SNOWSWEPT

by CuddleFae

Dr. Lauren Lewis has been assigned to oversee the opening of a new hospital. Overwhelmed by all there is to know and learn in an unfamiliar land, she crosses paths with a mysterious woman with a dark past - a past that has caused her to live by one rule. Trust no one. Thrown into a desperate struggle, can they overcome the barriers between them in their fight to survive?

34. Chapter 34: Solutions

A/N: Another chapter! Just a reminder that Chapters 32-33 were both new in the last few days, so if you haven't been here for a while, start there. As always, thanks to everyone for the reviews, suggestions and general interest! Thanks to TerriHayes8 for always announcing my updates! :) My best to you all, Cuddles

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Chapter 34: Solutions

After a quick clean up and switch into a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants, Lauren pulled on a hoodie and went back downstairs where Bo was standing in front of the fire,

"Are you okay?" Bo asked, her concern apparent.

Lauren nodded, "I'm sorry if I scared you, Bo. That must have been…"

"Scary." Bo smiled as Lauren leaned into her side and laid her head on her chest.

"I need a vacation from my vacation." Lauren chuckled.

Bo chuckled, "No, you need a vacation from that surgery. That tired, huh?"

Lauren shrugged, "Fourteen straight hours with my hands in Thea's chest – it's not like there's opportunity for rest and I was already headed for a nap when I started."

Bo shook her head, "And you do those surgeries three or four times a week?"

Lauren shrugged, "Depends on how many times a week a heart becomes available. If I'm not doing transplants, I'm doing bypass surgeries, valve replacements or other repairs. I'm no different than a mechanic. When things aren't running properly, they need fixing to keep the whole machine going."

Bo smiled, "Yea, but I don't recall seeing Kurt sticking with an engine from start to finish. He does his job over days or even weeks."

Lauren shrugged, "The difference between a machine and living tissue, I suppose."

"And the difference in pay scales." Bo said, shaking her head.

Lauren chuckled, "The extra pay is so that I can afford liability insurance for when things don't go well and families sue… as if I didn't do everything humanly possible to save their loved one."

The doctor could feel the anger well up inside of her. There had been more than one occasion when she had spent over twelve hours digging into a patient, burning through sponges, bags of blood, bad tissue and the like, only to be denied a successful outcome. As if the weight of the loss of a patient, and a distraught or angry family wasn't enough, the lawsuits that followed had likely been one of the things that had helped to turn her into Evony's robot.

The corporate siren had taught Lauren that those lawsuits were part of the business. Early in her career, Lauren had begged Evony to remember that patients were a part of her business, but in the end, she had learned that the forces outside of her operating room would always see numbers and dollar signs rather than acceptance… acceptance that surgeons were not Gods.

"It doesn't seem fair that you dedicate your entire life to…"

Lauren placed a finger on her fiancé's lips, "Bo, if you don't mind. I'd rather not get into it. People will always want someone to blame for the death of a loved one no matter how long or hard doctors work and there will always be a lawyer ready and willing to take a piece of a big settlement to feed their families."

Bo chuckled, "Yea, well it's funny that if a surgeon had never attempted to save the person, they would have died just the same. The lot of you should just quit and leave everyone to fend for themselves if that's the thanks you're going to get."

Lauren shrugged, "It's just the system of healthcare and law, Bo. Unfortunately, it's also why good surgeons like me quit and leave less qualified surgeons doing the work we used to do. The least I can do if I'm going to leave surgery is help those with less knowledge and experience to know what I know."

Bo could see that the doctor was tired, so she dropped the subject, "So, you had mentioned needing a vacation?"

Lauren smiled, "While I was upstairs, I was thinking about how I ran from here to the East Coast and while I was there, I just kept running and running and running." She laughed, "It's funny that I wasn't running from anything. All this time, I was running to you. I just had to make a big circle to figure it out."

Bo smiled, "You just need to sleep."

Lauren smiled, planting her face into Bo's chest once again, "I need to sleep… really sleep… for a long time."

The brunette wrapped her arms around her, giving her a tight squeeze before relaxing her grip. She tried to sooth the blonde by gently moving her hands up and down her back,

"That was a heavy conversation earlier, huh?" Bo said, the concern in her voice apparent.

Lauren gave a slight shrug, "You don't have to worry, Bo. Actually, I feel lighter than ever. Changes are coming and they're going to be changes that I think I've wanted for a very long time. I just didn't want to admit it. Somehow, I think I felt like a quitter if I didn't keep saving patients who were on the brink of death. Expectations can be toxic in a person's life."

"And working as a Trauma Surgeon doesn't fit that bill?" Bo laughed.

Lauren shrugged, "It does. I mean, patients will be on the brink of death and there will be expectations, but the difference is that I'm choosing it. All I have to do is patch them up and ship them to the hospital to a specialist who will do the real repairs. I never chose Cardiology – Evony chose it for me."

"So, what's the difference?" Bo asked.

"Heart transplants are out of my control… well, getting the heart is out of my control. You have to wait to see if one will ever be available. You sit there and hope for one patient to die so another may live. It's… tragic, really."

Bo shook her head, "I've never thought about it – I mean, heart transplants. It was just never on my radar… not until Thea. I guess I didn't realize…"

"That someone had to die for Thea to get a heart? That everyone involved would wait – day in, day out – wondering if a heart would ever come available in time to save her? The truth is, Thea may never get a new heart, Bo. I gave her two years… there's a chance that she'll get two more, but every day will be a gamble. No child should have to live that way."

Bo nodded, "So you want to build hearts?"

Lauren shrugged, "Why not? You want to build furniture."

"Well, I can plant trees and they will grow into wood for me to use. I can also go out into the wild and cut down trees or use wood from the burn zone."

"Is that safe?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "The wood is actually fine on the inside and it's naturally bug and termite resistant."

"Well, I can print cardiac muscle cells. I just have to find a way to get them to communicate with each other the way I want them to."

"Print?"

Lauren nodded, "When you're in one of your early morning internet search moods, look up 3-D printers and I think you may find technology that may interest you. I actually watched a documentary about a company who is 3-D printing homes from concrete for families displaced by natural disasters."

"Wow. That's really… something." Bo said, intrigued by the idea, "Can I ask… I mean, I don't want to seem callous, but there's something I don't understand."

Lauren smiled, "Bo, I know you would never… anyway, ask."

"People die every day. I don't understand how there can be a shortage of hearts for a kid like Thea."

Lauren nodded, a tight smile stretching across her face, "Well, that's complicated. With most organ donations, there's issues like blood type, how long one patient is expected to survive over another, donor size since the heart has to fit in the recipient's chest cavity, severity of the patient's medical condition, travel distance since organs don't remain viable forever and patient availability. They may be too far away, unable to get transportation in time or they may even have an infection that makes them ineligible when the organ is finally available."

Lauren shook her head, "As for hearts, well… those are particularly complicated. They can only survive for four to six hours outside of the body, so they are given to the person who is closest to the hospital or organ at the time it comes available."

"Wow." Bo said, squeezing Lauren a little tighter, "That really puts things into perspective. I mean, I thought… well, in my mind… before… well, her odds of survival just dropped."

Lauren smiled, "In your mind, yes. In reality, they're the same as they've always been."

Bo nodded, holding the blonde with a new understanding of what her life's work had been about up until now,

"So, year after year you've lived a career where you smiled and pretended that everything would be okay for each and every patient you treated, all the while knowing there was a good chance you would lose them?"

Lauren shook her head, "Believing that – holding that anxiety inside of me – yes. But because of my reputation, I was usually given the greatest chance for success. Evony made sure that my patients usually got the hearts if one was available."

"So, you were the Teacher's Pet and all of the other kids on the playground hated you?"

"Actually, that's where Carolyn, Shannon and Kelly were invaluable. I didn't like it, but their tendency towards gossip allowed the other doctors to know the truth that I wasn't willing to speak. They knew I was essentially Evony's indentured servant and that I was not happy, so doctors sought my council to keep their patients alive until viable hearts came along. I invented procedures to help that happen and pushed Evony to work harder to get hearts to our patients."

"The Emergency Program." Bo concluded.

Lauren nodded, "We had a fleet of private jets, choppers – even airliners – at our disposal."

"Unless Evony was using one to charm some hottie out of his pants." Bo smirked, "Well, at least she took care of getting you the hearts."

"Or getting patients to the hearts."

Bo shrugged, "Still, she didn't put them into people's chests and save their lives."

Lauren shrugged, "But that's what I mean, Bo. Putting a heart into a chest is the easy part – at least it is in my eyes. We need more… spare parts. Printing is the best option right now."

Bo nodded, "You'll figure it out. I know you will."

"I just think it will be a more productive use of my time. There are plenty of great cardiologists out there that can do the transplants. There's not enough researchers figuring out ways to build the hearts."

"And the Trauma job?"

Lauren shrugged, "Everything I need is in the Trauma Center. If a patient needs a transplant, I patch them up for maximum longevity and hand them off to the Cardiologist. If they need a leg, I patch them up and hand them off to the Orthopod."

"Less personal contact." Bo replied.

"It's always personal. It's a life. It's just less emotional energy." Lauren replied, stepping back from Bo's arms and walking towards the back door. She stared out at the mountain, "I need that, Bo."

Bo nodded, walking towards the blonde. She reached out to her but pulled her hands back. She was unsure if Lauren wanted her to touch her, so she gave her the space she might need.

Bo nodded, "You ready for bed?"

"Yes. Do you mind?"

"No. Actually, I'm exhausted. Mind if I stay to tuck you in… maybe steal a kiss goodnight?" Bo asked.

Lauren turned the knob and slowly opened the door before turning her head towards Bo. A mischievous grin stretching across her mouth, "Well, if my elves did as I asked, I've got a solution to our… predicament. Come with me."

Bo watched as the blonde opened the closet and pulled on a jacket and gloves, before she handed Bo hers as well. As she pushed open the storm door, Bo protested,

"Lauren, it's nighttime. The temperature…"

But the doctor had the door open and was outside before Bo could voice the rest of her concerns. She followed Lauren outside and found the temperature surprisingly warmer than expected.

"What is all of this?" Bo asked looking around the backporch.

Lauren stood with her hands stretched out, spinning around in a circle,

"This is a solution." The blonde smiled, before she struck a match and lit each of the tall candles spaced out around the porch in pots filled with sand. She walked to the firepit where a short torch was waiting. She used a candle to light it and then slid it beneath the wood pile, igniting the tinder. The flames grew as the larger pieces caught fire, throwing additional warmth onto the porch. She turned back to Bo and smiled,

"I figured we should use the entire house – the porch is part of the house. It's outside, yet somewhat inside. Perfect compromise, don't you think?"

Bo smiled, "A perfect compromise. You do realize that this is the last week we'll have together until after the race, right?"

Lauren nodded, "You need to sleep outside with the dogs so all of you become acclimated again. I remember the drill. As long as you come back to me safe and sound, Bo Dennis. I'll sleep well, dreaming of you with our furry friends beneath the stars."

"This is nice, Lauren. How did you do this?" Bo asked, bending down to look at the cloth woven in and out of the vertical posts of the porch railing to limit the winds blowing into the space.

"I heard that the donation center was short on food, so I went there and bought the blankets that Marie said were in such bad condition, she wouldn't even put them in the charity bin. The donation center got some cash and I got what I needed without taking blankets others could make use of for warmth."

"So how did you get them from blankets to this? When did you have time?" Bo asked.

Lauren smiled, "Well, remember, we had a lot of Nurses at the hospital just in case we had to take Thea back into surgery, so we all sat and tore them into strips, then braided them."

"What? You told your new Nurses that you were making a wind proof bedroom for you and your lady lover?" Bo smiled.

Lauren shrugged, "They think they're chew toys for the dogs. I figured you could probably find a way to use them with the pups when you start training them."

