by Roz Marshall
"I'm up for the weekend — I've got meetings in Inverness on Monday."
Ben's eyebrows disappeared under his fringe. "Do you need somewhere to crash?"
Drat, I should've thought to ask. "It's okay — I've booked a room at The Regal. But thanks for offering."
Ben nodded, and took another mouthful of beer.
"So, did you phone your trainer yet?"
"No, Mum." Ben's face took on a mischievous look.
Neil frowned. "Seriously, though," he looked Ben in the eye, "d'you think you're avoiding it because," he shrugged, "you don't really want to go back?"
A long forefinger came up and tapped at Ben's bottom lip, and Neil found himself mesmerised by Ben's mouth, trying to avoid staring at it like they always do in movies, just before they kiss for the first time. Oh man, don't start thinking like that! His breathing became shallow, his chest rising and falling so obviously that Ben must surely notice.
Ben stood up and broke the spell. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and waved at the door. "You're right. I'll go phone him now."
-::-
Ben was acutely aware of his heart, pounding in his ears like a beat-boxer on speed, so loudly that he hoped he would actually be able hear Fraser's voice when he answered the phone. The noise of static and the mechanical ring-tone seemed interminable, but finally someone answered. "Hi, Fraser, it's Ben. Ben Dalton."
"Well, hello Ben, what a coincidence — we were just talking about you earlier!" Ben's mouth went dry. "How's the knee?"
"Uh, it's great, thanks — like new. I've been running on it — I'm doing ten ks regularly and of course I'm skiing every day."
"Good, good. Well, I'm glad you phoned." Does he not know about Gabbi, then? "Did you see that Jaz got injured in Sestrière on Monday?"
"Aye, how's he doing?"
"Not good. His shoulder's ripped to shreds, he'll be off for a good while."
"Uh, poor guy."
"Yes." The sound of a loud sigh travelled down the airwaves. "And, you know what he's like, he's got no patience, so I'm not confident that he'll stick to his rehab programme." He sniffed. "But the good news for you is, it gives us a space on the squad again, if you're up for it? Sounds like you've been keeping fit."
A place on the team!
In his distraction, Ben looked through the smoked-glass window of the pub and saw Neil gazing at him with an expression that he didn't recognise at first. And then, when he did, his heart nearly stopped. Neil? He felt a flutter somewhere in his chest. Neil. Of course.
He locked eyes with him, staring at that intense, clean-cut face as if seeing it for the first time, and realised that he'd been blind for the last couple of weeks. For the last few years, in fact. All this time when he'd been messing around with women, he was missing the obvious. When he'd run away from the team training base in Austria — not because Jaz had known about him and Gabbi, not because he'd blown his knee, but because Jaz had made a pass at him — he'd been running from reality. When he'd retreated into sport at school to avoid the taunts of the other boys, he'd been withdrawing from the truth. The truth of what his preferred 'type' was. The truth of who he was.
The realisation was like a huge weight lifting off his shoulders, as if his soul had taken wing and soared up into the stratosphere, and suddenly he felt free.
He smiled at Neil — a smile of understanding, a smile of acceptance, a smile of— love?
"Thanks for the offer, Fraser — but can I call you back tomorrow morning? I need to speak to someone, first." He opened the door of the pub. "Bye." He closed the phone and strode across to their table.
"What did he say?" asked Neil.
Ben studied his face for a moment, then looked round at the busy pub. "Could we maybe go somewhere a bit quieter, and I'll tell you?"
Neil seemed momentarily confused. "Er, there's another pub down the street I think. I'm not sure if it's any quieter, though."
"What about your hotel? There'll be tea and coffee there?"
"Oh, d'you not want any more beer then? That's not like—" Neil stopped, as if he'd just processed what Ben had said, and frowned.
Ben looked deep into his eyes. "I've had enough beer. I'd like to be somewhere more private…" His heart was pounding again, but this time it wasn't from anxiety. He took Neil's hand. "With you."
Sunday 5th March
CALLUM STOPPED HIS old Golf in front of the ski area office, tyres crunching on the new snow that had fallen overnight. "They're a bit late ploughing the car parks," he commented.
