Chilled by Death by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online

and said, “Nothing. I’m just tired.”
    “Just?” He took the few steps to bring him to her side. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders. “Of course you’re tired. Go sit down. I’ll make this.” He turned her in the direction of the others and gave her a gentle push.
    He studied the table in front of him and realized she had the popcorn in the cast iron handheld popper but didn’t have the butter measured or ready to melt. He measured it quickly and dumped it into the popper.
    “No,” she said, turning back to the table. “I’ll be fine.”
    “You’re not fine,” he said in a low voice. “Why won’t you let me help you?”
    The popcorn popper was held tight in her fist as she turned away, but her gaze lingered on his. He thought she wasn’t going to answer for a long moment, but then she opened her mouth. He bent his head to hear what she said, his gaze trying to read her lips as she moved them so gently, her voice so soft he wondered if he’d actually heard her correctly.
    She walked back into the main room to pop the corn on the big fireplace. But her words rippled through his mind in wonder and almost broke his heart.
    He thought, hoped, she’d said, “Because it hurts too much.”

Chapter 7

    S tacy forgot how high energy this group of friends was. They worked hard and they played hard. Such was their life. She watched the men tease the women and bug the other guys. She was in a category altogether different. She knew them all with the exception of Yvonne and had been friends forever with some of them. That she worked with two of them, not all the time and not all day, made for an odd relationship there too. Then there was Royce and that bit of history and Geoffrey with their long-term friendship. At one point he’d asked her out but she’d refused, realizing she liked him as a good friend only. He was a great guy, and she was more than happy to have him along.
    And unlike many of the others here, he wasn’t an adrenaline junkie.
    Safety was always her prime concern. Even more so now after what had happened to her best friends.
    She cozied up by the fire, grateful for the moment. Her brother had brought a huge pasta dish to heat up on the big heater stove for tonight, but it was taking its time warming up. So was the cabin. The conversation went around in a mix of laughter and arguments. The others were already planning their trips out tomorrow. She was still thinking a book by the fire was the right answer.
    Royce plunked down beside her. “Are you going out tomorrow?”
    She studied his face, aware that the conversation had died down around them. “I’m not sure. What are the plans?”
    “Two groups,” he said. “One is heading to the runs beside the waterfall, the other is going to go to the snowboard park.”
    “Hmm. High winds, freezing cold air, or my camera in the sunshine.” She grinned. “I’ll go with the sunshine.”
    There were exclamations at that one.
    “I’m good with a camera,” George said, “but she’s gifted.”
    That drew a snort from her. “Not likely. Look at the stuff you take pictures of. You have to be gifted to do that.”
    “And then look at your images. They are surreal. Like you see something no one else can,” George countered.
    “Hey, I didn’t know you were both photographers,” Kathleen said. “Really? How come I haven’t seen any of your work, Stacy?”
    Stacy curled her lips but stayed quiet.
    “You have,” George said. “You just didn’t know they were hers.”
    A surprised pause stopped everyone as they turned en masse to look from him to her.
    She groaned. “It’s no secret. I made a little bit of a name for myself way back when, that’s all.”
    “And what name is that?” Royce asked, his gaze narrow, searching.
    She shrugged her shoulders, uncomfortable with having the spotlight turned her way.
    It was her brother who answered. “You guys have the privilege of being in the presence of Eternal.”
    A shocked silence