"I appreciate your efforts, but my decision is final."
"One should never close doors that can remain open." He squeezed her shoulder and left.
Elisabeth finished packing and wheeled her suitcase to her parents' room.
Thomas lay on the bed, Caleb and Miriam sat at the table. The suitcase rendered the verdict.
Miriam hugged her. "I'm so sorry."
"Artemis bought me some time, but I told him it was unnecessary."
Her father stood and approached her. "You mean your status is intact?"
"For now, but he is only prolonging the inevitable."
Relief washed over her family's faces despite her statement.
Thomas sprung off the bed and grabbed her hands. "Stay. We'll party hardy tonight; take your mind off all this."
"Leaving will accomplish that much more easily. I'm sorry…boy, I'm starting to sound like a broken record. Anyway, I think it's best for everyone if I leave."
Miriam's eyes cautioned Thomas to let it go. "We'll walk you to the snow cat."
"No, I'm fine. Stay here. I'll speak to you when you return home."
Raff approached Elisabeth as she strapped her suitcase to the snow mobile. "Are they going to recommend throwing you out?"
"Not yet."
"Let's have a drink together."
She shrugged off the hand he placed on her arm. "I'm leaving."
"Come on, one drink."
Elisabeth mounted the snowmobile and turned it on, revving the engine to drown out the rest of Raff's plea. He was forced to jump out of the way of the vehicle lurching forward.