Afraid

by Jo Gibson

  The warming house was a three-sided building at the end of Saddlepeak Lodge’s ice rink, equipped with electricity and a wall phone that was connected to the switchboard at the lodge. It wasn’t really warm, but it was a haven from the wind that sometimes howled down from the peaks of the mountains. Long wooden benches were built along the walls, and there were hooks for skates and extra jackets. It had a roof, but no floor, since it sat directly on the surface of the ice.

  Ice skating was one of Saddlepeak Lodge’s featured activities. There was a sporting goods shop on the ground floor of the lodge where guests could rent skates if they hadn’t brought their own. Donna had outfitted Julie there before they’d come to the rink.

  “Just get your balance and try to skate over here.” Donna encouraged her again. “It’s easy. You’ll see.”

  Julie shoved off tentatively, and managed to push herself across the ice to Donna. But she had to grab the rail again to keep from crashing into her new friend. “How do you stop these things?”

  “Just drag one toe on the ice. See the little teeth on the front of your blades? They scrape the ice and slow you down.”

  “Okay.” Julie shoved off again and managed to balance on one foot as she executed a clumsy stop. “This isn’t so bad. Can we go out to the rink now?”

  “Sure. Just follow me. There’s a rail around the rink, too. Ross put it up last year for the beginners. But I don’t think you’ll have to use it very much.”

  “You’ve got more faith in me than I have.” Julie laughed. “If I don’t stay close to that rail, I’ll fall flat on my face!”

  Donna shook her head. “You won’t fall. Just look out there and you’ll see why.”

  Julie skated to the edge of the wall and looked out at the rink. A crowd had gathered, and they seemed to be gliding across the ice effortlessly.

  “There’s Paul, in the stocking cap. He’s skating with Gina Lawrence from our French class. And Dave’s over there, in the green Army parka. The guys promised to prop you up until you learn to skate on your own.”

  “That’s nice of them . . . I think.”

  Julie wobbled out onto the ice with Donna right behind her. She spotted Ross, who was helping two guests learn how to skate, and she recognized several of her classmates from school.

  “Mrs. Hudson lets us skate here anytime we want to. All we have to do is help the guests.” Donna’s voice came from directly behind Julie, but Julie was wise enough not to turn her head. Her balance was precarious enough as it was.

  “Hey . . . Julie!” Dave skated over to take her arm. “Come on. Let’s take a swing around the rink.”

  “Uh . . . okay.” Julie smiled at him, and before she had time to be nervous, Donna had grabbed her other arm and they were pulling her forward.

  “Glide, Julie. First your left foot and then your right.” Donna gave her instructions. “Just do what I do, and we’ll hold you up.”

  Julie followed Donna’s lead, putting her weight on one foot and then the other. At first she leaned heavily on Donna and Dave, but gradually she began’ to feel more in control.

  “I think I’ve got it.” Julie began to smile. “Let me try it once on my own.”

  Julie set off on her own, staying very close to the rail, just in case. She wobbled once or twice, but swinging her arms for balance seemed to help. She concentrated on her feet. Left, glide. Right, glide. She made her way around the rink once, and then she tried it again. Skating was fun, and it wasn’t as difficult as she’d thought.

  Suddenly music came from the loudspeakers at the edge of the rink. Strauss’s “Skater’s Waltz.” How appropriate. Julie moved her skates in time to the music and smiled. She moved away from the rail, out toward the center of the rink. This was fun. But she was still watching her feet, and before she realized it, she’d plowed right into another skater!

  “Oh! I’m sorry!” Julie looked up as strong arms steadied her. Then she blushed as she realized she’d bumped into Paul.

  But Paul was laughing, and he actually looked friendly. “Don’t worry about it. Just grab my arms and I’ll pull you over to the rail.”

  Julie grabbed his arms, and Paul skated backwards, steering her to the rail. When they got there, Julie grabbed on, and gave a deep sigh of relief. “I guess I got too brave. I felt like Dorothy Hamill for at least thirty seconds . . . until I crashed into you.”

