"Aunt Jenniferrrr!" Tiffany cried, streaking across the room, Henry hard at her heels.

"You’ve grown a lot since last summer," Jennifer told the little girl. Well, not little any longer; she was up to her chest, now. She remembered when she’d babysat for Tiffany, when she had been a baby. The years did fly by.

"Well, come on in and sit down," Kirsten told Jennifer and Blake. "Mike’s not home, right now, but he should be back before long. You know my neighbor, Jackie Gravengood, don’t you?"

Jennifer nodded to Jackie, who had come up to the house while Mark and Mike were running the dogs. "Sure," she said. "We shared a memorable flight last summer. I’m sorry I never got back out, but time just sort of flew by."

"It does do that," Jackie said. "It seems like that was just a couple of weeks ago."

"You like coffee?" Kirsten asked. "I was just about to make a fresh pot."

"I’ll pass," Jennifer said. "I’m just about coffeed out today. I know that you haven’t met him before, but this is Blake Walworth."

"You’ve got to be Kirsten," Blake said. "You’re just as pretty as Jenny has been saying."

"Jennifer has talked a lot about you," Kirsten said with a blush. "So, did you come out to see our new house?"

"I wanted to see it," Jennifer said. "And, I want you to come and see mine. I just signed the papers on Elmer Sorensen’s old place."

"That place with all the acreage, out on Point Drive?" Kirsten asked. "I saw that Binky just cut the price on it."

"I was going to do it, then I wasn’t," Jenny said. "I thought about having Uncle Brent build me a place, but when we got into town, and saw that the price had been lowered, we went out and looked at it and decided that it’s just right."

"Well, congratulations," Kirsten said. "Does that mean you’re really going to move back here?"

"I’m afraid it’s going to be next spring before I can spend much time here," Jennifer said. "I’ve got a lot contracted for between now and then. I’m kind of hoping to get back for a couple of days between Christmas and New Years, but it’s just going to be an in-and-out sort of thing. I’ve got to do a live TV special on Christmas Day, so that kind of shoots Christmas in the foot for me."

"Your folks will be glad you can make it back at all," Kirsten said. "When Danny goes off to college next year, the quiet is going to be hard on them."

"Well, with any kind of luck, I ought to be home next Christmas," Jennifer said. "Do you expect Mike to be long? I kind of hoped to have Blake meet him."

"He’s over at Jackie and her husband’s place, running the dogs," Kirsten said. "Sometimes they’re fairly quick, but you never know."

"You keep greyhounds?" Blake asked.

"No," Kirsten smiled. "Our husbands went crazy this summer, and decided to start a dog sled team. Now, they’ve got two."

"My dog, George, is running wheel in Daddy’s team," Tiffany said. "You’ll have to meet George. He’s a nice dog."

"He’s also the only one that gets to sleep inside," Kirsten said. "No, we have really gone to the dogs the last few months."

"You mean, a dog team, like the Iditarod?" Blake said. "I didn’t think you got that much snow around here."

"We get enough," Kirsten said. "The road commission hasn’t been too good about plowing this road, and Mike says he doesn’t want to get a snow machine. The guys have really been having fun with it, and it’s kind of fun to watch."

"Daddy has let me run Cumulus and Ringo with the cart," Tiffany said. "That’s a lot of fun to do, too."

"Are you big enough for that?" Jennifer asked.

"It’s worked out all right," Kirsten said. "Cumulus and Ringo are the command leaders, and they mind better than the rest of the dogs. Mark just got a new dog a week or so ago, and he’s trying to break him in. Mike’s team is still pretty green, so they need work, too."

"I’d kind of like to see that," Jennifer said.

"No reason we couldn’t," Jackie said. "I don’t think they were going out on the trail, tonight. Shadow – he’s the new dog – needs to run with the team out in the open a bit, so he doesn’t try to wrap himself around a tree."

"Sure," Jennifer said. "Let’s go up and see."

"Daddy says that he thinks that George is going to be a command leader when he gets bigger," Tiffany said. "Then, when he does, I want to have a team of my own. Can I ride with you, Aunt Jennifer?"

"Sure thing, Tiffany."

"Me, too!" Henry pleaded.

"Come on, you two," Jennifer said. "I think we can all get in our car."

They found Mark and Mike running the dog teams around the field. When the decision to split the teams had come, it had gotten difficult to have five dogs standing around, while the other five were out pulling the ATV, since the dogs left behind wanted to run, too. Mark and Mike had built a three-wheeled cart for the dogs to pull, reasoning that it would handle more like a sled. It had only a rudimentary claw for a brake, and they had soon learned that they still had a lot to learn.

