Sasha hugged him. “I knew you would kick butt.”
“What are you going to do with all that money?” Conrad asked. “I mean, besides buy me a drink.”
Jesse pointed toward the donation jar. “You’re out of luck man. I donated it.”
Nate had done the same thing, the jar now almost full.
“You learned to climb and became a primary Team member in less than a year, so forgive me if I’m not amazed by your win today,” Megs said.
But she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“You looked good on the winner’s podium, Moretti,” said Taylor, who was there with Lexi, Hawke, and Victoria. “I might have to race next year to give you some competition.”
Jesse chuckled. “You can try.”
“Taylor here was the state’s high school ski champion, but he forgets that high school was a long time ago,” Hawke said. “Good job today.”
Ellie pointed toward Lexi’s swollen belly. “How much longer?”
“Five weeks,” Lexi answered. “I can’t wait till she gets here.”
“I get to be there,” Victoria said. “I’ve never seen a birth. I’m so excited.”
“It’s a special experience,” Ellie said.
Jack ordered a round for everyone at the table and made a toast to Jesse, Nate, and Buckwheat in honor of their victory, then went off to shoot the shit with Joe, who stood behind the bar, long hair in a man bun. He was back by the time the food arrived.
Jesse helped with the kids, who again showed their love of French fries by tossing as many as they ate. He’d finished his bison burger and had lifted Daisy into his lap so that he could clean her up when Liz Pascoe, the organizer of SnowFest, stepped onto the stage and took the mic.
“Hey, everyone. I just wanted to thank you for making this another great year for SnowFest. We broke attendance records this year, which is a reason to celebrate. Without the support of the Town of Scarlet Springs and all the volunteers from the community—the Team, the hospital, the fire department—this wouldn’t be possible. Let’s give a round of applause to our volunteers.”
When the cheers had died down, she went on. “We weren’t able to award the prize to the winning shotski team last night due to a town ordinance that prohibits giving alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons.”
People burst into laughter and cheers at this.
“So, to give out that prize, here’s Caribou Joe.”
Joe got on stage. “Thanks for being here tonight, folks. It’s great to have a full house. I’ve got a bottle of Glenmorangie 1981, with a retail value of twelve hundred fifty-five dollars, to give to last night’s winning shotski team, Bottoms Up.”
“Damn!” Nate said. “Next year, Moretti, we enter the shotski competition.”
“Fine by me.”
“Damn!” said Daisy.
The members of Bottoms Up went up to the stage to collect their prize, and Jesse recognized Kenny, one of the lift operators, among them.
Jesse laughed. “Way to go, Kenny!”
Joe waited for the cheers to die down before going on. “Before I step down, I wanted to take a moment to thank a member of our community who went above and beyond yesterday and risked his life to save another.”
Ah, shit.
“Jesse Moretti moved here from out of state after serving as an Army Ranger. He took our town and us Springers to his heart and became one of us. He learned to climb and ski, and spends his days saving lives with the Team and working as a ski patroller. And today, he and Nate West set a new skijoring record. You’ve all heard the story and seen the images of him diving into the reservoir yesterday to save Ellie Meeks’ two-year-old daughter, Daisy. I ask you to join me in showing your gratitude by raising your glasses for Jesse Moretti, a true Scarlet Springs hero.”
There was a scraping and rustling as chairs were pushed back and people got to their feet. Everyone at Jesse’s table stood, too, including Ellie, who had tears streaming down her cheeks.
Joe held up his glass. “To Jesse Moretti.”