"Well, I don't know," her father repeated. "That one teacher barely looks older than the kids!"

Ginger frowned. He was staring at Miss Caldwell, and it was true. Dressed in her tight ski pants and sweater, her long, red tresses blowing in the early morning breeze, the beautiful sex education instructor did not look over eighteen.

"It's okay, Dad. Mr. Downing is lots older than you are!" Ginger smiled at her father.

Theodore Downing, the silver haired biology instructor, was lounging against the bus, talking basketball with some of the boys, Tony and Todd among them. A few years older, than Ginger's father, Downing was tall and trim enough to still play basketball himself. And he was an elegant, fast skier.

"Yeah, I guess it'll be all right at that," Ginger's dad grumbled, getting off to help his girl with her equipment and luggage. "That guy does make me feel a little better about letting you run off to the hills for four days!"

Ginger kissed her dad goodbye and got on the bus. She giggled a little as she thought about his concern for her. She was already widely known as the most untouchable girl in the class; what other protection did he think a girl needed?

The motor roared to life and the big bus began rolling. As they left the town and hit the freeway leading up into the mountains, Ginger grew happier with each passing mile. She loved the high mountain country, the snow, and the incredibly clean, exhilarating air. This trip had been a good idea, she told herself. She had almost let Miss Caldwell's presence as chaperone spook her, but Ginger had overcome her reluctance with reason, and now she was glad.

"Hey, glad you could make it!" Todd Martin said casually, passing Ginger's seat.

The girl merely smiled at him, not wanting to stir up the memories that had decided her on coming on the trip. The last thing she wanted was a heavy boy-girl talk session with a hustler like Todd right now. All Ginger wanted was to stare out the window at the peaceful snowy countryside.