Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 30 - Fool Me Not

At the alarm, Anna turned to read the clock. It was eight o'clock. She jumped out of bed in a panic hoping she wasn't too late. She only got a few hours of sleep but it was more than enough. 

The sun was just barely making a lazy appearance, but the cold weather was refusing to let it take over. It didn't matter, she felt as energetic as two cups of coffee would affect a first timer.

Bright rays of sunlight filtered through her window casting a glow of orange and peach across her bedroom floor. It would be one of the rare sunrises that could be seen just long enough before another snowstorm was due. Anna had been excited because she had wanted to take her father to the hot springs nearby while surrounded by snow. She would have followed that by professional grooming, and massages before being treated to an excellent dinner.

But because her dad didn't give her time, kept secrets from her, and planned her future without her say she stomped on those plans in her head. She had one chance to secure happiness in her future by her choice and not her fathers. Anna needed some personal time with her future husband.

The thrill of Jake ending up in her bed was enough to spur her into action. Anna grabbed her clothes as she intended to head for the shower. For a moment her body felt light-headed from jumping out of bed so fast that her brain knocked out images of her and Jake together in her cabin. She bent forward to let the dizziness subside and remembered she had to call the mountain to let them know she was coming to stay the night.

Colin had bought forty acres of land on a mountain next to Mt. Ashland. So that there weren't any problems, he built twenty cabins for those wanting to stay and ski the mountain. He had a deal with the owners of the ski mountains to rent out the cabins which they split the profits since they maintained them. Colin and every generation he produced as well as anyone he chose could ski the snow caked mountains without cost and have free reign of any expanded opportunities. It had worked out well since Colin trusted Anna and Harmony to visit any time they wanted as the towns were small and Colin didn't feel they could get into much trouble.

The nearby town of Ashland was filled with art galleries, food, jewelry, and clothing stores with little hole in the wall bars open on every other block because it is a college town. The town is small and elegant, which Anna's whole family adored. The people were always friendly and protective so Colin didn't have to send Nate with them every time they wanted to ski there. The crime rate was almost non-existent.

It was where Anna and Harmony got into the most trouble. Trouble may not be the right word for they got away with quite a bit that Colin didn't know about. They've only been caught at the bars in town twice. After the last time, Colin had arranged a body guard that snitched every negative word Anna uttered. Since Nate lived in California and worked a lot, it was difficult for him to watch the girls as much as he used to. That was why her father had employed two guys which took turns in babysitting. Anna hated it and it took an hour of tears with many promises to get rid of them. Colin was one step close to drawing up a contract with ridiculous terms that Anna and Harmony had agreed to. They were still waiting for the contract to be in print as Colin has promised to do. The worst thing they agreed to was if they were to get into trouble or produce problems especially under Colin's name again, the girls were to part ways and no longer be friends.

That was what most of the tears were over.

That was only six months ago.

Anna called to request her stay at the very top cabin on the hills which happened to be the least used because it is the most expensive. It was also the most luxurious cabin Colin had built. That was the cabin that Anna and her family would stay in, no other. When they weren't occupying it, the cabin was reserved for newlyweds. Even the richest on the planet weren't allowed to use it because the with that lack of concern for money, Colin was afraid the structure and its contents wouldn't be respected. Newlywed couples were impressed enough to be ultra-careful with everything. With it still being Christmas vacation for new brides however, she wasn't sure she was going to be able to get the cabin.