"I promise that no matter what I do, you will be in a panic by the time we get to the bottom."

"I guarantee that," Levi said.

They let Tara go ahead of them. Rebecca held her breath as the chair sneaked up behind them and lifted them off the ground. She held the cross bar with an iron grip as they rose higher off the ground.

"We're almost there," Levi said. "Put the tips of your skis into the air when you meet the ground and slide off."

Rebecca watched the people in front of them easily glide off the lift. How hard could it be? Her skis clonked the snow-covered ground below her, and she pushed off the chair with sufficient force. Unfortunately, her pole clamped itself around the back of the chair and she crashed spectacularly, face-first into the snow.

Levi hooked his arm under Rebecca's armpit and lifted her out of the way of the oncoming chairs.

Tara, who waited for them at the side of the run, grabbed Rebecca's other arm and pulled her along. The muscles in Levi's arm tightened around her, and he growled under his breath.

They found a flat boulder to sit on while Rebecca regained what little pride she had left.

"Don't worry," Levi said, "people do that all the time."

Tara smirked. "Not often."

Levi snapped his head up and scowled at Tara, but it didn't matter to Rebecca. Tara's bitterness slid off her like skis over the snow.

Rebecca pulled her gloves tighter around her wrists and zipped her coat to her chin. She watched as skiers practically leaped off the edge of the trail and raced down the mountain at dizzying speeds. She was going to be sick.

What did she think she was doing here? It wasn't like a roller coaster where she sat as a passive participant in complete terror but never really risked injury. Watching the other skiers fly down the hill, she considered the very real possibility of her death.

Rebecca closed her eyes and willed her heartbeat to slow to a gallop. She had never given up on any of their adventures before. She couldn't quit at the last one. She just couldn't. Besides, how many people actually ever died on a ski slope?

Levi pulled her to her feet. "Are you breathing? Breathe, Rebecca." He put his skis parallel to hers and pulled her into his arms. "We are not doing this," he said. "I've never seen you this bad. We did the bunny hill. That's enough."

Rebecca pulled away from him. "Nae, I've got to do it."

"I can help her all the way down," Tara said. "People pay big bucks for my instructions."

Levi's voice was mild even though his words were sharp. "I don't trust you, Tara. Stay away."

Rebecca tried to calm her breathing even as she felt beads of sweat slide down the back of her neck. "Tomorrow is the five-year anniversary of Dottie Mae's accident. I have to finish it. For her."

Even through their thick jackets, Rebecca could feel Levi's arms tense. "What did you say?"

Tara clapped her hand over her mouth, and her eyes grew rounder than platters. "Oh, ho. It just gets worse and worse for you, doesn't it?"

A wild, confused look jumped into Levi's eyes. Even with his skis on, he staggered backward in the snow. "Don't say another word, Tara."

"December sixteenth," Tara said. "I remember it well because it is my brother's birthday."

"Shut up, Tara!" Levi yelled. "Shut up." He took Rebecca's arm as if to move her away from Tara, but there was nowhere for them to go but down.

Tara somehow managed to slide between Levi and Rebecca. "Five years ago. That's the night Levi and Derek and the other guys got drunk and plowed Derek's car into an Amish buggy. Killed the little girl instantly. Her dad had to get like four surgeries on his leg."

Wild-eyed, Levi backed away from Rebecca, sank to the boulder, and buried his face in his hands. "I didn't know. I didn't know it was her."

A high-pitched ringing started in Rebecca's ears as her surroundings blurred. This...the voices...she could barely make sense of anything. "Was Levi driving?"

"No, Derek was. Lucky they were all underage, or Derek would have seen some serious prison time. Levi got juvey overnight for giving Derek the alcohol." Tara gave Rebecca's shoulder a pat. "Was that girl a friend of yours?"

Rebecca stood motionless. On the inside, she experienced the perfect storm as a thousand shards of ice pierced her heart.

Dottie Mae. My best friend.

