Chapter One

I woke slowly, not really wanting to move, knowing that lying in my bed would only serve towards turning me into the kind of lazy individual I had always despised. There was a lot of work to be done today. The sun, I knew, would be coming up soon, bringing with it the false promise of warmth, for the day, despite the cold winds howling outside my bedroom window. At this time of year, and at this elevation in the Colorado Rockies, it wasn't going to get that much warmer than it was now, even if we were in a valley.

My cat, Sunny, meowed to me from the window seat, knowing I was awake but too lazy to get myself up, and sashayed over to the bed to say good morning properly.

I opened my eyes and stretched slowly, savoring the languor I always feel at five in the morning. My bedroom was warm despite the cold outside. Although my bedroom was still dark, I could see the sun beginning to climb over the mountain tops to the east of the house, through my window. The sky was a dark crimson and gold with heavy clouds heralding snow, a rather bleak prospect for the day considering the first orphans would be arriving around noon, but absolutely gorgeous.

I threw my covers back, stood and walked to the large picture window my step-parents had built into the wall to allow for glorious views, such as the one I was witnessing, and sat down on the window seat next to Sunny, who had returned to her favorite perch on the brightly colored and plush cushions. Sunny's meow turned into a resounding purr as I sat down.

As I sat watching the sky lighten, I allowed my mind to wonder back over the parts of my life I can remembe

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