Trails Merge Read online

  Campbell stayed at the table until breakfast was over, then made an excuse about wanting to get some stuff done around the house. She hugged everyone good-bye and didn’t fail to notice that each of her parents gave her an extra squeeze before she left. It was nice to know they cared, but now that the wound had been reopened, she had to deal with it one way or another. Even if Parker irritated her, she would try to reach out to her. They had to make peace with one another. Who knew, maybe they could become friends. Parker certainly didn’t qualify for anything more permanent than that.

  Chapter Five

  Parker paced around the living room of her small apartment with CNN playing on her TV, the sound turned low so she could hear NPR on her radio. Today the rest of the nation was choosing the politicians who would control Washington D.C. and by extension influence much of the world. Today was midterm election day. And here she was, stuck in the boonies, poring over ledgers and finishing tedious work that seemed inconsequential. With Greg opposing her, she might never to make any meaningful changes that would help Bear Run grow into the type of enterprise it could become.

  Occasionally she would sit down on the couch long enough to mouse over a new article on her laptop. She was being silly since the East Coast results wouldn’t even start coming in for another hour, but she couldn’t help herself. She was going stir-crazy with nothing productive to do. She felt helpless. This was the first election since she was old enough to vote that she wasn’t in the streets passing out information or in the war room of some campaign coordinating the final thrust of an operation to elect whatever official she’d thrown her weight behind.

  That old version of herself, the true believer, had been hidden since she’d arrived in Wisconsin. That part of her had been badly beaten, left for dead. But today, election day, it would not be suppressed. Her political-wonk side was determined to resurface, if only for a few hours. Early projections were positive for progressive candidates across the country, and the old Parker had the new Parker holding her breath in anticipation.

  She wanted to call Alexis, or any other old friend who she knew would be feeling the same sickening excitement she did. She had even picked up the phone and started dialing the 312 area code of Chicago, but she stopped, knowing that anyone who felt like she did in Chicago today wouldn’t have time to chat about it. Everyone was busy, not busy watching results but busy shaping them.

  Parker was surrounded by people who had no understanding of the outside world. Even Campbell, the only lesbian she had met in her first month at Bear Run, might as well have been a straight girl for all her Midwestern sensibilities. The world was changing so rapidly, but at Bear Run time seemed to crawl like a snail. While Parker was busy trying to pull herself back together, she might be missing out on the chance to make a difference in some way that actually mattered.

  Everyone had warned her that those feelings would overcome her eventually. She was surprised she hadn’t experienced them before. The overwhelming regret, the longing to be back in the hunt, to be canvassing the campaign trail, the high that came from throwing herself into something so much greater than herself—it was a trip, an addiction, the reason she had to get as far away from that world as possible.

  Had she stayed in Chicago, she would have no doubt caved by now. She knew her own weakness. She would have jumped on the first campaign wagon hauling a promising candidate who said the right thing at the right time, and she would have been welcomed aboard. She was aware of her own powers, especially her ability to help put people in positions of power. She had worked on over half a dozen major campaigns and claimed a share of the victory in each one, a fact she had been proud of until six months ago. Like every time before, she had picked a winner, one who, like all the others, said the right things at the right time, one who could go far beyond the state senate and was prepared to take Parker with him all the way to the top. He would be a winner, all right. He would win at any cost. Parker shuddered.

  She realized she had been reliving her fall from grace longer than she thought. It was seven o’clock and the polls along the East Coast were closing. Results were beginning to come in. She turned up the sound on her TV in time to hear that the projections appeared to be holding true as governors’ races went to Democrats in New York and Maryland. The bright blue congressional seating chart graphic flashed across the screen, showing that Democrats had also picked up senate seats in New Hampshire and Rhode Island and congressional seats in at least four states. Parker smiled broadly. The political system might be badly broken, but it was the only one available at the moment, and it seemed to be swinging in favor of her views.

  The phone rang, and she jumped to pick it up. “Hello?”

  “Darling, if you get in the car now, you can be here around midnight. The party will just be getting good by then.”

  “Alexis. What are you doing?”

  “I’m on my way home to change and soak my feet.”

  “But the polls are open for another half hour,” Parker reprimanded lightly. There was still a chance to sway a few more votes.

  Alexis laughed. “You’re such a good soldier, always fighting to the death. You’re much more suited for this job than I. Why don’t you come take over for me?”

  “You’re great at your job, Alexis.”

  “Oh, what do you care?” She faked a pout. “I thought you were done with the glamorous world of politics.”

  “Just because I can’t work with you anymore doesn’t mean I don’t care.” Parker meant that. She did care. She cared too much, believed too much, so much that she couldn’t trust her own judgment anymore.

  “He’s going to win, you know?” Alexis said softly.

  Parker sighed, knowing exactly who she was talking about. “Yeah, I know. I’m the one who told him how.”

  “I just didn’t want you to be surprised when you saw the results come in.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be fine. So where are you going tonight?” Parker changed the subject because she couldn’t let her mind go back there again, not tonight.

