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Snowbound

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morning was bitingly cold, the stillness absolute. He

walked to the side of the porch, where he could see to

the east. Above the treetops, Thunder Mountain reared

as a dark bulk, but around it the sky glowed orange and

pink and yellow.

It would be a while before the sun was far enough

up for him to be able to assess how much snow lay on

the ground, but he knew digging out was going to be a

job. Maybe he could put the boys to work today. Or

would that constitute child abuse to these private-school

kids?

He mixed up bread dough, kneaded it, gave it time

to rise and had the loaves in the oven before he heard

any stirrings at all upstairs. Willow and Erin were the

first to come down.

“It quit snowing,” Erin said in her serene way,

making it an observation rather than an exclamation.

“Yep.”

“How long do you think before the road gets

plowed?” Willow asked timidly.

“Probably a couple of days, anyway.”

“Oh.” Her voice was small. “That smells really good.”

“Nothing like bread baking. Want to start with some

cereal or eggs, or would you rather wait until the bread

comes out of the oven?”

“Wait,” they agreed.

“Anybody else up yet?” What he really wanted to know

was whether their teacher was up. He’d been thinking

about her when he fell asleep, and he hadn’t even opened

his eyes before he pictured her face this morning.

With faint shock, he realized he was in trouble. He’d

be foolish to imagine that any sensible woman would

want to traverse his bad moods and flashbacks long

enough to build any kind of relationship with him.

“I don’t think so,” Willow said, in answer to his

question.

He got some blackberry jam out of the freezer and

set it on the table to thaw.

The two girls continued to hover. After a minute,

John felt obligated to make conversation.

“You looking forward to getting home?”

“It’s been fun here,” Erin said, not really answering

his question.

“And we might miss some school,” Willow added.

“Don’t you have to make up snow days in the spring?”

“Only if the whole school… Oh!” The younger girl’s

mouth formed an O. “Do you think it snowed enough

in Hawes Ferry that school will be canceled Monday?”

“From what your principal said, it’s a real possibility.” He put hot water on for tea. “You think your parents are worrying?”

“My dad will be,” Willow said softly, her head tilted

forward enough that her hair veiled her expression.

Erin shrugged. “As long as they know we’re safe,

mine’ll be okay.”

John checked the oven. A couple more minutes.

“Do you get snowed in a lot here?”

“A couple of times a winter, I’m told. Not usually so

early. I’m guessing this is a record.”

“We were so lucky.” Willow shivered.

“Good thing you had Dieter with you.” He kept an

eye on her, aware from what Fiona had told him that the

skinny boy with the goofy smile had been Willow’s

knight-errant yesterday.

She obligingly blushed.

More drama in the making.

John hadn’t expected to feel as comfortable as he did

with these kids. He supposed it was because they had

become individuals to him, taking on personality. The

only two he still mixed up were Kelli-with-an-i and

Tabitha, both blond and perky, neither yet the center of

a drama that would bring their personalities into focus.

Give ’em time, he figured, resigned.

Fiona appeared next, wearing the jeans and turtleneck she’d arrived in, borrowed wool socks that he thought were his and a bright smile. “Did you see what

a beautiful morning it is?”

“Ms. Mac! It quit snowing!”

“I know, I saw.” She hugged both girls.

Her cheek was creased from a wrinkle in her pillow.

John thought it was cute. She, too, exclaimed over the

bread coming out of the oven and waited expectantly.

John sliced the first loaf hot and watched with

amusement as they slathered on butter and jam and ate

with murmurs of delight. Fiona actually went so far as

to close her eyes and moan, a sight and sound that



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