Logan had explained the situation to his father numerous times over the phone. But his father didn’t believe Logan should make a financial move without checking out every angle—repeatedly. Saddle Mountain had been teetering on the brink of closure for several years. Karsten was ready to retire, and hadn’t put as much money into the place as he probably should have. He’d told Logan he had interest from a big corporation that was in the real estate development business. The downside was that the developer would simply do a cookie-cutter rehabilitation, creating mediocre ski terrain in order to drive condo sales.

The alternative was for someone local to take over the resort and focus on its best and most unique assets. That was where Logan came in.

“I’m older than these hills you see around us,” said Karsten. “None of my kids or grandkids wants to take it on.”

“I know what that’s like,” said Al. “You spend your life building something to last, but there’s nobody to carry on.”

“Hell, Dad, why be subtle when you can make your point with a sledgehammer?” asked Logan. He was already starting to regret inviting his father up for the day. “Tell you what. Let’s take a look around.”

It was a cozy resort complex designed like an old Tyrolean place in the Alps of Austria. The centerpiece was the big brown-and-orange Austrian-style chalet, set squarely in the middle of everything. Five chairlifts radiated up the mountain in different directions.

Some of Logan’s best memories with Charlie had been made right here on the mountain. They came here together every year, reveling in the snow and the scenery, savoring the rush of speed as they rode down the mountain on their snowboards. It was the one time Logan could simply be with his kid and escape everything else—the tedium of running his firm, a marriage that wasn’t working, the everyday challenges of parenthood.

“It’s a diamond in the rough,” said Logan.

“Emphasis on rough,” said Al, shading his eyes and checking out the old lodge.

“It’s got the second-highest vertical drop in the state,” said Logan. “Three thousand three hundred feet.”

“Could be this is one of those ideas that’s just crazy enough to work,” said Adam, never one to hold back his opinion.

“How’s that?” Logan’s father’s scowl darkened.

Logan used to be afraid of that scowl. Not anymore. “The idea’s not crazy at all. This resort is just a few hours from the city. The financials are going to be a challenge, but I can make it work.” Looking out over the vast property, he could picture a vibrant family place, alive with skiers and snowboarders in winter, mountain bikers, hikers and climbers in summer. With or without his father’s approval, he’d find a way to bring his vision to life.

“Why this?” Al demanded. “Why now?”