Page 63 of A Cowboy's Claim
The cabin was pitch-dark except for the faint glow of embers through the glass of the airtight stove.
Sydney cursed softly. “Of course. The mudslide took out the power lines to the cabin.”
“We need to stoke the fire and we need to find out what there is for food that we can borrow while we’re here.” Declan rubbed his hands together and blew on them. “Which do you want to do?”
“The fire is yours. I know how to deal with the damper on my firebox, but not all of them are the same and I don’t want to smoke us out.”
He nodded and headed to the black cast-iron stove set into the far wall.
Sydney turned on the flashlight app on her phone. “I’ll look for flashlights, as well.”
“Check the top of the fridge, if you can reach. That’s a common place to keep the spares.”
“Is that a jab about my height, buster?” Sydney teased as she went into the kitchen, flicking the kitchen light out of habit. She poked quickly in the fridge to keep the cold in before checking the cupboards. There were jars of jam, rice, pasta, and a half-loaf of bread that wasn’t too stale.
The coffee in the pot on the counter, though, she poured down the drain with a shudder. She kept trying to break the old-timers of the habit, but had failed to convince them she knew what she was talking about. She’d once found actual mold growing on the surface of the liquid, but chances were as soon as she was gone, the man had used a spoon to scoop the evidence into the wastebasket then reheated and drank the rest.
Waste not, want not, could go a little too far at times.
She’d just spotted an oversized flashlight tucked beside the fridge when the crackle of wood catching fire in the stove reached her ears. She propped the sturdy light source up against a bowl, lighting up the entire counter, then crossed her fingers.
Water flowed easily from the tap, and she quickly filled a stovetop-friendly kettle to make them tea.
The wind howled so hard that the entire cabin shook, but they were safe. And given a little time, they’d be toasty warm.
A shiver took her from top to bottom just as big hands landed on her shoulders. Declan tucked her back against his warm body. “It’s okay. We’ll be all right.”
Sydney pivoted on the spot. “Not worried about that, honestly. Just cold.”
He nodded, lifting a hand that held a thick Hudson’s Bay blanket with its distinctive rainbow stripes. “Wrap up for now.” He eyed the kettle. “I hoped he was on a spring-water system. No problems with pressure?”
“Ran clear and cold,” she told him.
A hum of approval rang out. “Gravity fed. Good to know we have all the running water we want, just no heater.”
“Thus the kettle.”
Declan eyed her for a moment. “The fire is going, so I thought before I dry out, I’d take a look around and make sure everything is secure for the night.”
She hesitated. “Is it safe?”
“I’ll keep away from the hillside, and I won’t stay in the barn any longer than I have to.” He tucked his fingers under her chin and lifted so she was looking up at him. His smile was so faint others might think he wasn’t showing any emotion, but she saw it. Saw that he was more relaxed now than he’d been the entire drive up the mountain.
She dipped her chin. “Okay. Get back here quickly so I don’t have to go out there after you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He brushed his lips over hers, a soft, quiet caress. One hand pressed to her lower back and kept her near as he sweetly nuzzled and kissed.
When he finally pulled away, she was a little light-headed.
Declan stopped at the door and grabbed a rain slicker that hung there as well as what had to be Ted Nagy’s ten gallon hat. He tucked the brim down tight, took a breath as if bracing himself, then opened the door and stepped into the gale.
Sydney moved around the little cabin, taking stock of the rest of their supplies. There were a surprising amount of blankets in the hall closet as well as towels folded neatly on a shelf above the bathroom door.
She carried a supply of towels to the door and went looking for dry clothing that might fit Declan.
Red and orange flames were flickering over the freshly stocked wood she’d placed in the stove when the door opened, and with a swirl and a scream, cold air ushered Declan into the room.
