The drive was slow, but steady. There were flurries but no more heavy snow, so the main roads were kept up pretty good. The snow did get deeper the higher the elevation. I had never seen so much snow before. I wanted to play in it.

We pulled into a gas station about two hours after we had started. "This is the last gas station before we get there. Do you need to use the restroom?" "Yes," I answered. We let the dogs out so that they could do their business. Ripley, who seemed to feel better, went in with me, walking on his own. I waited for him, when I was done, then picked out a couple of fresh teas and a couple of Cokes for Aris. We left our stuff on the counter so that Aris could pay when he came in to pay for the fuel. We got in the Lexus to have a smoke, but waited for Aris and Max. When they came back out, we moved the cars away from the gas pumps and Max got in. The conversation was mostly Ripley's excitement to see his sister. I noticed that Max's demeanor changed when Ripley talked about Lia. I am going to have to ask about that.

Max and Lia were seeing each other for a while. They stopped because of Ripley. That explained things a little. So that is why Ripley doesn't like Max? He is an overprotective brother? Something like that. Ripley doesn't think anyone is good enough for his sister. Not even me. Did you try? No. I am just saying that she will remain an old spinster if he has his way.

We all finished our cigarettes and Max and Ripley got out and let Jax in. Reese followed them to the Jeep. "We are almost there," Aris smiled at me, "If the roads are still clear, we have one to two hours left." I smiled back at him. His excitement was showing, "I can not wait for you to see the cabin that I had built just for us. I think that you will like it." No pressure. I just smiled. "We will probably stay with the others, in the main cabin, until morning. I want you to first see it in the daylight."

"I have to warn you though," he got serious. The shoe is about to drop. "There is a girl that came with Lia to help out. She has a crush on me. But I assure you that I feel nothing for her in that way." He paused for a while, letting that sink in. "Is she going to challenge me to a duel?" "Nothing like that, but she may not be very nice." "That's okay. I've dealt with 'not nice' before." "I am hoping that she will at least be cordial. But, like I said, I do not know." "It'll be fine," I assured him. An uncomfortable silence followed.

"What should I wear?" I changed the subject, "I want to make a good first impression." "Something really warm. Jean's are too cold. Wear something similar to what Rip is wearing or an insulated snow suit. Wear your hair in a braid and wear a warm hat that will cover your ears. The last part of the trip will be on snowmobiles. They do not clear the road all of the way to the cabin." "I don't know what an insulated snowsuit looks like," I worried. A picture showed up in my mind of a pink matching top and bottom suit. It looked like a windbreaker on the outside and the pants had suspenders. "How did you do that?" "Do what?" "Put that picture in my mind." "I just did. It is automatic." "Will I be able to do that?" "You already do?" "I send you pictures?" He nodded his head yes. "Of what?" "Just different things," he said, matter-of-factly, "mostly apple pie and chocolate." I laughed then, "do I think about them that much?" "All of the time. Why do you think I got you so much chocolate? They didn't have apple pie." I really laughed then. "I do not understand what is so funny," he stated, perplexed. "I'm just picturing you running around in a panic looking for apple pie," I laughed some more. "I do not think that is funny." "Don't worry so much about getting me dessert. I'll live without it." We were silent for a while. I just watched out the window, noticing that there were snow flakes again.

It's snowing again, "I commented. "I know. That is okay. We are there," he stated as we came to a driveway. The driveway was clear for a while, then we came to a small building. We parked next to another SUV. Max parked next to us. I quickly put on what Aris told me to wear with matching insulated gloves and boots. I have never wore so much pink before in my life. You look good in pink. Aris put on the same items, just in cobalt blue.

"Wait here," he left the car running, got out and went to Ripley's window. A few words were exchanged then he came back. "Are you ready?" he asked, reaching in to turn the Lexus off. I shook my head yes, opened the door and got out. The snow was almost up to my knees. I let Jax out on my side. He got out and hopped around in the snow playfully. Reese joined him shortly and they took off in a game of hop/chase. Aris opened and started rummaging through the back of the Lexus. Max and Ripley did the same with the Jeep. Ripley put another sweatshirt on over the one he was wearing then put on a parka and tied the hood shut snugly around his face. He got in the Lexus and did the same with another pair of sweatpants. He put his snow boots back on. I helped him lace them up and tie them. "Are you sure you don't want more Max?" Ripley asked, "it gets really cold." "Thanks, but I will be fine," Max responded, "I am really warm natured." "Suit yourself."

