Free Rocky Mountain Holiday (To Love Again Book 4) by Kate Fargo

falling in love with him. She cursed herself for being too cowardly to say it. She would tell him on New Year’s Eve, she decided sleepily, when the clock struck twelve. She kissed him lightly on the shoulder and drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep.
     

DECEMBER 30 ~ DAY
     
     
     
    “Nobody else knows where we’re going, Mom?” Karin leaned forward between the seats to look at Isabel. “Not even Jenny?”
    Isabel shook her head. “Not even Jenny.”
    “You should have surprised us, too, Mom.” Shelly leaned forward, pushing Karin out of the way.
    Isabel laughed and rolled her eyes at Tray. “Would you have come if you didn’t know where we’re going?”
    “Probably not,” they agreed. “Last night, one of the guys told us he did this last winter and it was really awesome.”
    Tray piped in. “It is awesome, you’ll love it.” He slowed to take a side road. A huge billboard with a sled and dog team stood at the entrance. “Guess the surprise ends here.”
    “They’re still behind us?” Isabel checked for Barry’s SUV. It was right behind them, Kip and Jenny in the back, and Valerie riding up front with Barry. At the end of the road, they parked beside a small cabin with wood piled along the side. Within seconds, they were gathered behind the Jeep, everyone talking at once.
    “Dog sledding?” Kip clapped Tray on the shoulder. “Great surprise.”
    “Really,” said Jenny. “I’ve never done this.”
    “And she’s done just about everything,” laughed Barry. He turned to Valerie. “First time for you, too?”
    Valerie nodded. “First time. Thanks so much for inviting me,” she said to Tray.
    “Thank Barry, it was his idea.”
    The door of the cabin opened and Tray’s friend greeted them. “You guys suited up out here?”
    “Just about. Everybody got their gear?”
    Karin and Shelly reached back into the jeep for hats and backpacks. Everyone else was set.
    “Guys, this is Ken, he’s an old friend.”
    “Really old,” Ken said, rolling his eyes as he pulled a red toque on over his balding head. He was a tall, lean man with a look of the outdoors and a weathered, yet kind face.
    Tray laughed. “This is Ken’s place. He set us up today with four sleds.”
    “Follow me, we’ll go meet the dogs.” Ken led them around the side of the shed. Eight large huskies were harnessed to each sled. They jumped and strained at the chain that ran between them. As they came closer, the dogs started barking, causing the dogs in the pens to join them. Within seconds it sounded like every dog in the Rockies was howling along.
    “They’re beautiful,” said Shelly, walking close to one of the lead dogs. “They have blue eyes, Mom.”
    Isabel nodded and winked at Jenny who was positively glowing. She imagined she looked the same to her. Love in the Rockies was agreeing with them both. Jenny winked back and shifted closer to Kip.
    “As you can see,” Ken said, “the dogs are keen to go. Let’s get you settled in and I’ll introduce you to the pack when we stop for lunch.”
    They paired off, the men sitting in the back with the women ahead. Karin and Shelly decided to take turns, with Shelly in front first.
    “It’s a quiet day for us,” Ken explained, “because of the weather. The temperature has been up and down all week, so as a precaution we canceled several tours this morning.”
    “I don’t understand, it’s not safe to go?” Isabel asked, glancing over at the girls.
    “It’s safe, but we need to stay off the ice. We’ll be using different trails than usual and I don’t want a lot of sleds out on them. I also gave most of the guides the day off, so we’re short one guide. Tray?”
    “Happy to.” Tray squeezed her shoulder, jumped out of the sled and positioned himself behind the handle.
    “Both hands, remember?”
    He laughed and nodded, wrapping both gloved hands around the handlebar. Of course, thought Isabel, he also knows how to drive a team of sled dogs. Why didn’t