Bo nodded, "I'm sure I can find some use... after we're finished with them. Really, it's perfect."

"As long as you're laying below the top rail, you don't feel the wind at all and the firepit should provide plenty of heat. The woodpile is a little low, but it will get us through tonight."

"Where are we sleeping?" Bo asked, not seeing a bed anywhere.

"Actually, you have Path and Slate to thank for this one." Lauren grinned, "Find the seams in the porch floor that weren't there when you built it."

"What?" Bo asked.

"Go on. Look around and find what changed from what you built."

Bo walked the porch until she hit a hollow spot. She walked straight ahead until she saw the porch had been cut straight across,

"Who cut into our porch?"

"Don't get mad until you see what they did. I think it's ingenious. Follow the line to the end of the love seat and you'll see a rope." Lauren moved the loveseat out of the way, "Pull the rope."

Bo pulled and the entire section of porch flooring came up, "What the…"

"It is a little heavy, but I'll help. They braced the floorboards from underneath, making it like a section of fencing. If you pull it up from one side towards the railing, there are these rotating pieces of wood on the vertical roof supports that will hold it in place so that we have a little more privacy in case any of our new neighbors go for a walk or any wildlife decides to hop the fence and get this far."

Bo shook her head, "That's not likely, but it's a good idea. The fire should distract anything that comes this way. But you haven't told me what's under here."

"Come on. Lift and you'll see." Lauren said, helping Bo to lift the large piece of wood, "Careful not to fall into the hole!"

Once they had the floor secured as a wall, Lauren pointed to the opening, "Voila! A bed."

Bo looked down to see the mattress still wrapped in plastic just flush with the rest of the porch floor. She shook her head,

"We're sleeping on plastic?"

Lauren shook her head, "I guess they didn't have time to put the sheets on. Sorry."

She reached behind the other love seat at the end of the porch, searching for the bag she had put there,

"Aha! Got it."

Bo watched as Lauren dumped the contents of a construction site trash bag onto the love seat and then pushed it back against the wall,

"Will you help me?"

Bo smiled, "Of course. Are we taking the plastic off the mattress?"

Lauren shook her head, "They installed a frame that should keep the moisture out, but they want us to keep it wrapped until they know for sure that it won't get moldy. For now, we'll have to deal with the sound of plastic beneath the sheets."

They set to work making the bed before stoking the fire and making sure that everything was arranged properly,

"I've got to get Harper if it's alright with you. I haven't seen her all day and she'll let us know if anything is coming that we need to worry about."

Lauren nodded, "I don't mind the extra warmth either. There's room in here for her at the head of the bed. The boys must think we're ten feet tall."

Bo shrugged, "They probably just laid the sheets out and cut around them."

"Well, maybe you can make a doggie bed at the top for Harper?"

"I've already got one in the garage. I'll grab it when I get her. Be right back."

Lauren decided not to wait. She was exhausted and ready to stretch out, so she crawled beneath the down quilts and immediately felt a draft, so crawled back out and rushed inside for more blankets. When she got back, Bo was settling Harper in,

"There's a draft in there. Can we put these around the mattress?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "A flaw in the construction. I'll take a look at it tomorrow."

She took the blankets from Lauren one by one and stuffed them into the space as requested,

"Harper will block any other draft. She'll actually enjoy the cool air in the space." Bo turned to her canine friend, "Go on, Harper. Lauren made a bed for us."

Bo pointed to a spot and smiled when Harper's tail started wagging. She stepped into the spot, spun around three times and finally laid down. Lauren, then Bo settled into the bed before Bo pulled the covers up over them. She turned on her side and pulled the blonde to her.

"Are you sure this is okay – having me half on you like this?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "It's perfect."

"You don't feel… smothered?" Lauren asked, "There's enough breeze and open sky?"

"Lauren, this is perfect. Look," she pointed above the flooring mounted to the rail, "I can see the trees and the sky and mountain beyond," she turned to Lauren, "I can see you and Harper. I've got everything I need… do you?"

Lauren lifted her head and placed a soft kiss on Bo's lips, "I love you, Bo."

"I love you, Lauren. Thank you for finding this compromise. Are you warm enough?"

She shrugged in response, "I'm getting there. The blankets were outside all night, so they just need a little body heat from us to warm up."

Bo nodded, "This was a great idea. It gives a whole new meaning to sleeping under the stars."

Lauren nodded, "It's a beautiful night."

"So, what's your plan for tomorrow?" Bo asked.

Lauren smiled, "Sleep in, get up, have breakfast, call Anna for that chat, talk to Stephen, Kate and any other doctors they need me to talk to, then take the rest of the day off."

Bo nodded, "I'll have to take the dogs out, so if you want to eat breakfast before I get back, that's fine. Hopefully you can get everything you need to do finished while I'm out on a training run."

"Maybe we can go to town and have lunch with Kenzi? You haven't really spent much time with her since you got back."

"Maybe. We'll see how I feel. I have to talk to that jack-hole for Kyle, too."

"Right. Mr. 'I want a genuine Bo Dennis sled' and won't buy it without meeting her. Isn't it great to be loved?"

"Well, if that's love, he's got a funny way of showing it. Sounds more like the guy is on a power trip and wants to use his money to demonstrate to others that he has power over… well anyone and anything. It stinks of small dick syndrome."

Lauren laughed, "Small dick syndrome? I've been a doctor for many years, and I've never heard of that one."

Bo shrugged, "You'll have to ask Anna. She's the psychiatrist. It's a mental disorder first discovered by a woman named Ysabeau Dennis while traveling in the far reaches of the northern territories of Alaska."

"Hmmm… I'd love to meet this researcher one day."

Bo grinned, "She's very difficult to find. She tends to travel the wild quite a bit but I'm sure I could arrange a meeting if you're a fan."

"I'd appreciate that. Seriously, though, if this guy has money, one meeting wouldn't hurt, Bo. He would likely run his mouth enough to get others in his socioeconomic bracket to fork out money for sleds – maybe even sponsorships. With men like him, I've learned that you can usually use their massive egos and bank accounts to get what you want without them even realizing you've got them in the palm of your hand."

"Wow. I didn't know you were so sneaky, Dr. Lewis." Bo said, surprised by Lauren's suggestions, "But I've already dealt with his kind and have no intention of doing so ever again."

"Big Jim." Lauren concluded.

"Among others, though he is without a doubt, the worst example of his kind." Bo said, closing her eyes. Lauren turned in her arms and stared at the crinkle just above her nose. She used her thumb to massage the space, effectively causing her brow to relax.

"I'm sorry I brought it up." Lauren whispered.

"It's okay. That feels good." Bo said, feeling her body relax, "I'm supposed to be taking care of you."

Lauren grinned, "That's a shared responsibility. We take care of each other when we're too tired to take care of ourselves. For now, let's just sleep."

The blonde traced Bo's bottom lip with her finger, inserting it between her teeth before the brunette spoke,

"Agreed. The only thing that matters right now is focusing on you and what you need because all I need right now is you."

Lauren smiled, "And our little girl Harper."

Bo reached up and scratched Harper's head, "And our little girl Harper."

The brunette took the blonde's finger in her hand, "You're driving me crazy."

"Oh?" Lauren asked, a devilish grin on her face, "In what way?"

"In that achy kind of way." Bo said, squeezing her legs together.

Lauren hesitated for a moment before she asked, "Anything I can do for that?"

"You have no idea how much I want to let you." Bo replied.

The blonde took Bo's hand and pulled it to her chest, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. When she pulled back, she whispered, her lips still against the brunette's,

"I miss you, Bo."

The brunette kissed the blonde, taking her bottom lip in her teeth and giving it a gentle tug,

"I miss you, Lauren." She pulled back, taking a deep cleansing breath, "I just… I'm not sure I'm ready."

The doctor sighed, lowering her eyes. She laid her head on the brunette's chest, "I understand."

"Lauren…"

The blonde shook her head, "It's okay, Bo. I can wait."

"I'm sorry…"

"I hope you are." Lauren replied.

"What?"

"I mean… I hope you're truly sorry that you cannot be intimate with me and that it's not something else that's stopping you."

Bo turned into Lauren, propping her head up on her hand, "You think I don't want to be with you?"

The blonde shrugged, "You said you ache for me, so what's stopping you?"

Bo stared into the brown eyes, her fingers tracing the edges of the blonde's hair line, following her jaw down her neck,

"I wish I knew."

Lauren nodded, "Are you sure this is what you want, Bo? I mean… do you want us or were you maybe just lonely out there in the wild on your own?"

Bo's eyes watered, threatening to spill over, "You… doubt me?"

The blonde lowered her eyes, knowing her words had hurt the brunette, "I worry that you somehow feel that being tied to me is more like a leash. Something that would limit your freedom to run… to be wild and free."

The brunette rolled onto her back, her eyes looking up at the sky, "I asked you to marry me and you think I don't love you?"

"I don't doubt your love for me, Bo. I doubt your desire to live with me… here in this house."

Bo nodded, "You're right. I don't want to live here with you. I want to live under our mountain. I want to build a house for us… only us," She turned to Lauren, "Is that selfish… to want you all to myself? To not have to deal with living in a place where a crowd of people could be cramming into our house at any time of day or night? Is it selfish that I finally have the family I craved as a child and don't want them around me every waking moment? Can you live that way, Lauren? Alone – without everyone else?"

"That's what you're worried about?" Lauren asked.

Bo shrugged, "Everyone I've ever had any semblance of normalcy with wanted more… everyone except…"

"Tamsin."

Bo nodded, "Will you always want more than I can give, Lauren?"

Shaking her head, the blonde smiled, "If you can love me, make love to me, share a home with me, put up with my life as a surgeon and businesswoman and trust that – if you teach me – I can take care of myself in the wild when you're away… I will never want more of anything but you."

Bo turned into the blonde, "I hope so, because I really need you."

Lauren nodded, "I'm here… we're here, Bo. Together."

The brunette nodded, "I want to… I want…"

She leaned in, capturing the blonde's lips in a sweet kiss. She opened her eyes, finding big brown orbs staring back at her own. She kissed her again, exploring her mouth, watching the doctor's eyes darken. Her hands moved to the zipper on her coat, tugging it down and pushing the cloth from her shoulders. She slid a hand beneath the sweatshirt and T-shirt, lowering her forehead to Lauren's chest when she felt the bare skin at her waist,

"Lauren…" she whispered, "I've missed you…"

The blonde nodded, "I've missed you."

Bo replied, "I… I don't know if I remember… I mean… I may be a bit… clumsy. And the callouses on my hands will not feel…"

Lauren grinned, "Oh, I think you'll do just fine."

The blonde lifted Bo's chin, "I'm a bit rusty too, you know."

Bo smiled, "Thank you."

"For what?" Lauren asked with a smile.

"For being patient. For…" she lowered her eyes, "For not sleeping with anyone else even though you could have."

Lauren shook her head, "Actually, I couldn't have."

"You didn't have any opportunities? I find that hard to believe."

The blonde shrugged, "I had opportunities. They just weren't you."

Bo nodded, "I know that feeling."

"So, this woman… Storm, was it?"

Bo nodded, "She was like your twin… sort of. Her height, her shape, her voice, her mannerisms, the way she… put her eyes on me. But she wasn't you."

"Let's compare, shall we?" Lauren asked, pushing back the covers on her side of the bed. She stood, her head tilted so that her hair hung in a curtain to the right side of her face. She took a peek towards the window to be sure she was concealed from prying eyes, then turned back to Bo. She gripped both the sweatshirt and t-shirt beneath, pulling both articles of clothing over her head in one tug.

