Chapter 5

I decided they worked pretty well together—the board and my high-tech lower leg. I was still conquering the bunny hill, no more than thirty minutes at a stretch, but I felt pretty good. Miss Baxter, in her ever-optimistic way, acted like I had just qualified for the Olympic team.

She would come to the lodge sometimes to have lunch with me, which made me think her main mission in life was still to see that I got enough calories for the day. But then she would stay and watch me until it was time to go, and afterwards, drive me home.

It was while we were in the car that she finally broached the subject of rent payments, but not in a way that I ever would have expected. Miss Baxter asked me if I would consider taking on the role of caretaker of the house—working around my training schedule, of course.

I smiled.

“So, what exactly would I be doing?” I said. “As caretaker, that is?”