Cole straightened and frowned. ‘They have people missing and a town that is packed to capacity, people who are stranded.’
Lex’s head snapped up. ‘They have people missing?’
‘Yeah. Two shepherds haven’t checked in, and they can’t contact them on their phones. They’re assuming their batteries have died.’
‘Have they sent their S and R team out?’ Lex demanded.
‘Search and Rescue? It’s a small town, Lex, they don’t have the resources. But I did call the number I found online and spoke to a guy who’s coordinating their disaster management team. I offered to hire a helicopter to search for them and said that I would cover the costs to bring in an S and R team.’
Or course he had. Whether it was a life-or-death situation, or giving her sisters a treat of playing in the snow, he was so quick to offer his help, to use his money. Lex respected that. What was the point of having so much money if you didn’t use it to help others?
‘That’s good of you, Cole. What did they say?’
Cole frowned. ‘They appreciated the offer, but all helicopters and planes are going to be grounded shortly. The authorities don’t want anyone flying, as the next cold front is moving in very quickly.’
So, even if she’d wanted to take Cole up on his very generous offer to bring the girls here to play in the snow, the weather wasn’t playing ball, which allowed Lex to release the last vestiges of guilt at denying her sisters an awesome treat.
It was still going to be Cole and her alone in this big house. Excellent. Then she remembered that men were caught in the snow and felt ashamed of herself.
‘The coordinator said that he was hoping the shepherds got to one of the huts they have at higher altitudes. If they did, there are enough supplies in the huts to keep them warm and fed,’ Cole explained.
‘And the sheep?’ Lex asked. She couldn’t stomach the idea of the animals freezing to death.
‘I asked about them too, and apparently the herders love their animals and the huts have enclosed shelters to house the flock. Apparently, they are hardy men who know these mountains and how unpredictable the weather can be. He was cautiously optimistic.’
Lex nodded, relieved.
‘How old is this place?’ Lex asked him, changing the subject as she stirred the sauce.
‘The original structure is over eighty years old,’ Cole told her, resting his arms on the island. ‘Maybe Charlie was the original owner of Rossdale Ski Resort.’
Cole explained how so many things at the resort were named after ‘Charlie’ and that he’d been wondering who this Charlie person was.
‘It could be anyone,’ Lex told him, wrinkling her nose.
Cole grimaced. ‘I know. But the name is everywhere, so I’d like to know why my father felt the need to name everything after this person.’ He explained that he’d sent an email to his brother’s lawyer but wasn’t expecting a reply soon, if one came at all.
‘You don’t sound very optimistic,’ Lex commented.
Cole stared into his ruby-red wine. ‘Sam and I have a complicated relationship. I saw him when he visited our mother, but I veered between worshipping him—he was a lot older and cooler—and being incredibly jealous and resentful because he had a relationship with Grenville and I didn’t. We haven’t had contact for fifteen years so the chance of a quick response, or any response, isn’t good.’
Lex grimaced. She knew how important siblings could be and couldn’t imagine her life without her sisters. Addi was her first and last best friend. They were a solid team, and they had each other’s backs, no matter what. The sky could fall in and sea levels could rise but she and Addi would build a boat, make a plan...together.
‘Why is that?’
Cole didn’t elaborate on his comment so Lex gently kicked his ankle with her sock-covered foot. When he couldn’t look at her, her heart plummeted to her toes. ‘What happened with your brother, Cole?’ she asked.
He walked around the island and picked up the cork to the wine bottle, tossing it from hand to hand. ‘We were never close but we did keep in contact after he left school and went to uni,’ he explained. ‘Then one day—I was in my late teens—he stopped answering my calls, nor did he return my emails. I went over to his flat and I sat on his steps every afternoon for two days until he appeared. I demanded to know what his problem was.’
Lex placed her elbows on the island, morbidly fascinated. ‘What did he say?’
‘Nothing. He told me that a relationship between us was impossible.’
‘Why would he do that?’
‘Because my father ordered him to and Grenville’s word was law. If Sam wanted to be his son, inherit his fortune, be the next Thorpe to run the family business, then he had to cut me out of his life.’
‘But why? That makes no sense.’