Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Willa stands, brushing snow from her gloves. “It’s too bad. This is going to be amazing.”
She turns to me, her smile warm. “I’m so glad you came, Farren. It’s nice to have more women around for these things.”
I manage a bright smile, pushing away the couples comment and remembering that these people are my friends. “Thanks for inviting me. This will be a blast.”
And so far, it’s not been too weird. We all met in the parking lot of this operation and no one looked at me and North funny, nor did they tease us or ask a million questions. Everyone seems to accept that we are here together and they’re not making a big deal about it.
I only wish Rafferty would’ve come. It’s been two days since Tempe left for college and he’s in a bit of a funk, but he wanted to go visit her mom today and I can’t blame him for that. He’s promised Tempe to keep an eye on her and her brother, and he’s going to live up to that.
The guide begins explaining how the sledding works, assigning each couple to a sled. While I’m hyperaware of how much this outing is pushing the boundaries of “casual,” I’m determined to just enjoy this time.
We approach our vehicle with six beautiful Siberian huskies already harnessed and ready to go. The one in the lead is white and charcoal gray with hypnotic golden eyes that make him look wolfish. I can make out his name on his leather harness.
Miska.
He comes toward me and I reach a hand out to pet him. “Aren’t you a good boy?”
He shakes his entire body and prances in place.
I study the sled hitched to the dogs. It’s designed to sit two people, one in front of the other, with the driver standing at the rear to guide us. We’re introduced to our musher, an older man with a face ruddy from days spent outdoors with likely no sunscreen. He tells us to get situated inside the sled while he checks the dogs and harnesses one last time.
North gestures for me to climb in first, the wooden frame creaking slightly under my weight. He settles in behind me, his strong legs closing me in, and settles a blanket over my lap. I rest my weight against him, loving his strength and warmth and the smell of his woodsy cologne.
Accepting the comfort and protection.
North plants a quick kiss on the back of my head but no one is watching us.
“You good?” North asks.
“This is cozy,” I tease, tugging the blanket up to my chin and wiggling back against him.
North groans and tickles my ribs. “Quit rubbing up against me.”
“You love it,” I purr, leaning back and resting an arm along the sled’s edge.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” North warns. “I might take over the steering if they let me.”
I glance over my shoulder at the guide, who’s chuckling as he steps on the brake to hold the sled in place. “Let’s stick with the professionals for now,” I reply, raising an eyebrow at North.
“Smart move,” the guide chimes in with a grin. “But don’t worry. I’ll let you take a turn steering once we’re on a straight path. Just keep your hands and feet inside the sled for now.”
As the dogs begin to bark and lunge, their excitement building, North moves close, his breath visible in the frosty air. “Ready for this?” he asks, his voice low but tinged with excitement.
Before I can answer, the guide gives a sharp whistle, and the sled lurches forward. The world around us becomes a blur of white and barking dogs as we race down the trail, the sled gliding effortlessly over the packed snow.
I can’t help a cry of delight as the cold wind burns my face and North’s arms wrap around me.
The dogs bark and howl, their energy contagious as they strain against their harnesses. Holy hell they’re fast, and I tip my head back, laughing at the blue sky.
“Lean with the turns,” the musher instructs, his voice firm but calm. “Let the sled do the work.”
We follow his lead, gripping the sides as we race through the snow. The exhilaration is worth every frozen second. The dogs are incredible, their strength and speed almost otherworldly.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” North asks, his grin wide.
“Are you kidding? This is amazing!” I shout back, the wind stealing half my words.
We slide along trails through a large copse of evergreen trees, across a bridge that spans a nearly frozen stream and across what looks to be farmland. We come around a bend and the sled slows as we approach a clearing where the guide signals for a stop. “We’ll break here for a bit.”
I glance over my shoulder, see the others in our group approaching. Everyone’s got smiles as big as their faces as we exit the sleds. The dogs pant, their breath visible in the cold air, and we all dismount to stretch our legs while the mushers provide water for the huskies.