Cassie bit her lip. “Doesn’t sound promising.” She paused. “Why don’t you go to her?”

“Christmas is our busiest time at the bar and three of the guys on the crew are away visiting family...” He shook his head. He’d already explored any angle he could to make that option work, but he’d dismissed it as a possibility.

“I don’t mean just for Christmas.” She took a breath. “Look, Snow Trek Tours is doing great now.” She gestured to the files on the table in front of her. “I can easily repay you for the loan...”

“It wasn’t a loan. I gave you that money. I’m glad things are going great for the business, but that’s all because of you, Cass.”

“Just hear me out. You could move to Anchorage and go back to school.”

He scoffed. “I’m almost thirty.”

“So? You always talked about being an EMT... With your training from the search and rescue, you’d probably be able to transfer in credits to a program and be finished faster...”

Excitement rose in her voice as she talked, but he continued to shake his head. The EMT dream had long ago left him. He loved his life on the mountain, felt fulfilled by his position on the search and rescue team. Anchorage was the last thing he wanted, even if it did have the one thing he wasn’t sure he could continue to live without.

“Stop shaking your head and just consider it. As kids, it was all you talked about. Helping people is your thing. And Erika is in Anchorage. This long-distance thing is never going to work long-term,” she said, gently.

So much for getting a more optimistic outlook from his sister. “No, I can’t. A lifestyle change that drastic for someone I’ve only loved for a few weeks...”

His sister looked shocked.

“What?”

“You just said love.”

No sense in denying it. He knew it was true. He loved Erika with all his heart. “Crazy as it sounds, I do love her.”

“Well then you have to go after her. Even if that means sacrifices.”

“I have responsibilities here. I don’t hear you suggesting she move here. Give up everything she knows, everything she’s worked hard for.”

Why was it on him to take this leap of faith?

“She has a professional career saving lives. It’s not as easy for her to find work here.”

The Wild River Community Hospital had an opening, but Erika had said she hadn’t even considered it.

“Reed, you could help people as an EMT in Anchorage, or go into nursing. You talked about that, too,” Cassie continued.

“No.”

His sister studied him. “Reed, be honest with yourself. Why is this life so hard to let go of?”