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Chance decided that since we were now entering the season of possible snow and blizzards in Idaho, I should have some winter outdoor training before my next excursion into the wilderness. After breakfast, I packed up my heaviest outdoor gear as Chance instructed and headed to his A-frame. On the drive, I realized it had been a while since I'd had any conversation with Chance that wasn't focused on a particular event or crisis in our lives.
He opened the door before I knocked. "Mornin', City Girl. "Come on in." He stepped back and took the pie carrier out of my hand.
"I thought we could have coffee and pie and talk a little before we got into the training."
"Sure. Just lay your gear out on the sofa. I'll take a look at it after we talk. Are you already second-guessing your decision to date Tom?"
"No. Of course not. I just wanted to talk to you," I said as I poured him a fresh mug of coffee from the pot on the counter and put the kettle on to heat water for my tea.
"How's the therapy going?"
"Good. I'm doing exactly what they ask. So far everything is on track. I'm not going to push it and have a setback. I've got January booked up and February is starting to fill in too, so all is well. It's nice that you're worried about me."
"You're an ass, Chance."
"And yet you still care."
"I lay awake at night thinking about that."
"You lay awake at night thinking about me, huh? I suspected as much."
"Have you given any more thought to the museum idea?"
"A bit. I think we should do something, I'm just trying to put together just the right thing to be a viable business for us, enhance our existing business, and bring more tourists into Wilkins’ Gap. I'll have a proposal to show you soon."
After we ate our pie, Chance looked over the gear I brought and explained why each item was good, but something more was needed when temperatures fell below zero or there was snow on the ground. He taught me the signs of hypothermia and frostbite as well as how to avoid them and treat them.
We took a break for lunch. "When do you think we'll be ready to go to the BFFam location?" I asked as we sat at the table in his kitchen.
"The what?"
"Sorry. I call it the BFFam—bigfoot family."
"Of course, you do. Tom and I are going to work on the expedition plan tomorrow. I'd like to get you out there in the next couple of weeks."
After lunch, we went outside, and I got my first introduction to snow shoes. Since there was no snow accumulated on the ground yet, I could only get a feel for the size of them. It was like trying to walk with tennis rackets strapped onto your shoes.
"This isn't working," Chance said. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
"No. Why?"
"We need to get you up to where there's a little snow for some of this to be useful. Come on. Let's pack up some gear."
An hour later we were on Chance's ATV headed into the mountains behind his house. He seemed to know where he was going, so I didn't bother to ask. I just held on to Chance and enjoyed the ride. It got colder as we climbed in elevation and within an hour I started to see some snow in the shady spots. Chance pulled to a stop beside a meadow covered in snow. He climbed off and took off his helmet. "This should work," he said.
For a few minutes we just walked around. Chance was grinning like a kid in a candy store. "What are you so happy about?" I asked.
"I should have done this sooner."
"What? Kidnap me?"
He seemed to consider that. "Maybe," he said. "It feels good to be back out here. I needed this."
Although the snow wasn't very deep, he explained the issues of walking in deep snow without snowshoes, before having me put them on again.
He used bungee cords to attach a snowshoe to his injured foot. "I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be therapist approved," I said, pointing to the cast.
"Don't care right now." He took my hand when I stood up and wavered trying to find my balance. "OK. Pick up one foot and take a step."
I lifted my foot, tried to take a step, which ended up with one snowshoe on top the other. I swayed slightly then fell sideways into Chance knocking him down and landing on top of him. It was automatic for his arms to wrap around me, and we both laid there breathing heavily. I closed my eyes when I fell but, when I opened them, I was eye-to-eye with Chance and there was so much heat in his gaze I thought the snow might melt around us. "Fudge," I said, but didn't try to move.
He ran his head up to the back of my head and pulled my lips down to his. Honestly, it was the best kiss of my life. I lost myself in it. I don't know if we laid there for a minute or an hour. I didn't feel cold or awkward, what I felt was my body responding with more passion that I could ever remember. Finally, my brain kicked in. "Fudge. This is bad. This is really bad," I said.
"If you think that was bad, I definitely need to try again."
"Chance, what are you doing? You know I'm dating Tom."
"And you know you should be dating me. This just happened. It was an accident. I was overcome with joy at being back in the wilderness again."
"I don't think even your mother would believe that."
"You plan to tell my mother about this?"
"Of course not. Now, tell me how to get up with these things on?"
I'm sure it took longer than it should have because Chance was enjoying my discomfort and didn't see the need to help me. I managed to roll off of him, and he got himself up, then offered me a hand.
We didn't speak again until we were back at the A-frame. I wanted to talk about what happened, but I also wanted to forget it happened. "Chance, I thought Tom was your friend."
"He is."
"You know he and I are dating. Why would you kiss me?"
"I kissed you because I'm a passionate guy and no red-blooded male could have resisted in that position."
My lack of understanding must have been evident on my face. "Look, Tom is my friend. I don't want to see him get hurt. You and I belong together. That means you don't belong with Tom."
"Do you think I should break up with him?"
"You have to make that call," City Girl. I'm sure you'll work it all out in your own slow, sweet, southern time."