Snowbound in Starlight Bend

by Jennifer Ashley

  Haley had loved the sleek car when she’d seen it in the showroom, but now it looked tiny and forlorn, a frivolous whim of the moment. The giant pickups surrounding the car were much more practical for this terrain and weather.

  Maddox had brought her on Sammy, riding with his arms around her, as he had when he’d rescued her. The plan was to free the car, get it back to the ranch, and then help her make her way west to the main highway. The road from Maddox’s ranch house to the highway was packed with snow but at least drivable—or so Maddox said.

  Buddy kicked the last of the snow from the front tires as Maddox helped Haley down from Sammy’s back. “Start it up,” Buddy called to Haley. He shouldered his shovel and stepped back. His friends followed, their blue, red, and black coats sharp against the white.

  Haley settled her gloves more firmly on her fingers and pulled her coat tighter. She was already cold now that Maddox’s warmth didn’t surround her, but the scarf he insisted she keep helped shield her neck and throat. Once she had the heater going in the car, she’d be fine.

  Maddox said nothing. He handed her into the driver’s seat, his grip steady, then closed the door for her. He leaned down, resting his arms on the roof as Haley pulled on her seatbelt.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Haley nodded. She waited for him to ask her to stay, at least to say he’d be sorry to see her go. Maybe ask if they could keep in touch, see each other again.

  Maddox’s eyes remained unreadable. He’d lost everyone he’d deeply loved, she understood, his parents, his fiancé. Aunt Jane was the exception, and someday, he’d lose her too.

  Now Haley was leaving him. But Maddox had never said one word about loving her, one word about not wanting to say good-bye. Perhaps he was relieved to see her go—they’d avoid an awkward ending to a relationship that had barely started.

  “Thanks, Maddox,” Haley said. “You and Aunt Jane have been so nice to me.”

  Maddox’s eyes flickered. “You’re calling me nice? You must be getting frostbite. Start it up, sweetheart. The engine will need to warm a while.”

  Haley’s throat tightened. She tried to ignore her hurt and push the button on her key fob to start the car.

  The engine made a scraping sound, then fell silent. Haley clicked the fob again. Again, one cough, then nothing.

  “Why don’t you use the actual key?” Maddox asked impatiently.

  Haley gave him an exasperated look. “I don’t think it will make a difference.” Her fingers were shaking so hard it took her three tries to slide the key into the slot.

  She cranked, foot on the gas. Two coughs this time, then the engine quieted. Something hissed to the snow.

  Maddox opened the door and jerked his thumb at her. “Out.”

  Haley scrambled up, Maddox helping her to her feet with breath-stealing strength. For a moment, his hands rested on her arms, his body close, his gaze holding hers. Then he gently set her aside and slid into her car, his large body dwarfing the small interior. He turned the key, pumped the gas, tried again.

  Nothing. The car wheezed, then it threw up its metaphorical hands and surrendered.

  Maddox climbed out, shaking his head. “Sitting out here exposed didn’t do it any good. We can tow it to the house, get it into the garage, recharge the battery.”

  “This is a brand new car,” Haley said in frustration. “It had ten miles on it when I drove it out of the dealership.”

  Maddox patted its top. “It’s pretty.” He slanted Haley a teasing look. “But I’d say you bought a lemon.”

  “A Mercedes S-class is not a lemon,” she said hotly. “They are some of the best cars in the world.”

  “Nice for driving in the cushy city,” Maddox said. “Not out here.”

  “I had no intention of being out here. I — Oh, never mind.” Haley waved her hands in impatience. “I’m freezing. Can I sit in someone’s truck?”

  “No, I’ll take you back home. Buddy will bring your car.”

  Sounded fine to Haley. She tried not to enjoy Maddox’s warm hands on her waist as he lifted her to Sammy’s saddle, the routine now familiar. Haley also liked the part when he put his foot in the stirrup and swung on behind her.

  He snaked his arms around her, holding her close, while he turned Sammy toward the ranch.

  The quiet ride was beautiful. Snow glittered where the sun broke through the clouds, the woods closing around them in shades of black, green, and white. When they came out of the trees to view the mountains lifting behind the house and barn, Haley’s heart swelled with a kind of joy.

