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  “You were very lucky,” Sheila agreed. “How can I ever apologize to you for what has happened here?”

  A brisk knock on the door prevented Nancy from answering. Sheila hesitated, then rose to her feet and opened it. “Come in,” she said.

  George and Bess were followed by Rebecca, Ben, and Jody. When everyone was seated Sheila leaned forward in her chair. Her blue eyes were serious, and her lips trembled as she began to speak.

  “I asked you all to come here,” she said, “because I wanted to apologize for everything that’s happened. Even though I didn’t take part in the things that Karl did, I do feel responsible. You see, Tall Pines was my dream. If it hadn’t been for me, Karl would never have built the resort.”

  “It was a wonderful dream,” Bess said. “This is the best resort I’ve ever seen.”

  Sheila managed a small smile. Then she turned to Rebecca. “I’m so sorry for what we put you through. I hope you’ll take your job back.”

  Rebecca’s grin was the only answer anyone needed. “I’ll be back at work first thing tomorrow,” she announced.

  George shot Rebecca a conspiratorial look. “See,” she said. “I told you Nancy would help.”

  There was one more question Nancy wanted answered. “Were you by any chance responsible for a page being missing from Jody’s personnel file?” she asked Ben.

  He flushed. “I was afraid you’d find out about Jody’s conviction and put it in your article, so I destroyed that page.”

  The last pieces fit into the puzzle.

  “You’ve been a great manager,” Sheila told Jody. “The gift shop is booming, and so is the ski shop. I think you have the qualities I need in a general manager. Do you think you could handle the job?”

  “You bet I could!” Jody exclaimed, her eyes widening.

  “Then it’s settled.” Looking at Ben, Sheila added, “I’m going to hire a painter.”

  “A painter? Why do you need a painter?” he asked.

  This time Sheila chuckled. “To letter the new sign. You know, the one that will say the Ben Wrobley Ski School.”

  Before Ben could react George cried, “That’s great! It sounds so much better than the Inge Gustafson School.”

  “I’m glad you said that,” Ben said with a laugh. “It would sound conceited coming from me.”

  “Of course, there’s a pay raise that goes along with the new sign,” Sheila pointed out. “You may have to wait a bit until I sell all our other assets, but even with the expense of Karl’s defense I think I’ll be able to manage raises.”

  A broad grin creased Ben’s face. “That sounds even better than the sign.” He leaned forward and smiled at Nancy. “And to make up for what you’ve been through, Nancy, I’ll be glad to give you a season’s free skiing lessons.”

  Nancy glanced at Sheila, Rebecca, George, and Bess before she answered Ben. “No, thanks,” she said with a grin. “I think I’ll try a less dangerous sport—something like hang gliding.”

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Simon Pulse

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  Copyright © 1991 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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  ISBN: 978-0-6717-3068-0 (pbk)

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