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“He didn’t like that you were different He didn’t understand you”

“He still doesn’t”

“Men want their sons to be like theo”

“Now you sound like Felicia,” he said

She chuckled “Wow, that’s an aht Your dad was raised to believe in honor and service He’s old-fashioned If it’s not his way, it’s wrong”

He nodded as he leaned back against the sofa The kitten had curled up on his chest and fallen asleep He folded his arm across his chest to hold it in place

“He needs to get over that,” Gabriel told her “And before you tell uess” He paused “I guess I don’t like knowing how much I disappoint him Rather than deal with that, I stay away”

“You’re a doctor,” she said, thinking Norm had to reconsider his standards

“I’m not a soldier”

“Well, he’s stupid” She snuggled closer “I’m sorry your dad makes it hard for you to be with your family”

“I’ to stay in touch with Gideon reat and ouldn’t love Felicia? In a brotherly way, of course”

“You’d better add that,” she teased “Otherwise, your brother will snap you into teeny, tiny pieces”

“I know Good for him”

There was soht Was he wistful? Was he wishing he could find what his brother had? Love? A place to belong?

All questions designed toEven if he was staying, she didn’t think he was the least bit interested in getting involved on a permanent basis He’d made that clear, and she would be wise to listen when he—

Her cell phone rang

She stood and crossed to the foyer table, where she’d left it She set down her kitten before answering

“Hello?”

“Noelle? This is Police Chief Barns We have a situation up on theone and there were a lot of people skiing and snowboarding There are going to be injuries I’ to find out if you knohere Gabriel Boylan is Mayor Marsha says he’s a trau to need that”

The police chief spoke so cal of her words Then reality sla to faint or maybe throw up

“He’s here,” she said, turning to walk back to the sofa But Gabriel was already at her side

“What is it?” he asked

She handed him the phone

He took it and listened While she had a feeling she’d gone pale, he stayed calot the location and said he would be right there He was alreadyup

“Stay here,” he told her “I know you want to help but you’ll get in the way on the anize in town People will need help Not just those hurt, but family members”

She understood what he meant “I’ll do what I can from here”

He handed her his kitten, then kissed her on the mouth and was out the door before she could catch her breath She stared out the atching him drive away

She didn’t knowthe outco She picked up her cell phone and startedcalls

Chapter 13

The sky above the Gold Rush Ski Lodge and Resort was an impossible shade of blue The roads were plowed, the teh twenties It was the perfect day for skiing or snowboarding But with the recent storm, feet of ne had fallen on layers of older snow Gabriel would guess some of those layers had been more powdery, with a few inches of wet snow sandwiched in between Then the recent duht and an avalanche was born

He followed several police cars and two a about, most dressed in heavy parkas and ski pants He pulled off to the side and parked, then sprinted toas obviously the command center

“Dr Gabriel Boylan,” he said, identifying hi people “Trauma specialist”

“Good,” she said and pointed to the large hotel “The ballroo it into a traue”

“How ?”

The wori license plates froht now We have locals, people who drive up for the day and those staying in town A lot of schools broke early for the holidays There could be two or three hundred people on the mountain near the avalanche They could all be fine” She sed “Or not”

He nodded and took off in the direction she’d pointed He had to identify hi let into the hotel Froiant ballroom

E put in place Trucks had backed up to the ballroourneys and IV stands were being put along one wall

“Gabriel!”

He turned and saw Felicia hurrying toward hi on

“Gideon and Carter were out snowboarding,” she said Her body tre, but I’ve already talked to theo with theood with those kinds of sports” She raised her head and looked at hi to say It’s the shock and worry, but still Who cares if I can’t ski?”

He grabbed her by the shoulders and stared at her “Breathe,” he told her “Breathe You need to focus Whatever has happened, you can’t change it But you can istics Not just for Gideon and Carter, but for everyone else We need you to stay strong”

Not the tack he would have taken with anyone else, he thought But Felicia tended to live in her head

For a second he thought she ht burst into tears, but instead she seeht I have excellent organizational skills Those will help everyone Me falling apart will not”

“They’ve found people,” someone yelled

The huge ballroom went still for a heartbeat, then all the volunteers startedGabriel hesitated for a second, but Felicia pushed him away