Mark’s dogs were pulling the ATV, and he noticed the visitors first, so he ordered Cumulus into the yard, and had them stop. Mike was following not far behind, and he headed into the yard, too. "When Kirsten said you guys had gone to the dogs, she wasn’t kidding!" Jennifer exclaimed. "That looks like fun!" She introduced Blake, and Jackie introduced Mark.

"I’d offer you a ride," Mike said, "but this thing rides rougher than a cob. Still, I’m looking forward to snow."

"This is George," Tiffany said. "He’s my dog."

George still acted like a puppy, but he was getting to be a big puppy. Now pushing fifty pounds, he was already one of the larger dogs in Mike’s team.

"He looks like a good dog," Jennifer said.

"He’s still a little crazy," Mike said. "He’s chewed up more harnesses than the rest of the two teams combined. I think he’ll grow out of that, though."

"Can we watch you run them a little bit more?" Jennifer asked. "I don’t want to bring your training session to a stop."

"We were getting about ready to quit, anyway," Mark said, "but if you want to watch, we can take ’em around the field a couple more times."

"Sure, why not?" Jennifer said. They stood and watched for a few minutes, as the mushers took the dogs around the field again, then ran the dogs up to the hanger, with Mike following Mark. "When you get ’em staked out, why not come back up to the house?" Mike asked. "I’ve got to take these dogs home and stake them out, so I have to go, anyway."

"Mark, I’ll help, and then we can drive up," Jackie offered.

"Sure, we’ll only be a few minutes."

Blake drove up the road, following Mike, with Jenny, Kirsten, and the kids in the car with him. The dogs moved along pretty well, and Mike was already busy staking dogs out at their houses by the time the carload arrived. While Kirsten went inside to make coffee, Jennifer, Blake, and the kids went out back to watch. Tiffany waded right into the pack of dogs with her father, released a tugline on one of them, took the harness off, and walked the dog over by the neckline to his house.

"It’s a little strange for them," Mike said. "We’d been keeping all the dogs up at Mark’s place until a few days ago, but I wanted ’em used to being here before snow season comes."

"Isn’t that a little hard on the dogs?" Blake asked.

"Not really," Mike said. "They like to run. What’s hard is to go out with a team and leave a dog behind. The dog that’s left behind wants to be with the gang so bad, he’s hard to keep under control." It was a question that had been thrown at Mike repeatedly over the last few months, and by now, he’d evolved an almost-stock lecture about running dog teams. He launched off into it now as he and Tiffany put the dogs away and put the cart into the barn.

"Well, I suppose you’re right," Blake said finally. "I wouldn’t know about that, myself. I’m kind of a city boy, and I’m not used to this sort of thing. How do you like living out in the country like this, anyway?"

"We lived in town for many years," Mike said. "I wouldn’t go back, and not just because of the dogs. I really like it here. I was never really a country boy myself, either, but I’m starting to get the hang of it."

"You guys coming in for coffee?" Kirsten shouted from the porch. "Mark and Jackie are here already."

"I can’t believe you’re still here," John said.

"I find it a little difficult to believe, myself," Heather said, reaching for her wineglass. "There’s not been much of anything happening."

Their dinner was in the dining room of the Spearfish Lake Inn. Heather wore her swimsuit under her clothes; after dinner, John had arranged for them to use the hot tub. It would be something different to do.

For more than two months, Heather had been having dinner with John, on the average of once a week. He had difficulty getting away more often than that, for in addition to overseeing the preparations for the haunted house with the SADD kids, he coached girls’ basketball, a fall sport in Spearfish Lake. It had gotten so dull for Heather that she had even gone to some of the home games, though she wasn’t any kind of sports fan.

"How was the trip to Minneapolis?" John asked.

"A little more productive than the last time," Heather reported. "Right at the moment, it doesn’t look like it’ll go to court. All they’d tell me is that they’re ‘making progress’ in negotiations with the EPA, but they won’t tell me what’s going on. Me, I think somebody’s stalling."

"Probably," John said. "As far as I know, the EPA hasn’t modified their deadline to the city any, so that still stands. I talked to Ryan Clark the other day, and the city is still hanging. They’re going to have to jump soon, but they don’t have any idea of which way to jump."

"If only we knew there were more snakes," Heather said, "this would be easy."

"Well, you’re not going to find them now," John replied. "They’re holed up for the winter."

"I keep looking in the sewers," Heather replied. "The one last spring was active outside the normal season, so there’s maybe a chance they’ll be there. Beyond that, I don’t know what to do." She shook her head. "I really appreciate your asking me out to dinner, John," she said. "It gives me something to look forward to."

"Thanks," he said. "I appreciate that." He hadn’t given up hope of action with Heather, but there was something about her that didn’t make it an imperative, either. There was something of a kindred spirit he sensed about her, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. If it eventually came down to a one-night stand, that’s what it would be. If it didn’t, it didn’t, and he found himself amazed at being so philosophical about it. "I look forward to these dinners, too," he added. "Have you had any nibbles on your whale project?"

