She stumbled past him and ran out into the snow. The temperature difference between the shed and the outside was a shock to her system. She didn't realize how much the wind chilled her. The storm was coming hard and fast now, with big, wet white flakes. It was a heavy spring snow that would probably break branches on trees. It was a good thing Dallas wasn't stuck out in this.
She sprinted across the snow, heading directly for the main house. She tried to think only of Dallas, but Ethan and that kiss wouldn't leave her head.
She kissed him.
Why in the world did she do that?
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she whispered to herself as she ran through the snow. The man didn't want her. He'd made that incredibly clear. And she'd just let her body do its own thing and kiss him. She slowed to a walk as she neared the house.
“It was just the shock of finding out he was okay,” she told herself. “Yeah, that's it. Just shock. If any male had been there, and possibly any female, I would have done the same thing.”
She nodded to herself, but deep down she knew it wasn't anywhere close to true. The only person she would have kissed was Ethan. She was just lying to herself and she knew it.
She pressed her hand to her lips, still feeling the lingering warmth there. She was going to be thinking of him all day now. She pulled her hand away, determined to get past this. Besides, she was at the house.
She threw open the kitchen door and entered, stomping the snow from her boots before getting too far inside.
“Where is he?” Laura asked Mia once her feet were clean enough to come inside.
“They're almost here,” Mia assured her from the kitchen table. She was sitting in one of the chairs while Emma stood with the baby beside her.
Laura nodded and paced by the door. She wasn't sure who she was actually more anxious would walk through it: Dallas or Ethan.
The door finally opened with a flurry of snowflakes sneaking into the house. Ella led the two boys by the hands into the house while Jace followed behind with Jupiter in his arms. Once inside, Jace set the dog down. Jupiter promptly shook wet snow everywhere.
Laura ran to Dallas, falling to her knees and hugging him tight to her. He felt so small in her arms, so fragile. She tucked her face into the boy's shoulder, trying to keep her sobs of relief to herself. Thankfully, Dallas didn't push her away.
“I'm okay, Laura. Promise,” he whispered, giving her a hug back. “You are squishing me!”
She chuckled and loosened her death grip on him. She didn't let him go, but used one hand to wipe the tears off her face. “Don't do that again, okay?”
“It was an accident,” Dallas explained. “We were playing fetch with Jupiter and the ball hit a rock and w
ent crazy. Jupiter chased after it, and it was funny. So we threw it again.”
“And that's how you walked away from the barn?” she asked. She ruffled his brown hair, just glad that she was able to touch him at all.
Dallas nodded. Laura looked over to see Ella sitting in one of the kitchen chairs with Elliot in her lap. She had her arms wrapped tightly around him looking fierce and relieved at the same time. Jace stood behind them with his hand on Elliot's shoulder with a matching expression.
“Then what happened?” Laura turned back to Dallas.
“We just kept playing until it got really cold.” He looked down at his shoes and frowned. “But, we didn't know how to get back. We couldn't see the house anymore. Jupiter didn't know where to go either. We tried following him since dogs are supposed to be good at that kind of thing. He wasn't.”
Laura pulled him into another hug. His cheeks and hands were still cold from being outside.
“Then Mr. Jace and Ms. Ella saw us,” Dallas continued. “They brought us home. Jupiter was going in the wrong direction.”
“I'm so glad you guys are okay,” Laura told him. “You scared me really bad. I thought... I thought...” Her voice caught and she had to take a breath. “I thought I was going to lose you, too.”
Dallas' eyes went big and wide. He slammed himself into her chest, nearly knocking the two of them over with the need to hug his sister. “I wouldn't leave you, Laura. Never. You don't leave me and Ivy. We don't leave you. That's how it works. We promised.”
Laura felt fresh tears trickle down her cheeks. That was the promise they'd made each other at their parents' funeral. “We don't leave each other.”
A blast of cold air followed the door opening again, but Laura didn't let go of her brother. From the corner of her eye, she could see Ethan coming in and shaking the snow from his shoulders and boots. She ignored him, focusing on her brother. Luckily, he just went to the far side of the room to talk to Emma and Mia.
“We should get you and your sister home before the snow gets too bad,” Laura announced, standing up and holding out her hand for her brother. He took it and held on tightly. She turned to the table. “Jace, Ella? Thank you so much for finding him.”
Ella hugged the boy in her lap a little tighter. “I'm just glad we did.” She smiled at Dallas. “It was nice to meet you, Dallas. I hope we see each other again some time.”