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Lost Creek wasn't nearly as popular in the winter as the towns with ski resorts. Plus, we simply didn't get as much of the white stuff, especially down here in the gorge. The tourists who came in the winter were a lot like the tourists who came in the summer. People looking to escape into nature and not be bothered for a few days.

Which got me thinking about Marley again.

It wasn't out of the realm of possibility she was close by. Hell, for all I knew she was next door having a sandwich for lunch. If I just kept my eyes open, I was sure we'd eventually cross paths again. I didn't even care if it was in Lost Creek anymore.

"So, you'll take the 9 a.m. hike?"

Karis didn't seem to have too much trouble in the mornings. Gus was healthy, so what else would I do with my morning? "We'll call it a trial run. Don't go getting delusions of grandeur if it goes well. It only works if it works for Karis and Gus."

"Incoming," Travis coughed.

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Mom and Colin reaching for the door. "Fuck."

"We'll play interference," Red promised.

"Hello boys!" Mom sang out.

"Clara, Colin, how are you?" Red poured it on thick. He, like Travis, was well aware of my issues with my family and their obliviousness to it all.

Or maybe they weren't oblivious. Maybe they just didn't fucking care.

"We're well. I figured my son was spending his free time here and since his little brother needs some physical training for his future job, I thought we'd stop in and see if we could work something out."

Colin wanted to be a Forest Service Ranger.

"What kind of training do you need, son?" Red still called Travis and me son from time to time, usually when we needed a talking to or advice. Otherwise, he treated us like adults.

But Colin was all of nineteen.

"As much endurance training as I can get."

So, he was still thinking of going the firefighter route. He confided in me the last time I was home that he really wanted to be a wildland firefighter and end up on a Hotshot Crew, the Forest Service was a close second.

Dad would be proud. Mom would lose her shit. So we kept it quiet while he navigated school and training.

"I need someone reliable to keep our routes clear. Normally Travis does that, but he's focusing more on specialized retreats this season. This is a serious job, Colin, not an easy summer gig. If you want easy, you can drive vans."

Mom glared at Red, but before she could overstep, Colin straightened up, his chin rising. "I want a challenge. I'm reliable." His gaze jumped to me.

"He is." I vouched for the turd. "I can show him the ropes." Colin was a pretty typical nineteen-year-old boy. He could be kind and thoughtful, but mostly he was horny and oblivious. He still made knee-jerk choices that didn't end well.

But a summer doing hard work with the help of Travis and me might just push him into adulthood.

Red nodded once. "I'll give you a two-week trial. That's for both our benefit. If you get into it and don't like it, you can walk away. No harm, no foul."

"Thank you, sir."

Travis and I shared a look.

"Just call me, Red. Everyone does." Then he hooked his thumb at me. "Get things scheduled with Huk."

"Wonderful!" Mom beamed, probably thinking this would help keep me in town longer.

It wouldn't. I would help my baby brother shake the mom-shackles because that's what big brothers did. Just like I was helping Karis get her life back on track. Then I'd be on my way.

"Kid's got to do the work. All I'm doing is giving him an opportunity." Red shook Mom's hand, then Colin's. "We've got some work to finish up." He nodded towards the door.

"Oh! Of course. We'll get out of your hair. We'll see you tonight at dinner, Huk. You can talk to your brother then."