  She didn’t hear her friend’s response due to a loud knock at her door. “Hey, Alexis, hold on a sec. Someone’s here.”

  “Get back to me when you have a chance. They’re calling some of the Pennsylvania and Ohio races on the radio, and I want to hear what they have to say.”

  “Okay.” Parker hung up and opened her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone in particular but was caught off guard to see Campbell standing there. She sported a well-worn pair of blue jeans and a white button-down shirt under a brown leather jacket, and her wavy golden brown hair was combed back and tucked behind her ears. Parker, struck by how handsome she was, was surprised when her pulse quickened.

  “Hi, Parker.” Campbell shifted her weight from one foot to the other, seeming unsure.

  “Hey, Campbell. Come in,” Parker said. “To what do I owe this honor?”

  “I tried to catch you at work today, but I missed you.”

  They both stepped back into the apartment, closing the door. “I left right at five today to watch the election-day coverage.” Parker’s attention was mostly on Campbell, but she was still watching the TV out of the corner of her eye.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” Campbell said, obviously aware that Parker’s attention was divided. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

  Parker faced her fully. The coverage was important, but what Campbell had come over for probably was, too. “No, what did you need?”

  “Nothing, really.” Campbell shrugged nervously. “I was just going to a football game. My cousins play, and I thought you might like to come along.”

  “Normally, I would, but…” Parker absorbed a bulletin that flashed across the screen. Two more congressional races were being called in favor of Democratic candidates.

  “No, it’s okay,” Campbell said, turning to leave. “It was silly of me to stop by tonight. You have much bigger things on your mind than a middle-school football game.”

  �
�It was really nice of you to think of me. Maybe this weekend we could—” Parker’s phone was ringing. She glanced at the caller ID. Alexis was calling again. She hesitated for a moment, not sure what to do.

  “I’ll let you get that,” Campbell said.

  “No, Campbell, the machine can get it.” She wasn’t sure why she handled Campbell gently, but she wanted to please the woman standing across the room from her. Maybe it was her soft blue eyes, or that she seemed fragile, despite her chiseled features. Politics were a big part of Parker’s past, but Campbell would be a big part of her future if she stayed at Bear Run. Though today, even more than most days, she wasn’t sure she wanted that. Small-town football games and stifling families weren’t her thing.

  “Really, I should get going. The game starts soon.” Campbell was already heading for the door.

  “Okay, thanks for coming by. I wish I could go with you,” Parker said, and realized she almost meant it. There was something special about Campbell that she couldn’t put her finger on. The game might be bearable, sitting next to her.

  Campbell smiled. “Maybe some other time.”

  “Parker, darling, pick up the phone,” Alexis called from the answering machine.

  Parker flushed as she realized Campbell would be able to hear everything Alexis was about to say. Silently she cursed herself, knowing her friend’s propensity for running her mouth. She should have just answered the phone.

  “Have you drowned in the black hole of civilization up there?” Alexis continued. “I’m not sure if they have these newfangled things called televisions where you are, but here in the real world we’re taking back control of Congress. Answer the phone and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Campbell raised an eyebrow, blushing slightly, but Parker didn’t know if she was angry, embarrassed, or something else. “Sounds important.”

  “Campbell, she’s just…” Parker fumbled.

  “It’s fine. They don’t play small-town football games on ‘newfangled’ televisions, so I have to leave if I want to see the boys in action.” With that she was gone, closing the door softly.

  Parker flopped limply onto the couch and picked up the phone. “Alexis—”

  “Oh, good, you’re still alive.” Alexis laughed.

  “Yes,” she sighed, “I’m alive.”

  “Did you see the news? We’re a third of the way to controlling Congress, and only fifteen percent of the races have been called. We’re on pace to take it all.”

  “I did see that on my television, Alexis. Not only do I have one in my living room, but in the bedroom, too,” she snapped, irritated that Campbell had been finally reaching out to her, only to close right back up.

  “What’s with the sour mood all of a sudden? Is watching TV all you’ve been doing in your bedroom lately?”

  “Alexis, I had company,” Parker answered flatly.

  “A woman?” Alexis’s tone grew serious.

  “As a matter of fact, yes, but it’s not what you’re thinking. It was Campbell.”

  “And tell me again, which one is Campbell?”

  Parker had spoken with Alexis on a regular basis since moving, but her friend had little interest in learning about the day-to-day operations of a small-time ski resort. “She’s the niece of the resort manager. Her dad supervises the lifts, and her mom runs the child care. She’s been working on the slopes and is a ski instructor in the winter.”

  There was silence on Alexis’s end of the line.

  Parker continued. “She’s the one who took me up the mountain on the four-wheeler.”

  “She’s the lesbian,” Alexis shouted, sounding giddy.

  “Yes, she’s the lesbian.” Parker should have known that was the only detail Alexis would remember.

  “Are you sleeping with her?”

  “No,” Parker practically yelled. “Alexis, does your mind have a permanent mailing address in the gutter?”

  “I was just asking. She sounds hot, like a lesbian Marlboro Man.”

  Parker chuckled in spite of her effort to be perturbed. The description was disturbingly accurate.

