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Alec nodded, only hearing half of what Tyler said.

"We have to go back out. Are you sure you're OK in those shoes? I could put you back on

Brandy and walk you to the barn."

"No," Alec answered quickly. "I'll make it."

Tyler grinned, but this time he wasn't hurrying about the house dismissively. This time he was

focused, allowing Alec to sense, if only a little, that hewassympathetic to his plight. "You'll be fine,"

he said. "Come on."

They went back on to the porch, Alec still wrapped like a giant burrito in the wool blanket.

Tyler was already walking toward the barn and Alec followed, taking the steps slow and then

catching up.

It wasn't a barn, but an over-sized shed, built to look like a barn. It reminded Alec of forced

perspective used on sound stages in Hollywood. Tyler opened the swinging doors and they entered.

Over in a corner, next to a large covered mound, was a machine that looked to Alec like one of those outdoor HVAC units he saw on cement foundations behind houses.

"It's a newer one," said Tyler. "You don't have to pull-crank it. Just push that red button right there." He lifted a red gas container next to it. "There's a little in here, but you'll need to get more when you go to the store."

"Do you think it will be necessary?"

"Yeah. The power goes out during storms all the time. Plus you're two miles off the mainline for power and cable. Things don't get fixed fast."

"Oh."

"And you'll need it for this baby too." Tyler lifted the tarp from the neighboring mound and yanked it away as if revealing a prize. Beneath was a snow vehicle of some sort, but to Alec, it might as well have been a Mars rover.

"It's a Titan," said Tyler. His eyes lit up like a child's. "It's an older model, but it's still sweet.

It'll get you wherever you need to go."

"I have no idea what to do with that thing."

"Aw, come on. It's like riding a jet-ski."

"A what?"

Tyler ignored the comment and pointed. "The gas goes in here. The key goes in here. Just guide it out the double doors. There's plenty of room to practice out there."

"I can't ride that thing."

"Well, you're gonnahaveto. How else are you gonna get around? This place is only snowmobile accessible during winter months. Didn't you see the disclaimer on the website? We're not used to having visitors this time of year."

Alec thought back to his search for a getaway. He had been angry with himself and Mac. He

hadn't put a lot of thought into it, only that he wanted mountains and not ocean. Ocean was too

distracting with its temptation of scantily clad men. No. He had wanted somewhere isolated, where

he could write and not be interrupted.