  “She was here once, about ten years after she won the gold at the Winter Olympics. Every kid in town hung out at the skating rink, and she came out and gave us autographs. I’ve still got mine.”

  “That must have been a thrill.” Julie smiled at him. “Did she skate?”

  Paul nodded. “We cleared the rink and she did part of her routine. I think that’s what sold Vicki on figure skating.”

  “My cousin was a figure skater?”

  The moment she’d asked the question, Julie knew she’d made another mistake. A frown flickered across Paul’s face, and he looked unfriendly again.

  “She used to enter the ice-dancing competitions down in Denver.”

  Julie took heart. At least she’d gotten him to talk about Vicki. That was a step in the right direction. Now she’d change the subject, and maybe he’d smile at her again. “I was watching you skate with Gina. You’re very good.”

  “Not good enough for Vicki. Ryan Stratford was her partner. They won, last year.”

  “Ryan Stratford?” Julie was curious. “I don’t think I’ve met him.”

  “That’s no great loss. He’s over there, in the black jacket. And he’s headed our way. Be careful around him, Julie.”

  Julie turned to look at the skater who was gliding across the rink toward them. She didn’t remember seeing him in any of her classes. “Is he a senior?”

  “Yeah. When he bothers to go to school, which is once in a blue moon. He’s got a private tutor.”

  “He does?” Julie raised her eyebrows. “But why?”

  “His old man’s loaded, and he thinks Ryan’s the next Jean-Claude Killy.”

  “You mean, he’s a skier?”

  “He’s the skier, our local celebrity. He’s trying out for the Olympic downhill team.”

  “And you don’t like him?”

  “Right.” Paul put on a smile as Ryan came into earshot. “Stratford. You decided to favor us with your presence?”

  Ryan Stratford smiled, a flash of perfect white teeth in a face tanned dark by the sun. “You might say that. History repeats itself . . . right, Paul?”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it. Julie, this is Ryan Stratford. Ryan, Julie Forrester.”

  “Vicki’s cousin.” Ryan Stratford took Julie’s hand and squeezed it. “And you’re even prettier. Hello, Julie. Do you want to take a turn around the rink?”

  Julie looked up into his slate-gray eyes, and felt her heart beat faster. She knew instinctively that Ryan Stratford was dangerous. His eyes were compelling as they assessed her, and the smile on his face held a hint of a sneer. And since his name was Ryan, he could be the R in Vicki’s note!

  “Well? How about it?” Ryan held out his hand.

  It took sheer willpower, but Julie managed to break away from his gaze. “Thank you, but no. I’m just learning to skate and I’d only slow you down.”

  “Maybe. And maybe not. We’ll see.”

  Ryan took Julie’s arm and steered her out on the rink before she could refuse again. He slipped one arm around her waist and pressed her up against his side.

  Julie felt a blush color her face. He was holding her much too tightly, but she had to admit that she was enjoying it. He was strong and handsome and a very good skater. No wonder Vicki had chosen him for her partner!

  Ryan’s hand moved across her back, massaging her gently, exploring under the jacket. Julie knew she should pull away. She barely knew him. But she’d never make it back to the rail without falling flat on her face. At least she’d learned one important fact about Ryan Stratford. She’d told him she didn’t want to skate with
him, and here she was, gliding around the rink with his arm clamped tightly around her waist. Ryan was the kind of guy who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  “So, Julie . . .” Ryan leaned over to give her a lazy smile. “How about coming down to Denver with me, Saturday night? A friend of mine’s doing a concert.”

  “Sorry. I have to work.”

  Ryan kept right on smiling. “You can’t get out of work to hear Shane Darrow?”

  Julie shook her head, even though her pulse was racing. Shane Darrow was the lead singer with Neon Spider, the hottest new rock group from England.

  “Too bad. There’s a party after the concert at the Brown Hotel. It’s an informal little jam session with the guys from Ded Hero.”

  Julie swallowed hard. It was very tempting since she was also a Ded Hero fan, but she didn’t want to go anywhere with Ryan Stratford, not until she’d learned a lot more about him. Paul had warned her to be careful around him, and there had to be a reason. “I can’t make it. Sorry, Ryan.”

