I was surprised when she pulled off her full-face helmet and I could see her beautiful green eyes. That's the thing about riding snowmobiles, you really don't know who you're riding with until you can see their face. The whole point of the gear is to keep every inch of skin covered from the cold. When she pulled the balaclava from her head and long, blonde hair spilled everywhere around her jacket, you could have knocked me over with a snowball.
"Hello, I'm Marcus. And this is my daughter Katrina" I shook his hand, introduced myself as Randy and nodded at Katrina.
Everyone was eating burgers and talking about the days since the last group ride when she stood up. I watched her walk outside so I picked up my beer and followed her. She reached into a front pocket of her snow bib and pulled out a pack of Marlboro's and a lighter. I watched as she put the cigarette to to her lips with long fingers. Bending away from the light breeze blowing up the mountain, she lit the cigarette and inhaled. Smoke blew from her lips before I walked up beside her.
"Those things are dangerous, you know?" I spoke as I pointed to her cigarette with the hand holding my beer. I've never smoked and rarely been attracted to a woman who did, but Katrina was different. I had been impressed by her riding on the way to lunch and to watch her just now, I had found it a very sexy act.
"Really? I think I read that somewhere myself," she smiled as she said it. Her eyes looked at the ashes on the tip before she brought it to her lips and inhaled once again. She turned her head slightly before exhaling. I watched the smoke drift into the woods. "Of course, drinking and driving isn't the safest act."
I smiled as I studied her face. Her high cheekbones and wind-burned pale skin made her very easy on my eyes. "I only smoke two or three times a day. It somehow brings me a moment of peace. I use a lot of energy when I ride and this calms me a bit." We mostly stood in silence as I finished my beer and Katrina her cigarette.
"Hey you two, we're getting ready to ride," it was Marcus giving us notice.
"Why don't you hang back and ride with me and my dad on the way home?" On these rides, there are always three or four that bring up the rear. The stated intention is to help out anyone who has troubles, but mostly it's so they can play in the snow off-trail without messing up the more casual riders.
#
Katrina had dropped hints at the end of the ride, but nothing specific. I helped her dad tie down their sleds to the trailer but he had been a bit tight-lipped as well. It was like an unspoken bond between the two of them. She had mentioned Big Sky and working at her dad's bar but that was about it. I had asked for her cell but she smiled and told me if she wanted the number, I'd have to track her down. I thanked them both for the great ride as they drove off North.
It had taken me about three weeks to check the Half Moon Saloon and Grill on Highway 191, a few miles South of Big Sky. I had started in town - it's really a ski resort area - but had not had any real success. I only went on Friday and Saturday nights figuring they'd be the busiest and best chance of her working. Finally I pulled into the Half Moon around ten o'clock and found quite a few cars. The bar was a bit loud but I took a seat overlooking the frozen river. It had a pretty good view of the place. A cute little waitress took my beer order and said "Oh yeah, Kristina's behind the bar," when I asked if she knew her.
I drank my Moose Drool and watched her work. It was a long bar with men and women spread across the length. Some were skiers, some snowmobilers and others were obviously locals. When the waitress asked me if I was ready for a second, I told her yes and asked her to mention my name to Katrina. I watched as she spoke to Katrina while ordering my beer. Katrina really didn't look my way and I could feel myself sinking into the seat. All these bars for nothing I thought.
"So Randy, you finally decided to look me up." Katrina handed me the beer with a smile.
"Damn! This is probably the 12th bar I've been in the last three weeks looking. You didn't exactly make it easy." I took a drink from the bottle.
"Easy's no fun. Every man needs a challenge! I need a smoke. Why don't you bring that bottle out back and we can talk. It's a little quieter out there."
I followed her outside into the cold Montana night air. She leaned against the building and lit her cigarette. We had a nearly full moon shining on us. I pulled on my beer and made a bit of small talk with her. With looks like Katrina, being hit on is nothing new. She let me kiss her in the moonlight. It was nothing earth-stopping, but it let her know I was interested. I took it as a sign she too was interested before we walked back in the bar.
"See that perky little blonde over there," pointing towards the end of the bar. "Well she's visiting from Wisconsin and she's been saying the nicest things to me for the past couple hours. She's staying at one of the best lodges in Big Sky and she just gave me her room key."
I looked again towards the bar and Wisconsin was definitely an attractive woman. Probably in her early 30's and had the appearance of being quite successful. I was mildly surprised that Katrina was so open with me about her sexuality. After all, it seemed like we have a little chemistry but she really doesn't know me either.