Linda looked across at him. "At least there's been some snow. I'd have thought you'd be happy about that?"
"Yeah, good point."
She stepped out of the car. "Enjoy the white stuff!"
He waved, "See you," and drove across the car park, reversing into a space opposite the ski school hut, tyres spinning on the slippy surface so that the car skewed and ended up slightly squint.
The smell of Linda's perfume lingered in the air; a heady, strong scent that reminded him of its wearer. He sat for a moment, with his hands on the steering wheel, staring at the distant snow-covered hills. What am I doing? Going back to Linda's was the easy option, and it had been an option he'd taken a few times lately. But whilst it provided some temporary gratification and some convivial company, he realised that it wasn't satisfying his heart. He glanced at the hut. But what could he do about it, when she was going out with Ben?
As if the thought had conjured the person, Ben's beat-up Fiesta drew into a parking space at the side of the hut. Callum was surprised to notice that Ben wasn't alone in the car; Neil from the racing charity was sitting in the passenger seat. Before he had time to wonder why that was, he saw Ben turn towards Neil, gaze intently at him for a moment, then lean across and kiss him.
Callum's eyebrows skyrocketed. Ben? His mouth opened in surprise. Ben and Neil? Spying on that intimate moment, even though inadvertently, made him feel a bit like a peeping tom, and he shivered involuntarily.
He watched as Ben hopped out of his car and smiled across the roof at Neil, who strode off across the car park in the direction of the ticket office. Ben blipped the lock, then hesitated, watching Neil's retreating back. Callum saw him nod imperceptibly, then pull out his phone.
-::-
The kettle bubbled in the corner of the ski school hut, sending clouds of steam towards the pine-lined ceiling, vapours hanging in frigid air that the calor gas heater had yet to warm up. Debbie busied herself spooning coffee into mugs, trying not to listen too obviously to Jude's phone call.
They were first in, that morning. With Callum not at home again and Ben not up yet, she'd taken the chance of a lift with Jude, but that meant an early start. And early starts needed coffee, in Debbie's book.
When she opened the fridge, she was met by a regalia of half-eaten yoghurts, out of date sandwiches, and unidentifiable shrivelled fruit. But no milk. Shit. She pulled her purse out of her daypack and mouthed at Jude: 'Going to get milk!'
As she went to open the door, she heard Ben's voice outside. It sounded like he was on the phone.
"…Yeah, thanks for offering me the place on the team," she could just about make out what he was saying over the sound of Jude's voice, "but I've, uh," she heard him clear his throat, "met someone. And I want to give it a chance."
Debbie didn't hear any more. The happiness bubbling up inside her made a smile spread across her face, and her thoughts spun in joyful circles. He likes me! He really likes me!
She pushed out of the door and smiled at Ben as she passed him on the step, squeezing his arm and planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "Just going for some milk," she said, and almost skipped across the car park to the café.
-::-
Callum felt his mind reeling. Ben and Neil? He shook his head. I never saw that coming. Then his gaze flicked back to the pine-timbered door of the hut, and he frowned as Debbie came out. I wonder if she knows yet?
He sat for a couple of minutes while Ben finished his call
and Debbie returned clutching a carton of milk, then got out of his car and followed them into the hut. Time to find out.
Monday 6th March
New Zealand
MIKE PUSHED OPEN the imitation saloon door, the themed decor in the bar making him feel more and more like a bounty hunter looking for a fugitive. This is the last one. Surely he'll be here? His eyes raked the crowded tables, scanning relentlessly until finally he spotted him, recognising the face from the photos — those happy snapshots of family life, those frozen memories in the mountains, that blissful wedding tableau…
He strode over. "Allan Winters?"
The man looked up from his steak dinner, grey eyes pale in a walnut-coloured face. "Allan Winter, that's right. Can I help you?"
Winter, not Winters? That's strange. "The name's Mike, Mike Cole. Someone suggested I should speak to you."
A note from the author
Thank you for reading, and I hope you have enjoyed this instalment of the White Cairns Ski School series.