Over the course of the weeks, he had slowly drawn some history out of Heather. She had told him about the demonstrations at Old Brook, and although she didn’t mention the exact nature of her pivotal role, he’d gotten the impression she’d been right up to her ears in organizing the protest. She’d told him other things she’d been involved in over the years, and had told him of her idea to put pressure on the Japanese over their whaling fleet.

"Not really," she said. "A number of people have said that it’s a good idea, but it’s going to take a big organization with a lot of clout to put together a boycott effective enough to make the Japanese hurt a little. It’s not something that can be started from scratch and on a shoestring budget."

"Well, I hope it works out for you," John said, "though, I’ll be sorry to see you go."

"I won’t be sorry to leave," Heather said, "except for these dinners with you. I suppose I’m being morbid, but it bothers me to see the trees bare, with the leaves all gone. It means winter is on the way, and I’m not really a winter person. I guess that’s why I’ve put up with living in Los Angeles all these years."

"Winter is something you have to endure," John said. "I’m not really thrilled with it, myself, but you know how it is when you’ve got tenure. It makes it hard to leave. I keep thinking that I’ll have my minimum requirement in for retirement the end of the semester, and maybe I’ll just chuck it myself and go find something else to do, someplace where it’s warm. Now that my daughter is married, there isn’t much keeping me here anymore."

"I still refuse to believe that you’re old enough to have a married daughter," Heather said. "You can’t be that much older than I am."

"I got started early," he laughed. "I was still in college, and I guess I was a bit crazy. I’ll have the requirements for retirement in, although I can’t draw on it for a good many years, yet. There’s still time for me to do something else with my life. Maybe I should look for something with some environmental organization."

"There’s not a lot out there, right now," Heather said. "At least, that’s what I’m finding."

"Well, it’s just a dream," John said. "I’ll probably teach here for another twenty years, and die when I don’t have a classroom in the fall."

"That’s no way to talk. That’s just slow suicide."

"You’re right," he said. "Let’s try to find a happy subject. Speaking of which, how’d you like to go to a party next weekend?"

"What kind of party?"

"A Halloween party," John said. "A big one, out at West Turtle Lake. It’s an invitation-only thing, but I get tickets from a guy whose daughter was on the team the year we won the state championship."

"This is costumes, and the whole bit?"

"Costumes, and the whole bit. This is one of the big things in Spearfish Lake, has been the last few years. It probably would be good for people to see you with your hair down, so to speak."

"It sounds like fun," Heather said. "I don’t know what I’d do for a costume, but it could be fun."

"Some people put a lot of work into costumes for this," John said, "but you wouldn’t be expected to."

"Come on, help me out on this," she said. "I haven’t been to a costume party since grade school."

"You want to get away from the reality of who you are. Something that you probably would never be close to in real life." He smiled. "I do have one idea, and it would probably be pretty easy to do, but I don’t want you to think that I’m being sexist when I tell you what it is."

"I won’t," she smiled. "I’m open to suggestions."

"You probably won’t like it, but think it through."

"Come on, what is it?"

He told her. A frown crossed her face when she first heard the idea, but in a few seconds, it took hold. "That would work," she said. "It’d take a little time to make the skirt, but I’ve got nothing but time on my hands right now."

"Actually, I think we could go down to Camden and buy what you need," he said. "There’s a couple of other things that go with it that you could get there. I could take you Saturday."

"Let’s do it," she said. "I could stand to get out of town for a day, and that’ll give me something to look forward to."

Just sitting around talking, it soon got to be late. Mark and Jackie had a cup of coffee, and then went home. Then, it was time for Tiffany and Henry to be off to bed; it would be a school day tomorrow. Jennifer and Blake sat with Mike and Kirsten and talked for a while, and finally, Kirsten said, "I’ve got to get the dishes done, and the dishwasher isn’t working. Gil is supposed to come out and work on it tomorrow, but I’d better get going on it."

"I’ll help," Blake offered.

"Well, aren’t you the nice guy?" Kirsten said as he followed her to the kitchen. "That’s something Mike wouldn’t do."

"Let me take a quick look at the dishwasher," Blake said. "I used to work on them."

"Nice guy," Mike commented. "What do your folks think of him?"

"They seem to like him," Jennifer said. "I mean, they know he’s not my boyfriend, or anything, but they seem to hit it off pretty well."

"It’d be hard to tell he isn’t your boyfriend," Mike said. "He seems to take really good care of you."

"He does," Jennifer said. "I couldn’t get along without him. I just hope he can fit in here. This place is awful cold and empty if you’ve grown up in Los Angeles."

"Folks around here are going to figure he’s your boyfriend," Mike said. "Maybe you’d just better accept it."