We all decided to smoke before loading up the snowmobiles. The snow was coming down pretty steady now. "So what do you want to do tomorrow Jade?" Ripley asked, "sleep, s'mores, or could I interest you in a friendly snowball fight?" "Actually, I have always wanted to build an igloo," I answered, "we never get enough snow were I'm from." "Deal," he agreed, "as long as there is a snowball fight in there somewhere." "Deal," I agreed. "Have to go easy on her, she is a girl," Aris warned. "Girl, where?" I looked to my left, then my right, "because of that I am not picking you for my team." "Are we going to do girls against the boys?" Ripley asked. "If they want to play," I answered. "Lia will, definitely," he answered. "We are sleeping late though," Aris stated, "do not disturb us until we come out on our own." "Deal if that means you will participate, Yaris." "I will." We finished our cigarettes then went to the back of the Lexus. "What do you want me to do?" I asked. "Go help Rip get the snowmobiles ready, please," Aris answered.

I followed Ripley into the small building. The back of the building was mostly open. We uncovered three snowmobiles that were hitched up to three small trailers. Ripley checked the fuel on them and topped them off from one of the gas cans that were sitting in the building. He started them and left them idling. Aris and Max both came in, followed by the dogs, with their arms full and started loading up the trailers. Ripley had Jax and Reese get in one wagon and lay down together. He then tucked a thick blanket around them. "One more trip and we will be set," Max notified us. He and Aris both went back out. "What should I do?" I asked, feeling a little useless. "Nothing right now. You have already done what we need you to do," Ripley answered. "What exactly have I done?" "You have breathed some life into Yaris. He has not played a game with us since he placed you with the Frosts. Now he is committing to playing in the snow. You are doing what we need you to do. Let us serve you." Just then Aris and Max came in.

They finished loading the trailers then each of them got on a snowmobile. Get on behind me and put your arms around my waist. I did as he said. Ripley went first, with the dogs, then Max, then we followed. Just trust me and hold on tight. The snowmobile jerked and I jumped. Sorry about that. I am a little out of practice. I just tightened my hold on him. He took off smoother this time. Can you loosen up a little? I can not breathe. I loosened a little. I didn't hear anymore complaints so I assumed that it was good. Have you ever ridden one of these before? No. I will teach you how to drive sometime, if you want. Okay. It was maybe a fifteen or twenty minute ride to the cabin. We all pulled around to the back of the building. Just about all of the lights were on. They were waiting up for us. We parked the snowmobiles by a small covered dock and got off. The snow was deeper now, up above my knees. Ripley uncovered the dogs and they hopped out and up on to the dock. Aris lifted me up onto the dock and Ripley handed me the blanket. They all picked up bags out of the trailers and headed to the backdoor of the cabin. I followed with the dogs. We went inside without knocking. Max set his load down on an entryway table and went back out to collect what remained.

"Rip," I heard a woman's voice, then I saw a woman fling herself at Ripley, then she moved to Aris for a hug, then stopped at me. "You must be the famous Jade that I keep hearing so much about." "And you must be Lia, Ripley has told me so much about you," I smiled. She looked like a female version of Ripley, with softer features and longer hair. Curiously, she had the same scar above her eyebrow as Ripley. "Good things I hope." "All good things, no worries," I told her. Right then, the door opened behind me and Max entered. "Max!" Lia's jaw dropped, then she launched herself at him, much like she had done with Ripley earlier. They engaged in a lip lock that would put any daytime soap to shame and Ripley didn't say a thing. In fact, he didn't look upset at all. Is Ripley passive-aggressive or is he okay with this now? I think that he is okay with it now. He and Max must have talked it out during the drive.

They stopped kissing and just looked into each others eyes for a few minutes. The silence became uncomfortable. Aris cleared his throat. Lia looked around at us, "sorry, I forgot myself there for a moment. If you will follow me to the dining room, Reagan is laying out a feast for a king." "Good," Ripley followed her and Max, "I am starving." I was beginning to feel a bit hungry myself. Max and Ripley took off their coats and hung them in a closet. Yaris and I just changed into jogging suits. "She can do that too, huh?" Lia addressed Aris, "I believe you may have met your match after all."

I could smell the food long before we got to the dining hall. Delicious aromas of, is that fried chicken? I told them that you like fried chicken. I didn't know what else to tell them. Fried chicken is fine. I do like other things too, though. Aris took hold of my hand as we entered the dining hall, a large room with a cherry wood dining table large enough to seat twenty people. On the table was fried chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, corn and peas. It all looked wonderful and smelled even better.

"I hope that this is to your liking Jade. Yaris said you like fried chicken," Lia looked to me for what I think is a blessing. "It looks wonderful. I can't wait," I told her, "but don't let Aris fool you, I like all kinds of food. I like to be surprised sometimes." "I will keep that in mind," she replied as she made her way to a door on the opposite side of the room. She opened the door and called out, "Reagan they are here."