“And both of you, mind your manners.”The girl mounted a young gelding, swinging her leg over the saddle in a most-unladylike manner, and I got on ...y trusted mare, and we were off on a cool morning, heading north and a bit east when we got the chance. The roads were firm and the air was soft. It was good to be young, and I spent some time admiring her bouncing body as well as the green countryside.By the time the sun was at its zenith we had covered ten or twelve miles, letting our horses walk. Her mother fidgeted before answering.“I needed some time away on my own.”“Please don’t give me that line of bullshit, Mom. Dad called me up when he got home and found the note you left.“He told me that after 25 years he knew that the lies you were spouting had to come from someone else — it wasn’t something you thought of on your own.”Her mother frowned at that, but didn’t say anything.“Dad told me right then that the only explanation he could think of was that you were running away with a. "Sasha thanked her and they went inside. Susan and Cameron gave him a tourof the house and helped him set up in his room. He took a shower and puton a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, then tied his hair in a ponytail andcame downstairs. Susan and Cameron, who were 21-year-old fraternal twins,had a wealthy family and each had their own apartments, but were stayingat home to help out Sasha since their parents were out of town so often.Sasha went to the kitchen where Susan and Cameron were. Rainier and I could feel my breath catch in my chest. I wonder if that was my body’s way of saying something as significant as Mt. Rainier was about to happen in my life …We agree to meet at the hotel … you knock and I let you in. I smile at you and kiss you sweetly on the cheek and take your hand and lead you to a dining chair with arms by the desk. You follow without saying a word, letting me guide you completely and with all that trust that you so willingly offer me at times …I remove your.