Heart of Ice Read Online Free

on the third day.”
    â€œAre you sure a couple of novices like us can handle it?” Ned asked.
    â€œOf course,” Alex replied. “Our trips don’t require any technical experience. As long as you pass snow school and demonstrate that you’re a team player, you’ll do just fine.”
    â€œAnd standing on top of a fourteen-thousand-foot mountain is like nothing else in the world,” Tsu added. “It’s an incredible thrill.”
    â€œIf you don’t get blown off,” Logan joked, bouncing Allison on his lap between bites. She giggled excitedly, hanging on tightly to his shirt.
    â€œI’ll be hanging on to you,” Ned said, kidding.
    â€œThen you’ll be standing here in Enumclaw.” Logan laughed. “I’m not going on the Rainier trip.”
    â€œYou’re not?” Nancy asked.
    â€œNo,” he answered. “Too many guides and not enough novices,” he joked. “Besides, somebody has to keep an eye on the office,” he said.
    There was no conversation for a few minutes while everyone ate.
    â€œBathtime,” Alex said when they’d finished.Allison slid off Logan’s lap and reached for her dad’s hand.
    â€œCan Uncle Logan come?” Allison asked, raising her eyes to her dad’s.
    â€œOf course.” Alex grinned. “We know he can’t resist your bath toys.” The threesome made their way down the hall to the bathroom.
    While Nancy helped Kara clear the table and do the dishes, Tsu and Ned lit a fire in the living room. Then Kara served pie and coffee. Sitting next to Ned and sipping the warm beverage in front of the fire, Nancy relaxed for the first time since she’d arrived in Washington.
    â€œSo, why are you getting back into climbing?” Ned asked Kara.
    â€œNow that Allie is three and in preschool, I have a little time for myself. I really miss climbing. I thought I’d stop missing it, but I miss it as much as ever—especially the solo ascents. There’s nothing like standing on top of a twenty-thousand-foot mountain by yourself.”
    â€œYou must be incredibly good,” Ned murmured, and Nancy again saw the awe in his eyes.
    â€œWe’ll see how I am after four years away from it,” Kara answered.
    Before long Alex and Logan had rejoined thegroup and helped themselves to dessert. The group sat around the cozy fire, enjoying one another’s company.
    By ten o’clock, Nancy and Ned were exhausted. Kara had invited them to stay there, but Nancy insisted it would be better to go to a hotel.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Outside Nancy’s door at the Park Center Hotel, Ned wrapped his arms around her and planted a soft, sure kiss on her lips. For a moment the world dropped away as their senses whirled. Then they pulled apart, and Nancy said good night and let herself into her room.
    After flipping on the light, Nancy saw that the room was large and comfortable. Setting her duffel down on the suitcase rack, Nancy sighed. It had been a long day, and she was ready for a good night’s sleep.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    The next morning Nancy woke early and took a quick shower. After breakfast with Ned, she was eager to search through the ransacked mess at Alpine Adventures.
    At the office Tsu was already at work trying to sort out the paperwork. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and the sleeves of her sweatshirt were pushed up to her elbows.
    â€œHi, guys,” Tsu said. “Alex is in the equipment room with Logan. It looks like we’re short some gear for the Rainier trip.”
    â€œWill the trip be canceled?” Nancy asked, concerned.
    â€œNormally we’d postpone it, but we can’t. Great Outdoors magazine wouldn’t be too pleased to find out that their writer made the trip to Enumclaw for nothing,” she said with a wry smile.
    â€œI suppose,” Nancy agreed. “But what will you do for