On a Snowy Christmas Night

by Debbi Rawlins

  Shea squeezed a section of his beautiful strawberry mane between her thumb and forefinger, and rubbed the strands together, trying to mimic how another horse would groom him with its teeth. Another friendly overture Annie had shown her. He liked that a lot. Though not so much when she worked her fingers up and down his tangled mane. Sad how his owner had neglected his grooming.

  According to Russell, who knew the man, he wasn’t a bad person, simply another victim of the struggling economy. She understood...sort of. The upside was that Russell knew enough about Caleb that Annie felt comfortable allowing Shea to ride him.

  She heard voices coming from outside the stables and her gaze went to her watch, her insides clenching because she knew it was time for shots. It was a good thing, relieving the colic horses of pain, but even thinking about needles gave her the willies. Hank was diabetic. He had no problem administering the shots. Besides, he had two horses of his own at home.

  “He is a handsome fella,” Hank said, stopping to admire Caleb. Jim, the volunteer who was taking off for the holidays, was with him. “You thinking about adopting him?”

  “Me?” Shea blinked. “I live in an apartment in California.”

  “Too bad. He’s sure taken a liking to you.” Hank stepped closer, squinting over the rim of his thick glasses. “Good teeth. Plenty of lean muscle. Hasn’t been neglected for too long.” Hank grunted. “That’s the trouble with volunteering in a place like this. You wanna take ’em all home with you.”

  She wasn’t prepared for the surge of jealousy that swelled in her throat. Her reaction was totally inappropriate. Caleb wasn’t her horse. And the idea was to find him a home, after all. “Annie said I can exercise him later,” she said for no reason.

  Jim’s smile was kind and knowing. He was a retired schoolteacher who’d been raised on a ranch. “After you ride him, I’ll have to remove his hind shoes before we turn him out to pasture with the others.” Jim glanced outside. “I’d like to do it by two. I’m leaving a little early to beat the snow.”

  “Why remove his shoes?” she asked, alarmed, then vaguely considered that she should’ve been more concerned about the weather.

  “They kick out at each other even when they’re just playing. We don’t need any of them getting hurt.”

  It struck Shea that since Caleb was being let out to pasture he didn’t need exercising. Annie was simply being nice. And if Shea wanted to be a nice person, she shouldn’t hold up Jim from his duties just so she could ride Caleb.

  Apparently she wasn’t that nice. It was just that she wanted to ride Caleb so badly....

  Both men had already moved to the rear of the stables where the sick horses were kept. She refused to so much as glance back there, not wanting to see the needles come out, but she stopped at the door and, staring at the gray sky, called to Jim. “I’ll go find out if I can ride him now.”

  She didn’t wait for an acknowledgment but ran toward the corral, where she saw Annie talking on her cell phone. Shea stood several feet out of earshot, waiting impatiently, and ended up getting roped into helping Molly refill water troughs for the pigs and goats. By the time Annie got off the phone, Jim was finished in the stables and had rounded up the volunteers to cover the stacked bales of hay with tarp.

  An hour later, Shea caught up with Annie and obtained her permission. By then everyone seemed worried about the snow. It had already started coming down in Kalispell and the higher elevations, and there was some disagreement among the local forecasters over when it would hit the rest of the state and how many inches to expect. All Shea could think about was riding Caleb.

  As soon as she ran into the stables she sensed something was wrong beyond the nagging doubt that she’d be able to saddle a horse unsupervised. The problem was the gate to Caleb’s stall—it was wide open. She held her breath as she moved close enough to look inside.

  Her beautiful strawberry roan was gone.

  * * *

  “I CAN DO THIS,” she pleaded. “Please, Annie, give me an hour.” Shea could tell by the tight pull of the woman’s mouth that Shea wasn’t getting anywhere. “Okay, how about half an hour? I’ll ride for fifteen minutes, then turn around and head back to Safe Haven whether I find him or not.”

  “It could start snowing before then. You could get lost. Caleb will be all right.” Annie used the back of her wrist to wipe the sweat from her brow.

