Authors: Elle Saint James
“Don’t be an ass. The highway to our place is closed. There’s an accident that just happened five minutes ago and it’s blocking all the lanes in or out, not to mention the storm of the century snowing down all around us. I’m stranded in town for…I don’t even know how long. They’re saying the road won’t be open for at least two days and maybe not for three, depending on how much snow falls tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“Why’d you leave the property gate open, then?”
There was silence on the end of the line for several seconds. “Partly because I’m a lazy bastard and I was in a hurry, but mostly because I didn’t expect to be gone very long. I thought I’d make it back in plenty of time to close it up and join you on the couch before the snow started.”
“Where’d you go again?” Dominick asked absently as his focus was now squarely on the television screen watching the game. His team scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the first quarter. Clay was probably lying about them losing.
There was a long, suffering sigh over the phone line. “I went to pick up the construction permits for the newest building we’re putting up on the property. Clerk’s office said they were ready and to pick them up anytime. And unfortunately, I’m going to have to try again.”
“Why? What’s the problem?”
“There was a handwritten note posted on the door. They closed early today due to the coming weather. Fucking figures that I’m out in this crap for no good reason. I can’t even believe how hard it’s coming down here. And the truth is, I can’t believe I got a call through to you, given the iffy service in our area during bad weather.”
Dominick looked out the nearest window to an ultrawhite winter wonderland. Fat flakes by the thousands swirled and danced just outside the large picture window before hitting the ground. “Yeah, it’s really coming down here, too.”
“I was about to swing by and pick up some food to hunker down with, but with the accident they aren’t letting anyone by on the highway out to our place. So, I’m stuck here in town, and you and Tyler are the only ones at the ranch now. I called a friend and managed to get a room at the Ryder Hotel for the next two nights. And you, my friends, are on your own for the next couple of days. Therefore, get your ass out to the property line by the road and close the gate before it gets any worse. I don’t want any animals or people wandering onto the property.”
Dominick pushed out a long sigh. “Fine, but you owe me.”
“Whatever. You know where I’m at. See you in a couple of days. I’ll call if anything changes.”
He hung up the phone and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Tyler! We’ve got to go out and close the property gate.”
Tyler came through the dining room and stood in the doorway with a pissy look on his face. “Jesus. You don’t have to scream at me. I was just in the kitchen.”
“Put your warm coat on, we’ve got to go out and close the gate before the snow gets worse.”
“Why can’t you go by yourself?”
He sent an affronted look to Tyler. “The buddy system should be used in bad weather. You don’t want something to happen to me, do you?”
Tyler shrugged, but then eyed the growing intensity of the snowstorm out the picture window in the great room before answering. “No. I just think you are plenty capable all on your own. What, are you afraid of, the abominable snow monster?”
“Not hardly.”
“Then you don’t need me. I’m sure your horse will protect you.” Tyler smirked.
Dominick picked up the remote and flipped off the television showcasing the game. “I don’t want to take the horses, it’d take too long to saddle them up. We’ll use the snowmobiles. But I don’t want to get stuck in a snowdrift all alone. Now come on, let’s go.”
Tyler put down the bag of chips he’d been carrying on the nearest table. “You know, if you were a better driver, I wouldn’t have to go protect your ass.”
“If Clay hadn’t had a chore in town and gotten caught in the snowstorm for the next two days, neither of us would be getting cold. Buck up.”
“Oh, man. That sucks.”
“I know it. I’d rather stay in, too.”
“Not that. Clay is the best cook of the three of us. We’ll starve to death in two days.” His glance went back to the chips he’d just abandoned. “It’s slim pickings in the kitchen right now.”
Dominick rolled his eyes. “I’m sure we’ll manage.”
Tyler shot him a dubious look and then followed him to the mud room where all the winter wear resided.
They both put on several layers of cold weather gear, and got the snowmobiles out of the third stall in the oversized garage. They took off into the winter wonderland of the Double Rider Men’s Club headquarters property.
Dominick figured the snowmobiles would be faster than saddling their horses. No need for their animals to be out is this weather if they could help it. Besides, motorized vehicles would be faster, safer, and a hell of a lot more fun plowing through snowdrifts.
Tyler rode parallel to him on the suggestion of the road still visible as they wound their way across the snowy wonderland to the front gate. It was about a five-mile trip to the opening of the property, and they had to go slower than usual with the snow coming down the way it was.
Dominick would never admit it to Clay, but he thoroughly enjoyed this trip through the biting cold. Colorado was very beautiful with a blanket of snow covering the land. The frenzy of snowflakes dancing in the air was amazing.
Just as they got within fifty yards of the property entrance, Dominick saw a car coming down the short incline of the highway perpendicular to their gate. He judged the driver was going just a little bit too fast for the weather. His initial wisp of thought was confirmed in the next moment when the car hit a dip in the road, bounced on its shocks, and then spun in a tight circle on the icy surface. He and Tyler glanced at each other, but didn’t increase their speed.
