Page 22 of Snowed in with My Pucking Ex
He shakes his head, cheeks flushed. It reminds me of what he looked like when we were younger, and I’d watch him play in one of the junior league games. “According to Doug, the roads are closed in town until the plow can go through. I guess the village put out a snow warning yesterday for today, which wasn’t going to be a big deal, but…”
“But?”
“The news said that the previous snow prediction was met with a new shifting storm today on top of it, coming in from the east. Now, we’re getting a record number of precipitation for the amount of time that’s passed.”
“Oh, no.” My eyes widen, shifting to stare at the truck again as the roof gets covered more and more. It probably wouldn’t make it back to the house now, even if the tire wasn’t flat. Having Sean around as a distraction hasn’t helped with my outer awareness, let alone with me keeping track of how much time has passed.
“I don’t think it’s as bad over here yet, as Doug was saying. The mountains are probably helping some,” he rationalizes. “The plows are about to go out to hopefully get it cleared enough so folks can at least make it home before the worst of it hits.”
“This is crazy. How are we going to get back to the farm? I can’t drive Dad’s old truck in this.” I gesture to the area we drove in from, “Look how deep it is over there!”
“I know.” He agrees with a frown, and then he’s calling someone else.
“David?”
It’s Dad. He’ll know what to do; he always does.
He listens for a minute, then replies, “Yeah, I just heard. The truck tire’s completely flat, and the spare isn’t in the back anywhere. We’re both okay, still at the cabin. Should we walk? I’m worried because we’re not dressed for blizzard weather.” He glances my way, taking me in from top to bottom.
He continues after a moment, “No, she’s in her lighter jacket. I am too. Should we just try it?” He nods at whatever Dad’s saying while flicking his gaze between me and the cabin. “I can feel the temperature change, too; the wind gusts are no joke. Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Are you going to be okay? Do you have enough wood in the house for the living room in case you lose power?”
He grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together, and begins walking toward the cabin. He gently tugs for me to follow, which I quickly oblige.
“Okay, good. I’ll get our wood stocked up right now; she’ll be safe with me. You have my word. Yes, Sir, you too. Talk soon.” He hangs up with a sigh, and he’s no longer the carefree hockey player I’ve come to expect. In its place is a super-serious Sean, ready to do whatever my dad told him to.
“What did Dad say?” I question as he slows his pace enough to wrap his arm around me. He tucks me in close to his chest, his bulk helping to block the wind and keep me warm as we walk together.
“Our moms are stuck at the clinic. Your grandparents' place got hit first, so I’m guessing they have more snow than us right now, and the temperature has just dropped fifteen degrees in the last forty minutes, according to the weather channel your dad has been watching. He’s worried that if we try to walk back in this, it’ll get worse before we have a chance to make it to your parents’ house.”
“I hope everyone is okay. Dad will worry himself sick over Mom not being there with him.”
As soon as we’re on the porch, he leans against the front door and uses his bulk so it opens right away this time. The last thing I want to do at the moment is release him, but I do, slipping out from under his arm. He quickly shoves the door closed behind us, and I exhale a sigh of relief from being out of the bone-chilling wind once again. It was so beautiful earlier, but now, it’s just plain nasty outside.
He heads for the fireplace, mentioning, “Our moms are waiting for the snow plows to go by so they can follow it to the farm’s driveway. Their plan is to get that far and then walk the driveway, since the plow won’t go up it. Luckily, they don’t have any patients tonight. David wants us to stay put, he said to check the wood stack, but that there’s plenty of food and blankets here. He said your mom is going to drive the tractor to get your grandparents since it’s close, and then your grandfather will drive the tractor here with some warmer clothes and to grab us, if possible. We just have to sit tight for a night.”
I nod, worry filling me that Mom, Gram, and Pop aren’t all at the house together. It’s always the plan when there’s a big storm heading to town. They’ve lived here forever, so they are more than capable of taking care of themselves, but they’re my family, so it’s natural to be worried. Especially when Dad is too injured to help, and he’s the one everyone depends on the most around here since Dasher joined the military and had to move away. I wish my brother were here to help out right now instead of being busy playing soldier.
Thankfully, the farm has generators and supplies for this sort of thing, so hopefully everyone makes it there soon, and Dad isn’t left alone. I can’t believe Mom and Calla are going to try and walk the driveway; it’s at least a mile to the house from the road, and that’s only if it gets plowed that far. However, knowingMom, her SUV is loaded down with various supplies, including blankets. I’d bet she even has a spare tire like she’s supposed to.
My gaze lands on Sean again, taking in his tussled hair. He ran his hand through it a moment ago, making me wish I could do the same. I haven’t been able to peel my attention off him ever since he showed up this morning, and now we’re going to be here overnight.
Alone in the cabin.
Together.
Chapter Fourteen
Sean
I take in Winter’s worried expression, wishing we were already back at the farm, so I could handle everything needing to be done for her father, as well as get our families to the house safely. I may not be able to do what I want right now, but the least I can do is show Winter she’s safe with me.
“I promised your father I’d keep you safe, and I meant it. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re warm tonight, and I get you back home with all ten toes still intact.”
Her teeth sink into her lower lip as she nods, moving next to me at the fireplace. I immediately begin setting the wood up properly, tucking kindling in where I need it to get a good burn going. I make sure the vent inside the top of the fireplace is open and then strike one of the long matches kept off to the side in a tin.
“You can take the boy out of the mountains, but not the mountains out of the boy, hm?” She comments and gestures to the fire that’s quickly catching over the wood. It helps that the wood’s been sitting for a while; it’s nice and dry.
With a smirk, I move the protective screen in front of the fireplace. “I was camping with my father before I could walk. The same with ice skating. There’s no way I’m forgetting how to build a decent fire in the cold. Speaking of the cold, you stay inside and defrost. I need to check out the wood stack your father mentioned.”
