The Heart of a Hero by Janet Chapman Page A

tee
gallinae
!”
    Olivia gave a groan and headed for her cart. “According to my head chef, hens apparently think being chased by a two-year-old trying to hug them is the same as being chased by a fox trying to eat them, and they quit laying for a week.”
    “Gallinae!”
Ella growled, twisting against the straps as Olivia buckled her into the safety seat on the passenger side of her cart.
    Julia was confused—or else Ella was. “Why is she calling them
gallinae
?”
    Olivia straightened with a tight smile. “Because my dear sweet husband is teaching her
Latin
. Once you unpack your swimsuits, you and Trish feel free to use either of the saltwater pools. The outside pool is also heated, and they’re both open to employees from ten to midnight and four to six every morning.” She waved toward the parking lot separated from the complex by some trees. “If you’re worried about Trisha driving the mountain, she can leave her truck down below and hitch a ride up on the shuttle. And in the morning she can ride down with me or Mac when we take the kids to the marina to catch the school bus with Peg’s tribe.”
    “Thanks. I like that idea, especially with the weather turning.”
    “You have studded snow tires on the truck?”
    Julia nodded. “I had new ones put on a couple of weeks ago.”
    “Since I finally caved in and had the road paved,” Olivia said, “the crew promised me they can keep it passable all winter now, and we’ll only have to use the snowcats
during
storms if there’s an emergency.” She shook her head. “I’m not really sure how I let Mac talk me into building a resort on top of a mountain, much less keep it open year-round.” She snorted. “Now he’s talking about stringing a cable across the fiord for scenic gondola rides.”
    “That’s not all that far-fetched, is it? There are gondolas in the Alps.”
    “It’s over
a mile
across.” Olivia waved toward the fiord. “And this is
Maine
, not the Alps, and sure as hell not Disneyland.” She took a deep breath and gave Julia a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
    “Just right now,” Julia drawled, “as opposed to
always
?”
    “Yeah, always,” Olivia said with a sigh. She slid into her shiny green electric cart—that Julia knew had been altered to go faster than the others—and set her hands on the steering wheel with a wince. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually miss cleaning cottages.” She suddenly gave Julia a cheeky smile. “How about you and I switch jobs for a week?”
    “Not on your life,” Julia said with a sputtered laugh.
    “Gallinae!”
Ella screeched, leaning into her harness, trying to reach the steering wheel. “Mum, go tee
gallinae
.” She looked at Julia, her huge, striking green eyes filled with impatience. “Bye,” she said with a surprisingly regal wave, apparently hoping her mother would get the hint. “Go tee
gallinae
now.
Bye
,” she repeated, this time aiming the wave at Olivia—who reached down with a loud sigh and put the cart in reverse.
    She backed up, slipped the cart into forward, then looked at her daughter. “Okay, we’ll stop by the chicken coop on our way to go find your father, because you know what?” she said, widening her eyes at Ella. “Daddy wants to take you
riding
.”
    “Equus!”
Ella squealed, clapping her hands in delight. “Wide
equus
wit Daddy.”
    Olivia rolled her eyes and silently zoomed off toward the barn with a wave over her shoulder. Julia stepped back and closed the door, then blew out a loud sigh of her own as she gazed around her temporary, fully furnished apartment.
    “Okay then,” she said as she headed for the kitchen. “Things are looking up in the walking disaster department. Trisha and I are living in the safest place on the planet thanks to my generous boss, I don’t have to bike to work anymore, and I’m apparently still in the running for the Inglenook position.” She opened the cupboards