The next time you visit your favourite online eBook seller, I'd really appreciate it if you could write a simple review of the book, even if it's only a line or two — you don't need to use your real name, and you don't need to write a lot — it's enough to say whether you enjoyed the book, and if you'd recommend it to others. Most people don't realise how important word-of-mouth is, especially for a new author, and such a small percentage of readers take the time to leave a review that every single one I get is extremely special.
If you enjoyed this book and would like a free short story from the White Cairns series, and to hear about upcoming releases and special offers, please sign up for my email list:
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About the author
Roz lives in Scotland with her husband and the obligatory dog and cat. She has been writing since childhood, including screenwriting, songwriting, web pages and even sentiments for greeting cards!
The White Cairns novellas are written from experiences she had whilst working as a ski instructor in various Scottish ski resorts and slopes - they do say you should 'write what you know'!
Website: www.rozmarshall.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rozmarshallauthor
Glossary
Broth
Soup, made with vegetables and pulses
Button tow
A type of ski lift where skiers are pulled up the hill, straddling a plastic 'button' at the bottom of a short metal pole suspended from an ascending tow line
Craic
An Irish Gaelic word meaning gossip or entertainment
Drag tow
See button tow
Dundonian
Person from Dundee
Fiver
Five pounds (money)
Fringe
Bangs
Giant Slalom
A type of ski race. Longer than slalom, with wider turns.
Gloaming
Twilight
GS
See Giant Slalom
Hahnenkamm
Famous ski race course in Kitzbühel, Austria
Ischemic attack
Stroke (medical term)
Liftie
Ski lift operator
Moguls
Bumps of snow on a ski slope — challenging terrain
Pavement
Sidewalk
Parallel (skiing)
Advanced skiing method
PJs
Pyjamas
Poma tow
See button tow
Purse
Wallet (for females)
Skean Dhu
Small dagger which is part of a traditional Scottish kilt outfit. Also a pun for 'skiing do'.
Slalom
A type of ski race. Slalom races are usually the shortest and have the tightest turns around closely-packed control gates
UKASI
Fictional snowsports instructors organisation. Grade 3 is their lowest qualification, and Grade 1 the highest
Characters
Allan (Winters)
Jude's husband
Ben Dalton
White Cairns ski instructor
Callum Johnstone
White Cairns ski instructor
Debbie McNeill
White Cairns ski instructor
Ed Griffiths
Ski-Easy manager
Fiona Easton
White Cairns ski instructor
Forbes Sinclair
Ski area operations manager
Jean Potter
Sandy's wife. Runs North Lodge B&B.
Jude Winters
Acting manager, White Cairns Ski School
Kane
Race Training candidate
Lachie
White Cairns village postman
Lauren Hollis
Mike's sister
Linda
Ski area administrator
Lucy (Winters)
Jude and Allan's daughter
Marty Ferguson
White Cairns snowboard instructor
Mike Cole
White Cairns chief instructor
Monique
Ski pupil
Neil Crane
Marketing manager, Ski Development Trust
Ollie
Snowbound ski instructor
Patrick Cole
Mike's father
Robert Hollis
Mike's brother-in-law, Lauren's husband
Sandy Potter (Santa)
White Cairns ski instructor
Simon Jones (Spock)
White Cairns ski/snowboard instructor
Trudy
Race Training candidate
Vernon Hawkes
Ski pupil
Vicki Ingram
UKASI ski trainer
Zoë Agnew
White Cairns snowboard instructor
In this series:
The White Cairns Ski School books, in chronological order:
Episode 1, "Winter Arrives"
Short Story 1, "Skiing with Santa"
Short Story 2, "A Dream for Hogmanay"
Episode 2, "Fear of Falling"
Episode 3, "My Snowy Valentine"
"Secrets in the Snow", Volume 1, is a collection containing Episodes 1-3 and Short Stories 1 & 2. It is available in both eBook and trade Paperback formats.
Episode 4, "The Racer Trials"
Short Story 3, "The Snow Patrol"
Episodes 5 and 6 will be published in 2014, and will complete the series.