"Well, he is, sort of," Jennifer said. "I mean, if you leave sex out of it, and for me, that’s not hard to do. Blake’s been with me for years now, and I’m not so sure I could get as close to anyone else. I mean, if he were to stay in L.A., I’m afraid I’d be as homesick for him here, as I am homesick for here when I’m in L.A."

"Well, maybe it’ll work out," Mike said.

Blake stuck his head back into the room. "Found it," he said. "Where can I find a screwdriver and a crescent wrench?"

"Got some down in the basement," Mike said. "I’ll go get ’em."

A couple of minutes later, they were all gathered in the kitchen, watching Blake work on the ailing dishwasher. "If Jennifer can’t keep you busy when you move here," Kirsten suggested, "I’m sure her father can."

"That’s kind of what I’m afraid of," Blake said as he worked at a fitting. "I don’t mean working on appliances, or anything. I’m just worried that things are going to be a little dull here, after L.A."

"Things aren’t really dull, here," Mike said. "There’s plenty going on. Not the same sort of things, but plenty to keep you interested. Like this party we’ve got coming up."

"I keep telling him that," Jennifer said. "There are no parties in L.A. like this one. This one is just as wild, and here, you’re among friends. I’m just glad we’re able to come this year."

"Have you got your costumes all worked out?" Kirsten asked.

"Blake found us some," Jennifer replied. "He talked to some wardrobe guy, and I don’t know how they came up with the idea, but we’re doing Roy Rogers and Dale Evans."

"It wasn’t entirely my idea," Blake said. "I thought maybe Johnny Ringo, the gunfighter, black hat, no shave for three days, the whole bit, but that would have left Jenny as the schoolmarm. Anyway, this guy said Jenny should be the flashy one, and somehow, we got around to that."

"Cute," Kirsten said. "Gee, I remember watching them on TV when I was a kid."

"Yeah, me too," Mike said. "That was always kind of a fun show."

"All right," Blake said, pushing the unit back into place. "Let’s give it a try."

Jenny shook her head as the dishwasher started. "It doesn’t sound very good," she said.

"They all sound like that," Blake said. "Goes with the brand. I’m afraid I got soaked."

"I’d loan you some clothes," Mike said. "But I know I haven’t got anything that would fit a big horse like you."

"I know," Kirsten said. "Let’s go soak in the hot tub, and I’ll just throw those in the dryer."

Mike’s gut wrenched a little, but he knew to say nothing.

"You’ve got a hot tub here?" Jennifer said. "I’ve thought about getting one, but now that we’re leaving Malibu, there’s no point in it."

"Sure, come on," Kirsten said. "Blake, I don’t know how you handle bare-assed, but that’s how the rest of us do it."

"I don’t know, either," Blake said, unbuttoning his shirt. "That’s one thing I’ve never done. But I suspect that I’m going to find out."

"With Jennifer, I’m sure you will," Mike said. "This is a good way to ease into it." For both of us, he thought.

The four of them were in the tub a few minutes later. "So what’s the deal, with this big new house? I don’t think I’ve ever been in that one," Kirsten asked. "Is it nice?"

"Very nice," Jennifer said. "It’s going to need some work, and it needs furniture from one end to the other. Look, you two. I’m going to keep an eye on the paper, and if some antique thing comes up that I might like, can I call you to check it out for me? Maybe send me a picture, or something?"

"Sure," Mike said. "No big deal. You get the Record-Herald about as quick as if you lived in town."

"Yes, and I appreciate it, too," Jennifer said. "There have been times I couldn’t get along without it."

"Let me tell you," Blake said, "come Thursday night, there better not be anyone between Jenny and her paper, or they’re going to get flattened."

"I think I read every word," Jennifer said. "I have, ever since I left."

"Glad to know someone appreciates it," Mike said.

"Blake," Jennifer asked. "What would you think of a hot tub out on the porch, overlooking the lake?"

"It’d get cold in the winter," Blake said.

"Yeah, but think of how good it would feel to be up to your neck in the hot water, while the snow is blowing in your face," Jennifer said.

"There’s no reason you couldn’t have two, I suppose," Blake said.

The conversation drifted to plans for the new house. Clearly, it was going to need some work, but Jennifer was aglow with the possibilities, and Blake seemed to be looking forward to dealing with them. As they talked, Mike leaned back in the tub and reflected that Jennifer and Blake really did seem to have a good relationship. It would be hard to tell that they weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, not just employee and employer.

But then, Mike wouldn’t have known that Blake was gay, if Jennifer hadn’t told him. He hadn’t made up his own mind, yet, about how he felt about being in the hot tub with him; it was a strange feeling, one he hadn’t sorted out yet. Mike was pretty sure that Kirsten didn’t know, but he wondered what she would have been thinking if she did.

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