Page 71 of Lethal Threat
She frowns for a second. “Not really. I mean, the snow seemed brand new to me. But I can’t imagine that I’ve never seen snow.”
“You’ve seen snow.”
“With you?”
“No. But I know you have. I know where you’ve been stationed.”
She groans. Her head falls back against the seat. There’s agony in her expression. “Cole, this is so hard.”
“I know, babe,” I say as put the truck into reverse andstop near the front porch, “just try not to fret with it. Come on. Time for you to meet the dynamic duo.”
Sierra helps me carry the tree. She manages the tip as I navigate the stairs with the base of the big ten-foot-tall beast. After I shake off the snow, I lean it against the porch railing.
Pushing open the door, I listen for sounds. My mother’s in the kitchen, talking to Dad. “Mom! There’s something on the porch for you.”
A squeal of happiness is followed by the rapid fire patter of her size six feet.
“Get ready,” I warn.
Nolene Strong bursts out of the door, sock-feet and all. “You went to the tree farm in the snow?”
“Of course. It was awesome. We had an amazing afternoon.”
Mom’s eyes flare. Her body jolts. Her breath catches and she clutches her chest. “Oh, my heavens. I didn’t know you had company!”
With that remark, she turns and eyes me. Oh boy. I’m gonna catch it for this later. With a brow lifted, she says, “Well, you two need to come in so I can get to know your friend.”
Sierra’s eyes go wide for a second, then she smiles and extends her hand. “I’m Sierra.”
“I’ve heard your name before. Beautiful, by the way. I didn’t know you were visiting.”
Sierra answers smoothly, “I just arrived. And just in time, apparently, because the snow is so beautiful and the sleigh ride at the tree farm was one of the nicest things I can remember.”
For me too.
I stomp the snow off my feet. “Ladies, let’s go in and continue this chat in the kitchen, where I am sure there are some cookies. Unless you want the tree inside now?”
Mom narrows her eyes at me. “Why, yes, I want it inside now. No use letting that beautiful thing sit out here when it could be brightening up my living room. The tree stand is already there.”
“And the cookies?” I tease.
Mom laughs. “Cole Strong. Not a thing about you has changed.”
“Not my love of cookies, at least. So, what did you bake?”
“Snickerdoodles.”
I grin. “My favorite.”
Mom clucks her tongue. “They’re all your favorite.”
Chuckling, I say, “Guilty as charged.”
“Alright, you ladies take care of the cookies. I’ll set up the tree.”
“Deal,” Mom says as she wraps an arm in Sierra’s arm and drags her inside.
Chapter Twenty-Four
