Page 9 of Special Delivery Cowboy
I came around another curve and nearly slid off the road. Straightened out, heart pounding, hands aching from gripping the wheel. The blizzard was a full whiteout now. I could barely see ten feet ahead.
That's when I saw them.
Lights. Warm and golden through the wall of white.
A cabin emerged from the storm like something from a magazine. Big, beautiful, clearly expensive. One of those luxury resort places. But right now, it looked like salvation.
I needed directions. And the dog needed real warmth, needed to get inside somewhere that wasn't my freezing truck.
I pulled up as close as I could and killed the engine. The dashboard clock read 5:47. Nearly four hours since I'd left home. Should've been ninety minutes, tops.
I grabbed the puppy from inside my jacket—she let out a distressed yip at the sudden cold—and tucked her back in tight before stepping out into the storm.
The wind slammed into me, bitter and sharp. Snow blew sideways, stinging my face, getting under my collar despite the jacket. Snow found every gap in my collar, melting cold down my neck. The temperature had dropped at least ten degrees. I could barely see the cabin steps through the blowing snow.
I climbed the porch, boots heavy with accumulated snow, the puppy making soft pitiful sounds against my chest.
I knocked on the door. Hard.
No answer.
The storm howled around me. She was shaking again, her small body trembling even tucked inside my jacket. I could feel her rapid heartbeat against my ribs.
I knocked again, louder. "Hello? I need help, please!"
Still nothing.
The cold was brutal now. My hands were going numb even in my gloves. The puppy's distress was getting worse.
I was about to knock a third time when I heard it—movement inside. Footsteps approaching the door.
Thank God. Someone was home.
"Hello?" I called louder, trying to be heard over the wind.
The footsteps stopped on the other side of the door. Through the frosted glass, I saw a shadow. Someone was there.
I held the puppy closer, turning my back to the wind to shield her. The storm screamed around us.
Come on. Open the damn door.
Chapter Three
Tinsley
