A harry harrison collect.., p.9
Snowy Mountain Christmas, page 9
“Chicken and dumplings will make you feel even better, and they’re ready to eat if you are.”
“I’ve been thinking about them all day,” he said.
“Anticipation always makes everything better,” Marley said, but before he could answer, the lodge phone rang. “Shoot, I better get that,” she said, and headed for the front desk and picked up the phone. “Corbett Lodge. Yes, we’re still closed, but we’re reopening January 1st. Yes, thank you for calling. Hope to see you then.”
“Customers?” Trey asked.
“Locals, asking about the Sunday brunch and lunches.”
“You don’t do breakfasts?” he asked.
“Yes, but only for the guests who stay over. Not for the public,” she said.
“Do people ever stay over for extended periods of time?”
“Not unless it’s a wayward prince, looking for the girl missing a shoe. Let’s eat. I’m starving,” she said.
He grinned. “Right behind you.”
A few minutes later they were seated at the table, eating, and talking as if it was their daily routine.
Trey paused, waving his spoon in the air to punctuate the point. “You know, this time last night I was still on the interstate, following a trucker’s taillights because I couldn’t see ten feet in front of me. It’s amazing what a few hours’ difference can make in a life.”
“Or a few seconds…like an angel playing crossing guard and sending me to meet my fate,” she added.
Trey laid down his spoon. “I’ve never been someone’s fate before.”
“I’ve never saved a life before.”
He reached across the table and held out his hand. “There’s an old Chinese belief about that. Once you save someone’s life, you are responsible for it forever.”
Marley laid her hand in his. “We’re not Chinese. Does that apply across the board?”
He curled his fingers around her hand. “I think it could, if we wanted it to.”
Her heart was pounding. “Do you want it to?”
“I know it took forever to find you, and I was almost at the point of accepting you wanted nothing to do with me when you responded, then I had this overwhelming need to find you before you disappeared again. When you opened the door to me last night, it felt like such a relief to have reached my final destination. It still feels like that, and I don’t want to lose that feeling,” he said.
Marley stood up, still holding his hand, and swore an oath she might live to regret. “Trey Austin, I solemnly accept the responsibility of your wellbeing for the rest of your life. What we make of that, only time will tell.”
Trey stood. “Then I thank you for the sacrifice. Should we seal this vow somehow? Maybe a toast?”
“I’d rather seal it with a kiss.”
His pulse kicked. “A stellar suggestion, Cinderella,” he said, then let go of her hand and kissed her.
Her mouth was warm, and soft, and yielding. He wanted so much more, but she’d only asked for a kiss. The moment he lifted his head, he felt the loss.
She could still feel his hands on her shoulders and the imprint of his mouth on her lips when she opened her eyes. She felt weightless. And he was waiting, but she didn’t know exactly what for.
Whatever you do, do not make a joke.
“I guess now this means I have to buy you a Christmas present.”
He blinked, and then threw back his head and laughed, and laughed, and then picked her up and hugged her.
Marley’s feet weren’t even on the floor, but she was grinning. “You may put me down now.”
He set her down easy, but he was still grinning. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to overstep, but you took me by surprise. You’re beautiful. You’re smart. You’re brave. And you have the quirkiest sense of humor ever. I love it!”
“And I can cook. Don’t forget I can cook.” She was laughing with him now. “I hear it’s an ancient, but time-honored prerequisite for landing a man, too. A couple of hundred years ago, they would have had me sitting by the fireside doing needlepoint and making candles or something. I choose this life, as hectic as it often is.”
Trey just shook his head, delighted by her deprecating humor.
“And now you’re bound to me as well. I am one lucky dude. For that, I will happily clear the table and load the dishwasher, if you’ll deal with the food.”
She started to argue and then realized he offered because he wanted to be needed. “That would be amazing.”
Pleased, he set about the task, leaving Marley to admire the sight of him standing there at her sink with his hands in the water. There was no denying she was falling for him.
They flipped a coin about which movie they wanted to watch together.
Trey won. He chose the movie 1917, based on a true story about a conscientious objector who went to war in WWI.
Chapter 6
An hour into the movie, with bombs dropping and machine guns firing and men falling like flies and dying on the battlefields, Marley fell asleep.
Trey saw her leaning sideways and caught her, then gently pulled her toward him until her head was resting in his lap, and her feet and legs were curled up at the end of the sofa. He covered her with a knit throw, lowered the volume, then laid his hand on her shoulder and allowed himself the freedom to really look at her.
Her hair was soft and so long and thick. Her eyelashes were shades darker than her hair. Her lips were full and slightly parted, and he could feel the steady rise and fall of her breathing. It was the most complete and perfect moment of his life—here, within the bulwark of this beautiful lodge and snowed in with a woman who was stealing his heart. He felt a bit like a knight in a castle, protecting the princess who resided here.
He didn’t ever want to move and, as he sat, felt the brutality of the movie had no place in this moment, so he searched for local news, hoping to catch a weather report. He found the station and settled in to wait, only to catch two late-night anchors talking about him and his search, and maybe the magic of Christmas would bring her forward.
