Bette and Tina slowly approached Alice at the bottom of the slope, who was still doing her little happy snow dance at winning the race and the bet. “Okay okay Alice, you won, so when will you be collecting on your bet?” enquired Bette as she stabbed her ski poles into the snow. “Hmmmm can I get back to you on that? I’ll see what Dana says” Alice suggested, pushing her sunglasses to rest on top of her head. Tina stretched her back and shoulders, rolling her head and groaning slightly. “Are you okay baby?” Bette asked concernedly. “Oh yeah, just a bit achey is all” Tina reassured her.

Suddenly up behind them a skier screamed to a halt, it was Tash. “Hey ladies, everything okay?” she asked as she pulled her goggles up to sit on her cute woollen hat. “Tash, hello again, yeah everything is fine” Tina grinned as she nodded to the others who chimed in. “Yeah, just a bit of up and downing” Bette cheekily remarked. “And I’m kicking their butt all over these here ski fields” Alice boasted. “Oh yeah? You must be pretty good then …” Tash played along, “I believe I’d like to find out just how good, if you’re up for the challenge of course”. “Oh you have yourself a challenge girl!” accepted Alice, grinning at the prospect of finally having some competition. The four of them headed to the chair lift and sat down for their journey up the mountain.

“So …” Tash began, “Shane and Dana not racing with you all?”. “No, we thought they were with you, I hope they’re okay” Tina asked worriedly. “Last I heard they were gonna take a break in Blizzard, they’re probably still there” explained Tash as she took her gloves off. Tina continued to roll her neck, eyes closed, trying to work out the knots. “Tina, it looks like you need the skilled hands of your woman to rub away those aches” Tash suggested, giving Bette wink which was happily returned. “Oh those hands aren’t just good for rubbing away the aches” Alice responded in her own filthy way. “You’re right Al, they’re also good for flipping you the bird” retorted Bette as she followed her words with the appropriate action. Tash giggled, loving the playfulness of this group of women who seemed to know each other so well.

Tash was apprehensive in asking about Shane. Part of her wanted to hear it all from the woman herself, but she also got the feeling that Shane would hide a lot of her real self if pressed for info. “So what can you tell me about Shane that she probably won’t tell me herself?” Tash asked, hoping to get a small glimpse of what these women saw in Shane everyday. The others giggled, it was cute that Tash wanted to know more about Shane. Tash went on “Not that I don’t want to find out things from her myself, but I get the sense that she’s a bit, I dunno, guarded about herself”. “Well, that’s our Shane. She can be a bit protective of her real self, because she doesn’t want to get hurt” Tina offered. “I can totally understand that, I just hope I’ll be seeing some of her real self in the next few days” confessed Tash as she stared at her ski tips, swinging her feet below her. Tina smiled and patted Tash on her knee, “Don’t worry Tash, I suspect you’ve seen parts of her real self today”. Tash smiled softly, Tina was a really sweet woman she thought.

As they exited the chair lift, Bette and Tina headed in one direction while Tash and Alice pulled up at the top of the slope. “We’ll see you around the place guys, we’re gonna take it easy down some of the longer runs.” Tina shouted to Alice and Tash. “Alice … we’ll meet you back at the cabin, don’t forget we have to honor Tina’s victory tonight, you’re slaving with me remember?” Bette added, reminding Alice of the original bet that Tina had won. “Oh yeah, okay okay I’ll be there” Alice shouted back as they went on their way. When their race began, Alice realised that she was truly no match for Tash and her superb skills. She made it to the bottom of the hill exhausted after trying to keep up with Tash, who only seemed to be pulling further and further away. The huge smile on Tash’s face was priceless, the gasping fish out of water expression on Alice’s face was just as attention grabbing. “You’re good … real good” Alice admitted, knowing she was beat. “C’mon, let’s go again, I’ll give ya some speed tips” Tash commanded, enjoying Alice’s company.

They shuffled along as people got on the chair lifts, and were able to get a chair to themselves. This was Tash’s chance to interrogate and find some REAL dirt on Shane. “So Alice, I heard one of ya calling Shane ‘Stud’ earlier, is she a bit of a ladies lady?” Tash asked in a serious tone. “Well, she is generally a very popular young thing, and she has a powerful gift for attracting the ladeeeez” Alice started to explain until she noticed Tash’s expression drop slightly. “But … she recently got hurt by someone, and it has changed her, I’ve certainly noticed it. She’s just a woman who wants to be loved and have someone appreciate all she has to give them” Alice went on to tell, feeling a bit better about her explanation when she saw Tash shyly beam a glowing smile.

