Race of Love by Ann Nichols

Author:Ann Nichols
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

Nine

Niki loved the short drive to ancient Isthmia. Lined with Mediterranean pine, cypress, and olive groves with peekaboo views of the deep Saronic Gulf as it flowed toward the Corinth Canal, it was special in that old-world sort of way, where the stones of centuries-old farmhouses seemed to grow out of the ground. Plane trees and oak, poplars, and walnut all seemed to sprout leaves overnight, scenting the land with their freshness and softening the hard lines of winter into the more gentle ones of spring.

“When my pins come out,” Niki spoke after several moments of companionable silence, “I’ll have to make this road into one of my regular training routes.” It was the first time that Niki had talked to Phil about running again and he wanted to shout with happiness but, following her lead, he curtailed the euphoria that coursed through him and, instead, he nonchalantly replied, “Good. I’ll ride my bike alongside you.”

“Afraid to run?” Niki taunted.

“Hey. . .” he laughed, “you’re a world-champion runner. . . give me a break.”

“Correction. I was a world champion.” Hurt and anger yanked the serenity off of Niki’s face, and her voice sounded as if a ton of bricks had been dropped on it. Phil’s happiness from the moment before was crushed along with it. “How I run after my pins come out,” she flicked her hand contemptuously down toward her ankle, “remains to be seen.”

Phil bit the inside of his cheek to keep from speaking. There was so much that he wanted to tell her, to confess, but he knew that now wasn’t the time. He didn’t say anything, and by the time they reached the Isthmia and parked outside the little museum, the peace and serenity of the Hellenic countryside had worked its magic on Niki’s spirit and she was almost a carefree tourist again, out to enjoy the wonders of the land. Almost—Phil said to himself as he helped her from the car—but not quite.

They walked through the entrance hall of the museum to the verandah that overlooked the site. “Not much remains of the ancient temples and such,” he said, pointing out the obvious. Niki gazed out over the arid area of what had been ancient Isthmia and even though she knew that she should be disappointed in the dust-laden site before her, she could only muster up relief. Despite her brave thoughts at the hotel, she was glad that, unlike ancient Olympia, it was difficult to even begin to make out the magnificent sports center that had once been here.

Craning her neck, she searched for a track. She was relieved not to find one. “It looks more like the grounds of a country fair right after the fair pulls up stakes and leaves,” she murmured, and smiled when Phil chuckled. “There’s hardly anything left.” She waved her hand out over the site. “What happened to all the buildings? Not even fires, earthquakes, or floods managed to ruin ancient Olympia this badly.”

Phil chuckled again. “No. Something much more fierce destroyed this place.

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