is for a full body, non-sexual massage delivered before dinner," I declared.
    "Oh, that is going to feel nice," Lara said. "Make sure to put your muscles into it."
    I laughed.
    We got ready, and then just before Elisabeth was going to start us, I said, "Lara?" I turned to her, flashed my breasts at her, and Elisabeth said, "Go!"
    I got a good ten feet up the wall before Lara recovered and began, laughing as she climbed the wall below me.
    She caught me easily before my one difficult