  Aunt Jane waited on the porch. She hadn’t bothered to put on a coat, but she didn’t shiver, as though she didn’t notice the cold. “Car wouldn’t start?” she asked without surprise. “I expected as much.”

  “Sorry, Aunt Jane,” Haley said as Maddox swung down and helped Haley to the ground. “Looks like I’ll have to stay another night. It will be too far for me to start today even if someone can fix my car. It’s eight hours from here to Seattle—and that’s only if I don’t stop for the bathroom.”

  “Of course, honey,” Aunt Jane said. “But tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. I doubt anyone will have time to get parts for your car until the twenty-sixth. And even if they did, you don’t want to spend Christmas on the road.”

  “Then I’ll rent or borrow a car,” Haley said. “I’d rather reach home late and at least have dinner with my dad. I don’t want him to be alone.”

  “I know, sweetie, but it’s risky, and you need to be careful—”

  Aunt Jane’s words cut off as Maddox strode up to Haley, Sammy standing quietly where he’d been left. “If you want to be home in time for Christmas, Haley, I’ll take you.”

  Haley turned to him, lips parting. “On Sammy?” she asked, the joke falling faintly.

  “In my truck,” Maddox replied in a hard voice. “If Buddy says he can get you to a highway, then he can get me there too. Easier in my truck anyway. That car you have is like a doll carriage.”

  Haley decided not to mention that the doll carriage was a hundred-thousand dollar vehicle. “But what about your Christmas? You can’t leave Aunt Jane alone.”

  “Don’t you worry about that,” Maddox said firmly. “I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

  “Can you trust a ranch truck to make it to a big city?” she countered, one hand on her hip.

  “Sure can, darlin’. You grab your bags, and we’ll go. Sooner we start, sooner I can get home again.”

  Aunt Jane already had Haley’s suitcases and briefcase ready at the door. Maddox turned and strode to the garage, which rested a little way from the house.

  Haley climbed the porch and hugged Aunt Jane, tears springing to her eyes. “Thank you for everything,” she said.

  Aunt Jane’s eyes were moist as well. She patted Haley’s back and held her close. “It was no problem, honey. I loved having you. Please say you’ll come back.”

  She pulled away and looked at Haley in hope. Aunt Jane wanted her to stay with Maddox, Haley realized. Wanted them to be a couple.

  Maddox had to want that too. Haley started to answer at the same time a roar came from the garage. What did he have in there, a dragon?

  She hugged Aunt Jane again. “I’ll try,” she said. “I promise. But only if Maddox wants me to.”

  “He does,” Aunt Jane said. “He won’t tell you that, but I know.”

  “I will try,” Haley repeated. “I like it here. I’d love to see it in the spring.”

  Aunt Jane nodded, wiping her eyes. “It’s beautiful then.”

  She said the words wistfully—she didn’t believe Haley would return.

  The roar intensified. Sammy looked around but showed no signs of wanting to bolt. He simply watched as Maddox drove out of the garage.

  Maddox’s truck surprised Haley. Buddy and his friends had driven large monsters that were rusty from snow and salted roads. They might have powerful engines, but they were ratty-looking on the outside.

  Maddox’s
truck was a little smaller, sleek, black, and gleaming. The cab was large, enough for several passengers, and the bed had a cover to keep whatever he hauled out of the weather.

  He might have poked fun at Haley’s car, but Maddox obviously took great care of his pickup. He went slowly around the drive, halting about ten yards from the porch.

  The truck purred as he set the brake, the engine defiant of the cold. Maddox hopped out and opened the passenger door, indicating with a sweep of his arm that Haley should enter.

  As Haley picked up her briefcase, Lance barreled out of the house, leapt into the cab, and settled himself on the bench seat in the back.

  “Lance,” Maddox admonished, but Aunt Jane shook her head.

  “Take him with you, Maddox. He’ll whine at me all day if you don’t.”

  Maddox heaved a sigh but conceded. Lance, knowing he’d won, thumped his tail on the seat.

  “Won’t he have to eat and go to the bathroom?” Haley asked as Maddox stepped past her to grab her suitcases.

