Merry Christmas, My Love

“I think so, too. Are we anywhere near Emily’s house? Can we stay there until the snow stops?”

He shook his head. “No. I took a different route that would be faster, but it also took us away from the Beeker farm. If I remember correctly, there’s an abandoned hunting lodge somewhere in this area. It will be hard to spot, but give it a try on your side and I’ll keep an eye out here.”

If they didn’t find the lodge they would be in a lot of trouble. People had died in these circumstances. It was hard to believe they could be so close to civilization and still freeze to death.

“I think I see something!” Priscilla pointed to the right.

He stared through the snow and blinked several times. “Yes. You’re rig

ht.” With a sigh of relief he steered the buggy toward the small cabin. He had no idea if there was wood for a fire or any food there, but at least they would be out of the snow.

The buggy slid to a stop near the cabin. Mitch helped Priscilla out of the vehicle. “Go on inside. I’ll put the horses in that small shed over there.” He pointed to the rickety stable. It wouldn’t provide a great deal of comfort for the horses, but at least they would be out of the snow and wind.

By the time he reached the cabin after taking care of the horses, the snow had already drifted up to the door, making it difficult to open. Priscilla still had her coat and hat on, but was bending over the fireplace, trying to light kindling with shaky hands.

“Here, let me do that.” He rubbed his hands together and blew warm breath on them, then took the flint from her hand and lit the kindling. “Do we have logs?”

“Yes, they’re over in that box by the window.”

He threw two logs on the fire and searched the rest of the house. There was an old bed that he took the mattress from and dragged near the fire.

Two woolen blankets were added to the pile while Priscilla stood running her palms up and down her arms. “I’ll check the kitchen to see if there’s any food.”

She turned up some canned meat, a jar of green beans, and a tin of peaches. “Well, this won’t be as spectacular as the Thanksgiving feast we had a couple of weeks ago, but it will fill our stomachs.” She handed the cans to Mitch who punctured the tops with his knife.

“What about Ian? Will he be all right by himself?”

“He knows enough to close the store when the snow started. He’ll take the walk home before it gets too bad. He’s a pretty self-reliant kid.” Mitch poked the blazing fire with a stick. “I guess he had to be, growing up with no mother.”

Priscilla found a few cracked dishes in the cupboard and arranged the food on the plates and set them on the mattress next to where Mitch stood, leaning his forearm on the mantle.

“Come and eat. It will warm you up.” She settled on the mattress, her legs tucked under her.

This was a big mistake. The two of them here all night long, with one mattress to share. He could see trouble coming. Even now with her sitting there, her huge hazel eyes staring at him, her plump lips begging to be kissed. Were he a gentleman, he would spend the night in the rickety stable with the horses. Anywhere except next to Miss Priscilla Cochran with the full curves, golden brown hair, and warm smile.

Trouble? Hell he was in as deep as a man could go.

He removed his coat and settled cross-legged in front of her, and took a bit of the meat in his fingers. Priscilla tilted her head back, the smooth pale skin of her neck teasing him, aching to be kissed, nibbled on. She slid a piece of peach into her mouth, and he watched, fascinated, as her throat worked to swallow the fruit. Then she smiled at him and licked her lips. Were he not so absolutely sure she was an innocent, he would think she was bent on seduction.

“Try a peach; they’re good.” She held out a glistening slice to him. Instead of taking it from her hand, he leaned in and sucked the piece from her fingers. She gasped and pulled her hand back. He took her hand in his and sucked the end of each of her fingers. He turned her hand and placed a small kiss on the inside of her wrist, noting the pulse beating frantically.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

He studied her under shuttered lashes. Her breathing was erratic, the pulse in her neck beat a matching rhythm where he still held his lips against her wrist. “You can’t still be cold. Take your coat off.”

She licked her lips and unbuttoned the coat. She took her hand back and shrugged off the garment. “It is rather warm in here now with the fire going.”

“Oh, yes, darlin’, there is a fire going.”

“What do you mean?”

He held his hand out, aware that the outcome was inevitable. He’d known since Priscilla stepped off the mail coach and fell at his feet in the mud that this moment would arrive. “Come here, Priscilla.”

She rose to her knees and shuffled over to him. “What?”

He grabbed her hand and tugged, until she landed on his lap. His head slowly descended and his lips covered hers. She tasted sweet and spicy from the combination of the meat and peaches. He swept his tongue into her mouth, his fingers busy pulling her hair free of the sensible bun. Once he had it undone, he ran his fingers through her hair. “Like silk,” he murmured, inhaling its sweet scent.

Tilting her head, he rained kisses over her cheeks, eyelids, jaw, and neck. He nibbled on the sensitive skin under her ear. “There’s only one mattress,” he whispered as he ran his tongue over the outside shell of her ear. “We have to sleep together to keep from freezing.”