  A last-minute donation of produce discards from a Butte food chain had been delivered and had to be stored properly. Everyone was hustling to beat the possible storm and Shea knew she was being utterly selfish in badgering the poor woman, but all she could think about was Caleb, cold and hungry with no shelter. She wished she didn’t need anyone’s blessing. But the only way she could go after him was to borrow a horse. Maybe she was being irrational, maybe Annie was right and Caleb would be fine....

  She couldn’t let it go. “First flake that hits my face I’ll turn around. You said yourself Caleb likely didn’t stray far. Chances are I’ll find him in a few minutes.” Using all her might, Shea dragged a crate marked bruised apples toward the barn. She wanted to help, but mostly she could no longer look into Annie’s eyes and see the toll her persistence was taking on the poor woman who already had too much on her mind right now.

  “Please let me borrow a horse,” she said quietly, guilt stabbing deep this time. This was it. She wouldn’t ask again. “I promise not to endanger him.”

  Annie visibly took a deep breath and held up a gloved finger. “First sign it’s snowing.”

  “The very first.”

  “You follow the fence line, stay on flat land and ride only fifteen minutes, then turn around no matter what.”

  “No matter what,” Shea repeated, her legs suddenly quivering from pent-up nerves.

  “Candy Cane knows you, take her. She’s gentle but headstrong.” The corner of Annie’s mouth quirked. “Sound familiar?”

  “Thank you, Annie.” She’d already started backing up. “I’ll be careful.”

  “You rode with Jesse—that tells me something, or the answer would’ve been no. Use the tack on the far wall and take your time saddling her. I know you’re in a hurry but you don’t wanna start off by making her edgy.”

  “Got it.” Shea understood the truth in that and focused on her deep breathing exercise.

  Annie started to say something else but someone interrupted her, and Shea took the opportunity to hurry toward the stables. She resisted the impulse to run. Breathe deeply, that’s what she had to do. Keep calm.

  Before she’d realized she was doing it, she’d begun counting in multiples of three, briefly pausing between each set. Screw it. The habit helped relax her and now wasn’t the time to practice alternate therapy.

  By the time she’d saddled Candy Cane and they were heading out of the stables, Shea had centered herself. Until she saw the black clouds overhead. The sky looked bad as far as she could see. Half surprised that Annie hadn’t shown up to tell her she’d reconsidered, Shea nudged the mare into a gallop headed in the opposite direction from Annie and the rest of the group.

  * * *

  JESSE CURSED HIMSELF for being a fool. He never should’ve stopped at the Billings recruitment office after dropping off the injured ram. If he hadn’t been so damn impulsive he would’ve missed the snow. How friggin’ stupid, he thought, as the second fat flake splattered against the windshield of the Cessna. Not just stupid but irresponsible. This wasn’t his plane.

  It wasn’t so much a safety issue—he’d flown in snow enough times and this baby had the best deicing equipment he’d ever seen—but the principle involved. The questions he’d had could’ve been handled over the phone. No need for unnecessary risk. He wouldn’t make his decision to reenlist until after the holidays, and if he decided to go back in, it wouldn’t be through a recruitment center. The bonus they offered for a ten-year re-up would have to make it worth his while.

  What annoyed him was that his mind had been as clouded as the black sky overhead�
�had been since he’d talked to Shea yesterday. He’d been thinking about her too much. Made no sense, since the only thing he knew for sure was that she had a good heart. He would’ve liked to see Annie’s face when she got the coffee and feed. Three hundred pounds of oats and corn were nothing compared to Safe Haven’s need. Shea didn’t know that, but she cared enough to stop at Jorgensen’s and find out how she could make a difference. The hay delivery would be a godsend.

  Coming down faster and harder, the snow pelted the Cessna. Later he could finish ripping himself a new one for being a dumbass, for now he gave his full attention to the controls. It’d be another twenty or thirty minutes to the airstrip he used. His truck was parked there or he’d seriously think about putting down at the Sundance. Nice thing about flying in a rural area—few power lines and sufficient places to land a small plane if the need arose.

