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didn’t know how. I was hoping you might take me up on my offer one of these days.”
    â€œThat’s kind of hard, but I’m working on it. We have two feet of snow where I am right now.”
    â€œIt’s sunny and eighty degrees where I am. There’s not a ripple in the ocean, and it’s sapphire blue. There aren’t many people here right now, which is unusual. I guess the economy is as bad as they say it is.”
    â€œHas anyone told you that you’re free from prosecution? If not, you can come and go as you please. We…we took care of that for you.”
    The silence on the other end of the phone lasted so long, Isabelle had to say, “Are you still there?”
    â€œI’m still here. No, I didn’t know that. Well, this is a wonderful Thanksgiving, after all. But, how do I know it’s true?”
    â€œBecause I tracked you down to tell you. I don’t lie. I think we might, I say might, be going to Washington soon.”
    â€œIs that an invitation? If it is, I accept.”
    â€œIt is. If you give me your phone number, I can call you if it happens. You can call me anytime but not at this number.” She rattled off a number, which Stu Franklin said he memorized.
    â€œLet’s talk, Isabelle. I want to know what happened that day at the casino. I want to know all about you.”
    And so Isabelle told him while Annie pretended to snore lightly on the sofa.

Chapter 3
    W hile their faces were rosy pink with the frigid temperatures, they were also glum. Except for Annie and Isabelle, who for some reason spent the whole holiday weekend smiling.
    The snow had finally stopped late Saturday afternoon. Sunday was spent clearing it away with snowblowers. Now they had single-file paths that led to the different buildings. It had taken them hours, but they had managed to clear out a wide path to the cable car. All that remained to be done was to deice the gears, oil the machinery, and hope it didn’t start to snow again before the assembled guests were due to depart.
    â€œI don’t think I’ve ever been so tired in my whole life,” Jack said as he trudged back to the main building. He looked over at Nikki, who looked just as tired.
    Inside the main building, Charles was waiting with rum cake, hot coffee, and a pot of hot chocolate loaded with marshmallows. Food to go had been packaged for those who wanted to eat turkey during the coming week. Only Maggie and Jack had said they wanted food.
    The Sisters were moaning and groaning about being frozen to their bones. Myra looked around, an indulgent smile on her face. She knew the girls would curl up in front of the fire that she and Annie would tend after their guests went down the mountain.
    â€œThey’re so tired, Myra. We need to tell Charles that morning will be time enough to get down to business. Do you agree?” Annie asked.
    â€œI do agree. What I’m thinking is you, Charles, and I can work and get things set up, laid out. And then we just present it to the girls tomorrow morning.”
    â€œWhat about that mysterious guest Charles said is coming to the mountain at dawn tomorrow?”
    â€œI guess we deal with it tomorrow morning. The girls are adaptable, you know that. Look at them. They can barely keep their eyes open. I think that once our guests are gone, they’re all going to go to sleep and sleep through the night. Even the dogs are exhausted,” Myra said, pointing to Murphy and Grady, who were stretched out in their dog beds near the hearth.
    Myra and Annie were always sad, even gloomy, when it was time for their guests to leave. That day was no different.
    Two hours later they watched as everyone pulled on boots and heavy jackets.
    Charles appeared with a carton that held thermos bottles full of hot chocolate. “You’ll need it when you get to the bottom of the mountain. More snow is predicted after midnight, so it’s a good thing you’re getting