She tossed the sweatshirt on the small section of porch flooring, the torch behind her illuminating a perfect silhouette for the brunette. She lifted her hair, running her hand over her neck, shoulder and down her right breast, her fingers finding the gap between the mounds of flesh that had Bo's attention,

"Did she have my neck? My shoulders?" she asked, "Were her breasts like mine? Did her nipples harden at the sight of your eyes on my body like mine do?"

Bo swallowed hard, "Yes. I mean… her skin was darker… her hair straight and long like yours, but it was jet black. Her scent wasn't… it wasn't you… it was… all wrong. Her eyes weren't right… they were locked on mine like yours are, but they weren't… sincere and they were like the spring sky… not dark and sensuous like yours. Her waist was like yours, but the curve wasn't right. Her hip…"

The brunette reached up, tugging the sweatpants from Lauren's waist, her fingers trailing down long the long slender muscles of her thighs,

"… she didn't have this rounded curve in her back…" Bo reached behind Lauren's waist, her hand trailing over her firm buttocks, "… this well-defined… hmmm… this curve into your leg…" she traced over the mound of flesh her hand gliding in and over the well-rounded hamstring before settling behind her knee. She pressed the cloth down to her foot, watching as the blonde pointed her toe and lifted one leg, then the other from the pants. She reached up, gently guiding her right leg over the left side of her chest, her hands moving up and down her thighs until they cupped her buttocks and pulled her towards her,

"I didn't see her for long and I didn't touch her skin, but no one could ever feel the way you feel to me. Even with these rough spots on my hands, I can feel the incredibly soft… gawd, Lauren, I want to taste you." The brunette said, gently pulling the blonde to kneel on either side of her until she could lift her head and take what she craved.

Lauren leaned back finding the porch decking on one side and Bo's thigh on the other for support. She threw her arms out to the side and her head to the sky, releasing the breath she felt she'd been holding for months as she waited for the moment that she would feel Bo's touch again.

A soft moan and a sudden gasp told Bo she'd hit her mark as Lauren felt her body come alive again. Her heart pounded in her chest, her hips moved in a rhythm all their own. Her skin was on fire, yet she could feel the tiny bumps forming on the surface from the cool Alaskan air that filtered over the wall at the porch rail. She reached back and maneuvered her hand between Bo's legs, her fingers slipping beneath the waistband of her pants until she filled her core in the best possible way.

Lauren felt the rush of ecstasy… the warm juices pouring down her thighs as her hips continued to move. She wasn't sure if she was still anchored to the planet, and she didn't care as long as the woman who touched her very soul didn't let go of her body. She knew she was safe with the brunette and allowed her to take her as she pleased over and over again.

The blonde was certain it must have been an hour before she finally fell back, exhausted from pleasure. Her lover moving to the bottom of the bed beside her and arranging the covers to protect her from the cold. Lauren felt her wrap her arms around her, holding her tightly. Just as sleep claimed her, she heard the brunette's words spoken softly in her ear,

"You are my world, Lauren Lewis. The words I love you will never be enough to describe how I feel for you and a lifetime will never be long enough for us to share our journey across this land."

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Three hours later…

Lauren felt a chill run up her back, so she rolled over, hoping to warm herself against her lover. Instead, she felt an empty space. Her eyes flew open, searching desperately until she saw the shadow of the brunette leaning over the railing of the porch.

She looked around until she found her sweatshirt and pulled it on, her arms getting tangled in the t-shirt still stuck inside. Finally, she pulled the shirt out and pulled on the heavier garment before standing and walking over to Bo. She hesitated for a moment, but Bo's voice brought a smile to her face,

"You're awake."

"I'm sorry I passed out." Lauren said, leaning over and wrapping her arms around the brunette, "You been awake long?"

Bo smiled, "Maybe twenty minutes. I heard howling and wanted to be sure the pack was good and far away since I left the garage door open for the dogs to go in and out."

"Is that a good idea?"

Bo shrugged, "I'm sure my twenty-five dogs could take a pack of wolves."

"They could?" Lauren asked, surprised.

Bo nodded, "The wolves would leave just because they were outnumbered. Remember that the genetic line of our dogs began with a wolf, so they would recognize their strength."

The blonde was satisfied with the answer, but her attention was on the feel of the ass of the brunette in her pelvis. She worked her hands beneath one layer of cloth at a time until she found skin,

"My hands are cold."

Bo smiled, "They certainly are."

"I'm sorry." Lauren said, suddenly pulling her hands back, but Bo stilled them,

"Don't. I mean… they're not so cold that I don't want them on me."

Bo turned in the blonde's arms, reaching behind her until her hands found the rounded flesh behind the blonde's hips,

"I missed your ass." She said with a wicked grin, giving it a firm squeeze.

Lauren giggled, "I love how you always feel a need to treat my butt like you treat a tube of toothpaste."

"Is that a criticism of how I squeeze the tube from the middle?"

The blonde shrugged, "Mangling a tube of toothpaste is not squeezing it from the middle."

"Are you saying I mangle your ass?" She asked, squeezing the flesh so hard that Lauren slammed her pelvis against Bo's.

"Mmmm…" Lauren said, gripping the bottom of Bo's sweatshirt and pulling it up over her head, "Let me help you get acclimated to the cold." She gripped the waistband of the brunette's pants and stripped them from her in one precise pull. She wrapped her arms around Bo's torso, gripping her buttocks and pressing her lips against the dark patch of hair, "Do you mind stepping out of these annoying ankle restraints so that you can spread these incredible thighs for me?"

Bo smirked, doing as Lauren asked, reaching over her head to steady herself on the wooden wall before raising a foot onto the corner rail,

"How's that?"

Lauren's eyes went wide as the light from the firepit illuminated her prize, "That is perfect."

Bo watched as the blonde took her offering, the feel of her mouth and hands on her body causing the boundaries of her vision to blur as a rush of euphoria overcame her entire being. Whatever Lauren gave, her starved body took over and over again until finally, her legs collapsed, her body slumping into the doctor's strong arms.

The blonde whispered in her ear, "And you are my world, Ysabeau Dennis. Whenever I speak of my love for you, it will never be enough to express what's truly in my heart."

The brunette looked up, "You heard me?"

Lauren wrapped her arms around her spent lover, "My soul heard you. I think my conscious mind and body were off floating on a cloud somewhere."

Bo smiled, "That good, huh?"

"If that was out of practice, I can't wait to see what you can do after six months with practice." Lauren laughed.

"Mind if we get back into our outdoor bed? The fire is actually making me sweat."

Lauren smiled, "Actually, that was the workout I just gave your body."

"Well, I think I can sleep now." Bo smiled.

Lauren stood, offering her hand to the brunette. Bo chose not to take it, instead, running her hands up the blonde's legs to the ends of her sweatshirt. She pulled the bottom up and over her head before leading her to the bed,

"Come on." She whispered, guiding the blonde to the bed and helping her to get under the covers, but Lauren threw them back, patting the bed beside her,

"You first."

Bo smirked stepping down onto the bed and pressing her flesh against her lover's. Lauren pulled the covers over the brunette while Bo rolled on top of her, pressing her thigh into the blonde's center,

"Would you like me to help you fall asleep again?"

Lauren grinned, "I do still have a little bit of excess energy."

"Me too." Bo replied, rocking into the blonde, "We want to be sure we get a really good night's sleep."

Lauren rolled them over, sitting up, her hands on Bo's shoulders, "A really, really good night's sleep."

Bo laughed, "Exhaust me, Doctor Lewis."

"Only if you promise to exhaust me right back." Lauren smirked.

Lauren made an 'x' above her left breast, "Cross my heart, hope to make you cum over and over again."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Next Day… The Homestead

Lauren rolled over, pausing for a moment when she found her legs tangled in the sheets. She groaned trying to untangle them when she realized how sore she was… pleasantly, wonderfully sore. Still, she could go another round or two and not care if she was unable to walk afterwards. She rolled over, ready to ravish her lover once more,

"Good Morning, Lov…" she paused at the wide eyes staring back at her before her face was licked once, then twice, "… well, hello there, baby girl. You're not what I expected."

She sighed, but smiled at the sight of her three dogs, who had obviously been patiently awaiting her return to the land of the living. She was shocked, but her pups were adorable. They sat obediently, tails wagging, awaiting any command that might allow them to encroach on her personal space. She smiled, realizing that she hadn't had any significant time with them since coming back.

"Come." She relented as Belle rushed forward, licking her cheek once before burying her face beneath her hands, "What? Were you staring at me for the past hour just waiting for me to open an eye?"

She rolled over, exposing her belly before rolling back on all fours so that she could inch closer until she was practically laying on top of the blonde. When Lauren began to pet her, Elsa and Anna decided permission was given, so they piled on too,

"Oh, my! I know, I know! I'm so excited to see all of my girls too! Maybe if you back up a bit, I can actually see your sweet little faces!"

She managed to sit up, "Sit!"

The three lined up in a row and sat, anxiously awaiting the next command from their Master,

"Sled?"

She burst into laughter when the three began racing around the porch, leaping over the love seat, running under the chairs and around Lauren. Finally, she stood and called them back to her,

"Should we find Rudy? Huh? Do you want to see Roo?"

All three dogs barked and jumped in circles, "Okay then! Let's go. Let's go find Rudy!"

She dressed, then took a quick look at the fire to be sure it was still firmly covered by the screen, then wrestled the large piece of porch flooring free, dropping it unceremoniously onto the deck. She turned it and dragged it until it slipped into space, covering their sleeping area,

"Note to self – thank Path and Slate for a great alternative sleeping area." She grinned, returning everything to its proper place before heading down the steps into the yard where the girls were patiently waiting for her, "Good girls. You're such good girls. We'll have to talk today. I want to know everything about life here while I was gone. I missed you all so much. Anna, I know you'll dish on the hot gossip. Has Belle been flirting with all of the boys over at the kennel? Huh?"

Anna barked and jumped at Lauren while Belle lowered her head, "I see. The walk of shame again, huh Belle? Well, one of these days, one of those boys is going to knock you up if you keep wagging your tail at them! Then what? You'll be walking around feeling like you ate a watermelon until you spit out seven or eight pups of your own. Then you won't be able to do anything! No sledding, no playing in the yard, it'll be all about taking care of your little kiddies while the guy does nothing at all to help. I've seen it before, I'm telling you!"

She laughed when Belle let out a long howl, "Shhh… that's just another way to attract their attention. I'm telling you, at this point you'll be preggers in a year. Then you'll understand. Being a Mom is like being grounded for twenty-one doggie years."

Belle barked once, "No, I'm not kidding at all. You really have to rethink this whole hetero thing. You can't get pregnant if you find yourself a nice girlfriend, settle into a partnership on a sled team and cuddle all night long under the stars."

Lauren thought to herself for a moment, a slow broad grin stretching across her face, "As a matter of fact, that sounds very romantic. Maybe we'll do that sometime soon… we have some time off and Bo has to train anyway… maybe she'll let us tag along for one overnight just so we can see what it's like. Would you girls like that?"

Elsa barked immediately and Lauren rewarded her with a rub between the ears, "You can be the lead since you were first to respond."

They entered the garage, Lauren smiling when she saw all of the dogs sleeping soundly. She knew it would only take the sound of the lid popping open on the feed bin for them to wake. As she shoveled the first scoop of food into her bucket, the barking began. Rudy and Mary would wake soon as well, the whole house jumping into action. It was Monday, so Roo would be whining about having to go to school, Mary would have that knowing grin on her face as she reminded her daughter of the greatness that awaited a young woman with an educated mind and LJ would come by to pick up Bo's back up dogs to take them for a training run.

She would watch them all leave and then move on with her day. It was strange that the routine would change. There would be no calls to staff that she would make or receive except the ones agreed to last night. By now, Stephen surely would have informed her colleagues that she wasn't to be bothered today.

