No Strings Part 9

"Do I have a choice?"

Charlie grinned. "I guess you could have pulled your hamstring on your morning jog."

"Funny."

"Seriously, I think it's just being neighborly. Besides, she doesn't really know anyone in town."

"Oh, I'll do it, Charlie." She went to her desk and fished out her keys. "Nothing better than a little cross-country skiing to get your juices flowing." She whipped her head around. "Do not comment on that," she said quickly.

He laughed. "Wouldn't touch it. But you know, this might give you a chance to get to know each other. It never hurts to make new friends, Morgan."

She shook her head. "I don't know about that. She's standoffish, I told you that."

"The last couple of times we talked, she was friendly enough."

"If I see her at Sloan's, she doesn't speak, not unless I make the effort first. I mean, she's been here a month. You'd think she would have lightened up by now," she said as she pulled on her jacket. She paused at the door. "And by the way, you owe me dinner at Sloan's for volunteering me for this. You can pay up on steak night."

Reese stared out her door and through the window to the street, waiting. She had no doubt that Charlie would have to talk Morgan into this. She'd heard from Eloise that Morgan hated skis. Hated winter for that matter. Reese also hated skis and would have loved to take a spin out on snowmobiles. But that's hardly conducive to having conversation and getting to know someone. Which was why she'd come up with this little plan. She was simply bored enough to toss out her don't get involved rule.

Bored out of her mind. There was no crime, had been no traffic accidents other than Googan's little mishap, no speeding tickets to issue, no one complaining of a disorderly neighbor, not even a drunken incident over at Sloan's Bar. No crime, no theft, no reports to write up, nothing. Now she knew why the fender bender in town had garnered such interest. It would have to hold them over until tourist season.

That's when she realized that if she didn't find something to do, didn't start having a life, then she'd go stark raving mad during her year of exile.

Marietta Zula Morgan seemed to be her only option. She nearly laughed out loud as the name rattled around in her brain, thinking of the pinch Morgan had given her the other day for teasing her about it. Yes, Morgan seemed the logical choice if she was going to attempt to make friends with someone. They were generally the same age, although she suspected Morgan to be a little younger. They were both lesbian, both single. Two qualities there weren't a lot of in the county, she was certain. So she would make an effort. And cross-country skiing seemed like a good choice to start with. They would have some time together, alone.

And if they didn't kill each other, the next time she saw Morgan out at the bar, she'd go over and talk. She'd make the effort.

So she waited, tapping her fingers impatiently on the desktop, wondering for the thousandth time why she accepted this buyout, why she hadn't just quit her job like the mayor had wanted and moved on, looking for something else. But she knew why. If she quit, then it would follow her.

Why'd you quit your previous position?

Well, you see, there was the mayor's wife...

And if she found another job, it wouldn't be top dog. No, she'd most likely have to settle as deputy in someone else's gig.

Something she wasn't willing to do.

And that's why you're stuck in Lake City.

"Chief? Morgan's coming over from across the street," Eloise called. "Are you expecting her?"

She lifted a corner of her mouth in a grin. "Yeah, just send her back." She wiped the smile from her face when she heard that d.a.m.n bell jingle. Her lose the bell speech had fallen on deaf ears. And now after a month, it had grown on her, despite her continued threats to rip it down.

She tilted her head, feigning interest in her computer as she listened to Morgan greet Eloise.

"Beautiful day, isn't it, Eloise?"

"Oh, I'll say. After that storm the other day, I never thought the snow would melt this fast in town."

Reese smiled as she heard the slight pause.

"Is she in?"

"The Chief? Oh, yes. Come on back, Morgan. Is everything okay?"

"Fine, Eloise. Thank you."

Reese looked up as Morgan stood in her doorway, her cheeks red from being outside. Her eyes-a nice shade of blue and green-met hers, one eyebrow arching questioningly.

"Skiing?"

"I'd heard it was a pa.s.sion of yours," Reese said, unable to hide the smile that sprang to her mouth.

"And busted you are," Morgan said. "Am I being punished for something?"

"You can't hate it that much, surely."

Morgan slumped down into the chair. "It's far too much work to be considered enjoyable, that's all. And why the sudden interest in our trails?"

"I just haven't been out yet, that's all. So much beautiful country here, I thought I should take advantage of it."

"The Pattersons rent snowmobiles."

Reese laughed. "You really don't like skiing, do you?"

Morgan tilted her head. "I'm not certain if it's skiing or spending a couple of hours with you that's got me hesitant." She leaned forward. "You haven't exactly been very sociable."

"You mean with you?"

"With anyone."

Reese nodded. "You're right. I'm used to being alone and not used to making friends." She spread her hands. "But what the h.e.l.l? I thought I'd give it a try. That is, if you're willing."

