Wyoming Mountain Morning
Chapter One
The combination of crisp snowy air, bright western sun and the deep burn in Annie`s legs was exilerating. Not to mention the view which was breathtaking. The high jutting Rockie Mountains, the Pine trees, the snow caps that went on as far as the eye could see. Annie had only experienced this panoramic view in postcards and only dreamed of seeing it in person. She was uphoric and tried to drink it all in and burn the images into her memory.
Annie needed to rest a minute, her thighs were on fire from muscle fatige. She was used to skiing almost every day as a ski instructor back home. But these were mountains with a capital "M", much more demanding than the hills at Round Top PA where she taught. She used to be impressed with PA moutains compaired to where she first learned to ski at Boston Mills, OH. She giggled to herself as she remembered her first skiing attempt many years earlier when she spent much more time on her fanny than on her feet. It had been so much fun though and she was hooked on the sport. She even managed to get her whole family involved and laughed out loud when she remembered their trip to Snow Shoe in West Virgina. It had rained and they all doned large plastic bags over their ski clothes and skied anyway. When they fell they carreened down the mountain slipping helplessly on those plastic bags. What fun that was, she wished her family were here with her to share this moment at Jackson Hole, WY.
Yet now she alone at the moment to check out the slopes on this perfect winter morning. It was heaven.
Sundenly Annie realized another skier was approaching from behind. As she looked back, to her astonishment their was a man on cross country skis telemarking his turns down this monumental mountain. Poetry in motion was all she thought. She could not take her eyes off him. His skill was mesmerizing. He smiled as he passed her, knowing the admiration he saw in her eyes.
Dane wondered if she was admiring his skiing or his form or his handsome good looks. He hoped it was his handsome good looks. But he didn`t mind if she was admiring his skill on skiis either. He knew he was good. He had been on skis since he was three. His Nordic mother had taught him early on the fine art of cross country skiing. He was as natural on skis as he was walking. He wondered who this new girl was, he hadn`t seen her before. Probably another vacationing snow bunny he thought. There was always a bountiful supply of them in the west. But then he thought this one must be skilled to be on this slope, most snow bunnies stayed on the smaller slopes acting cutsey falling their instructors arms, hoping for some extra fun off the slopes. Perhaps she was just here to ski. He tried to remember what she had on incase he spotted her in the lodge. Navy ski pants, a down ski jacket of yellow and blue with a sunburst on the back. That should be easy to spot. He was starting to think of a cozy chat of shared cups of hot buttered rum. Something about her standing there and the pure admiration in her brown eyes intrigued him. But his heart still belonged to Sasha, even though he knew it was over. This morning run was his mental and emotional therapy. He specifically chose his cross country skiis over his downhill to relax his mind and soul. He knew he needed it. Nothing centered him like crisp mountain morning gliding down these hills he knew so well.
Annie watched the stranger so intensely she became lost in his movements. She watched as the red parka and black ski pants driffed from her view. She was in awe of his beauty on skiis. She wondered if he was a local instructor. Or perhaps just a local ski bum that spent all his time honing his skills. Oh he probably lives in his car and is a social drop out, she thought. Yet still it was nice to experience the moment. She needed to think of something besides Clark. He was gone, snatched by another and Annie was sure he hadn`t give another thought. So why did she pine over him? She didn`t know, but she did know she missed him. His eyes were warm brown his demeaner relaxed, cat like, but there was passion in those eyes. Unfortunately that passion was for other girls too besides her. She could feel the heat rise in her. With that thought she pushed of and carved beautiful arched turns in the perfect packed snow.