  He surveyed the ground for one of his landmarks before the place was covered in white. A dozen miles back he’d flown over Vernon’s fishing cabin. That meant he was now over Safe Haven land. Damn, he hoped Shea had left early. No need worrying. Annie would’ve seen to it.

  A gust of icy wind buffeted the plane. Wet snow slapped the wings.

  “Shit.”

  Man, when the local meteorologists screwed up they really went all out. It wasn’t a blizzard but pretty damn close, with no signs of letting up. He grabbed the radio.

  “Piedmont Ground, this is Cessna 55512 over Safe Haven, looking for an area weather report.”

  Waiting for a response from ground control, Jesse rolled a tense shoulder, then darted a look below. He thought he saw something pink. Probably a trick of the muted light. There was nothing out here. Certainly no reason for a person to be roaming around in this weather. He rubbed his right eye and squinted at the object. Too late, he was already passing.

  “Cessna 55512, this is Piedmont Ground, repeat your location.”

  Jesse didn’t recognize the voice. Just what he was afraid of. Paul, the guy who owned the airstrip, must be taking time off. Then something clicked. “Piedmont Ground, this is Cessna 55512, is that you, Stanley?”

  “Affirmative, Cessna 55512.”

  Jesus. It was Paul’s nephew, and he knew Jesse. Not much small aircraft activity in these parts during winter. But filling in for his uncle was probably the highlight of Stanley’s year. He’d stick to formality even if he knew this was his only communication for the day.

  “Hold on, Stanley. Back in a minute.”

  Jesse had to circle around and have another look. It was probably nothing. All he ever saw were cows or wildlife in the winter. But something pinkish might as well be a red flag. Doubt would nag at him if he didn’t put his mind at ease. A couple minutes to backtrack wouldn’t kill him.

  The snow was coming down like a son of a bitch, though, and he’d be lucky to see anything. As he came around, he gently pushed the wheel down and used the elevator control to drop for a better look.

  He’d barely decreased altitude when he saw the shape of a person. A small person. A woman. Wearing a pink jacket.

  Shea.

  What the hell...

  His heart thudded. He should’ve recognized her jacket immediately.

  She sat atop a horse, hunched over its neck. He couldn’t tell if she was hurt or trying to shield her face from the blowing snow. And then she must’ve heard the engine because she tilted her head back, her arm thrown across her forehead, as she stared up into the sky.

  Jesse didn’t bother signaling. Too much snow. She couldn’t see him. He only hoped she had sense enough to keep her eyes on the plane. After he landed, she’d have to come to him.

  He picked up the radio again. “Piedmont Ground—Stanley?

  It’s Jesse. Making an emergency landing. Plane is fine. I’m fine. I’ll be in touch.”

  8

  SHEA COULD BARELY see the plane circling above. Her pulse pounded so loudly in her ears she’d initially thought she’d imagined hearing the engine. Icy white snowflakes kept falling and the wind was so cold it sliced through her jacket. The weather had gone to hell so fast—she’d never experienced anything like this before.

  Candy Cane seemed fine, considering. Probably because the snow hadn’t yet accumulated to more than a few inches on the ground. That would change quickly, too, she thought, watching the small aircraft begin to descend. Was the pilot landing? But where? Nothing but fields surrounded them, a couple of small hills, the occasional grove of trees.

  He couldn’t have been looking for her. She’d only left Safe Haven a half hour ago. Not enough time for Annie to alert anyone. Annie expected Shea back at any minute, but she’d gotten so lost once the snow started. She’d tried to head back to Safe Haven. She had.

  She couldn’t think about that right now. Something could be wrong with the plane. Maybe the pilot was in trouble.

  A crazy thought popped into her head. Was it Jesse? No, too big a coincidence. Although he was expected back this afternoon, and how many people would be flying on a day like this if they could avoid it?

  She sucked the frigid air into her unsuspecting lungs and winced at the pain. Using her arm to block the snow from flying directly into her face, she tried to keep sight of the plane while it continued to lose altitude. The descent seemed controlled, so maybe nothing was wrong. For all she knew, a landing strip stretched out on the other side of the rise that would eventually cut off her view of the aircraft.