  “Hey, speaking of lesbians you love who never leave home,” Alexis segued into a topic Parker was equally uncomfortable with, “Mia will be at the party tonight. Do you want me to spill punch on her shoes or something?”

  Parker’s smile faded. “She has every right to be there, Alexis. This is a big night for her.”

  “It’s a big night for her daddy,” Alexis corrected, an unmistakable bitterness creeping into her voice.

  “Mia is her father’s daughter. You can’t separate the two.” Parker felt none of the animosity of her friend and only a hint of sadness.

  “Right. Daddy and his followers do all the work, then Mia buys a new dress and hops up onstage to take all the credit. It’s a pretty tight bond.” Alexis’s tone was biting. She and Mia had rarely gotten along, and since Mia and Parker’s breakup, Alexis no longer felt obligated to be polite to her.

  “That’s not really fair. Don’t forget that you and I both owe a lot to that family. There isn’t a single person in the Chicago Democratic Party that doesn’t,” Parker said, partly out of loyalty to the party and partly because completely discrediting Mia would remind her of her own lapse in judgment.

  Alexis sighed. “I know. Technically the man is my boss’s boss, but I still can’t stand the way Mia played the part of his little lapdog when the senator got caught with his hand in the cookie jar this summer. She was your lover, for God’s sake. That should have meant something.”

  “It’s over, Alexis.” Parker fought to keep her voice level despite the familiar thickness beginning to engulf her throat. “I’ve moved on. You should, too.”

  “Still,” Alexis’s tone lightened, “I could just spill a little punch—”

  “Alexis,” Parker laughed again, “go enjoy the party. You’ve earned it. This is a big night. Live it up for both of us.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow with all the gossip.”

  Parker hung up and turned up CNN just in time to hear the first results from the central time zone. More Democratic victories. She snuggled in on the couch. It would be a long night, and she planned to do everything possible to enjoy it. She thought back briefly to Campbell’s visit and hoped that Alexis hadn’t offended her too much. She and Campbell had little in common, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a friend here at Bear Run. The thought of a middle-school football game on a day like today was almost comical, but Campbell had at least tried to reach out to her, which had to count for something.

  Chapter Six

  “All right, Noel, drive us up to Uncle Greg.” Campbell pulled the fair-haired little girl onto her lap. The five-year-old gripped the steering wheel and turned it gently to the left. Campbell gave the rusty old pickup truck a little gas, and they started slowly up the mountain.

  Campbell had been away from the mountain for most of Noel’s life, but since she’d returned she’d tried to build a relationship with her young cousin. Noel represented the future of the family, the next generation of Carsons. She already seemed interested in the family business and, even at five, showed a respect for the land that had been in their family for three generations. Campbell sought to nurture that connection early, the way her older family members had done for her, hoping that someday Noel would bring her own dreams to the family business, just as Campbell had returned home to do.

  The PoleCat snowmaker they were towing—a black, cannonlike structure—was rolling steadily along. They weren’t going far, but it was important to keep every snowmaker in tip-top condition. They would be dependent on the PoleCats to help create the base of snow that would blanket the resort for the next five or six months.

  Noel seemed to take her job as driver seriously as she turned the steering wheel no more than an inch or two at a time. Campbell smiled as they reached their destination and Sammy and her father waved for them to stop. She shifted into park and secured the hill brake before giving Noel a little s
queeze. “Good driving, kiddo.”

  “Hey, Noel,” Sammy called as they climbed out of the truck, “want to help me hook up the hoses?”

  “Yeah.” The child bounced over to him, excited to be involved in another important task.

  Campbell and her father unhitched the snow cannon and rolled it the few feet to where Sammy and Noel were uncoiling a series of black and green hoses. Greg silently patted her back, then headed off to oversee Sammy.

  Campbell stood in the middle of what would be known as the bunny slope in a few weeks. This would be her domain until the end of March. She took in the wide clearing, considering every bump and curve. To her right was a raised conveyor belt that would serve as a carpet lift for the youngest skiers. A more traditional chairlift would carry the beginners halfway up the mountain when they were ready. Last year, she had missed all this, and now she wanted to take in every aspect of the experience.

  When she surveyed the land, she noticed how the terrain dipped lightly from one of the beginner trails into a stand of fir trees before it leveled out onto the bottom of an intermediate run. The summer rain had eroded part of the hillside over the past few years as the trees grew large enough to divert the water, but Campbell hadn’t been around to see the change until now. The new layout could help skiers work on their speed control and transitions. With a few minor adjustments, it could be a wonderful learning tool.

  “Hey, Dad.” Campbell pointed to the spot she’d been inspecting. “If we took out those four trees, we’d have a perfect cut-through between these two trails.”

  Greg glanced up for only a few seconds before he went back to work on the snow gun. “We don’t need a cut-through. Both those runs end up in the same space.”

  “It would be a fun little drop for folks who’re just getting up their speed but can’t handle a full slope yet,” Campbell reasoned. “It wouldn’t be hard to do. Sammy and I could have those trees out in an afternoon.”