  “Another time, then.” Ryan brought her in a full circle, until they were back at the rail again. “I think I’ll give you some pointers. You might turn into a good skater.”

  “Thank you, but not now. This is the first time I’ve been on skates, and my ankles are tired.”

  “I’ve got to run anyway. Ski practice in an hour.” Ryan smiled at her again and his glance seemed to probe under her jacket, under all her clothes to her trembling body beneath. Then he gave a casual wave and skated away toward the warming house.

  “Julie?” Donna skated up the moment Ryan was gone.

  Julie blinked and shook her head, almost as if she were shaking away the remnants of a bad dream. “Yes, Donna?”

  “Your aunt just called, and I’ve got to work tonight. Mr. Stratford reserved the private dining room for a party of twenty.”

  “Mr. Stratford?” Julie frowned. “Is that Ryan’s father?”

  Donna nodded “I saw you skating with Ryan. What do you think?”

  “I think he’s someone to stay away from.”

  “Smart girl!” Donna patted her shoulder. “Too bad your cousin didn’t feel that way.”

  “Vicki was more than his skating partner?”

  Donna shrugged. “Don’t quote me on this, but it sure looked like they had something going besides spins and double axels. All I know for sure is, Ryan’s bad news.”

  “It’s a good thing I turned down his invitation, then.”

  Donna looked shocked. “He asked you out?”

  “For the Shane Darrow concert on Saturday night. I told him I had to work.”

  “Oh, God!” Donna rolled her eyes. “I’d kill for a chance to hear Neon Spider live!”

  Julie grinned. “Maybe I should have asked for the tickets in advance. Then you could have killed him and both of us could have gone.”

  “Don’t tempt me. I wouldn’t mind killing Ryan Stratford. Or his father. If you think Ryan is bad, just wait until you meet his dad. No wonder Mrs. Stratford divorced him last year!”

  Julie frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ll find out first-hand. Your aunt wants you to work the switchboard tonight, and you’ll meet him when he comes in.”

  One by one, the skating party broke up. Ross escorted the guests back to the lodge, Donna and Paul went home to get ready for work, Gina left with Dave, and Julie found herself alone on the ice. She thought about going back to the lodge, too, but it was a perfect opportunity to practice her skating. No one would see her if she fell down, and she certainly wouldn’t bump into another skater since she was the only one on the rink.

  The music was still playing, and Julie took one last turn around the rink. She was definitely gaining in self-confidence, and she didn’t even wobble as she glided across the ice. Then the music stopped. Someone must have shut it off, up at the lodge. Julie skated in a tight circle in the center of the rink, and watched the purple shadows lengthen on the face of the mountains. The peaceful scene reminded her of the last time her parents had visited her at school. They’d gone skiing and spent almost all day on the slopes. And then, when twilight had begun to fall, they’d gone to a little restaurant with a lovely view of the mountains and watched the purple shadows fall.

  It was a warm and beautiful memory, and Julie felt a smile spread across her face. It was the first time since her parents had died that she’d thought of them without sadness. Perhaps that was the key to conquering her grief. When she felt sad, she’d remember the happy times they’d shared, and it would be almost as if her parents were with her again.

  The air was lovely, crisp but not too cold, and her winter parka kept her warm. The sun was a huge golden ball, almost touching the peak of the mountains, and mountain blue jays called raucously from the pine trees bordering the far end of the rink. Julie stopped to listen, standing on one skate and balancing with the toe of the other. And then she heard it—the snapping of a dry pine branch, the rustle of a body crashing through the trees.

  A deer? An elk? A bear? Julie’s eyes swept the edge of the wooded area, and she saw something moving near the base of a large pine. Then she blinked and the shape was gone. Perhaps it had been one of the lodge cats. Aunt Caroline kept several strays to keep down the mice population.

  One more lap, and she would go back to the lodge. Julie began to skate again. The blades on her skates made soft shushing sounds against the ice, and she smiled as she fell into an easy rhythm. As she glided past the far end of the rink, she felt an uneasy prickling at the back of her neck. Eyes were watching her. From the trees.