  Shea swallowed the lump of fear forming in her throat, dug her heels into the mare’s flanks and urged her forward. It was as good a direction as any. She no longer had a clue where Safe Haven was.

  God, she’d promised Annie she’d keep Candy Cane safe. And Caleb...she hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of him. He was out here in the freezing cold, too. Her teeth chattering, she pushed every thought out of her mind except for the plane and the pilot. Darkness seemed to be falling as quickly as the temperature. She had to stay focused, keep her gaze alert through the tricky shifting light.

  A minute later, the plane disappeared.

  * * *

  AS SOON AS JESSE LANDED, he radioed Stanley, gave him a brief rundown and asked him to call the Sundance. Rachel would get in touch with Annie. Later, after he made sure Shea was safe, Jesse would contact them again.

  He dug out his emergency gear, pulled on a parka and prayed like hell she was on her way toward him. A pair of skis and snowshoes were stowed in the back of the Cessna, but he didn’t need them yet. He glanced up at the sky. Within a half hour, he would. The unexpected squall was turning into a damn blizzard.

  “What the hell is she doing out here?” he muttered, the fear thick in his voice and in his chest.

  Leaving on his sunglasses to cut the glare, he trudged in the direction he’d seen her last. Fortunately the wind was coming from behind him. Good for him, not for Shea. The blowing snow would be partially blinding her. His only consolation was that she had to be riding a good horse. Annie would never have let her out here otherwise. Then again, it wasn’t like Annie to allow something like this to happen in the first place.

  Jesse muttered a few more choice words he seldom used and pressed forward. Maybe he’d been too hasty to dismiss the snowshoes, although they would’ve slowed him down. He kept pushing himself, his eyes trained on the top of the small hill she’d have to climb to get to him. He knew exactly what time he’d landed but he didn’t bother checking his watch now. The passage of time didn’t matter. Getting to her did.

  Moments later he saw her. God bless that pink jacket. He didn’t think she’d spotted him. Hard to tell with her arm hiding her face.

  “Shea,” he yelled, letting the wind carry his voice.

  When she showed no sign of having heard him, he cupped his gloved hands around his mouth and called again. After two more tries, she lowered her arm. Her shoulders suddenly went back and her mouth opened. He thought she might have said something but he couldn’t hear her.

  For a second he feared she might spook the mare,
but she paused, adjusted her grip on the reins and nudged the horse toward him. His breathing labored from trudging through the thickening snow, he waited where he stood.

  “Jesse, are you okay?” she asked, then climbed off the mare before he could stop her. They needed to move quickly.

  “You all right?” He caught her by the shoulders, studying her flushed face. Icy snow clung to her hair and eyelashes.

  She nodded. “I was looking for Caleb. He got away. Did you see him from up there...?” She started to look over her shoulder but he gave her a gentle shake.

  “Listen, we have to find shelter. Now.”

  “The plane?” She blinked hard against the snow pelting her face.

  He hugged her against him, using his body to protect her. “A cabin not far from here. But we have to go now. Let’s get you back in the saddle.”

  “What about you?” She tilted her head back, her teeth chattering violently.

  “I’m fine walking.”

  “But—”

  He lowered his head and kissed her. Not the best way to shut her up but he’d acted on instinct. And it worked. He drew back. “Please don’t argue.”

  The wind howled around them. He doubted she’d heard him. She just stared at him with wide eyes. It would be easy to pick her up and put her back in the saddle. And all he wanted was to kiss her again.

  She leaned into him and lifted her mouth.

  Damn, they had to get out of here.

  He pulled her against his chest and kissed her hard, his tongue probing the seam of her lips. She let him inside and tentatively touched her tongue to his. Her shoulders shook beneath his hands.

  This was insane. He was insane. He broke away. “We have to go now,” he mouthed, unable to compete with the shrieking wind.

  She nodded, and he helped her into the saddle.

  Noticing the cinch was loose, he reached under the mare, and in spite of his bulky gloves, managed to tighten the strap. It pissed him off that he was somewhat disoriented. He’d been too focused on her instead of monitoring where they were in relation to the line shack that he knew straddled the border between Safe Haven and the Hebers’ land.