Precious Blessings (Love Inspired) by Jillian Hart Read Free Book Online

deaths,” Marin said, ever helpful. “Hayden Munroe came to our worship and ski program. She’s taking her first lesson with the instructor this very moment.”
    â€œThat’s great.” Katherine’s initial thought was for the girl who was heading down a very troubled path. “I know you’ll have her feeling better about herself and her life in no time.”
    Her second thought was, unfortunately, about Jack Munroe. Had he brought Hayden to the lodge? And if so, had he stayed?
    Don’t think about that, Katherine. You’re not interested in him, remember?
    â€œThat father of hers is sure something.” Marin turned to the other member of their trio squished onto the narrow bench. “Holly, you’ve got to see this guy. It almost makes you believe in Mr. Right.”
    Holly gasped. “But you don’t believe in Mr. Right.”
    â€œTrue. I’ve done enough marital counseling in my career to know that he’s a myth. Katherine, we’re almost at the top. You might want to open your eyes now. I’m absolutely sure that there is no Mr. Right anywhere in existence on this earth. Just Mr. Almost -Right.”
    â€œAnd those are few and far between.” With a scoot off the bench chair, Katherine landed, skis parallel and knees bent. When she turned to look over her shoulder, Holly and Marin swished to a stop behind her. “Trust me, Jack Munroe isn’t anywhere close to being Mr. Almost-Right.”
    â€œWow, did you hear that, Holly?”
    â€œI heard it, Marin. Katherine’s in her denial stage.”
    â€œWhat is it with everyone? The twins said the same thing. I’m not in denial. Really.”
    â€œOf course you’re not,” Holly said in a comfortingway, although Katherine wasn’t fooled. Not one bit. “So, tell me, is this guy—whoa, buddy!”
    â€œOutta the way! Comin’ through!” A man shouted, in sheer panic.
    Was it her imagination, or did that sound sort of like Jack Munroe? Katherine hopped out of the way just in time to see a blur speed by. The blur was a black-parka-wearing, wide-shouldered man crouched very low over his skis, his poles held straight in front of him as if he were roasting hot dogs over a campfire.
    â€œThat looks like doom on two sticks,” Marin commented. “I’d better pray for that man.”
    â€œHe’s going to need it. Oh, he went right through the first turn.” Holly cocked her head to listen. “He missed the trees. I didn’t hear a crash.”
    What if that was Jack? Katherine kicked off and followed Marin down the trail. She couldn’t see anything of the fallen skier. That wasn’t a good sign. What if he was hurt?
    Lord, please don’t let him be hurt.
    â€œHey, Katherine,” Marin called as she led the way. “Do you know who that man reminded me of?”
    Yeah, she knew. And she was going to stay in denial about that, too. “A beginning skier who missed the rope tow for the bunny run?”
    When they reached the first turn, all they could see was a hole in the snowbank and a single ski sliding crookedly along the trail.
    Marin reached the edge first. “Mister, are you alive?”
    Katherine knew it was him, even before his gruff baritone rang out from the trees.
    â€œYep. And better yet, nothing’s broken.”
    Katherine’s heart skipped five beats as she joined Marin at the edge of the bank. Sure enough, she recognized the man below. Although he was in profile, looking down as he tried to free one of his poles from the branches of an evergreen tree, she already knew that particular man’s profile by heart. There was no mistaking the hard-planed, granite face. Or the dark shock of hair tumbling from beneath the black ski cap.
    It was him. Her stomach clenched tight before it fell downward, tingling, all the way to her knees. Just the way it felt on the uppermost crest of a roller-coaster