Annie loved skiing fast and this mountain called to her. She could feel her speed building the wind was biting into her cheeks. She was in love, her love was a mountain in Jackson Hole. Rugged like the west, alluring with it`s beauty like a dazzeling jewel as the snow reflected the sun in a blinding twinkling sea of snowflakes. Annie felt free as a bird. This was some kind of heaven on earth. She felt gently wrapped in the arms of the mountain and clear clean air. She felt blessed to have this moment, it was blissful. Just at that moment a patch of fresh powder sprayed up over her, she felt like something was graping at the tips of her skis, she could not pull them up. She was going down head first, she could feel it. Cold fluffy snow came to meet her face, in her mouth, down her parka. Annie was struggling to stop this nose dive down the mountain she was not familiar with. She tried rolling and that helped stop her momentum. She could see trees up ahead and did not want to meet them head first. Her skis were still on so she used all her might and got them down the and pointing across the hill and used what strength she had left to pull herself up into standing position. As soon as she was up she carved a sharp turn uphill and stopped. Shaken but ok, she took inventory, legs, skis, poles, hat, dang, no hat. Annie pondered breathing heavily, should go back for the hat? She was too tired at the moment to give herself an answer. She started pulling snow ot of her parka. She shook her head and it looked like it was snowing so much white powder floated around her.
"That was some pretty fancy skiing, are you ok?" Annie lifted her head and there before her was the guy on cross country skis. "Where did you come from?" exclamed a stunned Annie. "I saw you fall as I was resting by those pines. I herringboned my way up here to see if you were ok, and to give you this" Dane said with a smile and concern in his eyes. "Oh thanks" Annie said as she took her ski hat, "And yes I`m ok, I think. You must have some really big `Snow Snakes` in these parts" She said with a smile and teasing tone in her voice. "Yes they are big and powerful in Jackson" Dane jokingly replied. Annie laughed and Dane joined her. "By the way", that was pretty fancy skiing I saw you do this morning. Now just how did you manage that on cross countries with all these Snow Snakes?" Annie asked lightheartedly. "Practice and I feed them", he teased. "Feed them what?" joked Annie.
"Mogul Mice, of course!" answered Dane. Annie put her head and laughted heartily, so did Dane. They both broke the ice and eased the tension joking about the imaginary snow varmits just waiting to trip a skier and cause a fall. It was a pleasing moment two strangers shared all alone on a mountain surrouded by natures beauty.
"Would you like to ski down to the lodge and get something hot to drink?" Dane asked after he stopped laughing. "Sure, why not. I think I need to dry out a bit anyway, I have snow in places it shouldn`t be", Annie said happily. Dane smiled and lifted an eyebrow thinking he`d be happy to help her remove that snow from those shouldn`t be places, but didn`t want to say it out loud and be too bold. "Are you ready?" he asked. "Oh I think I am, you go first and I`ll follow", Annie said. She wanted to watch him again do those beautiful turns and being behind him was the perfect way to watch. "Are you sure, I can follow you in case a Snow Snake tries to knock you down again" Dane lightly teased. Dane wanted to watch Annie from behind and study her form. Not her skiing form as much as her body he thought. "How about if you go ahead and feed them for me" she smiled. "Well ok, if insist" Dane smled back.
Dane gracefully pushed off and starting doing telemark turns down the mountain. He felt happy and free this morning. He enjoyed Annies company and her easy to talk to nature. He loved her laugh. She was cute too, those warm brown eyes, dark brown hair and cute figure. She was in pretty good shape to pull of that save he thought. Her legs must be in pretty shape. He notced nice lines of those legs, firm and shapely. He smiled to himself as felt Annie`s eye watch him from behind. It was nice to be be noticed and he new she was admiring his skiing ability. Not everyoe could appreciate the fact that doing telemark turns down a mountain is a skill that takes much practice. He wondered if she did any cross country skiing herself. He`d have to ask her at the lodge. Just then it ht him, he didn`t even ask her her name! Or even introduce himself! Gee was lame he thought.
Annie loved watching Dane ski. He was so graceful and powerful. He would drop one knee into his turn and then glide so gracefulling into the next turn as he stood and then dropped the other knee. Croos country was so different from downhill. She had the advantage of edges on her skis making it much easier to take turns as she compressed the ski and it carved through the snow. She had done cross country for
fun but was not even able to imagine doing a turn, flat terrain was her preference for cross country. She`d have to ask him for some pointers. Him, it dawned on her she did not know his name! Of well they could introduce themselves at the lodge she thought. It was a long way to the lodge. Annie knew she needed to rest before she got there. The high altitude and jet lag was taking it`s toll. Maybe she could just ski past him & ask if he`d mind taking a breather.
