Homespun Bride

156 Homespun Bride“Yep. It’s turning out to be some winter storm.” Hereached for the door. “You want to reconsider comingout with me?”“Not a chance.”He turned the knob and cold gusted in. The crisptap-tap of snow faded into the howl of the wind. “Youused to love storms.”“I still do.” She slipped past him onto the coveredporch and faced the wind. “I might not be able to watchthe force of the storm, but I can hear the symphony of it.”Snow bulleted under the porch roof, striking themboth. He closed the door against the resisting wind,hardly aware of the boards beneath his feet. All hecould see—he feared all he would ever see—was her.“This is wonderful.” She held out her hands, palmsup, to feel the strike of the blowing snow. “Bitterlycold, but wonderful.”“I get my fair share of weather working outside. Itdoesn’t hold the same wonder for me. Careful now, youkeep inching forward like that and you’re gonna hit apatch of ice and then where will you be?”“On my backside?”“Exactly. You’d best let me help you.” His handengulfed hers.You will feel nothing, she vowed. Not the past andcertainly not an ember of affection.It took all her strength to keep her heart as if blanketedby a layer of snow. “It works best if I can lay myhand on your arm.”“Sure.” He released his grip on her and she slid hergloved hand along the strong plane of his forearm.Even with the thick layer of jacket and sheepskin, shecould feel his strength.