“Simple. There’s no axel on this mode of transportation. Just a saddle.”
Her face lit up and she exclaimed, “On a horse? I love riding.”
“Great. Why don’t you go and get dressed. May I make a suggestion and dress in layers. It’s still mighty cold out there.”
“Oh yeah. About that. I don’t think I have anything suitable to wear. Not on a trail ride. And definitely not in this weather. I hadn’t planned on doing any outdoor activities.”
“What do you have? And by that I mean do you have something other than what you put on when you were going to help with the wood.” If she was missing gloves or a hat, he was sure Mabel would lend her some. But with her tiny stature, she wasn’t going to fit in anyone else’s clothes. They’d be several sizes too large.
“The warmest thing I have with me besides that is a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“Boots?” he asked. She shook her head. “Winter coat?” Again, a negative. “Are you telling me you traveled to West Virginia with nothing warm to wear?”
“I really don’t own anything warm,” Kollette stated. “I live in Miami.”
That just crossed horseback riding off the list. “If the roads were open, I’d suggest we go and get you some warmer clothes.”
“If the roads were open, I wouldn’t be here,” she stated.
Ethan never thought he’d be so thrilled to be snowed in. There was something different about Kollette and he wanted her to stay long enough for him to figure it out.
“This doesn’t get you off the hook. I won that bet, and I plan on collecting,” he warned.
She smiled at him. “Since the options are limited, may I suggest tonight we play double or nothing?”
“You do know I won’t let you win,” he said.
She leaned over slightly and whispered, “And neither will I.”
Before they could continue with their conversation, Roy entered the kitchen. “Thought I smelled breakfast.”
“Sorry Roy, you’re late. But I’m sure Kollette would whip you up some eggs,” Ethan said, knowing damn well she was cursing him under her breath.
With a forced smile she said, “I’d be happy to. Why don’t you have a seat? I believe Ethan said he was about to head back out and finish clearing all the pathways for you.”
And the games begin.
Ethan got up and Roy took his seat. Then he smiled at Kollette and said, “She also makes great bacon. Crispy, just the way you like it.”
As he turned and left the kitchen he knew he won that match. Yet the look in her eyes said he was going to pay for it later. I might just have to up the ante.
Kollette had stopped walking around with her cell phone on her because of the lack of reception. But when she returned to her room, the phone showed a missed call. Looking at the caller ID she noticed it was her father. She immediately tried to return his call, but her cell phone blinked call failed.
Damn it.
If she hadn’t been stuck in the kitchen most of the morning, she might have been able to receive his call. He probably was wondering why he hadn’t received any update yet. Hopefully he realized just where he’d sent her. Just in case a text would go through instead, she typed one out.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I’M SNOWED IN. HORRIBLE PHONE RECEPTION. I’LL RETURN TO MIAMI WHEN THE ROADS ARE CLEARED. NO POINT IN PURSUING THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY. IT’S NOT SUITIABLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS. SEE YOU SOON.
She wanted to add that she loved him at the end, but this was a business text and she wanted to keep it professional. Kollette never knew who was nearby and might see what she wrote. But just in case, her father reached out again and the call went through, she was keeping her phone on her person.
Her eyes were burning from lack of sleep last night, and she’d already committed to another evening of the same. Kollette had helped Mabel prepare dinner, so there was no point in her fighting sleep.
It wasn’t long before she was totally relaxed and drifting off. It was lovely. Her mind took her to where she wanted to be. She could almost feel the warm sand between her toes as she walked on the sunny beach. Even the breeze was refreshing. When she opened her eyes, she saw the sun was about to set. Making her way through the crowd to the shore’s edge she looked out over the horizon, she noticed a brown pelican diving down for one last fish before it was too dark.
Closing her eyes again, she inhaled the salty smell of the ocean. But the noise all vanished and was replaced by the sound of the waves that rolled onto the beach. Why was it so quiet? This was Miami. It’s never quiet here. Opening her eyes she looked to the left, then to the right, and no one was around. Like the pelican, she was alone.
It didn’t trouble her, and she wasn’t afraid. Instead she turned back to the waves and enjoyed their sound. But soon, her legs grew tired, and she needed to sit. As she did, she found a blanket behind her. It wasn’t hers, but since there wasn’t anyone in sight to complain, she might as well make use of it.