Lauren hoped to get everything done as she and Bo planned by lunch or shortly after. Then, they would have the rest of the day to spend time together. They would probably pick up Rudy from school, but Lauren was hoping it was by team. She had heard so much about her soon-to-be little sister's skill on a sled, it would be fun to see her in action.

Although there was no snow this morning and the sky was filled with stars, Lauren was well aware that the weather could turn quickly in Talkeetna. She propped open the garage door so that the dogs could move in and out of shelter as it suited them.

She double-checked to be sure the fencing had no new gaps or broken boards before making certain that the gate was secured, then headed inside. She pulled off her gloves and hat, dropping them into the mud room, then moved over to the kitchen counter to make a pot of coffee. While it wasn't snowing, it was still quite cold for this time of year. Mary had told her last February that there was no clear path to spring in Alaska. The land awoke when it chose to and the humans that lived upon it just had to be patient and enjoy the slow rising of the flowers across the tundra.

She loved the view of the mountain from the backyard in the spring, but the view from the other side of the river towards The Homestead was like a watercolor portrait. During the short-lived twilight hours that now graced the landscape each afternoon, the wildflowers bloomed, the grass grew, and the dark brown mud of winter was buried beneath. The glacier melt would rush down and join the river, turning the waters a crystal-clear light blue… so clear that you could actually see the fish swimming.

Lauren hadn't had any time to fish last year, but Bo had promised her an outing this year. Hopefully with the changes they were making, they would get that chance – several times. If not, Mary would soon be well and she could rely on the lessons of the elder Dennis.

She smiled, thinking of having a mother again… a mother who, this time, would be kind, accepting, nurturing and supportive of her and… well, anyone else who joined their family.

She looked back to the river and smiled. Lauren loved the fresh proteins that had become a part of her diet since moving to Alaska. While she desperately missed fruits and vegetables that weren't frozen or from a can, she knew they were just around the corner. To catch a fish from fresh water and put it straight into a meal brought out flavors she had never tasted. It didn't have the salty flavor of the Atlantic Ocean. The carrots were a brighter orange, potatoes came in a variety of colors and tomatoes were somehow sweeter than those in Boston.

She stared out the window across the land, river and mountains beyond and smiled. Everything was just cleaner – not just the food, but the air, the soil… her life. There were no bumper-to-bumper cars, no angry drivers, no noisy marketplace to go to – although Lauren had to admit, she loved the marketplaces in Boston.

"Mental note number one, take Bo to the marketplace in Seattle. Of course, she'll probably get mad that they're tossing fish around. She believes in honoring the meal… maybe rethink that trip. Mental note number two, talk to Mary about mental note number one before actually talking to Bo about the trip. And, of course, mental note number three, Rudy may want to come along… maybe Mary would be willing to let us push her in a wheelchair?"

She sighed, returning to making her coffee. She grabbed the mortar and pestle, wiping it clean to be sure that none of Mary's medicines remained attached, then pulled the bag of coffee beans from the ceramic canister on the counter.

"Hmmm… this is a new canister." She smiled, "It's beautiful. I guess someone broke the old one."

Mary spoke from behind, "Our youngest household occupant thought she might find cookies in the old one. She tipped it towards her and got spooked when dark brown beans poured out all over her."

Lauren laughed, "Let me guess – she let the canister go to escape what she thought were bugs?"

Mary nodded, "She thought they were beetles. Oh, she cried and cried. She was afraid it was special to you. I assured her that Molly had brought it over since she had an extra at her house. When Molly saw that the canister was missing, Rudy confessed, very upset that Molly may be angry. Of course, she immediately explained that it wasn't important to her and that it was okay. She offered to give us a new one from the store, but I rejected that offer. I wanted Rudy to have to replace it on her own."

Lauren nodded, "Where did she get the replacement? It's beautiful."

Mary shrugged, "From the sand and water outside."

"She made this?" Lauren asked.

Again, the elder Dennis shrugged, "With a lot of help from Mom."

Lauren was shocked, "How in the world… Mary, do you realize how incredible this is? I mean, in the lower forty-eight, this would sell for at least sixty dollars, but more likely one hundred if you get it into the cities. How did you learn to do this?"

Mary smiled, "What do you think we ate from in the North, Child? Did you think I raised Bo to use her fingers to eat meals right from the pot on the stove? We weren't barbarians."

Lauren nodded, thinking of Bo failing to use a utensil to eat when they first met, "Of course. I didn't mean to suggest… but how did you make this?"

"It's second nature to me. My grandmother taught me when I was very young – younger than my Rudy. What we didn't make from baleen or whale bone, we made from mud, sand and water. As you know, we lived in a coastal community. What we needed, the land and sea provided."

Lauren shook her head, "I suppose I thought everything would be made of wood, but now that I've been there, I realize what a silly statement that is. There are no trees or wood there… not any that isn't attached to a building as lumber, anyway."

Mary nodded, "There is driftwood that washes ashore at times, but I didn't live under a wooden roof with my parents. Igloos were a real thing back then – not that they aren't now – but they're just not necessary unless you're stuck outside in a storm. Our home was deep in the permafrost and was filled with our oceanside finds."

Lauren smiled, "Of course. You mentioned baleen. That's sort of the teeth of a whale, correct?"

"Maybe people say that, but it's actually a wall that hangs between the upper and lower jaw. It's a filter for feeding. Depending on the species of whale, they could have anywhere from two hundred to almost four hundred baleen plates on each side of their upper jaw. We use the plates to create baskets. I prefer it to the chore of what you would call ceramics, but we don't have any whale in the river."

Lauren nodded, "Of course."

"Remember, Child – in my day, learning about how to survive and the customs of our people were much more important than books. Computers weren't invented and phones weren't smart. Our lives were simple."

Lauren grinned, "It sounds perfect."

Mary lowered her head, "If you have the perfect partner to share it with, I'm sure it is."

Lauren paused, but decided she needed to ask the question that had been on her mind since they had met,

"Did Big Jim… hurt you? In front of Bo?"

Mary was quiet for a moment. Lauren knew she had asked an incredibly personal question, so she quickly backpaddled,

"Please don't feel obligated to answer. I just wonder if… well, never mind."

"You wonder if Ysabeau was mentally or emotionally harmed by things that her father did to me in the home?"

"Yes. And you as well."

Mary nodded and turned to the garage, watching the dogs who had stayed inside clammer around the kennel, "You have reason for concern, but Bo has been talking to Doctor Gray about those incidents. She gave Doctor Gray permission to talk to me about anything involving my husband and our time on the North Slope."

"Good. That's… good."

"Agreed. I just believe that – well, in support of your relationship – this matter is one you should discuss with Ysabeau rather than me. To answer you directly, I do not believe she witnessed anything… traumatizing, but he was not a kind man."

Mary turned back to Lauren and exhaled a breath before forcing a smile to her face, "So, are you going to make us some coffee or are you just going to continue to gawk at my magnificent piece of art?"

Lauren laughed, grinding the beans down into a fine powder before starting the coffee. Mary started their morning chat,

"So, how do you feel today, Daughter?"

Lauren smiled at the term of endearment, her eyes gazing out into the darkness of day,

"Tired, relieved, hopeful… just… really, really tired." She turned to Mary, "But so very happy to be back here with you, Rudy… and especially with Bo."

Mary smiled, "You have that sparkle back in your eyes this morning, tired or not."

Lauren nodded, pouring the hot water over the grounds. She reached up and pulled down two mugs. She suddenly had an idea,

"Would you feel up to going for a sled ride into town this morning?"

"I suppose I could ride in the basket and Rudy could ride on the bench."

Lauren shook her head, "Actually, I was thinking that I would ride on the bench and Rudy could drive. Bo says that she's really good."

"She's a child." Mary replied, "For her to drive a sled with the weight of two adults and…"

They both turned to the voice by the door, "She can handle it."

Bo pulled off her hat and gloves, "You need to stop coddling her, Mom. Hell, you had me on a sled at age three. Why are you holding her back?"

"She was not raised here."

Bo shook her head, "You once scolded me for not teaching Lauren. You also told me you wanted me to teach Rudy. Now all of a sudden, you don't want her driving a sled. What are you afraid of, Mom?"

Mary lowered her eyes, her fingers moving back and forth over the tabletop. Lauren turned back to the coffee as she took note of a slight hint of frustration on Bo's face. This was going to be quite the discussion,

"You know, you sent me on my Vision Quest a few months ago and we both know that I was going whether you told me to or not, but you specifically told me to find and address my fears… that we all have them."

A sleepy Rudy walked into the kitchen, using the stepstool to climb onto the counter and pull down her box of oatmeal. She opened a packet and poured it into the bowl before sliding it over to Lauren,

"Would you pour my water, please? Momma doesn't let me do it." Rudy said, using small fists to rub her eyes. She leaned against Lauren's hip, wrapping her arms around her waist.

Lauren smiled, "Good morning, Roo."

"It would be better if it was Saturday again." She grumbled.

"Now you can't live your life wishing the days away. You've got to embrace them. Something great will happen today. You'll see. You just have to treat every day like it's Saturday." Lauren smiled, adding some cinnamon and stirring it into the oatmeal, "Off you go to the table."

Rudy took the bowl and moved to the table. Lauren laid a napkin and spoon beside her bowl while Bo moved to her little sister, kissing the top of her head,

"Good morning, Roo."

"Hi Sister."

Bo looked up at her Mom staring at her for a long moment until Mary sighed, "Your Sister and Lauren are going to take you to school this morning."

"Okay." Rudy said, poking at her oatmeal.

Lauren smiled, moving to the icebox. She pulled out the small container that held one of the last containers of blueberries and dropped a few in Rudy's oatmeal.

"Are you sure, Lauren? We don't have a lot of berries left. Momma says…"

"It's fine, Roo. I can go pick wild ones if we need them." Bo replied, setting down her mom's coffee before getting a mug for Lauren and one for herself.

"There's wild ones?" Rudy asked.

Bo nodded, "Yup. They're around the rocks. You watch for twilight and look at where the sun is breaking through the trees. That's where you'll find the berries starting to come up around the rocks. I'll show you the next time we're out. Don't eat anything we don't specifically show you that you can eat."

"Because they could be poison," Rudy concluded.

"That's right, but there are safe fresh berries out there," Bo reiterated.

"Awesome." Rudy smiled, taking a bite of her oatmeal that had three blueberries on it.

"Good, huh?" Bo smiled.

"Yup," The youngster replied, "Can we stop at the General Store before you drop me off at school so that I can get some licorice for my lunch box?"

Bo looked to Mary who finally nodded her consent, giving Bo the go ahead to explain why they wouldn't be able to stop,

"Actually, you can take some of the licorice from my storage bins. We're not taking my truck to school."

Rudy smiled, "We're taking the snow machine?"

Bo smiled, "Nope. You're driving Lauren and I on the sled."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Are you serious?" Rudy asked, her eyes wide as she looked at Mary, "Mom?"

"If you're careful."

"I'll totally be careful!" Rudy said, shoveling her oatmeal in faster after looking at the clock, but Lauren slowed her down,

"Hey! Slow down there, kiddo. You'll make yourself sick. I don't need you tossing your oatmeal on my head while you're driving."

Rudy laughed, "That would be gross."

"Yes, it would be." Lauren smiled.

"Do I get to pick the team?" Rudy asked.

Bo shook her head, "I already took one team out this morning, so you're driving the backup team."

"All of them?" Rudy asked.

Bo nodded, "Yup. We're only taking one sled, so you'll be driving a team of eighteen."

"I've never driven a team that big before." Rudy said, a bit worried.

Bo smiled, "No difference. You'll still focus on the leads and the wheels. You just need to turn a little sooner to account for the extra distance. I'll be right behind you on the bench."

"Okay." Rudy said, "I trust you, Sister. You won't let me crash us."

Bo smiled, "We'll take it slow and steady. You'll have a lot more power and speed in front of you than you're used to, but we're the daughters of a strong, Athabascan Warrior Woman. We can do anything together."

