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“So you just happened to see her car?” Sofia asked.
“I saw the tracks first. Then pulled over and followed them on foot to where I found her car.”
“Of course you followed the tracks,” Josh said with a grin.
“You would have done the same,” Asher snapped back. Fatigue from socializing nonstop for the past several days, stress from driving in the storm, and knowing he still needed to drive home weighed on him. He didn’t mean to snap, but Josh’s reminder of his Boy Scout reputation rankled. Especially when he knew full well that every one of his cousins would, in fact, do the same. And yet, for some reason, they constantly teasedhimabout it.
He took a breath and focused on Sofia. “Judging by the accumulated snowfall, I was no more than ten minutes behind her,” he continued. “I checked for injuries and a concussion—”
“I wasn’t going very fast when it happened,” Ellie interjected when Sofia shot her an alarmed look.
Sofia raised an eyebrow. “Fast enough that your suitcase must have exploded,” she said, nodding to the three bags on the floor.
Ellie winced. “I didn’t pack a suitcase. I just sort of threw everything into the car.”
Sofia frowned and studied her friend.
“It’s a good thing Ash had enough reusable bags in his truck to collect it all,” Josh said, his eyes dancing with amusement.
Despite his still-wet socks and jeans, Asher rose. If he hadn’t had the day he’d had, he would have fired right back at Josh. But he didn’t have it in him right now. Nor did Ellie need to witness the verbal sparring. “I’m going to head home,” he said. Then turning to Sofia, he added, “I didn’t see any signs of a concussion, but you might want to check on her a few times throughout the night.” Shifting his gaze to Ellie, he continued. “You’ll likely be sore tomorrow, so take some ibuprofen before you head to bed. If you feel more than just a little sore in the morning, give me a call and we’ll get you in for an appointment.”
“Why don’t you stay tonight?” Sofia said.
Asher shook his head. “I’ve been gone a few days. I’d like to get home,” he said before making some comment to Ellie about being nice to meet her and hoping she had a good stay.
“Josh,” he said, nodding to his cousin. “I’ll call Ernie in the morning and let him know where her car is. I’ll give him your number to call.”
“Ernie?” Ellie asked.
“The best mechanic in town. He’ll tow your car out as soon as he can,” he responded.
“I don’t think you’re going anywhere,” Josh said.
Asher looked at his cousin, and Josh made a vague gesture upward. Cocking his head, Asher listened. A few seconds passed, and he heard what had caught his cousin’s attention.
He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
“Why don’t you sit down and get warm? Judging from the footprints on the floor, your feet are wet and must be freezing,” Josh said.
Ellie’s gaze shot to his, a concerned and guilty look on her face.
He slid his cousin a flat look before assuring her. “It’s fine,” he said. “The heater in the truck kept them warm.”
Her full lips thinned then she straightened in her seat. “I agree with Josh. I don’t think you should head out tonight.”
He sank back into the seat he’d vacated seconds earlier. “Even if I wanted to, which I do, I wouldn’t. Not now. You hear that?” He pointed upward toward the roof. Both women listened. What had been the hushed quiet of snowfall had been replaced with the pinging sound of ice.
“It’s turned into an ice storm,” he said. “I might be able to make it home before it’s too bad. But it’s not worth the risk. What’s the forecast?” he asked Josh, who had his phone out.
“Ice and sleet for the next four hours, then turning back to snow, which will taper off around ten tomorrow morning.”
There wasn’t anything he could do about the weather, so he leaned back and stretched his legs out again. “That will make for some interesting skiing at the lodge tomorrow.” The Warwick family owned a large lodge at the north end of the lake. Everyone pitched in when needed, but Brad, another cousin, ran it.
“But a pretty view from the house,” Sofia countered. Asher inclined his head in agreement. He loved skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and just about every winter sport. But he had to agree, admiring the beauty of new-fallen snow from the inside of a cozy room wasn’t a bad way to start a new day. Or end an active one.
Unfortunately, his wasn’t over yet. He rose from his seat again. “I need to grab my bag from my truck.”
“I’ll get it,” Josh said, waving him back into his chair. Asher almost made a snarky comment about howniceit was of Josh to offer. He glanced at Ellie, though, and found her watching him. Not wanting to sound like a petulant teenager, he held his tongue. Although why all his cousins could do things for others without being labeled “the nice one” still irked him.