That’s when it dawned on him that Meredith was the only one who knew she’d been found. He needed to call off the search. He needed to let the world know he’d found her. But he wasn’t about to reveal her identity. If he gave up her name, her life would be turned upside down, and he couldn’t let that happen. He made a mental note to post an update and then let it run its course.
When she stirred in her sleep, he tugged the throw up over her shoulders, then whispered, “You’re okay, Ladybug. I’m here.”
He heard her sigh and then felt her whole body relax. Satisfied that she was comfortable, he refocused on the television, waiting for a weather update. Then when it aired, he learned the next few days would be clear. He turned off the TV and then sat within the silence, now knowing the timeline of imminent departure.
Ten more days until Christmas.
Ten more days with Marley, and then—
Then what?
Going back to Phoenix, holing up in his office to write another book, eating takeout and keeping the television on just for the sound of other people’s voices?
Finding her had opened up a world he didn’t know existed. It had changed him. How could he ever go back to what was, leaving this place and this woman behind?
He glanced up at the massive wooden beams above his head, then down at the wide planked floors beneath his feet. The sitting areas that would be full of people when she reopened the lodge. The walls of books, the art pieces hanging on the walls, the lighting staged for reading or resting. Somehow, the Corbett family had turned a home into a destination, without sacrificing any of the things that mattered.
A log popped in the fireplace, sending sparks flying up into the chimney, and still he sat, with his hand on her shoulder, slowly coming to terms with the looming reality. He lost all sense of time until the grandfather clock in the hallway began to chime.
***
Marley woke abruptly, startled that she’d not only fallen asleep, but that she was lying on his lap with her mother’s knitted throw over her shoulders.
Trey felt her flinch and prepared himself for the launch he knew would be coming. He didn’t want to give her up, but it was happening anyway.
She sat up, a little embarrassed and heartily apologetic, and began combing her fingers through her hair, certain it must be all over the place.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep in the middle of a war and wound up in your lap. I’m terrible company. So sorry.”
“Hush your fussin’, hummingbird. Even wings get tired. I felt honored to be your perch.”
She sighed. “Sometimes you say the prettiest things with the best words. No wonder you are a writer.”
He pushed a curl away from the corner of her eye. “‘No wonder’ is right.” The clock was still chiming. “It’s very late. I think we need to call an end to this day. It’s been a good one.”
She nodded. “You go on up. I have to lock up and stuff.”
“Would I be allowed to bring in some wood from the back porch for you?”
She sighed. “Yes, it would be much appreciated, too.”
They stood up in unison, then paused, staring intently into each other’s faces before they turned and went their separate ways.
As Marley was locking up the front entrance and turning on the porch lights and setting the security, she could hear Trey coming in from outside. By the time she headed back, the fresh logs were neatly stacked, and he was gone.
She banked the fire, secured the fire screen, and then went to make sure everything in the kitchen was shut down and left the night-lights on in all the usual places.
It wasn’t until she started toward the family quarters that she realized Trey was sitting on the stairs, waiting for her. He stood up as she approached.
“Oh! I thought you’d already gone to bed.”
“I forgot something,” he said and, without asking, cupped her face and kissed her like he’d been starved for the touch. It wasn’t until he heard her groan that he stopped, then stood with his forehead touching hers—breathing the same air and silently wanting more. Finally, he lifted his head and ran his finger down her cheek. “Sleep well, my little angel,” he said softly, then went up the stairs and into his room without looking back.
Marley was still standing where he left her. Mute. Motionless. Telling herself to run. But which way? To her room? Or up the stairs?
It was the ticking of the grandfather clock that finally broke the spell. Time. Time was getting away from them. They barely knew each other. And it scared her to think about life without him in it.
Finally, she lowered her head and walked away.
***
Trey couldn’t sleep and was up before daylight.
He’d deleted all of the final messages from the Cinderella wannabes. Then he composed another message and released it to the media. The message was brief and obviously final.
THE SEARCH IS OVER
My Cinderella mystery is a mystery no more. I found the angel who saved me. She’s as brave and as special as I hoped she would be, but for the sake of her privacy, this is the extent of what I will share. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of you for sharing my message and aiding in my search. You helped make my Christmas miracle happen. I wish the same blessings and magic for you.
Trey Austin
After that, he pulled up his manuscript and went to work. His life was as confusing as this mystery he was writing, but he knew what to do with the story. He just didn’t know what to do with his feelings.
He heard Marley moving around downstairs and knew she was stirring the fire to rebuild it. His heart was pounding as he heard the central heat come on. Eventually, he was going to have to go downstairs and face her, and it was going to kill him if her sunny smile was missing.
When he began to smell coffee and the scent of frying bacon, he hit Save on the file and closed his laptop. It was now or never. He combed his fingers through his hair, picked lint off the front of his sweatshirt, and left his room.
***
Marley’s sleep had been fitful. She’d dreamed of pulling Trey out of the wreck all night—over and over. Every time she got to the point where she got in her car and drove off, the dream would start over at the crossroads with the angels pointing her in the other direction. It wasn’t until she woke up that she realized that was a message. That was them, telling her over and over that he was her path to happiness.