Lost when four drunken boys ignored a stop sign and crashed into her buggy, reducing it to kindling. Four boys who cared more about the trouble they'd be in than my best friend's life. My friend who would never ride a roller coaster, never ski, and never kiss a boy.

She had spent five years hating those boys. They had killed Dottie Mae. They didn't deserve to go on enjoying their lives while having robbed Dottie Mae of hers. Rebecca's heart almost exploded out of her chest with anger and despair.

Nothing would atone for what Levi and his friends had done to Dottie Mae. He couldn't begin to repay such a debt by a few weak attempts to show an Amish girl a good time.

"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord."

God will make him pay for what he did.

The stifling heat of the bright snow made her catch her breath. She was going to suffocate. The ringing in her ears became unbearable, and Tara said something Rebecca didn't hear.

Levi stood up, and even on his skis, he seemed to stumble as he came toward her. "I didn't know, Rebecca. I didn't know."

Rebecca recoiled at his touch. Her only thought was to get far away from that boy who'd killed Dottie Mae.

That boy she had trusted with her deepest secrets.

That boy she loved with every breath she took.

With her meager skill, Rebecca pushed with all her might to the edge of the drop. She heard both Tara and Levi yell as she plunged down the hill at a reckless speed. With no one ahead of her for several yards, she managed to stay upright, keeping both skis pointed downhill and concentrating every bit of energy on staying on her feet. But almost halfway down the hill, she encountered a tall lump of ice and flew wildly through the air. She hit the ground, and her feet flew out from under her, hurtling her into the trees on the side of the run. A sickening crack was followed by a nauseating pain traveling from her shoulder to her neck. Coming to a stop, she moaned and then managed to roll onto her back so she wouldn't get a mouthful of snow.

"Are you okay?"

Two boys had their skis off and knelt beside her almost before she stopped rolling. One of the boys touched her arm, and she screamed in pain.

"She broke something," he said.

"Rebecca!"

Levi and Tara got to her at the same moment. Levi released his skis and crawled to her head. "Rebecca. Where are you hurt? Can you feel your legs? What about your neck?"

Rebecca didn't answer, although she wanted to scream at Levi to get away. She panted as the pain threatened to send her into unconsciousness.

"I think she broke her collarbone," said the first boy. "We need a rescue crew up here." He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and dialed a few numbers.

"No," Rebecca said, trying to sit up. The searing fire in her shoulder sent her to the ground again. "I cannot afford it."

"I'm taking you to the hospital," Levi said.

This time she did sit up, in spite of the efforts of three boys to keep her down. "No hospital," she said, before the trees, the faces, the sky became a cloud of snow and fog.

Levi gently took her by her good arm and put his hand around her neck. "Lay back, kid."

She didn't argue. She couldn't argue. When she made any movement, the pain almost overwhelmed her. She sank to the ground with Levi's hand still under her head.

"It'll be all right. You'll be okay, kid."

"Stay away from me," she said weakly.

The tortured look on his face did nothing to lessen her contempt.

She tried to push his hand away with her good arm. He wouldn't budge. "Don't touch me." She talked to the boy with the cell phone. "Get him away from me."

Levi and the other boy looked at each other in confusion. "Hey," the boy said mildly, "I don't think she wants to be touched. The pain is making her punchy."

Rebecca took a deep breath and let a wave of pain subside. "You killed Dottie Mae."

Levi's face twisted in pain. "I'm so sorry, Rebecca. I was going to tell you about the accident. I didn't know it was Dottie Mae."

Tara folded her arms and flashed Levi a superior look. "You forgot to share that minor detail about your past."

Rebecca's shoulder burned and froze at the same time. "Go away, Levi. I never want to see you ever again."

The ski patrol announced themselves on two growling snowmobiles. They quickly assessed the damage and wrapped her shoulder and arm while Levi and Tara stood watch. Levi wouldn't leave but stayed far enough away that she couldn't complain that he was harassing her.

