Snowbound

By Helen Haught Fanick

Isabelle Montaigne is looking forward to a weekend ski trip to the Potomac Highlands, but things get off to a bad start when the tour bus slides off the highway in a blinding snowstorm. This is only the precursor of worse disasters; after finally struggling through the snow to reach the lodge, Isabelle and her cousin Ashley discover the body of a ski instructor, killed by a blow to the head.

Unfortunately, Ashley had an argument with the dead woman in front of all the employees of the ski school—and now she's the prime suspect. Isabelle knows her cousin isn't capable of murder, but the only other person who shares her opinion is Jack, Ashley's ex-boyfriend. Ski school authorities and Sheriff Ward Sterling will have to be convinced of Ashley's innocence.

Isabelle knows the only way to prove Ashley isn't the killer is to find out who is. She and her cousin begin searching for clues immediately as the snow piles up, cutting off phone service and highway travel. Was Jack involved? His fling with the dead woman poses questions. What about blackmail? There's evidence of that, too. Can Isabelle sort it all out before Ashley is charged with murder?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Helen Haught Fanick
• Release date: Jul 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516301461

Book preview

SNOWBOUND

By

Helen Haught Fanick

Copyright © 2013 by Helen Haught Fanick

Cover photo copyright © 1958 by James A. Haught

All rights reserved.

This short story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author or publisher, except where permitted by law.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SNOWBOUND

MOON SIGNS EXCERPT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ALSO BY HELEN HAUGHT FANICK

For Nicky

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to my friends and relatives in my beautiful home state of West Virginia for their love and support. Special thanks to my brother, Jim Haught, for the cover photo. It’s a great reminder of our first ski trip to the Canaan Valley. And as always, my appreciation for the many writers and readers in my circle who cheerfully critique my work.

SNOWBOUND

By Helen Haught Fanick

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My cousin Ashley can be persuasive when it comes to skiing. Just catch the tour bus, she said. I can arrange for you to ride free, and you can stay in our dorm. One of the other ski instructors left, and they haven’t replaced her. You can sleep in the extra bed. The phone was silent for a moment; then she persisted. You take life too seriously. You need a break.

I agreed with her and took Friday and Monday off from my part-time job as an investment counselor and arranged for someone to take notes for me at law school.

The weatherman predicted snow, due to start late Friday night after I was snug in my bed in the ski instructors’ wing of the handsomely rustic new Moondrift Lodge. The snow started in mid-morning, however, and before we reached the Canaan Valley in the Potomac Highlands, I was convinced the driver