A Reason To Breathe Read Online Free

bear of a man catered to people year round. Just under six foot, with longish gray hair, he was big, in shape for a man his age, and lived life every day like it was his last. A throw back from the Hippie generation; Ben still looked and dressed like one.
    Gerald runs one of the ski lifts on the mountain during ski season and in the summer; he takes tourists on rafting tours down the Gunnison and Taylor rivers. He’s a tall, lean man, with piercing blue eye and an easy smile. He could be shy sometimes, but he seemed to have a heart of gold. Both were some of my favorite locals.
    “You just gonna sit there Jenny, or get your cute butt over here and say hello?”   
    “Ben, stop calling me Jenny and quit looking at my butt.”   
    “Can’t, you remind me of my first girl back in high school and we called her Jenny. As for your butt, it is cute; shapely too, looks like an upside-down heart.”
    “Oh, my god, you’re a dirty old man.” I shouted.
    Gerald, or Gerry, hooted out a laugh, and Ben joined him. I felt my face grow warm, and I looked back at Rosie, who was smiling at the two old farts. Grabbing my bag, I pulled out my notes and tried to ignore them.
    “What the hell are you reading?” Rosie asked, leaning across the bar and looking at my notes.
    “Time frame I put together of the two bodies found dumped outside of town.”
    “Two bodies? They found another one?” Before I could answer her, I watched from the mirror over the bar, as Ben and Gerry looked up at her shouted replay and stood. Deciding they wanted in on the conversation, and bringing their coffee with them, they walked over and each sat to one of my sides. Without a care in the world if it were nosey or not, both looked over my notes, talking to each other while I sat there dumbfounded.
    “Both women late thirties? Not local, huh? The Sheriff knows what’s goin on; maybe we should call a town meeting? What do you think Gerry?”
    “Sounds reasonable. Can’t be too careful these days. Can we have it here at McGill’s, Rosie? You could serve some finger food and coffee.”
    “Sure, we can have it at four tomorrow, gives me time to clean up before everyone gets here.”
    “I’ll call Jack and have him meet us here at three so we can talk beforehand.” Ben insisted.
    And before I could even open my mouth to object to anything they’d just said, and most definitely object to them calling Jack since he’d just told me to keep my nose out of his business, Ben was on the phone barking out, “Jack, Ben here.”
    Oh, please someone shoot me now.
    “We need to meet tomorrow at three to discuss these killings. Gonna have the locals here at four tomorrow so you can get us up to speed.”
    I was contemplating moving to Breckenridge the minute I heard the call. Surely they needed a friendly journalist to write their event calendar?
    “Jenny told us.”
    I wonder how long it takes to pack a one-room cabin? I could be on the road by nightfall, maybe seven?
    “Jenny, Jennifer Stewart, pretty thing with a cute butt, surely you’ve met her?”
    I heard Jack’s voice grow louder the longer he was on the phone. Now I was determined more than ever to give notice at the paper on my way out of
    town. So, I picked up my notes and started stuffing them in my bag, when a phone was shoved into my face.
    “Jack wants to talk with you.” Ben chuckled.
    “Umm, I’m pretty sure he does, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to talk to him, so I’ll just be going now, night all.”
    It’s moments like this I’m not ashamed to admit… I’m a chicken. As I turned to run out the door, forgetting I’d ordered a meal to go, I was pretty sure I heard Jack laugh on the other end of the phone. Maybe I’ll forget packing and leave from here!!!

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Ball Breaker
     
     
     
        “Jack.”
        “Christ you’re wet.”
        “Jack.”
     
     
     
           My eyes flew open; images of long legs and brown,