The medics lifted her onto a strange sort of medical sled to transport her to the bottom of the hill, where Rebecca suspected an ambulance waited.

Tara folded her arms and glanced smugly at Rebecca. "I told you she was a self-righteous little prig."

"Save it, Tara," Levi said. "I'm not listening anymore."

Chapter Thirty-One.

Rebecca never felt more forsaken than when she lay on that examination table staring at the dingy white ceiling and waiting for the results of her X-rays. Her arm and shoulder felt like they were on fire. If only Mamm were here to hold her hand and reassure her that everything would be okay. At this moment, Rebecca would have settled for Linda or Danny. Even Max would be better company than her thoughts. She wished she could erase the last seven months of her life and forget she ever knew Levi Cooper. She would be content if the thought of him never crossed her mind again.

The nurse pulled back the curtain and handed her a cup of ice water with a straw. "Here you go," she said.

Rebecca wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I've got to get out of here," she said. "Please let me out of here."

The nurse rubbed her hand up and down Rebecca's leg. "The doctor should be back in just a few minutes, honey. You're almost done. Everything will be all right."

Rebecca took a long sip of water and tried to breathe normally.

The nurse picked up a towel and sponged off Rebecca's head. "I hate to ask again, but that boy in the waiting room is wondering if he could come in and see you. I know you've already said no, but he looks so upset. I thought you might change your mind."

Rebecca frowned and closed her eyes. Thank goodness for hospital privacy rules. "I won't see him." The nurse forced a smile. "Okay, I'll tell him."

"Tell him to go home."

"He says he's your ride."

"I've already called someone else to come and get me."

"Can I tell him how you're doing?"

Rebecca turned her head from the nurse and stared at the wall. "Tell him I'm much better off without him."

Mrs. Johnson pulled the car in front of Rebecca's house. "I'll help you in," she said.

In spite of the searing pain up her arm and shoulder, Rebecca popped the door open and jumped out. "I can manage."

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine."

The hospital ordeal was finally over. After the doctor gave her a crisp sling and discharge instructions, Rebecca had sneaked out the back way to Mrs. Johnson's waiting van. Undeterred, Levi tracked Rebecca's escape and tenaciously followed in his Toyota, back to Apple Lake like a stray puppy.

Glancing behind her, she saw Levi sitting in his dented car at the entrance to the long driveway, leaning as far forward as he could and waiting for Mrs. Johnson to back out. "Thank you a million times for the ride, Mrs. Johnson. You saved me today."

"You called at a good time. My soap was over, and I had nothing else to do all afternoon. Get some rest, and I'll see if one of the Newswenger girls can clean for me until you're better."

Rebecca made her way to the house as rapidly as she could without jarring her shoulder. She must be safely hidden inside before Levi could intercept her. Oh, that she had never asked him to take her skiing!

Rebecca slammed the front door behind her and stormed into the kitchen. She stopped short, and her heart sank. Wednesday afternoon. Marvin was here.

He sat at the table with Linda, Max, and Danny. Linda must have been in charge of dinner. They were eating hot dogs and dill pickles, and the cupboards practically sagged with dirty dishes.

They stared at her in silent disbelief. She must look a sight. Englisch clothes, hair askew, arm in a sling... She chastised herself for not sneaking through the back door.

"What happened to your arm?" Danny asked with his mouthful of pickles.

"Where have you been?" Linda said.

Rebecca ignored the questions and Marvin's shocked expression and went to the sink. She turned her back on her family, filled a pot with water, and put it on the stove to heat up. Then she put the plug in the drain and turned on the faucet. She poured dish soap under the cold running water and filled the sink with dishes left from breakfast and lunch. Disregarding her throbbing shoulder and the deafening silence behind her, Rebecca started washing dishes with her one good hand.

As expected, she heard a knock at the door.

She looked at Marvin and tried to remove any emotion from her voice. "Tell him I will not see him."