Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cait watchedthe road anxiously as Chad drove his all-wheel drive truck up the snowy road. He had chains on his tires, and he wasn’t going fast, but she held onto the safety bar tightly, just in case.
“I’m about to lose the signal,” Linx said on the phone. “Okay, I’ll tell her.”
“What is it?” Cait turned toward the backseat of the extended cab pickup.
“Good news,” Linx said, putting her phone away. “Bec got bail for Brian, and it wasn’t too high. The bondsman came, and they’re letting him out of jail. Todd will give him a ride back to the cabin.”
“That’s great,” Cait said. “It sure looks like we’ll have a white Christmas, and everything’s going to be okay. They won’t be pressing charges over the holidays, would they?”
“Not likely,” Linx said. “Guess this means you won’t need me to hang out with you after all. I hate to be the third wheel.”
“I really appreciate you two helping me,” Cait said. “Thank your sister for me, too. Let her know to bill us her legal fees.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay in town?” Chad squinted through the frosty windshield. “We can pick up the dogs and bring you back to Linx’s place or my parents’ ranch.”
“You’re too kind, but I’d better stay at the cabin,” Cait replied. “I shouldn’t have called my family, because I’m afraid they’re on their way up.”
“Don’t worry,” Chad said. “We’re closing the roads above the town. No one but locals get through.”
“Knowing my parents, they’d sneak past the barrier.”
“Won’t work. I and my brothers are deputies and we’re going to be stationed there tonight to make sure no one goes up or down until the plows come through.” Chad grinned, action hero style.
“I just hope Brian gets through before it gets worse,” Cait said, staring out the window at the pure white landscape. Their Christmas tree would be entirely covered with snow, and no one would notice that the star was on the side. They still needed to hang lights up at the cabin, and after that, make snowmen and have snowball fights.
Sitting in front of the fire sipping hot apple cider and toasting chestnuts would also be on the agenda. It would be a real old-fashioned Christmas and one to remember.
Lost in her fantasies, Cait didn’t notice Chad turning into their driveway.
“Looks like your family is here already,” he said, pointing to a snow covered vehicle.
“It’s not the family van,” Cait said. “Maybe only my mom and dad showed up. They must have been in the vicinity to get up here this fast.”
“They were probably already on their way after not hearing from you. There goes your romantic Christmas,” Linx said, laughing. “Let’s go meet your parents.”
“Actually, just drop me off,” Cait said. “My parents will keep you guys forever, and it’s getting dark.”
“You sure?” Linx hopped out of the truck along with her dog Cedar. “At least let me say ‘hi.’”
Cait wiped the snow off part of the car and frowned. “Actually, this looks like my brother’s rental car.”
Cedar sniffed at the car and growled, raising her hackles. She lifted her head and barked, as if warning them something wasn’t right.
“Oh, well, maybe they sent him to check on you.” Linx grabbed Cedar by the collar. “Does your brother hate dogs? Because Cedar’s getting upset.”
“Grady used to have a dog, but ever since he lost his puppy, he’s turned into a grouch and says he doesn’t like them anymore.”
“Oops,” Linx said. “Come on, Cedar, I think we’d better go.”
“You sure you’ll be okay?” Chad walked up the porch with two grocery bags.
Barking and growling could be heard from behind the door.
“Yeah, just leave them here,” Cait said, pointing to the groceries. “I have to let the dogs out, but they seem to be upset right now. Probably can’t stand Grady.”
Linx and Chad laughed as they got into the car and drove off.