  “I have food and dog bowls in the truck already,” Maddox said. “Lance likes to go for rides, if you haven’t guessed. Will your city folk faint if they see a Labrador in a truck?”

  “Of course not. A lot of people in Seattle have dogs. Even big ones.”

  Maddox slanted her a sure-they-do look and tucked her suitcases next to Lance. Maddox snatched her briefcase, which had her phone in it, out of her hand and put it in the back as well. “No texting and driving,” he admonished.

  “But you’ll be driving,” Haley said with exaggerated patience.

  “I know. But you texting while I’m driving will make me crazy. Get in.”

  Maddox helped her up into the truck the same way he did when he put her on Sammy—strength and agility, guiding her exactly where she needed to go. The powerful boost at the end slid her halfway across the seat.

  “Be careful out there, Maddox,” Aunt Jane said. “Don’t worry about Sammy. I’ve got him.”

  “Sure thing, Aunt Jane. Be back before you know it.”

  Maddox slammed Haley’s door then climbed into the driver’s side and banged that door shut as well. The pickup was already toasty warm, Haley’s fingers and nose quickly thawing.

  Maddox must have called his friends as he readied the pickup, because Buddy and company appeared at the end of the driveway, their huge four-wheel drive trucks packing down the snow.

  Maddox followed them out, the convoy slowly making their way under the arch that marked the entrance to Stardust Ranch, across a bridge that had been cleared of snow and ice, up a rise, and onward toward open country.

  Haley looked back. Beyond the fold of hill where Maddox’s ranch nestled, the lake stretched out in ice-blue glory, tiny buildings hugged its shore, and giant mountains framed the view.

  Yes, she’d be back. Knowing this corner of the world existed, Haley would not be able to stay away. She’d return to Starlight Bend whether Maddox Campbell welcomed her or not.

  Buddy and his friends pulled aside at the turnoff to the main highway, ten miles from Maddox’s ranch. The highway had been plowed, the sides filled with steep banks of snow, but the road was at least drivable.

  In fifty miles, Maddox would hit the interstate, and then it would be smooth sailing through Idaho and all the way across Washington. He waved his friends a thanks and turned onto the shining road.

  Haley didn’t say much beside him. This stretch of highway went through the reservation, quiet, smooth, empty. Haley looked around, taking in the hills, the wide sky, the mountains. Montana at its best.

  Maddox remained silent as well. What was there to say? They’d made love—which had been the best of the best—but Haley had a life to go back to. So did Maddox. He had plenty to do, plenty of people and animals to take care of. Nothing empty about his life.

  Haley would make no promises. Neither would Maddox.

  They reached the I-90. The freeway was clear and nearly dry from sunshine and traffic. Several eighteen-wheelers passed, mud flaps flying, the last moving over so Maddox could merge onto the road.

  He put his foot down on the gas. With any luck, they’d make Seattle before ten tonight, and Haley would get her Christmas Eve with her dad.

  He knew she’d try to find Maddox someplace to sleep so he could drive back in the early hours and make it in time for Christmas with Aunt Jane and all the people she’d invited. Aunt Jane opened their home every year to those who might not have anyone to be with or the means for a decent Christmas, as well as family and friends. Christmas dinners overflowed the house with laughter, good times, and gratitude.

  They passed a town called Riverbend, which always made Maddox smile—his cousins lived in a town of the same name down in Texas. Their Riverbend lay in the rolling hills outside Austin—this one was in a cut of the mountains, following a river valley, miles from any big city.

  The freeway curved and swayed around snowy mountains rising to either side of the road. More traffic here, people hurrying home for Christmas or heading to the ski resorts to spend the holiday there.

  Lookout Pass, which lay on the border between Idaho and Montana, was coming up fast. Signs for the turnoff and ski areas flashed by, then they passed a big blue one that read, “Welcome to Idaho.”

  I’m going to tell her, Maddox said silently. I’m going to tell her that I’m staying with her for Christmas Eve, meeting her dad. And then she’s coming back to Starlight Bend with me, and we’re going to see if we have something. No ships passing in the night. No fading memory of a wild one-night stand. I don’t want to live the rest of my life not knowing if we could have had a future.