"On your right" Annie called out as she passed Dane. She knew they`d only been skiing for about 15 minutes and her legs were getting weak already. She skied another 5 minutes infront of Dane and came to stop just right of the slope. Dane pulled off in front of her and stopped. "Anything wrong?" he asked. "Yes, my legs are startng to feel like jelly" Annie replied. "Is the altitude getting to you?" asked Dane. "Yes that and jet lag. We just flew in yesterday and these mountains are must more demanding than I`m used to" Annie stated trying not to sound out of breath, which she was. "Is someone waiting for you at the lodge?" Dane asked, wishing she hadn`t said `we`. "I`m not sure" she replied, "My friends Cori and Mark are with me, but they`re probably still in bed." She flushed and added, "They`re engaged, I just came along because there was an openng in the ski package deal from Marks work." "Well I`m glad you came along" smiled Dane. "I don`t think we`ve been properly introduced, I`m Dane." "Nice to meet you Dane, I`m Annie, Annie Kelly." "Nice to make your aquaintence Annie Kelly", Dane smiled warmly, "Were are you from?" "Pennsylvania, but originally Ohio" smiled Annie, "How about you?"
"Everywhere, but now Wyoming. Just outside of town actually" replied Dane, "I like it here, and I work here." "Do you teach cross country?" Annie asked. "No actally I teach downhill and fill in on ski patrol when they need me" Dane answered, "I even help put on the barbeques for special occaisions." "Oh how cool", Annie replied feeling a closeness to Dane as they shared information. "How about you? What do you do Annie", Dane asked. "I teach at a small ski area in PA" Annie smiled, "but it`s nothing like skiing here out west." "I can imagine" replied Dane, "It`s big out here and there are no lift lines." "Yes back home you wait in lines and then it only takes 5 minutes to ski down!" Annie exclaimed, "It will seem really small when I go back to Round Top, but it`s a nice area and quite popular. We do get the Marland and Washington DC crowd", Annie added. "The city folk" winced Dane. "Yes quite a few" laughed Annie. "I`m not much for cities" added Dane. "Me neither" replyed Annie, "I live in the country, right next to a winery" offered Annie, "I get to ride my horses through the winery and surrounding areas and pretend I`m owner of the 350 acre estate." "That sounds great" Dane said brightly, my dad owns a winery. I have a few horses myself" , he added. Wow this was amazing thought Annie, they had so many things in common it was uncanny. "What type of horses?" asked Annie. "Ranch horses" replied Dane, "they are a bit different though, I got them from BLM. They were rounded up in Nevada and have Curly hair. They are best horses I`ve ever had" Dan added. Annie cocked her head and said, "They have Curly hair?" "Yep, they look like Poodles in winter" he said with a smile. "Gee I`d like to see a Poodle horse!" Annie said enthusiactly. Then thought she was being awefully bold to say that to a total stranger. "Sure, I`d show you my small Curlies" Dane said brightly, "how long are you staying?" "I`ll be here for two weeks" answered Annie, "Maybe if it`s not an imposition I could come by?" she asked. "Sure, but you have to promise to stop by supper when you do" said Dane. "Ok it`s a deal" smiled Annie as she put out her hand to shake on it. Dane took off his glove and Annie did the same and they shook hands. Annie felt the warmth of his hands and the gentle but firm grip he offered her. A searing heat traveled up her arm and warmed her body that sent a tingling rush to her womanly senses. She immediately felt flushed and a blush coming to her cheeks. Dane saw the blush and smiled a wide bright grin as felt the heat rise in his own body and a throb in his own private area. He knew he needed to release his hand before the feeling grew to a need of fulfilment. He squeezed her hand lightly and gave her eyes a look of knowing in the pleasure holding her hand just gave him. "It`s a deal then" Dane said in a warm deep tone that sent ripples through Annie. She was relieved when he released her hand, she was stunned by what his handshake did to her. She wanted him to embrace her, kiss her with passion. Wait a darn mimute here, she thought, she had just sworn off men after the hurt Clark left her with.
