[Enjoy this chapter from my novel, Emily & Hilda, the first of its series. Free on Smashwords until New Year’s Day]
“Enough slack, you two,” Emily shouted and grinned. “Race me home!” Emily opened up on them until she was a small dot in the distance. Mark and Katherine were already drenched with sweat, but the effort was keeping them warm on a freezing day. Fortunately, it had not rained or snowed since they arrived in Lancaster, Virginia, but this was the first day of a long cold snap. Continue reading
On Monday night, Emily told Cindy what had happened on Rugby Road. To her surprise, Cindy took it very calmly, apologizing for having been so selfish over the weekend when Emily first came back to the room. 
Mariana signalled a stop at the overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and swung off her bike. Emily caught the move in her peripheral vision only because she was looking at the same thing. She did a U-turn and joined the group. 
On their way back to Hancock Drive, Emily showed Cindy the Aquatic and Fitness Center and pointed out the dining halls and bus stops. The crowd of families and newcomers had thinned considerably by the time they walked up to the second floor. The Resident Assistants were taking a break in the little lounge at the end of the hall. Emily and Cindy introduced themselves. 
That same Monday after lunch, Emily rode out Avon Street to Community Bikes on the south side of Charlottesville. She took her Bianchi Volpe and wore her touring bicycle kit. 
Friday morning, Hilda heard the coffeemaker gurgling and spitting in the kitchen. She opened her eyes and smiled. Jack’s hard body fit her back like a glove.
Emily dragged Mark’s father over to the van. “I believe you two already know each other.”
The Freewheeling Freelancer 