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clinic in Denver. The New You,” she said. “You may have heard of it.”
    “No.”
    Sara shrugged. “Well, we’re not really mainstream. For most, they can only afford the book and video. But at the clinic, we offer hands-on counseling and group sessions, for ten weeks.”
    “The New You? What is it? Fat farm?”
    Sara bristled. “Not a fat farm. What gave you that idea?”
    Jaime shrugged. “Some in your group aren’t your typical backpackers.”
    “A lot of people with weight issues do come to us. But most of the weight problems are simply symptoms of deeper issues. Selfesteem issues, no self-confidence, difficulty relating to others, any number of things.”
    “I see.”
    “We go through ten weeks, kind of a crash course. They all live at the clinic and we provide nutritional meals. There is, of course, counseling and lessons. And I incorporate workouts in our sessions, from light weights to walking to eventually jogging. It gives them a sense of purpose, a goal. They all know that at the end of our ten weeks, we take a two-week trip, away from society, away from our discussions.”
    “Two weeks is a long time, especially for women not accustomed to it,” Jaime said.
    “Yes, it is. But we go as slow as we need to. Our sessions are over with. There’s to be no talk about it up here. I imagine most of them privately reflect on their past but after a few days on the trails, they forget. It’s hard to keep that pain with you up here, where you’re away from it, away from reminders. You find that you can do things you never thought you could. And when they get back home, they’ll have the confidence to go on with their lives.”
    Jaime nodded. “You must be good.”
    “I’m only telling you this so that you won’t ask questions of them. Especially Sandra. She’s probably the most vulnerable of the group, also the oldest. She will find it the hardest to get on with her life. But her self-confidence has grown each week. I just don’t want you to say something or ask something that will set her back.”
    “So I shouldn’t tell you that Sandra’s already told me some of this?”
    Sara’s eyes widened. “What did you say to her?” she demanded.
    “Whoa, Sarge. I didn’t say anything. I just asked—”
    “You asked? You asked what?” Sara’s eyes flashed and she leaned forward, pointing her finger at Jaime. “This is exactly why I didn’t want you to join us. Especially the first few days. They’re still … raw .”
    “Give me a break. You underestimate her. She’s very strongwilled. Hell, I thought she was going to pass out on that climb but she kept going. And you know why? Because it was expected of her. She didn’t want to let you down. So lighten up.”
    Sara stood quickly to her feet. “Do not presume you know anything about this. We’ve worked too hard for you to … to disrupt this.”
    “Disrupt?”
    “Yes, disrupt. And I think perhaps in the morning, you should just be on your way.”
    Jaime watched the angry woman walk away. Hell, she should be the one upset. She’d gotten jumped on for absolutely no reason.
    “Way to go, Jaime. Got kicked out of camp on the first day,” she murmured. But damn, Sara Michaels was some kind of cute when she got angry. There was not a hint of blue in the green eyes that flashed at her. Jaime shrugged. Well, the Sarge was just going to have to get over it. She wasn’t going anywhere.

CHAPTER TEN
    Sara stretched inside her sleeping bag, finally opening her eyes.
    It was still dark. And quiet. Her favorite time of the morning, that hour or so before daybreak. Leaning up on her elbows, she listened.
    Something had woken her. Then she heard it. Rustling on the rocks. She cocked her head. Perhaps someone needed an early morning bathroom break. But no, it wasn’t footsteps.
    “Shit.” She sat up and tossed the sleeping bag off. Probably a bear. Had she told everyone to wash up after dinner? Did they leave food out? In the darkness, she found