“She has always been envious of what Bette and Tina had, the perfect loving monogamous relationship. I guess she’s just been in the express lane for trying to find that special one” they both giggled knowingly. “Just … give her a chance … she’s a great friend, and … well … I know she likes you” Alice confessed, knowing that perhaps she shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t help herself. She was protective of Shane and always wanted what’s best for her, even though sometimes she made jokes about her. That was just Alice’s way. And she liked Tash. Alice got a strong feeling that Tash could hold her own, matching wits with Alice would always score big points with her. She thought Shane and Tash would make a sweet couple if given the chance, and she wanted them to have every opportunity to make it so. Tash blushed at hearing Alice’s knowledgable words. “I … like her too, and I definitely want to get to know her better” Tash admitted. Now it was Alice’s turn to beam “ahhhh it’s all coming to fruition” the matchmaker thought to herself.

Shane and Dana continued chatting back at Blizzard, gazing out the window occasionally to watch the action on the slopes. “So we could all be coupled up soon, that’ll be weird …” Shane suggested, looking to Dana for a response. Dana’s jaw had dropped, eyes wide and she gasped and pointed out the window. Shane looked to the source of Dana’s horror and saw, on the chair lift, Alice and Tash talking. “Ohh *****!” Shane breathed, “… this is bad karma”. Dana agreed, adding “Tash better keep her hands off MY woman”. Shane was equally as protective “Well your lil hussie better keep her hands off MY woman … I mean … you know what I mean”. Dana shook her head to clear her thoughts “What are we sitting here arguing for, lets get out there!” she exclaimed. The two of them quickly clomped their big booted feet out the door and dashed for their equipment.

Tash and Alice had no idea of the mayhem that was taking place or the trouble they were apparently in. They talked more about Bette and Tina, there was of course much to tell because of what had been happening. Tash could see the deep love they had even if they were back at their ‘courting’ stage “I can see why Shane would want what they have, who wouldn’t?”. Alice giggled nervously, a little shy all of a sudden. “Is that what you and Dana have, or want?” Tash enquired, noticing Alice’s slight change in demeanour. “Ahh … well what we’ve got right now is the ‘I wanna be with you 24/7′ stage, and we all know where that can lead … two places …” Alice began, wondering if Tash had any experience with those two places. “Oh yeah … the U-Haul or the Haul-*****” Tash said without hesitation. Alice nodded “Bingo!”.

Shane and Dana shuffled as fast as they could over to the chair lift to give chase to their women. This would be their first solo forray onto the big daunting slopes. But they were focussed on more important matters to worry about falling down or crashing. They struggled onto the chair and began their ascent up the mountain. Not a word was spoken, they were each looking down at the snow searching for Alice and Tash. Suddenly below them two figures zoomed down the mountain at racing speed, giving Dana and Shane no chance to yell down at them since they were gone before they could open their mouths. They exited the lift and started down the ski run doing their much practiced snow plows. Skiing along in long slow zigzags from one side of the slope to the other, they looked like an ostrich and a giraffe on skis. Dana was a picture of concentration, her eyes focussed, her jaw clenched, inside her mind a mantra played, “kill … kill … kill …”. Shane on the other hand was more concerned that Alice might be scaring Tash off with stories of her many conquests.

At the bottom of the slope, Alice and Tash met up with Bette and Tina again who had just finished their long run. They all got on the lift together and talked about what fun they were having. “Wow, check it out!” Tina gasped to the others as she pointed to a giraffe and ostrich weaving down the hill. “Oh my God, they’re actually doing it” a surprised Alice beamed. “It’s like watching baby birds leave the nest, I feel so proud” Tash gushed, wiping away fake tears. They all laughed as they kept watch on their friends, “Let’s wait for them at the top so we can all go together” Bette suggested, as the others enthusiastically agreed with the idea.

Shane and Dana both stayed upright and continued weaving down till they reached the bottom. “DANA!!!!” Shane screamed, waking her from her focus. “What?” Dana asked sternly. “We made it down the hill without falling and without help!” a shocked Shane excitedly exclaimed. Dana’s expression softened as she realised that they had indeed made it without falling or help … “Oh my God Shane, we did it!”. They hugged happily and celebrated their small important victory. “Let’s go again!” Dana squealed as they both headed to the lift again, forgetting all about their original chase.