Rudy smiled, looking at her Mom, "Hear that Mom? I'm a strong Athabascan Warrior just like you!"

Mary's eyes welled with tears as she looked up at Bo. The brunette stared down at her mom and smiled, before asking, "Do you remember teaching me who I am, Mom?"

Looking down at the hand that held her cane, Mary nodded. She let go of the crutch and put both of her hands on the table. She pushed herself up to a stand until she was perfectly upright and nodded,

"We are all strong Athabascan Warrior Women." Mary said, downing her tea in one gulp before placing the cup firmly back on its plate. She looked up at her three girls, "What do you say we make this interesting? Sister versus sister?"

Bo frowned, "Mom, are you sure you can…"

"I'll ride with Lauren. She saved my life up on the North Slope. I trust her with your full team. You ride with Rudy." Mary smirked, "I think that will be a fair race. The big Champion of the Iditarod coaching the younger sister while the veteran teacher of that Champion will be coaching the adventurous Doctor? The loser buys lunch at Kenzi's hotel… maybe after we take the train down to Faith's greenhouse."

"Mom, that's a long day for you."

Mary smiled, "Sometimes the mind can hinder recovery, isn't that right Doctor Lewis? I think laying around letting myself think I'm dying has been bad for my recovery. It's high time I started thinking like a survivor."

Lauren nodded, "She has a point, Bo."

"It's settled then. The race is on." Mary said with certainty.

"Hooray!" Rudy shouted, shoveling in the rest of her oatmeal before rushing off to get dressed for school.

Mary was about to speak, but Rudy ran back into the room, crashing into Lauren. She wrapped her arms tightly around her lower torso, her face buried in her lower belly,

"You were right. You never know. Something great did happen today! My whole family is going out for a sled race! This is the best day ever!"

They all smiled as Rudy stared up at Lauren. The blonde smiled down at the little girl, placing a kiss on her forehead,

"It is going to be a great day, Roo. Go on now. Get cleaned up for school."

Rudy rushed off again, this time talking about her strategy to beat Lauren and her mom in the big race. Bo turned to Mary,

"Are you sure about this? I mean, you haven't been able to stay awake for more than a few hours at a time and now you're going to jump on a sled right after taking your morning medicines?"

"What can I say, Ysabeau? You motivated me."

"Mom, I didn't mean for you to be reckless."

"Oh? Weren't you just minutes away from having your little sister drive a sled of eighteen champions after never having driven a team of more than eight? Who is being reckless, Ysabeau?"

"Mom, I was going to be right behind her on the bench."

"And you still will be, just as I will be right behind your fiancé. What's the matter, you don't trust me with her? I'm trusting you with the most precious person in my life."

Bo folded her arms over her chest, "Nice to know where I stand."

"Really, Ysabeau?"

"Mom, you're sick."

"No. I'm a strong Athabascan Warrior Woman just like you said and it's time I started acting the part. I've sat in this house for months. I've laid in that bed for what amounts to days. It's time I got back to the land of the living and I'm doing it with my daughter driving your sled with you teaching her all she needs to know. I will do the same for your fiancé. It's time she learned the ways of the land and if you're not going to teach her, I certainly am. You want to live across the river – she needs to know how to defend herself. Rudy and I will be on our own here at the homestead, so that child needs to learn the same lessons. She's been nagging me to drive a sled to Shannon and Carolyn's house. I can't trust her to do that until I know she knows how to handle herself. Those lessons are on you because these are your lands."

"Fine." Bo said, shaking her head, "I will teach her and protect her, but you had better do the same for Lauren or you and I – we're going to have a problem."

Bo looked at her fiancé, "You sure you want to do this?"

Lauren smiled, "You probably want me to say no, but Bo – I'm probably as excited about this as Rudy is. I'm sorry if that disappoints you, but I've dreamt of being behind a full team."

Bo shook her head, smiling at the look of joy on Lauren's face, "Okay snow-surfer. Let's go out and set up our teams."

"Fair teams, Bo." Lauren cautioned.

Bo smirked, "Of course."

"Bo…" Lauren cautioned as the brunette headed for the door, "Bo…" she cautioned again, "Bo Dennis, you'd better make sure these teams are fair! You know how much I hate to lose!"

Lauren turned to Mary, "Will you be able to tell if she's cheating?"

Mary smiled, shrugging, "You know her dogs as well as I do, Child. You'd better go watch her. More importantly, watch the dogs. You must measure talent against today's mood."

"Today's mood?" Lauren asked.

"I must go prepare. Pick runners who are naturally fast, but who are also in the mood to run today."

Lauren pulled on her warm clothing and headed out to the garage. Bo had already thrown open the door to find Kate and Anna standing around trying to figure out how to get the attention of the residents. Lauren walked to the door and stood next to Bo,

"Hey. How'd you sleep?"

"Great, thank you so much. The sound of the river was soothing." Anna smiled.

"Good. Glad you had a good night." Lauren smiled.

Bo chimed in, "I was just telling them that we're heading into town and could give them a ride in."

Lauren froze, whispering in Bo's ear, "What if I crash with one of them in my basket?"

Bo smirked, "Are you telling me that you don't trust my mom as your coach?"

"No. Of course not. I mean… I just…"

Bo laughed, "Lauren, they'll be fine. Really."

"Ladies?" Anna asked.

The pair turned back to the couple, Bo smiling, "We're taking two sleds."

"Dibs on Bo's sled!" Kate shouted.

Bo smiled, "Well, you should know that there will be a ten-year-old driving Bo's sled. Bo will be coaching from the bench, so if you have any concerns about my little sister as the driver, you might want to take the other sled."

"Who's driving that one?" Anna asked.

"I am." Lauren said, raising her hand, her face hesitant to admit the fact.

"Oh."

"Oh?" Lauren asked.

"I mean. You lived in Boston. Did you drive a sled there?" Anna asked.

Lauren shook her head, "Nope. Just here. I've been driving a sled since last year… with my three dogs."

"Oh. So, you're experienced." Anna said.

Lauren shrugged, "Well, we're taking a full team today, so no. I've never driven a team of this size, but Bo's Mom will be coaching me."

"Bo's Mom? Isn't she sick?" Kate asked, "I mean… no offense."

Lauren smiled, "She's been under treatment for just over four months, so she's much better."

Bo and Lauren shared a glance before turning back to the pair, "So, if Anna rides with Lauren, you can chat a bit on the way in. Does that work for both of you?"

Anna offered a polite smile to Lauren, "Sure."

Lauren laughed, "I promise you this is not my first rodeo with a sled and Mary taught Bo everything she knows. You'll be safe with us. I promise."

"Okay." Anna replied, relaxing a bit.

Bo laughed, "Okay, I might have it wrong, but I thought you were the adventurers of the East Coast!"

Kate smiled, "Oh, we totally are but we are still doctors."

Anna nodded, "We take educated risks and making sure that we're with people who know what they're doing is a good start."

Bo nodded, "Well, you are. My little Sis won't hesitate to ask me to take over if she's uncomfortable. She's had enough close calls to know better. You know Lauren, so you know she'll do whatever my mom tells her to do, so are we good to go?"

The pair looked at each other, then turned back and nodded with a smile to which Bo replied, "Okay then. You get your gear while Lauren and I get our teams hitched up. See you in ten."

Bo smiled as they ran to the barn before turning back to Lauren, "Are you good?"

"I'm fine – excited even."

"Well let's get this race going. You take first pick of leads."

"Really?" Lauren asked, "I can take Nike and Diana?"

Bo smirked, "Yup. They just did a training run, but I think they've got another run to town left in them."

Lauren went into the garage, turning to the kennel just as Mary and Rudy arrived, doing the same. The doctor couldn't help but kick in after watching Mary make her way down the steps. She hadn't taken a set of stairs in months let alone without a cane. She walked to her,

"Bo gave us our choice of leads. It seems suspicious."

Mary nodded, "Indeed. What is your concern?"

Lauren thought for a moment, "If I take Nike and Diana, I can pretty much just tell them to run to town and they'll pick the most direct route. They've done the trail many, many times."

"That's true. Sounds like a winning idea to me."

Lauren turned back to Bo, watching as she and Rudy whispered to each other, "Something's up. Nike and Diana just had a training run this morning, but Bo says they've got plenty left."

"I see what you mean." Mary nodded, "Let's think about the race. Which team would perform the best for you as their driver?"

Lauren's head snapped up, "That's it. Which dogs will listen to me? If Bo so much as whistles at Nike and Diana, they'll follow her lead."

Mary smiled, "Very good, Daughter. You've found Ysabeau's secret. Remember, she's accustomed to racing in a sport where there are very few written rules."

Lauren grinned, "Okay, so who was with us on our trip to the North Slope?"

Nodding, Mary raised a finger with her reply, "Brilliant. We built trust that day. I didn't let go of the sled and you pulled us from the water. Those dogs will trust us as a team."

"I had Elsa, Anna, Belle, Kikkan, Sadie and Keegan. You had Rosie, Reese, Tyler, Scotty, Logan and Cait."

Mary placed a finger over her lips, "That's a solid twelve. We need six more."

"I think we avoid Bo's current team." Lauren said, turning to Mary, "Do you agree?"

Mary nodded, whispering to Lauren, "I suggest we give Bo back her lead choice and ask for pick of the first twelve after she chooses her leads."

"What if she takes my leads?"

Mary smirked, "I think if she does, it will be because she believes they will listen to Rudy over you. Do you think that will be the case?"

Lauren looked to her three dogs, running a hand over each of their heads and whispering, "You are my best girls. I love you so very much."

"Hey! No touching!" Bo called.

Lauren turned to her fiancé, "Making up the rules as you go along, Miss Dennis?"

She released the dogs, stepping back to Mary, "I think you're right. She wants them because she thinks I'm going to take Nike and Diana. If she takes my leads and we put Nike and Diana at the wheel position, do you think they'll be angry enough to ignore her?"

Mary smiled, "They may be, but even if she tells them to hold, two wheels – even if they are two champions – could never hold back a team of sixteen dogs. Bo wouldn't risk trying to ask them to do so – they could get run over by the sled."

Lauren nodded, "Okay, so we take our twelve, let Bo take two of my three. We get choice of our top twelve plus Nike and Diana. We still need the other six."

"We'll get choice of what's left after Bo gets her twelve, though."

Lauren nodded, "Good idea."

The blonde turned to Bo, "We'll give you pick of the leads if you let us pick the next fourteen."

Mary leaned over, "Fourteen?"

Lauren nodded, leaning into Mary, "We'll lose two of my three from the original twelve. I want to be able to at least pick who will run next to Belle and don't want to have an odd number."

Mary nodded, "She could intentionally give us someone who doesn't get along with anyone."

"Exactly." Lauren agreed, joining Mary in watching Bo and Rudy whisper strategy before looking back up to take the deal.

"We'll take Elsa and Anna."

Lauren smirked, "Okay. We'll take Nike, Diana, Belle, Kikkan, Sadie, Keegan, Rosie, Reese, Tyler, Scotty, Logan, Cait, Shadow and Elektra."

Mary whispered, "Shadow and Elektra? Surprising, but excellent choices."

Lauren smiled, "Thank you."

Rudy pointed to her choices, but looked at Bo first, "We get twelve more, right?"

Bo nodded before Rudy continued, her small finger marking each,

"We want Tyler… oops, they took her. We want Callan, Corey, Hill, Jesse, Casey, Hera, Gaea, Aphrodite, Hestia, Iris, Nemesis and Artemis."

"Good picks, Roo."

She leaned over and whispered, "I should have taken Atalanta because she has a crush on Nemesis. Dang!"

Bo knelt down, shaking her head, "If they take Atalanta, they'll struggle to keep her attention for that reason. We still have two more picks. We may get her anyway."