  “Hello?” Julie’s voice was shaking as she called out. Perhaps one of her classmates had forgotten something and was coming back to get it. “Is anyone there?”

  But there was only silence. Silence, and the sensation of breathing, back in the pines where the shadows were deepest. Someone was there. Julie was sure of it. And that someone was watching her!

  Suddenly the sun dropped behind the mountain peak and darkness began to fall. She’d forgotten how quickly light faded up here in the mountains. Julie’s breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed off from the rail and raced toward the warming house. There was barely enough light to see. And someone was watching her! Waiting for darkness to fall!

  Her fingers fumbled frantically with the laces and she pulled off her skates as fast as she could. Where was he? Out there somewhere, waiting for her to come out? But she couldn’t stay here. She had to get back to the safety of the lodge!

  Then she heard footsteps coming across the ice, straight toward the warming house in a direct path. Heavy footsteps. A man’s footsteps!

  Julie dropped to her knees and scuttled under the wooden bench. Her heart was beating so hard, she was sure he could hear it. He knew she was in here. And now he was coming to get her!.

  Then the footsteps paused, right next to the warming house. “Julie? Are you still here?”

  Lights blazed inside the warming house, and Julie blinked in confusion. Ross’s voice. Ross was here.

  “I’m just . . . uh . . . putting on my boots.” Julie slid out quickly and plunked herself up on the bench. There was no way she’d let Ross Connors catch her acting like a terrified child!

  Almost immediately, Ross stuck his head around the corner. “Sorry, Julie. I would have turned on the lights sooner, but I thought you came in.”

  “No . . . I decided to skate a little longer.”

  “Are you all right?” Ross looked worried.

  “I’m fine. And I’m ready to go.” Julie pulled on her boots and stood up. “Ross? Were you standing out there by the pine trees?”

  Ross shook his head. “I came from the other side of the woods. Why?”

  “I . . . uh . . . I just thought I heard something in the trees, that’s all.”

  “And it scared you?”

  Ross gave an amused chuckle, and Julie quickly shook her head. “No, not at all. I was just curious.”

  “Well, it was probably a raccoon. T
hey get pretty hungry this time of year, and they start coming up to the lodge at dusk. That’s why we keep our garbage in the shed.”

  Julie nodded and smiled. “Of course. A raccoon. I should have known.”

  Ross took her skates and slung them over his shoulder. As they started walking up the trail to the lodge, Julie considered it. No, not a raccoon. And not any other type of animal, either. She was sure that a man had watched her from the shadow of the pine tree. And whoever he was, he’d intended to scare her!

  Julie dressed in a red-and-black-plaid skirt and a red sweater, and brushed her long blond hair until it was shining. She pulled it back with a red velvet ribbon and glanced at the clock on her dresser. It was almost six, and she’d told Aunt Caroline she’d be downstairs at seven to handle the switchboard.

  Since she was early, Julie took the elevator to the basement and headed for Red Dawson’s taxidermy shop. Aunt Caroline had asked her to pick up Red’s invoices so the bookkeeper could do the billing. Julie wasn’t really looking forward to going into Red’s shop after dark. She’d gone down for the guided tour on her second day at Saddlepeak Lodge, and the sight of the realistically mounted animals crowded into the small basement shop, had made her feel nervous and jumpy.

  As Julie pushed open the door and stepped inside, she saw that the shop was deserted. Red must be working in the back. Normally, the space was well lit, with spotlights aimed at Red’s prize specimens, but now there was only one dim light over the counter. The door to Red’s workroom was flanked by two animals that looked powerful and dangerous, even though they’d been rendered harmless by some lucky hunter. There was a mountain bobcat on the left, mounted in a crouching position on a heavy tree branch. Its mouth was open in a snarl of rage to expose its long, sharply pointed teeth. Julie shivered and turned to the right, but she felt even more nervous as she looked into the small, sightless glass eyes of a wild boar. It seemed to be barreling straight at her, its wicked-looking tusks about to impale anything in its path.