But there was a kink in that path. Corbett Lodge was her heritage, her joy, and her purpose. He would have to want into this world for it to work, because she did not belong in his. This was who she was. He was who she was falling in love with. It was the most terrifying, wonderful, uncertain feeling ever to love this hard, this fast, and to find out later that it didn’t last.
But lying in bed fretting about it changed nothing. She had things to do. As soon as she was dressed, she stomped off into the lodge with her chin up and fire in her eyes. She’d never quit on a thing in her life and wasn’t about to start now. By the time she reached the kitchen to start the coffee, her feet were planted in the present. The future was yet to be, and today was all that mattered.
She got a text from Wanda, telling her they were coming over, and added another egg, more buttermilk and flour to the pancake batter she was making. As soon as it was done, she set it aside to rest and began frying bacon.
Soon afterward, she heard Trey’s footsteps on the stairs and took a deep breath.
“Suck it up, Bug. He’s just a man, not a god. Even if his kiss curled your toes, it didn’t fry your brain,” she muttered. But when he entered the kitchen, she had to remind herself… Just a man. Just a man, then looked up and smiled. “Good morning. Did you sleep okay? I did not…thanks to that toe-curling kiss. What are you going to do about that, mister?”
All the panic Trey had been feeling turned to joy. There was that smile. There was his girl. He went straight to her and kissed the top of her head.
“Best I can do while that bacon is popping. I don’t want to get shot down before I’ve had whatever it is you’re cooking, and no, I didn’t sleep any better than you did. I’ve been up forever, working.”
“That’s what happens when you throw a match on a bonfire and walk away. We’re having pancakes and bacon. I’ll make you eggs to go with it if you want.”
“Pancakes and bacon sound perfect. So, I threw a match on a bonfire?”
She shrugged and flipped the bacon to the other side.
He slid his hand beneath her hair and gave her neck a slight squeeze.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful about starting fires. I also ended the public search for you early this morning. I didn’t mention your name or anything about you. Not even where you are from, but I sent out a brief post to social media that my search was over and deleted the thousands of emails I’d received, along with the new ones that came after I’d found you. However, I want to be clear, I did it that way for your privacy’s sake, but in no way do I want to hide you. I would shout it to the world, but that’s not my decision to make. You are the one who is free to reveal whatever you choose. Okay?”
Marley sighed. “There you go with your pretty talk again. Understood.”
Then the roar of the snowmobile shifted their focus. “That’s Jack and Wanda. Today is for plowing the snow from my drive, and she’ll clean your room and change the sheets on your bed while she’s here, and don’t fuss. It’s part of her job.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll just get out of the way and try to look as pretty as I talk,” he drawled.
She laughed out loud, and was still laughing when Jack and Wanda came in the back door.
Wanda looked up at Jack.
“See, I told you she was okay,” he said.
“I need to see that man for myself,” Wanda said.
“Then come on, honey. I smell something good.”
She rolled her eyes. “One of these days your pants are going to be too tight to fasten.”
“Naw…I got myself a good metabolism,” Jack said, and swatted her backside as she led the way into the kitchen.
Marley looked up and smiled. “Wanda, your cheeks are rosy red. That must have been a cold ride.”
“It was a ride, for sure.” And then she went straight to Trey and held out her hand. “Mr. Austin, I presume. I’m Wanda.”
Trey knew he was being measured, and shook the hand she offered. “Trey, please, and it’s a pleasure to get to put a face to a name. I’ve already learned that you two are Marley’s favorite people.”
“Bug is the child we never had,” Wanda said. “She means the world to us.”
“Special people like Marley deserve the best,” Trey said. “Can I get you a cup of coffee? You must be cold after that ride.”
Wanda’s eyes widened. She was the one always serving others. “Oh, I’ll get—”
“It’s no trouble,” Trey said, and quickly poured her a cup and handed it to her. “Wrap your little hands around that and warm them up,” he said.
“Thank you,” Wanda said, and when Trey pulled out a chair at the table for her, she sat down like a little queen on the throne and cast a glance at Jack, as if to say, This is how you treat a woman.
Jack sighed. “Now you’ve gone and done it, boy! I’ll never hear the end of this.”
Trey shrugged. “Sorry, dude. This was Manners 101 at boarding school.”
Wanda frowned. “Boarding school? Why did you go to boarding school?”
“Because my parents decided I was too old for nannies and not old enough to take care of myself,” he said.
“Good grief,” she muttered, but stopped with the questions. Something wasn’t right in his family, but she didn’t have the privilege of knowing his personal business.
Trey winked at her. “It’s okay. I’m just the prerequisite heir. After that, I think Mother felt as if she’d done her duty. She’d given birth. The rest of it was up to the hired help.”
Wanda’s frown deepened. “For pity’s sake.”
Marley smiled to herself. Trey had just relieved their worries by telling them in his own way that he wasn’t after her money or her property, or here for all the wrong reasons.