But Lauren was already on top of that as she spoke to Mary, "No to Atalanta, but they've left Jenna and Muk on the table. There's also Demeter and Persephone."

Mary nodded, "Persephone is accustomed to running with Hera, yes?"

Lauren agreed, "Okay, so no to Persephone. Demeter and Athena are two of Bo's strongest Team dogs, so there's no way we want them."

Mary shrugged, "There's always the boys?"

"Ares can't be trusted, nor can Bacchus – not by me, anyway. Julius and Apollo are sweeties, but they're older and lack motivation. I overheard Bo telling Kyle and LJ she was just keeping them for stud at this point. I haven't worked with any of the others. They don't know me and I don't know them."

"So, Jenna and Muk?" Mary asked, "Or there's the Warrior Princesses of the Amazon."

Lauren nodded, "Ephiny and Varia?"

"I'm a big fan of those two." Mary smiled as Lauren announced the two picks, so Rudy countered with Xena and Gabrielle."

Mary whispered, "Back to Jenna and Muk?"

Lauren considered the two heroes of Bo's before she looked over at the three-year old pair in the corner. Bo called them 'the happy couple' or 'kiddies'. LJ thought they had tremendous potential. She looked back at Jenna and Muk before turning back to Mary, taking a breath and holding it for a moment before she finally explained,

"Those two three-year-old's in the corner…"

Mary smiled, "The happy couple?"

Lauren shrugged, "They've got a lot of energy."

"Lauren, you aren't seriously considering…"

"Hear me out. Jenna and Muk saved Bo's life and the life of her team. She is loyal to them. Muk took a gunshot for her and the team. For the same reason we didn't want Nike and Diana, we don't want them. But those two – LJ is a big fan and Bo has never given them a second look. I think that if they're sandwiched between two sets of veteran team dogs, the veterans would be too busy babysitting them to listen to Bo and they just might fall in line. Worth a shot?"

Mary shrugged, "It's your pride on the line."

Lauren smiled, "If I lose to Rudy, it's a gift to her. She could use the confidence. If I win, Bo might just take those two youngsters seriously."

Considering Lauren's plan, Mary agreed, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Lauren turned to Bo and Rudy, "We'll take Clara and Katie."

Bo laughed, "Seriously?"

Lauren crossed her arms over her chest, "Are you questioning my judgement?"

"Maybe just a little." Bo replied, "Okay, yes. You do realize I've had zero success with them at any position, yes?"

Lauren nodded, "So you've said."

"I want you to be safe, Lauren. I'm worried about how they will mesh with the other dogs."

"I understand that." Lauren replied.

"Mom, you can't seriously agree with this." Bo pleaded.

"I believe it is within reason that if the dogs give Lauren trouble, we may stop our sled and put the two of them in the basket with our passenger, correct?"

"Yes, but you can't seriously expect to run two dogs down and win." Bo argued, turning to Lauren, "Eighteen dogs against sixteen with the team of sixteen having to stop to rearrange an entire team?"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. Why worry? Rudy would have her win, her pride and a bit more confidence."

Bo moved closer, speaking in a low voice, "So you're throwing the race? You don't think she'll know?"

Lauren leaned in, a smirk on her face, "I'm doing no such thing. I'm banking on those two dogs surprising the hell out of you, Bo Dennis."

Bo's eyes went wide, her anger flaring, "Fine. It's your loss. Good luck."

"Luck has nothing to do with it." Lauren snapped, "And you still have two picks."

Bo turned, "We'll take Jenna and Muk."

Lauren nodded, turning to Mary, "Let's get them set up."

Mary laughed, leading Lauren to turn to her, eyes dark, "You think something's funny?"

Raising both of her hands, she smiled, "Competition between lovers. I hope you'll be sleeping in the barn or under the stars tonight? Angry make up sex between you two is always a little louder than I prefer for ten-year-old ears."

Lauren froze, her eyes locked on Mary as the elder Dennis laughed out loud. The blonde shook her head, horrified that her future mother-in-law had clearly heard her in the throes of passion with her eldest daughter. That move across the river was a definite must now. She looked at Bo, thinking she should tell her, but the brunette was trying hard to press down her anger so that she didn't take it out on Rudy. Lauren sighed, turning back to the dogs. Steeling her will, she set to work putting together her team with Mary.

"Okay, so Nike and Diana are our leads?" Mary asked.

Lauren considered the idea before shaking her head, "Clara and Katie. If we have to switch them out, having them at the front will save us the most time. If we put Nike and Diana right behind them, they'll help to keep them in line, right?"

"It's a change of plan, but the logic is sound. Has LJ used them as leads at all?" Mary asked.

Lauren nodded, "Several times. He likes them. He says they're young, but spunky. They listen well once they get on the run. They don't do well as wheels. He says they're not strong enough to control the group in front of them since they don't command their respect. The same could be said about them as leads, but with Nike and Diana behind them…"

"What if we put them right behind Nike and Diana?"

Lauren tossed her head back and forth slowly as she considered the idea, "What if they don't have the strength to turn the team dogs?"

Mary nodded, "Good point. I'm not going to lie – I think it's a risk to put them at the lead. Regardless of the race, if we have to stop to move two dogs, we're going to lose."

"Okay, so we keep Nike and Diana at the helm and hope they listen to me and not Bo if she tries to distract them. We run Belle and Keegan as the Swing dogs?"

Mary smiled, "I agree. Keep the team pairs, but one duo will need to run at the wheel."

"I'd say Kikkan and Sadie, with Shadow and Elektra in front of them. Then, Rosie and Reese, Tyler and Scotty, with Katie and Clara between them."

Mary nodded, "Then finish with Logan and Cait or Ephiny and Varia as the Wheels?"

"I think Ephiny and Varia. They're older and experienced."

Mary smiled, "I like it. It's a strong team. A smart team."

Meanwhile, Rudy was lining up her dogs while Bo clipped them in. Her technique was a bit different than Lauren's.

"Elsa and Anna, you're going to lead the way because you have the shiniest coats! Then, we'll have the Goddesses all in a row because your magic will bring us luck. Hera and Gaea, Aphrodite and Hestia, Iris and Nemesis, Artemis with… um… Hill! Come on Girl! You're the strongest, so you run with the Goddess who… shoots arrows or something."

Bo laughed, "Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, the Moon and chastity."

"I thought Diana was the goddess of the wilderness." Rudy said, confused.

Bo smiled, "She is, she was a Roman goddess so she's the same as Artemis, just from a different country."

"Goddesses had countries? The story I read with Lauren said they lived on Olympus. It's this giant place that floats on a cloud. I think."

Bo smiled, "Double check that lead, Roo. Yes, they do live on Olympus but just like each of our native tribes have their spirits, the Greeks had the Gods and Goddesses that they believed in and the Romans had theirs. The Greeks and Romans didn't agree on much back in those days."

Rudy looked up at her big sister, "Do they like each other now?"

Bo shrugged, "Don't know. I'm not Greek or Roman. Who do you want at the front of the team dogs?"

Rudy looked at her group and shrugged, "I don't think it really matters."

"Think again, kiddo. It always matters how the dogs get along."

With her fingers running up and down the line in front of her, she decided, "Okay, let's switch 'em. Put Aphrodite and Gaea in the lead. Then Elsa and Anna as the Swings because they'll follow them. Then the lead for the teams will be Jenna and Muk, then Hera and Hestia. They all have experience, so the babies go next, Callan and Corey then Hill and Jesse. Then we can put Casey with Artemis, then Xena and Gabrielle. We'll put Iris and Nemesis as the Wheels. How's that?"

Bo smiled, "That sounds pretty good."

"Do you want to change something?" Rudy asked.

"Xena and Gabrielle are stronger than Iris and Nemesis, so you might want to switch them."

"But don't Iris and Nemesis have more experience? They listen to me better too – especially Iris."

"Okay then. Let's hook 'em in." Bo smiled, getting to work securing the team. While she would love for her sister to get a win in this impromptu race, it was as important that Bo learn a little about her instincts for teaching purposes. If she really was going to be in charge of teaching her sister lessons in the wild, it was time she started listening to her reasoning so that she could teach her to survive with her natural instincts.

Meanwhile, Kate and Anna stood by the door, watching the process. While they were both amazed, Anna was particularly interested in what they were doing and had started to ask Mary questions about the equipment and the alignment.

Kate gave Anna a kiss on the cheek and told her to have fun before walking over to introduce herself to the little girl who would be her driver,

"Hi. I hear you're my ride into work today."

"I am?" Rudy asked, turning to Bo, "Sister? This lady says I'm driving her to work."

Bo smiled, offering a hand to Kate, "This lady, is Doctor Kate Myers. She is going to be running the heart department at Lauren's hospital."

"Are you gonna help Thea live?" Rudy asked, "I'm friends with her little brother and sister. They're really worried about her."

Kate twisted her mouth, looking at Bo. She knelt down in front of Rudy, "I'm going to work with Doctor Lewis and together, we're going to do our very best to help Thea."

"You can't promise me she'll live?" Rudy asked, her eyes welling up as she looked up at Bo and then back to Kate.

"Roo…" Bo began, but Kate shook her head,

"Can you absolutely promise me that we won't run into a bear or the sled won't tip on the way to town?"

Rudy considered the question, looking at Bo, the team and then back to Kate, "I can only tell you I'll do my very best to not let us tip. I don't have any control over bears. But I can teach you what to do if we see one."

Kate nodded, "Well, being a doctor is kind of like that. We do our best, but sometimes there are things that happen that we can't control. I can teach you how to do CPR to keep a person's blood moving until the heart starts to beat again if you teach me what to do if I see a bear. Deal?"

Pausing to think for a long moment, Rudy shoved her hand out towards Kate, "I'm Rudy Dennis. I'm going to be your driver today and that's not Doctor Lewis to me, she's my Lauren and she's gonna be my new sister!"

Kate took her hand and shook it, "Wow. Congratulations and that's a really firm handshake."

Rudy shrugged, "You gotta hang on tight when you drive a sled, otherwise, you'll fall off and then the dogs will just leave you behind."

Rudy turned to walk away, but then ran back to Kate, "By the way – if that happens, grab this line in the middle and say 'whoa' really loud over and over again. Hopefully they'll listen to you and stop because if I fall off, Sister will jump off to save me and you'll be all alone with the dogs."

Kate's eyes went wide as the youngster walked away, her eyes moving to Bo who gave her a tight smile before going to the cabinet to get the cover for the basket. Kate watched the sisters work, mumbling,

"Do either of them know how to lie? I mean, just a little so they don't scare the hell out of the passenger? Will there be a safety speech like the airlines do or is it just a hang on for dear life sort of thing?"

Mary called Kate and Anna to her side. The two complied, their eyes still on the work being done to the sleds,

"I want to discuss a few things you should know for safety."

"Excellent!" Kate shouted before waving and shaking her head, "Sorry. Your daughter just mentioned something about falling off the sled and Bo jumping off with her leaving me and the runaway dogs alone all the way to town."

Mary smiled, "Well, she isn't wrong. That could happen. If it does, just reach up, grab that line going down the middle between all of the dogs and pull. I'd like to introduce you to the two dogs each of you must know by name."

She walked them to the front of Lauren's sled, "Anna, say hello to Nike and Diana. These are Bo's lead dogs – her three-time Iditarod Champions. You should allow them to get to know you. If you should be left alone with them, call to them using the word 'whoa'. If they continue and you are unable to stop them, you can try to reach behind you and drop either or both of these devices…"

She walked them to the front of the sled and pointed to the drag brake and anchor behind the basket,

"This is the anchor. If you drop it, there's a good chance it will catch on something and stop or slow the sled, but be warned, it drops on one side of the sled, so according to the laws of physics…"

"…the sled could flip." Kate concluded, Anna nodding her agreement.

