Page 4 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Charlie

The best thing about hiking down to the hot springs at six-thirty in the s—the three rock pools near the ruins of an old stagecoach bathhouse—can get croith naked hippies, both local and visiting, but not on a weekday Not at this ti

The sun is just starting to rise behind Taos Mountain, painting the sky in shades of pink, purple and orange That, and the gentle snowflakes, feel like a perfect birthday gift from nature

This hike is my own present to myself I have to work in a couple hours, but I don’t wantether within the hot springs at sunrise seereat way to make the day special

And get my mind off Chad

My baby brother is serving over in Afghanistan, and hasn’t been heard from for months Not even our parents—both retired Air Force officers—have been able to get a e to or from him

Official word froood news, but I’ve had this low-level fear for hiet noisier It’s probably unfounded I’ on this, but I sure would feel better if he would just let us know he’s alive

I reach the end of the one-e of the Rio Grande, and strip out of my clothes I tuck them behind a rock because the neat freak inin nature It’s also why I prefer to come here alone Other people don’t help me commune with nature, and they just mess with the landscape

The softly falling snow means it’s actually waroing to feel heavenly I takethe contrast of the hot water surroundingmy skin everywhere else

I sink into the steaet my shoulders completely under water

Across the river, on the slope of the opposite canyon wall, a asp

A giant bighorn sheep turns his head to stare at me

“Hey there, big guy” I liftin”