The Dead of Winter (Seasons of Jefferson: Book 2) (41 page)

“My text came up with an exclamation mark. Message not sent. Caden, I think we lost service.”

Lost service? Okay. We can deal with this. Just stay calm. There’s no need to worry her.
“Okay, let’s just go. We’ve got to get down this hill. Stick your pole in the ground.” As she buries the pole, the wind picks up speed, damn near blowing Tangles off her feet. “Here, take my hand.” I hold my hand back to her, shaking at her to take it. As we stumble our way down, I see a large black mass off in the distance.
What is that? It can’t be the lodge. We’re not close enough.
After thinking through a few different possibilities, I remember there’s another structure up on the hill.
I know what it is. It’s the race hut.
I remember going there with my dad for the dedication. He donated some of the building materials so the coaches had a place to watch the racers compete. I was just a little kid. My team never uses it, so I’d forgotten all about it.
Why didn’t I think of this before?

“I know where we can go. A safe place to wait this out. They’ll be able to find us there.”

“Are you delirious? We’re in the middle of nowhere. No place is safe. What are you talking about?”

I point to the large, black silhouette. “Look. It’s the race hut. Come on. We can make it.”

We battle through the wind and snow. It’s freezing outside, but under this jacket, I’m a sweating ball of heat from pulling both of us through the intense storm. I can barely lift my foot onto the threshold when we finally reach the small wooden cabin. I pull on the door. It doesn’t open. With disappointment, I have to let her know my idea’s shot. “It’s locked.”

She looks at me and releases the breath she’s been holding. “Here, shine the light into my pack. I think I have something that can help us.”

I watch Tangles dig through her outdoor pack. I see some trail mix, a large thermos, and what looks to be a spiral notebook.
Interesting. She brings her homework up on the mountain? I didn’t peg her for a bookworm.

“Found it.”

“Your homework?”

“No. We’ll talk about that later. I found this.”

She holds up a utility knife. Curiosity gets the best of me. I have to ask her, “Are you a girl scout or something?”

“I’m a country girl. You never know when you’re going to need one of these things. Besides, it was the last gift I got from my brother. I carry it with me everywhere.” I watch her willfully work away at the handle. “This one’s not too tricky. I used to have to pick locks all the time out at our farm. We were always getting locked out of places we wanted to get into.” I detect a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Got it.”

She pushes the door open, and we walk inside.

Impressive.

She walks toward the back corner of the room, shining her phone’s flashlight down on the ground. When she sees an open spot in the back corner, she turns around and stares at me.

I can tell she doesn’t know what to say. Now that we’ve found shelter from the storm, there’s no reason left not to talk, and who knows how long we’re going to be here. I’ve got to help her get through her anger. Her hurt. Give her a reason to talk talk to me.

I try to break the awkward silence. “Looks like you saved me.”

No response.

“Tangles, I know you don’t feel like talking. I know I’m the last person you want to be stuck in here with. This has been horrible for you, and I didn’t make it any better. A good person would’ve taken the time to think it through. And I want you to know, I did. I thought through every last bit of it. The problem is, I took too long. Hopefully it’s not too late. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through dealing with your loss, and my irrational behavior on top of it.”

She looks down to the floor. I can tell she’s thinking back to that horrifying scene at the support group. “That had to be the worst day I’ve had since my brother disappeared.”

I feel like crying. I hurt her more than I knew. “If I could just turn back time, I would. I’d take it back. I’d take it all back. Look, I’m sorry. I messed up. I reacted without thinking. I lost control. I was a self-centered son of a bitch, and I hurt you. That’s the last thing I ever wanted to do. You deserved better. I know that. And I will work my ass off to make it up to you. Please, just give me a chance.”

The look on her face begins to change.
She’s listening
.

“Caden, I’m Pistol’s sister. Your family isn’t going to accept me. This would never work.”

“Do you see there?”

“What?”

“Do you see how easy that was? You’re judging unfairly, just like I did to you. And you’re wrong. I talked to my sister. She loves you, you know. She’s the one who got me to see that I was looking at this all wrong.”

I watch her face soften.

“T helped me see how off base I was. I was so unfair to you. Avery, I’m going to say it again, you are everything I needed since the accident. You gave me a reason to open my eyes every morning. You’re fun. You make me laugh. And damn it, no one can challenge me like you can. Did you know I chased you for hours that day? Out on the snowmobiles. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. And then again, up on the mountain at the ski park. I chased you down a half-dozen runs. You didn’t even know I was there. And you know what else? Even if you never let me catch you, I’m going to keep chasing you. I’m going to keep chasing you because you’re my reason.”

“Your reason?” she questions.

“Yes, my reason. My reason to wake up every morning. My reason to breathe in and out. My reason to laugh. Smile. Look forward. You’re my reason to live again.”

No sooner do the words leave my mouth than an enormous crackle and crash boom out around us. The walls of the building shake. Avery squeals as she bolts into my arms.

I hold her tightly, thanking God that he just put her back there. “I’ve got you.”

“What the hell was that?” she gasps out, trembling beneath me.

“I think something hit the building. It could’ve been a tree. The snow load’s getting pretty heavy.”
Crap. What if it damaged the roof? I’d better move her to a safe place.
“Sweetie, would you come over here with me?”
Next to the strong, sturdy beam…
“You’re shivering. I think they leave blankets in the corner. It’ll be cozy over there. It’s a good place for us to sit down while we wait for help.”

She closes her eyes. I can tell she’s still contemplating whether she’s going to allow my company. “Okay, I’m in.” She whispers under her breath, nodding her head ever so slightly, “All in.”