"I like your instincts. Usually if the anchor is dropped, the sled has slowed and the driver is there to counterbalance the sled." Mary smiled, "So pushing the drag brake off of the rails is a better option. Even better is if you can apply pressure at the center and then yell 'whoa' repeatedly. If you can't stop the sled, the dogs will run to town – in all likelihood, directly to the kennel. You will just have to ride it out, doing your best to counterbalance if the sled leans in one direction or another. Think of it as a runaway toboggan."

Anna nodded, "Got it. Toboggans we know."

"If you cannot stop the sled, whoever is left behind will have to walk the distance back to the closest safe harbor – here or town. My plan is to stay on the sled. I won't jump off to help Lauren. I'll stand and stop the sled. Bo, however, is very protective of her younger sister so her instinct may be to jump off to help Rudy, so Kate, you are at greater risk for having to complete these maneuvers. While Bo should stop the sled and go back to check on her sister, my eldest daughter tends to lead with her heart when it comes to her Roo."

"Right." Kate said, looking at Anna, "Wanna switch sleds?"

"Nope." Anna smirked, earning her a punch in the arm from her partner.

Mary pulled an orange spray can from a box inside the basket, "This is bear mace. It can be used on wolves as well, though larger animals such as Moose or Elk, you will want to hide behind a tree."

"We did get a lesson about the wildlife." Kate explained.

"Oh? And what lesson is that?" Mary asked.

Shirley taught us, "If it's brown, lay down, if it's black, fight back, if it's white, good night."

"That's correct, Child." Mary nodded, "Your instinct will be to run. I urge you to fight that instinct with everything you have in you for it will likely not end well if that urge wins out."

Kate nodded, "Got it. Stay calm, recite the poem."

Anna asked, "How does the mace work?"

Mary demonstrated how to use the can before moving on to what to do if the sled should flip, crossing the lake just in case they were forced to take that route, watching for tree branches, lighting the lanterns inside for warmth and a few other points before Lauren, Rudy and Bo came to stand by the sleds,

"Ready to go? Rudy has to be at school in two hours, so we've got to get on the road. We hope to have time to make the stop we promised her."

Lauren nodded, "Okay. Ready, set go!"

Mary and Lauren had planned for this. They shoved Anna into the basket, zipping it fast and handing her goggles,

"Get them on right away." Mary shouted before hopping onto the bench. Lauren mounted the rails and called out to the team,

"Here we go, Ladies! Hike Nike! Hike Diana! Run like the wind!"

The sled pulled out while Rudy stood with her hands on her head, "Hey! They're cheating!"

Bo picked her up and put her on the rails, "No rules, Roo. Get your goggles on."

She tossed a pair to Kate, "If I didn't mention it, this is a race. Keep your head down as much as possible to reduce our drag. Rudy is a little maniac, so hold on tight!"

Kate did as she was told, watching as Bo zipped the basket and disappeared. Looking up over head, she saw the youngster grip the rail and call out to the dogs,

"Hike Gaea! Hike Aphrodite! Go girls! Go! Fast like lightning! Win, girls! Win!"

They pulled out, picking up speed quickly. It didn't take long until Kate was screaming with exhilaration,

"Wahoooooo! This is awesome! Faster, Rudy! Faster!"

Bo smiled at the woman in the basket and her little sister. Yes, these two would become fast friends… she was sure of it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Talkeetna – just outside of town…

"Time to make our move! It's now or never, Lauren!" Mary called out.

"We're going as fast as we can. What do you suggest? They switched the leads." Lauren asked, keeping her eyes just ahead of her lead dogs.

"You might try distracting your favorite little girl?" Mary smiled.

With a nod, Lauren gave a shout to her leads, "Nike! Diana! Get Rudy! Go get her! Get Rudy!"

"Don't you mean Bo?" Mary asked.

"Nope. Nike has a particular affection for Roo and she's in front of Bo. I want to get them past Bo before I call to my dogs."

Bo put her hands on either side of Rudy, grabbing the center bar on the rail, "Hold steady, Roo. If I know Mom, she's going to have Lauren make her move soon."

"All we have to do is run the straight line to town, right, Sister?"

Bo nodded, "Hold them steady and keep them going at top speed, Roo. We've got this."

Just as Bo spoke, she saw Nike and Diana pull up next to them. Just as she opened her mouth to shout, Lauren called out to them,

"Get Rudy, girls! Get Rudy! Hi my Anna! Hi my Belle!"

Bo opened her mouth to speak again, but Lauren shouted again, "Come on Nike! Come on Diana! Go get Aphrodite! Where's Gaea!"

Rudy knew Bo's plan and she tried in vain to get her voice to carry over Lauren's but it didn't work. She shouted back to Bo,

"Plan B, Sister!"

Bo nodded, standing up and shining the large red light just ahead of Gaea and Aphrodite. Rudy shouted to the two leads,

"Chase! Chase! Get it, girls! Get it!"

Gaea and Aphrodite dropped their heads and found another gear just as the break in the trees came into view. Lauren looked to her right just as Bo waved to her. The blonde rolled her eyes,

"Any other ideas?"

Mary sat back in her seat, "That red light is like catnip to a cat."

Lauren nodded, "I thought so. I don't suppose you have another one?"

Mary shook her head, "Nope. Any other tricks I have might injure Rudy, so I think we're finished."

"It's okay. Listen to Rudy. She's so excited." Lauren smiled.

"Yes, she is. The thrill of victory is in her blood." Mary grinned.

The pair pushed the dogs as hard as they could, maintaining a respectably close proximity to the victors before pulling into the kennel yard where LJ and Kyle stopped moving hay bales by the light of their headlamps to greet the group.

Rudy ran to LJ, the young man lifting her into his arms and spinning her around before lifting her onto his shoulders while she held her arms overhead, pumping her fists. Kyle cheered, drawing Tamsin from the barn to see what all of the commotion was about. When she heard, she started high-fiving Rudy. It was clear that the group had bonded in Bo and Lauren's absence.

Lauren looked at Bo who was setting the brake on the sled and tending to the dogs. Mary noticed and called out to the group,

"Let's not forget who the real champions are, everyone. Be sure they get the attention they deserve as well."

Rudy leaned forward, looking at LJ upside down, the two sharing some words before he flipped her feet over head and placed her on the ground. The pair walked to the sled, Rudy kneeling down in front of her two lead dogs and rewarding them with enthusiastic laughter and rubs while LJ did the same.

Lauren sat down on the bench next to Mary, "She's quite the little Musher. I didn't see her taking that turn inside through that tight line in the trees."

Mary nodded, "It was quite risky, but she cut a good one hundred yards off the trail and came out ahead of us. Still, we caught up just fine. If we had another two hundred yards, we would have caught up."

"Yea, but Bo just would have waited to pull out that damn red light. She learned that in a Pet Store in Boston, you know."

Mary turned to Lauren, "Really?"

Lauren nodded, "She wanted to buy gifts for the dogs, so we went into the store. She didn't find anything she liked, but there was a kitten in there that the store manager was entertaining with a laser pointer. She handed it to Bo while she waited on a customer and Bo proceeded to run the cat all over the store while chasing that little red light. When the store manager came back, Bo was very curious about the kitten's instinct to chase the light. I guess she's learned a dog has the same instinct."

"You never know where you're going to learn new tricks that can help you win a race." Mary smiled, watching as Bo and Rudy began the process of parking the sled.

"How do you feel?" Lauren asked.

"I feel… young." Mary smiled.

Lauren nodded, "Good. That's really, really good."

"It's truly amazing what the mind can do to overcome the body. Being out on a trail rushing full-on behind this massive team was… exhilarating."

"Yes, it is." Anna said standing from the basket, "So, let me get this straight. You two are okay with losing that race?"

Lauren gave a nod towards Rudy, "Is there anything better than that little girls' smile?"

Anna watched as Rudy ran to Kate, giving her high fives before unzipping the cloth on the basket and setting her free,

"That was incredible!" Kate shouted, cupping Rudy's face.

The young musher smiled, "I know, right? Did you see me take that turn? Bo had to help me keep the sled from tipping! It was super heavy and we were going so fast! I never went that fast before! That downhill was super fast, right?"

"It felt like a roller coaster ride! The best ride ever!" Kate smiled.

Anna grinned, watching the pair interact while Bo watched them from behind, "My fiancé is hooked."

"I told you both – Alaska is infectious." Lauren smiled.

"It really was like a roller coaster ride. I expect we'll be buying a team of dogs at some point." Anna smiled.

"Well, this is the best place to buy them." Lauren smiled, "That's Kyle, Bo's business partner and that's LJ, Bo's great nephew and apprentice. They both know all of the best breeders in the area."

"It looks like LJ is getting ready to take a run himself." Anna said.

Lauren nodded, "He trains Bo's back up dogs and has aspirations to run in the Iditarod as well. He had apparently registered for the race this year but decided not to move forward when he got into a tangle with a few other Mushers at a smaller race."

"Oh?" Anna asked.

Mary smiled, "Mushing at the professional level is not for the faint of heart. There is much more to know than merely driving a sled. While everyone usually abides by the unwritten rules of the time-honored tradition of sled racing, there are those elements at play that occasionally cause problems… Mushers who worry more about prize money and fame than the health and safety of dogs and Mushers alike."

Anna nodded, "I see. So, there was some truth to the movie White Fang."

"What's that?" Mary asked.

Lauren smiled, "Not all movies make it to Alaska and not all that do make it into the homes of all Alaskans."

Anna understood, "I've noticed that the people seem to get by on only what's necessary."

Lauren nodded, "I think you'll find that rule also applies to medicine."

"I see," Anna smiled, "So you're saying they may not take kindly to someone poking around their minds."

Lauren shrugged, "That could be the case for some."

Anna nodded, "Well, it looks like I'll have my work cut out for me. Honestly, general disbelief in the field of psychiatry and mental health is not foreign to me – or you, I suppose."

Lauren shook her head, "It's not, you're right. But we do what we can to convince people to give it a chance. Mental health is a big issue in the state and our small community is no different."

"Naturally I did my research before we came. Alaska is consistently in the top two for suicide rates. How can they believe that mental health isn't an issue." Anna asked, stating the statistical reality more as a fact than as a question.

Lauren nodded, "Those statistics don't reach their ears. All across the northern seaboard you see similar statistics. Living in full days of light or dark is not an easy adjustment. Then there's the cold, being snowed in with the same people, lull in available work during the winter months… it's inevitable."

Anna nodded, "Well, hopefully we can change that… starting with you?"

Lauren smiled, standing up, "Well, we have some pups to take care of before we can chat. Do you want to help with the dogs?

"I'd love to." Anna smiled.

Lauren nodded, "I was thinking we can all go to the hotel for breakfast? Bo, Mary and Kate can visit with Kenzi while you and I take some time to talk?"

"Sounds perfect." Anna smiled.

"Mary? How does that sound?" Lauren asked.

"I think I'm going to make my way over to the General Store if it's okay with you. I'll have a morning coffee with Molly and socialize for a bit."

Lauren smiled, "That sounds perfect. Anna and Kyle will help me out with the team. Maybe Molly can get away from the store long enough for a little breakfast at Kenzi's?"

"I'll ask, but I will likely be absent from breakfast." Mary replied, leaning in to whisper to Lauren, "I didn't want to say anything in front of Rudy, but I've got a meeting with her teacher in an hour. She's considering Rudy for some special program, so I want to try to sneak in and out without Rudy knowing."

Lauren nodded, "I won't say a word to Roo. Any idea what program?"

Mary shrugged, "I have no idea, but she did ask me a lot of questions about how much I valued education over survival. I finally told her that Rudy has people in her life whose educational experience ranges from high school diploma to medical school and beyond. The decision about how far she wants to go will be up to her. I know she can make a living no matter how far she takes her education. What I can't guarantee is her happiness if she's not doing something she's truly passionate about with her life."