The car did a full revolution on the highway before skidding into the ditch right outside their property. The crunch of metal could be heard from where they were, and all the way through his helmet.
Before they closed the gate they’d have to rescue the driver and any passengers. If the roads were closed, they’d have to take care of any injuries, as well. Once the service trucks had salted the roads, then any emergency vehicles could be sent out here, but not until.
He knew one thing for certain. A solitary evening of watching football while sipping beer and noshing on junk food wasn’t in the cards for him tonight.
Chapter Two
Stella tried not to panic. The man’s face, what she could see of it buried in the depths of his parka hood, didn’t look sinister, but she vowed to be wary of any and all strangers. Even someone trying to
help
her could only be trusted so far. Unfortunately at this point, she needed lots of help. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.
His muffled voice reached her. She heard him try to open her door and pushed on the unlock button to help, but nothing happened. She tried to roll the window down with the same result. Nothing electronic worked. Great.
He was making hand gestures she didn’t understand, but figured he wanted her to unlock her door. She took another look at him through the frosted pane of her door’s window. He was her only hope at this point. It wasn’t like she could stay out here all alone.
Dark descended over the land rapidly in this area at the shadowed edge of the mountains. The temperatures would drop even more quickly, and she was already feeling the chill air in her dead car. She could bear up to endure hypothermia or open the door.
Stella heard his muffled voice again. It was deeply timbered.
She reached over and manually unlocked her door. What else could she do? Nothing.
He opened the door slowly, pulling it up like a hatch door on a submarine. He then pushed his shoulder against it to keep it from slamming shut. No small feat since her car was pointed nose down and sideways in a ditch.
He pulled his helmet off. “Are you hurt?” he asked in a slightly raised voice. The wind whipping around outside was picking up speed, making conversation a challenge. She felt the biting cold wind through her too-thin shirt.
Stella glanced up into his face and almost stopped breathing. She smiled at him. He grinned back. Her knight in a dark blue parka was beautiful. Dark brown hair, blazing blue eyes, and a smile to die for complete with dimples were all wrapped up in her rescuer’s package.
She was dumbfounded for a response. What had he asked?
“Ma’am. Are you hurt? Do I need to call an ambulance?”
His words finally seeped through. “Oh! No. I’m fine. Just stranded.”
“Let me help you out of there, and we can head back to my ranch. When the sun goes down the temperature’s really going to drop.”
He reached a gloved hand her way. She declined to take it. “I’m sorry.” She hesitated. She could see the puzzlement in his expression as the wind whipped at his parka hood. “The thing is, I’m not in the habit of going home with strangers.”
A fierce gust of wind pushed against the door, and he had to push even harder to hold it open. “I don’t think you have much of a choice, ma’am. It’s getting very cold very fast, and I can’t just leave you out here in it. The road is already closed in the direction you were heading because there was an accident. You wouldn’t have gotten much farther anyway.”
“I see.” She paused and cycled the information through her brain. Going off alone with a strange man wasn’t usually a good idea. “Is your wife there? Back at your ranch, I mean?”
Don’t be married. Don’t be married
.
“Uh. No. I’m not married,” he replied with a grin. “My friend Tyler is on the other snowmobile. The two of us are the only ones here.”
Stella sighed in resignation. The warm mist from her breath exited her lungs like a steam-powered train into the cold air around her. It was shatteringly freezing in her car with the door even partly open. She wouldn’t last another fifteen minutes out here alone in her vehicle.
Giving in to the rational part of this situation and accepting help, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“I’m Dominick Hunter.” He reached out his gloved hand again. This time she took it. “I’m sure this is what everyone says, but I do promise that I won’t hurt you. I’m just trying to be a Good Samaritan. No one else in a vehicle will likely be through here until the snowstorm blows over in a couple days. And I very simply won’t leave you here all alone. Your choices are go with me to my nice, warm house or I stay with you in your soon to be bitterly chilled car.”
The wind whistled through the trees on either side of the road. She appreciated that he didn’t try to rush her when he likely wanted nothing more than to get out of the arctic weather. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll go with you. My name is Stella Gilbert. Thank you very much for helping me.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.” She saw his dimples again and a little thrill flew down her spine. Was it because she was about to abandon her car, or because her rescuer was so attractive?
“Please call me Stella.”
“Yes, ma’am, Stella it is.” He waited patiently as she gathered her purse, dug in the passenger wheel well for her useless phone, and grabbed her coat with her free hand.
The icy wind took her breath away as she stepped free of her car. She quickly donned her inadequate coat, which only barely helped warm her. Damn, it was cold out here. He motioned her to follow him, but waited to walk along side her. Out of habit, she pointed her key fob at her vehicle and pushed the button to lock her car, but didn’t see any lights or hear the familiar chirp signaling it was safely secured. She dropped her arm and pushed out a long sigh of despair. The probable death of her vehicle was a problem she’d have to save for later. She walked carefully along the road towards his snowmobile. The one time she slipped but didn’t fall, Dominick fastened his gloved hand around her elbow and steered her through the knee-deep snow.