Morgan stood. "Fine. But I'll warn you now, I will whine and b.i.t.c.h constantly while we're on skis. And should I fall down off of those d.a.m.n skinny things, do not make fun of my attempts to get back up."

Smiling, Reese pushed her chair away. "Deal."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

Morgan paused about halfway up the latest switchback, leaning on her poles and trying to catch her breath. G.o.dd.a.m.n stupid sport. She glared at Reese who waited patiently beside her.

"We could be on snowmobiles."

"Then we would have missed this lovely hike."

Morgan lifted one pole and whacked Reese on her thigh. "I hate you already."

"It's a beautiful day, Zula. How can you hate me?"

"Oh, my G.o.d! Do not call me that!" she shrieked as she went after her. And if she could have caught her, she'd have tackled her and beat the s.h.i.+t out of her. As it was, Reese skied safely away, her laughter ringing out in the still air. "I hate you," Morgan called after her.

"Now, now."

"I mean it!" But her eyes widened as she felt her balance slipping, her skinny skis teetering dangerously. Oh, c.r.a.p. She closed her eyes as she fell, the cold sting of the snow smas.h.i.+ng her cheek. She leaned up on her elbows, blinking several times to get the snow out of her eyes. She heard the swoosh, swoosh of Reese's skis as she came back down the trail toward her. And isn't this lovely.

"You okay?"

Morgan chose to ignore the amus.e.m.e.nt she heard in Reese's voice, instead she focused on her words of concern. "Just peachy."

A pause. "Want me to help you up?"

Morgan bit her lip. "No, no. You've done enough."

"Oh, and now you're going to blame me for this little mishap?"

Morgan rolled to her side, trying to keep from twisting her ankle in the process. "Of course you are to blame."

"All because I called you-"

"Do not say it!" Morgan swung her pole around and hit Reese again. "You simply infuriate me."

"Oh, now, come on. Let me help you up."

But Morgan shrugged away from her hand. "I am perfectly capable of getting up."

"Are you always so stubborn?"

Morgan glared at her. "Are you always so annoying?"

Reese laughed. "Yeah. Pretty much."

"Figures."

But after three attempts to right herself, Morgan reluctantly took Reese's hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. It was at that very moment when Reese smiled smugly at her that she snapped. Quick as a cat, she shoved Reese as hard as she could, sending her toppling over into a snowdrift. She grinned wickedly, then wobbled again, her skis pointing in opposite directions as her legs spread apart, doing the split. Oh, c.r.a.p.

And down she went.

Reese's laughter echoed in the forest, sending her into another fit of annoyance. But as she sat in the snow, she realized the absurdity of the situation-two grown women acting like children. She let her own laughter bubble out and fell back, staring at the blue sky overhead.

"Again, I don't think I like you very much."

"Yeah, I know." Reese sat up. "Not many people do."

Morgan leaned up again and brushed the snow off her jacket.

She watched the smile fade from Reese's face. "What's your real name?"

"Hmm?"

"Your name? I don't see a mother naming her baby girl Reese.

Is it short for something?"

"Now, if I told you that, I'd lose my Zula advantage."

"This is true. But I can't imagine it being anywhere near as hideous."

"No, no. It's not hideous. In fact, my mother tried her best to make me into a little Clarice-dance lessons, piano, ballet," she said, making a face. "Very stressful time in my life."

"Clarice, huh? Nice."

Reese got to her feet easily, then offered her hand to help Morgan up. "My older brother started calling me Reese first.

My mother gave up on me being her little ballerina when I was twelve."

Morgan took her hand and stood, holding it for a second as she regained her balance. "Just the one brother?"

"No. I have a younger brother too." Reese pushed off. "Is this where you start asking about family and such?"

Morgan followed, pus.h.i.+ng her skis into the rut that Reese had created. "Isn't that what you do when you meet someone new? Isn't that how you get to know them?"

"Do you want to get to know me?"

"Hey, you're the one who started this."

Reese stopped. "It's really pretty up here. What trail is this again?"

"Cutter's Ridge. Up at the point of the ridge, there's a trail that goes down the mountain to a stream. It's very steep and I've never tried it. It's got some deep pools in it that seldom get fished. Ed Wade says the biggest cutthroat trout he's ever caught came from there."

0.

"He's the fis.h.i.+ng guide?"

"Yeah. He's born and raised around here. I'd guess he knows every stream, creek and river in the county."

"I've heard his name. But I don't fish."

Like a shadow crossing the sun, Reese's expression changed from friendly to distant again. Just like that. She pushed on, following Reese up the trail-laboring was more like it.

Despite the colder temperatures up this high, she could feel the perspiration on her skin from their excursion. And excursion it was as she was too involved with staying upright to enjoy the pristine freshness of the snow. She finally stopped, her breath again coming fast, frosting around her.

"Break?"