I pull my hand up, letting it rest against the small of her back as I guide her to the wall.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I ask, as we slide down onto the floor, pulling a heavy, wool blanket around us.

“I think so.”

I pull her into me, hugging her and kissing the top of her head.

She tilts her head back and whispers into my ear, “I missed you too, you know.”

Instantly, an explosion of adrenaline hits me. I can feel the rush of blood racing through my core.
She’s back.
I can’t help but give thanks out loud. Not only so she can hear, but to make sure God knows I mean it from the bottom of my heart. “Thank you, God.”

We sit there quietly, holding each other, tightly, not saying a word, until finally I can’t stand not hearing her voice for one more second. I have to think of something to say, just to hear her talk. “You’re starting to warm up.”

She lifts her head and smiles, “You kinda do that to me.”

“Even after everything I put you through?”

“Well, it was a pretty sweet apology, minus one thing.”

What could I be missing?
“Really?” I grin, leaning back into her head. “I worked really hard to get that right.”

“Oh, you got the
words
right.”

Is this real? What more does she need from me to make this right?
My brain is on overload, running through a mental checklist of what I could be missing. All the while, I’m distracted by the feel of her in my arms.
Pounding heart. Rapid breathing. Snuggled in close, conveniently raising her mouth so near to mine that I can feel her breath against my lips.
Suddenly it hits me.
She wants me to kiss her. Oh, hell yes I can fix this apology.

I lower my chin, moving in so close my lips graze hers as I begin to talk. “I’m sorry I didn’t finish.”

“Finish what?”

The movement of her lips against mine has me flustered inside. Everything in me wants to just do it, but I have to hold back.

“My apology.”

“What more can you add? I thought you said it all.”

I feel her smile growing. The warm tickle of her breath against my sensitive skin, sends me over the edge. “I told you I was going to make it up to you. I’d chase you to the ends of the Earth to do this. You ready?”

Her breath hitches as I move in closer, pushing past the last millimeter of space between us. Then carefully, without breaking contact, I pull the blanket over our heads. Encased in a warm, protective cover, I take in her familiar vanilla scent. I can’t hold back any longer. Gently, I take her face in my hands and pull her lips into mine.
These lips.
They’re even softer than I remembered
.
This is more than I deserve.
I pull back and whisper into the corner of her grin. “Thanks for the chase.” Again, I take her lips in mine. And just like our first kiss, the firestorm erupts within me. Every movement of her mouth and every brush of her tongue is a new memory I’m creating. A memory of the most perfect girl. The most perfect kiss. The most perfect season. I never thought I’d love the dead of winter, until this girl brought me back to life, right in the middle of it. When I pull back hesitantly, to let her feel the smile on my face, she giggles.

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“You caught me.”

I FLINCH AS AVERY SUDDENLY
stiffens in my arms. “What is that?” she asks. I can feel the movement of her head, and I know she’s trying to see something.
As though that’s going to happen in this pitch black hut.
“There it is again.”

My heart skips a beat. “What are you talking about?”

“That sound.”

My first thought is that the roof could be collapsing. I try to stuff my heart back in my chest and tame the beating so I can hear the sounds outside of my own body. I listen closer, until I detect a faint humming. “Oh, the buzzing. I hear it.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “It sounds like snowmobiles.”

“We’ve got to make ourselves visible. Let them know we’re in here. Give me your phone.”

Avery hands me her phone, as I scoop her up off the ground. “Hurry.” We run to the door, yelling. “In here! In here!”

I shine the light toward the rumbling sound. “Down here!” I turn to Tangles, “I don’t think they can hear us through the engines and wind.”

“Keep shining the light. It sounds like they’re getting closer.”

A strong gust of wind howls through the hut, slamming the door shut behind us. The startling bang has Avery spinning toward the door. “Stay here with the light. I just remembered something.”

I continue holding the light toward the sound, as Avery makes her way back into the cabin. I hear the roar. It’s getting louder. The snowflakes in front of me begin to take on a shiny glow, as the skyline before me begins to light up.
Yes. They’re close.
“Hey, Tangles! They’re coming this way! Get out here!”

“I can’t find it! It’s too dark!”

She sounds frantic.
What does she have in there that’s so important?

“Don’t panic. I’ll be there with the light in just a minute.”

“Over here!” I wave. “We’re right here!”

Ski Patrol. Thank God.
The beam of light, shines in on the open door of the cabin.

“Got it!” Tangles shouts, running to the front door.

A younger looking man, climbs off his snowmobile, holding up a couple pieces of our equipment. “Please tell me these are yours. I’d hate to think anyone else is still up on this mountain.”

“They’re ours.”

“Good job on thinking to leave a trail. It’s the only way we could’ve found you out here tonight. You must be Caden and Avery?”

We both nod our heads in confirmation.

He pulls out his radio, “Hey, Chicken, I’ve got ‘em. We need to get the other sled down here. We’re at the race hut.”

“Be there in a few. Copy?”

“10-4.”

He clips the radio back to his jacket. “When you didn’t show up back at the lodge, your friends gave us the general direction of where to look for you. Sorry about the delay. A tree downed the power line taking out electricity all over the mountain. Your coaches waited as long as they could, but they had to take off before I-5 closed down. When we get back to the lodge, we’ll use the landline to call your parents.

“Caden. My Aunt and Uncle are out of town. Jessie May and I are staying by ourselves this week.”

“Don’t worry, Tangles. We’ll give you a ride.”

“Well, let’s get you kids down to my headquarters so we can check you out, and hopefully send you on your way. Hop on.”