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

she figure that out before? She scooched closer to the rear of the sled, her back against the canvas, happy to see Ken grabbing the handlebar of the sled her daughters were in.
    “Going!” yelled Ken. Two guides, a guy in his thirties and a girl just slightly older than Karin, came out of the shed pulling on hats and mittens. They spoke calmly to the dogs and jumped in place behind the other two sleds.
    “Ready?” The dogs went crazy, leaping, straining, and nipping at each other playfully. Karin and Shelly giggled uncontrollably. Everyone nodded, anxious to get going.
    “Hike!” Ken shouted the command and his team pulled out in front. The girl followed with Barry and Valerie, then Tray with Isabel. Bringing up the rear, was Kip and Jenny’s sled led by the other guide.
    The dogs lunged through the snow, the sleds gliding easily along behind them. The trail twisted through a dense forest of trees laden with snow. It was a winter wonderland, straight out of a magazine ad. On the corners, the guides yelled out “Easy”.
    “What do you think?” Tray asked.
    “I love it,” she said, turning to try to see him. “They’re so fast.”
    “Usually faster. The snow’s a little wet today, it’s slowing us down.”
    She laughed. “Plenty fast enough for me.” The dogs were so powerful, keeping pace with each other. It was amazing watching them work together as a team up close. She’d watched the Iditarod a couple of times on television and one of her favorite movies was still Iron Will. She hadn’t expected to like it, but her sister had recommended it for her kids and insisted she would enjoy it, too. This was nothing like that, of course. Will was in a heart-pounding race, encountering trouble around every corner. Here, the only thing around the next corner was another incredible mountain vista.
    This was the first time she’d been able to see dogs working in real life. They were majestic. Above her own laughter, she could hear Karin and Shelly giggling and behind her, the others laughing and squealing with each turn.
    On a wide flat next to the lake, Tray made kissing noises and the team sped up. “Gee!” she heard Ken call as they made a turn to the right in the large field. “Easy!” Tray called, slowing their sled as Ken pulled to a stop several yards ahead of them.
    Everyone clambered out of the sleds, laughing and talking excitedly. The two guides pulled water out and put dishes down for the dogs. After drinking, the huskies circled and curled up in the snow.
    Ken led the group to a circle of benches arranged around a fire pit at the edge of the trees and started pulling wood out from under a tarp. Within minutes, they were drinking hot chocolate and being warmed by the fire. Isabel gazed out over the frozen lake, to the backdrop of rugged mountains. She couldn’t believe the morning had gone so quickly and it was already lunch time.
     
    ~~~
     
    Tray and Barry laughed as the women showed Kip how to make snow angels. The snow was wet and sticky and each time Kip got up, he was caked with another layer of snow. He resembled a growing snowball with arms and legs.
    “Did you purposely set Jenny and Kip up?” Tray asked.
    Barry rolled his eyes. “Now, why would I do that?”
    Tray guffawed. “As if …”
    “They’d already met, sorta. I just gave them a little help. I thought it would be a good match.”
    “Apparently you were right.” He nodded toward Kip who had just tackled Jenny squealing into the snow.
    “And you and Isabel?”
    “Tray, give me a hand here, could you?” Ken called from over near the dogs. Tray winked at Barry, and walked away, leaving him in suspense.
    “What’s up?” Ken was starting to harness the dogs again. The other guides were doing the same. “You need me to hitch them up?”
    “No, Tony will get that. Normally after lunch we let folks have a try at driving. Think your crew would want to try that?”
    “I’m guessing they will. This has been great, Ken. I