Lauren smiled, "Agreed."

"I just don't want Ysabeau to worry about my whereabouts if I'm not there for breakfast until later. She worries too much and will call out your search and rescue team if I'm missing for too long." Mary explained.

"I'll let Bo know then." Lauren said, watching as the other three led the dogs to the outdoor kennel.

Mary nodded, "Thank you. I'll see you down at the hotel later on."

Lauren nodded, "Call me if you get too tired to walk. The snow machine is still parked behind the kennel. I can come and get you."

"Thank you. I don't anticipate a problem. I brought my tea with me and I feel good so far." Mary smiled, holding up the thermos.

"Well, let's not push you too hard for the first day on your feet." Lauren replied, showing some concern.

"I don't plan to." Mary nodded, "I actually have one of those folding canes in my pack. I just wanted Rudy to see her Mother strong again."

Smiling, the doctor nodded, "Well, you certainly look the part of strong warrior."

"I feel… invigorated. A sled ride was just what I needed." Mary smiled, taking a deep breath of the cool air, "But I am realistic. I believe that in just a few more hours I'll be ready to head home. I'll find you."

Lauren nodded, "Fair enough."

Mary headed over towards the General Store while Lauren turned back to the sled, "Okay, Doctor Ricci. Let's introduce you to all of your chauffeurs and teach you a little about dog sleds while we rub these kids down and get them fed and settled."

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Kenzi's Hotel

Anna had been asking Lauren the same question for the last few minutes. In response, she received half sentences and zero eye contact. The blonde seemed to be focused on something at the bar. She knew that Bo, Kate, Mary and Molly had been sitting there talking to Kenzi, but the look on Lauren's face said something more. Tired of her lack of focus, she heaved a sigh and placed a hand on the doctor's,

"Lauren. Lauren!"

The blonde looked at the doctor, seemingly annoyed by the interruption until she noticed the somewhat angered look on Anna's face,

"Sorry."

"For what?" Anna asked.

"I'm… distracted."

"Really?" Anna smirked, "I've only asked you the same question three times, received three half answers – none of which connected to the others and absolutely no eye contact. So, if you want to reschedule, we can do that, but it would seem to me there is something that needs discussing – unless I'm losing my touch… and I've never lost my touch."

Lauren smiled, "I know you haven't been here long, but… well, do you know who that woman is that Bo is talking to at the end of the bar?"

Anna turned and immediately knew what the problem was. When she had her first meal here at the hotel, she's been introduced to Tamsin, Kyle, Shannon, Carolyn, Kelly and Kurt. All of them had been talking about Kenzi's new chef as being the resident flirt, though it was rumored she had been dating Penelope. All that Anna knew about Penelope was that she was the one who had gotten her and Kate settled into their contracts, their home and was writing their paychecks.

"Anna?" Lauren asked.

The doctor turned back to the blonde, "Right. She's Kenzi's new chef."

Lauren sighed, shaking her head, "Oh. Well, that explains that. I heard she had been hitting on Bo."

"You did?" Anna asked, correcting herself, "I mean… what do you mean by that?"

Lauren twisted her mouth and cocked her head, "Really, Anna?"

The doctor shrugged, "What do you want me to say, Lauren? Besides, do you really think you have anything to worry about? Bo absolutely adores you. Anyone with eyes can see that."

"Yea, well she doesn't seem to know that I exist right now."

Anna offered a devious grin, "This may sound unprofessional, but there is something to be said for making it abundantly clear to some women that another woman is in a committed, lifelong relationship that is not to be fucked with."

"Anna!" Lauren said, shocked before both women broke into a fit of giggles.

"Go on, Lauren. Remind Bo where her heart belongs. You may be having a little session with me, but she's also ignoring a group of women who mean more to her than that chef ever will. Besides, I want to get to know my new client and seeing you in action would bring me great insight."

"Great insight, huh?" Lauren laughed.

"Oh yes." Anna nodded, taking a sip of her coffee, "Go."

The blonde nodded, wiping her mouth and straightening her clothes before standing up and walking to the end of the bar. She didn't stop to talk to the rest of her family and friends, but all of the women noticed her walk behind them and Kenzi stopped the circular motion of her towel on the bar,

The young owner leaned in between Molly and Mary, "Shit's about to hit the fan, Ladies. I warned Bo to keep her distance."

Mary looked down to the end of the bar, shaking her head, "My daughter's education in social mores is apparently still lacking. I'm sure she sees absolutely nothing wrong with what she is doing."

Kenzi shook her head, "It's not like I haven't tried to explain it to her. That chef is bad news. If she's going to start stirring up shit with my family, she's going to find herself looking for another job."

Molly shook her head, "That would be tragic. It would be a shame to lose these crepe things. The bite on the end of this fork is the closest I'll ever get to being in France."

Anna and Mary, who were seated on either side of Molly, laughed as she eyed the perfect blend of fruit and crepe before taking it into her mouth and moaning at the taste.

Kate leaned in and agreed, "I'm partial to these waffles. I'm sure the crepes are great, but these are amazing. I swear I would follow that chef anywhere to have these at my disposal every day."

"I know, right?" Kenzi said, resuming the task of wiping the bar, "Well, I'm sure Lauren will remind her. Here goes nothing."

The group turned to see Lauren moving in behind Bo, draping an arm over her shoulder and whispering in her ear. Kenzi kept her head down, hoping a riot didn't start in her hotel restaurant. When she finally looked up, she could see Lauren extending a hand to the chef, squeezing it so firmly that Prudence cringed and tried to pull her hand away, but the doctor held it tightly, leaning closer as she spoke.

"What did she say?" Kenzi asked the group.

Kate shook her head, "No idea, but the look on your chef's face is certainly not one of pleasure.

Kate turned towards her fiancé who was smiling back at her from the other end of the bar. Kate shook her head as she turned back to Kenzi,

"It would seem my dearly beloved fiancé, the Psychiatrist, is teaching Lauren to assert her dominance."

Kenzi looked up at Anna who was raising her coffee mug in a toast. The young hotel owner smiled and shouted to the resident psychiatrist,

"I owe you a drink. Any night. Just say the word."

Anna gave a nod and turned back to her breakfast while Kenzi turned her attention back to the opposite end of the bar,

"I suppose I should go get my chef back to work."

Kate shook her head, "Nope. Let Lauren handle this. It's between her and Bo."

Molly nodded, "We do tend to meddle in the lives of those two. Maybe we should all begin to work on restraint rather than interference, no matter how well intentioned."

"Agreed." Mary said, stealing a bite of Molly's crepe from her plate, "I don't suppose that Prudence leaves her recipes around the kitchen where you might snap a picture with that phone of yours?"

Kenzi placed a hand on her chest, her eyes going wide as she leaned towards Mary, "Are you suggesting I would steal a sacred recipe from my chef just in case she should do something that would lead me to have to fire her scrawny ass… like interfere in your daughter's relationship with her fiancé?"

Molly shook her head, "Like I said. We meddle too much."

Kenzi shook her head, "I prefer to call it protecting my financial interests. That woman's crepes, waffles and pancakes have become best sellers here. I mean, I don't have a free table in the house and it's not even nine o'clock in the morning. Every day is like this – including Sundays. The breakfast business is boosting seating for lunch and dinner too."

"So, you have a full house in the hotel?" Molly asked.

Kenzi shook her head, "Unfortunately, I still have twelve rooms that they haven't finished the renovations on because Path and Slate have been prioritizing the hospital."

Mary turned to Kenzi, "Have you told Bo?"

"This is the first time I'm seeing Bo… well, Bo's back, anyway." Kenzi snarked, "But I suppose it's a nice back… as backs go."

"She told me she was stopping by yesterday." Mary replied.

Kenzi shrugged, "She did. She waved from the window. I thought she was going to come in, but she just sort of slowed down and then kept going. I figured she would come back after her training run, but she never did."

Mary sighed, "She needs a distraction to be indoors, so be patient with her. If you see her getting fidgety, find an excuse to have her follow you outside for a breath."

Kenzi looked down the bar, "Oh, I get it. Prudence is enough of a distraction to keep her inside, but her best friend isn't. Nice."

Kenzi tossed the towel beneath the bar and walked back to the kitchen, eyeing the group at the end of the bar as she turned the corner. She could hear Prudence make a hurried excuse to leave Bo and Lauren before she was out of earshot.

Lauren watched the chef walk away, a smirk on her face.

Bo turned to her, "What was that all about?"

"What?" Lauren asked, feigning ignorance.

"Uh… the 'hi, who are you' question?" Bo replied, folding her arms over her chest, "A little rude?"

Lauren shrugged, "Did you really expect me to just stand there while another woman flirted with you? Besides, I'm a little upset that you didn't respond when she replied, 'what business is it of yours'?"

"I was about to, but you jumped right in and told her you were my fiancé." Bo smiled.

"Of course, I did! She was brushing your hair out of your face, for crying out loud."

"And I did tell her we were getting married this spring." Bo offered.

Lauren shook her head, "And then you suggested she could cater our wedding reception!"

"She's an awesome cook!" Bo replied.

"I don't care if she's the best chef in the world, Bo. That woman is not coming anywhere near our wedding."

"Wow. Jealous, territorial Lauren is very sexy."

Bo moved to wrap her arms around the blonde, but she pushed her away, "Don't you dare. I'm furious with you right now."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am." She looked up at the ceiling, "I noticed you had no problem being indoors with Prudence, but you couldn't manage to step inside to see Kenzi for even five minutes yesterday. You talked to her for thirty minutes, Bo and then you took Prudence away from the breakfast rush even though you know that Kenzi is desperate for the money. If you gave Kenzi any time at all, she would also tell you that your workers haven't been in here to work on the last twelve room renovations because they've all been at the hospital. She needs those rooms, Bo. She needs them more than I need hospital rooms trimmed right now. I don't even have all of the equipment I need."

"I didn't know they didn't finish here. I told them this was important!" Bo defended.

"Again – if you spent more time with your best friend, you would know. But, if you would rather go chat with Prudence a little longer, I'm sure Kenzi can't get more pissed off than she already is." Lauren nodded in the direction of the far end of the bar where the owner had just come from the kitchen with a tray of clean glasses.

Bo looked down the bar at her friend who was feverishly drying the glasses and stacking them on the shelves,

"Shit."

Lauren nodded, "Yup. So, go make it right, Bo. I'm going back to my appointment with Anna. I've got some processing to do."

"Lauren, you've got to know I have no interest in Prudence in that way."

"Do I, Bo? What I just witnessed makes me think otherwise."

"Lauren, I swear, I only have eyes for you."

"It's not your eyes I'm worried about, Bo. It's what's in your heart and soul that allowed you to ditch your best friend in favor of talking to a woman who clearly has eyes for you."

"I'll tell her."

"You shouldn't have to. Besides, I think you liked it. I think you liked the attention."

Bo shrugged, considering Lauren's words. Maybe she had a point. It was flattering, "It's nice to be wanted."

Lauren nodded, "It is. Remember that."

Bo looked at the blonde, realizing she had rejected the blonde's advances, "Lauren, please. You know I want you more than anything…"

Lauren waved her off, "You've got a lot going on, Bo. But I'm putting her on notice - if she flirts with you again, she'll have me to deal with," the blonde said, turning to walk away, but stopped and added, "And my throwing skills are at about an eighty-two percent."

Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren's waist, "Jealous Lauren is super sexy."

The blonde chuckled, "No, jealous Lauren will have you sleeping by yourself for months on end."

Lauren may have turned to walk away, but Bo made sure she heard her say, "And take-charge Lauren is even sexier."

Bo sighed, her eyes moving from Lauren's ass to her best friend,

"Time to grovel."

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