A Mountain Dream

For years, Lisa Ricci had worked in her family’s New York City bakery. She had enjoyed learning about the baking business. She loved seeing how many customers came back week after week for more, and she often handed children free sugar cookies just to see the smiles on their faces. But Lisa was ready for an adventure. She liked New York, but the tall buildings couldn’t hide the fact that the city was flat. Lisa yearned for a future that wasn’t laid out and stretched thin before her like rolled dough. Lisa dreamed of the Rocky Mountains. Her friend Cindy Hooper owned a bed and breakfast inn near Loveland, Colorado. Cindy invited Lisa to come work with her. Lisa imagined exploring the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. She wanted to picnic in valleys filled with golden Aspen trees, dip her toes in cool, clear rivers, and watch elk feed at dusk.

In late summer, Lisa moved to Loveland and she and Cindy agreed on a work schedule. Lisa would work Wednesday through Sunday, which sounded perfect. On her days off, she would go hiking in the Rockies. Lisa was so excited! She could hardly believe her luck.

One week into her new job, the luck that brought her to Colorado seemed to change. While changing a light bulb, Cindy fell from a stepladder and broke her leg. Cindy’s leg would be in a cast for three months. Lisa wouldn’t think of leaving her dear friend high and dry, so she toiled around the clock. Lisa never complained. Months went by, and Lisa hadn’t gone to the mountains once. There was a chill in the air and soon winter would arrive. Lisa wouldn’t have another chance to hike until spring. She was so close to the Rocky Mountains, and yet she couldn’t seem to reach them.

Three months passed. Cindy’s leg healed, and her cast came off. Finally, Lisa felt she could go off and explore. She joined Happy Trails Hiking Club. The club had organized a day hike that Monday in Estes Park. All Lisa had to do was walk three blocks to the corner and board a bus by 10 a.m. That would work just fine. Lisa told Cindy she would serve breakfast on Monday, even though it was her day off. Breakfast always ended at 9:30, so she would still have time to catch the bus. Lisa cleaned up the last of the breakfast dishes and wiped down the tables. At 9:45, she buttoned up her coat, filled her water bottle, and laced up her hiking boots. Just as she was about to leave, two guests came downstairs.

"Are we too late for breakfast?" they asked.

Cindy returned at 10:30 to find Lisa still there, cleaning up again.

"You missed your bus!" she exclaimed, loud enough for the two guests to hear her.

"It’s no big deal," Lisa insisted. "Besides," Lisa said, pointing at snow flurries out the window, "it’s not a great day to hike anyway."

But after Cindy explained to the guests all that Lisa had done for her, they made her an offer.

"We’re going skiing today. We have an extra ticket for going skiing. Would you like to come with us?"

When Lisa got in the car, Cindy handed her a sealed envelope through the window. Halfway into the mountains, Lisa remembered to open it. Inside were a note and enough money for Lisa to buy a season pass and also pay for her ski and boot rentals.

"Your mountain dream is finally coming true," said the note. "Did you know that my dream of having a great friend came true as well?"

Which statement best explains why Lisa moves to Colorado?

A. Lisa wants to meet different people.
B. Lisa has a friend who has an inn in Colorado.
C. Lisa wants to climb the mountains in Colorado.
D. Lisa has a friend who needs her help to run her business.