“Mary?” Laurie sat on the bench next to Sharon and pulled on her socks and the borrowed tennis shoes.
“Yeah.” Sharon handed her a sweatshirt. “It’s cold.”
Laurie blew out a breath as they both stood. “I wish I could simply hide somewhere until everything dies down.”
“You can if you want. I’ll find you a secret corner.”
“No.” She sighed. “Easier to keep busy and hold my head high.”
“You’re stronger than I would be under the circumstances. I envy you that.” Sharon led the way out of the ladies’ room and back to the main area of the lodge.
Corbin and Zach both rushed over when the two women walked in.
“You okay?” Zach asked.
Laurie nodded.
“Laurie?” A small voice to Laurie’s right called to her.
She turned to find Mary stepping into her space. “I’m truly sorry. I’ve been a bitch.”
Laurie nodded, speechless.
“I’d love it if you’d help me corral the kids for a game. They’re restless all over the room, and their parents are worn out.”
“Do you work here?” Laurie asked.
“No. I’m just trying to help. Several of the little ones go to my preschool.”
“Okay.” She turned to face her mates. Both frowned at her, obviously not as quick to forgive. Or trust. “I’ll be fine.” She grabbed each of their forearms and gave a quick squeeze. “Go find something to do.”
Before they could protest, she followed Mary across the giant room to an area where several smaller kids were running around screaming.
“I really am sorry. When this is all over, we need to talk.”
Laurie nodded at the woman. At least someone seemed to have found a grain of sense finally.
Chapter Twenty-One
Zach stood against an inside wall of the great room in the lodge, arms crossed, watching his mate sleep on a mat on the floor. She’d been restless for hours, but finally she’d fallen asleep, and it was so peaceful watching her that he couldn’t imagine why he was in such a foul mood still.
A few men had stayed in a back room with Brock when he regained consciousness. And that woman Hazel from the crazy church. Lucky bastard, because if Zach had set eyes on him again during the night, he might have started a brawl.
It was bad enough the guy was inside the building. As soon as it was possible for people to leave, that jackass would be the first to go. And he wouldn’t be welcome to return in this lifetime either.
“You okay, honey?” Zach’s mom set a hand on his shoulder and leaned against the wall next to him.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry the first few weeks of your mating are so crazy hectic.” She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
“I’m not sure it’s a coincidence.”
She lifted her gaze as she released him. “You may be right. Your father and I have been discussing this. I don’t see how it’s possible for all three of my oldest sons to mate in threes and experience such high levels of angst without there being a reason. Something beyond our control and out of our comprehension.”
“I agree.”
“What does Laurie think?”
“She left town because she believed she brought all these problems to the area as opposed to the other way around. I think she’s starting to see reason. She has a purpose. Not sure what it is, but I believe Fate brought her here to solve problems, not create them.”
“How did you get to be so wise?” She patted his chest and smiled broadly.
Zach’s father rounded the corner. “There you are.” He beamed at his mate and held up his phone. “I’ve had contact with the occupants of all six cabins. They’re fine, but good and stuck. The snow has finally let up. We need to send a team of men to dig them out.”
“We’re going to have a lot of work to do on the slopes too,” Zach added.
Adam nodded. “I already have several guys lined up to make their way to the upper lodge and get the snow groomers going. If we run all four of them for a few hours in the early morning, we should be able to open at least the west slopes by about ten. Assuming it doesn’t start snowing like that again.”
Zach looked at his watch. “We should probably get up there then. It’s already seven o’clock.”
His father nodded. “I agree. I’ll gather the men.”
Zach stared at his mate again for several seconds and then glanced around, looking for Corbin. He didn’t readily see him. “Corbin.”
“Yep.” Even through their connection, he sounded tired.
“I’m going to the upper lodge with some men to get the slopes open and dig out the guests in those smaller cabins. They’re trapped.”