  I don’t want country-western songs. I want real life. I want Haley.

  Behind him, Lance stirred and started to pant.

  “Haley,” Maddox began in a firm voice.

  At the same time, Haley shouted, “Maddox! Stop!”

  Chapter Eleven

  Maddox kept himself from slamming on the brakes. On a wintery road with a six percent downgrade and semis whizzing past, that was a bad idea.

  His hands shook but he made himself move down the road, passing runaway truck ramps until he reached an exit. He slid the truck down the exit ramp, found a spot to pull over on the road at the bottom, and stopped.

  He turned to Haley. Her eyes were wide, breath coming fast. She had one hand braced on the dashboard as though trying to stop the pickup with sheer willpower.

  “You all right, sweetheart?” Maddox asked her in consternation. “What’s wrong?”

  “Turn around,” Haley said, her eyes glittering with tears. “We have to go back.”

  “Why? Did you forget something?” Don’t tell me it’s her laptop or something stupid like that.

  “My wish!”

  “What?” Maddox stared at her, gripping the wheel. “What are you talking about?” Lance perked up and watched, interested.

  “My wish—Santa said it had come true. No, he said …” Haley fished around in her pocket and drew out a card edged with red gilt. “It says, Your Wish Has Been Granted.” She gave him a round-eyed look over the card. “I have to go back to Starlight Bend.”

  Maddox’s heartbeat sped, his fingers tingling with sudden heat. He wanted with everything in him to drive this truck back to the freeway and point it east. But he sat still.

  “Tell me what in hell you’re going on about.”

  Haley’s eyes began to shine. “I was stuck, my car wouldn’t start, the phones didn’t work, my dad told me I needed to stay, even Lance didn’t want me leaving without him. And Santa told me—a guy who looks just like the real Santa Claus—that what I’d wished for had already come true. Don’t you see? It’s me in Starlight Bend … with you.”

  Hell yes, with me!

  Maddox couldn’t make his lips move to say the words. His mouth was dry and cottony, his throat shut tight.

  “Santa …” he forced out with a croak. Behind him, Lance whined.

  Haley’s smile died. “But only if you
want me to.”

  This was it—Maddox’s opportunity to make his big speech.

  Stay with me, Haley. Forever. Not star-crossed lovers but lovers under the stars in Big Sky Country. I don’t want you just for Christmas, but for always.

  No way could his tongue get out something so schmaltzy.

  “Haley.” Maddox’s voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat. And again. Damn it, he should have brought some water with him.

  Maddox coughed one more time and started to speak.

  An eighteen-wheeler rumbled by, engine-braking with a roar, the driver honking in irritation at Maddox’s truck on the side of the road. Maddox’s words were drowned even as they came out.

  “What?” Haley asked over the noise.

  “I said—Will you marry me?” Maddox shouted.

  The passing truck’s racket died after his preliminary words, and Will you marry me? rang loudly through the pickup. Lance barked.

  Haley sat with her mouth hanging open, her red lips moist, enticing Maddox to kiss her.

  To hell with it. Maddox ripped off his seatbelt, slid himself across to Haley, wrapped his arms around her, and dragged her up to him.

  Just before their lips touched, Haley said, “Yes.”

  Maddox drew back. “What?”

  Haley sat up. In a voice as loud as Maddox’s, she yelled, “Yes, I will marry you!”

  Maddox thumped back in his seat. “Shit.”

  “What’s the matter?” Haley’s eyes lit. “Want to take it back?”

  “Hell no!” Maddox pounded his hands on the steering wheel. “I just realized I proposed to you in a pickup on the side of the road with the dog drooling in my back seat.”

  Lance barked twice.

  “I know,” Haley said. She laughed. “It’s perfect.”

  Maddox wasted no more time with words. He moved to Haley, hauled her into his arms, and brought his mouth down on hers.

  The kiss heated his blood and the air around them, sound rushing in his ears. Haley tasted of desire and goodness, of love and excitement. Her body was hot against his, the softness of her a sharp contrast to the hard edges of his life.