“I like the sound of that.”
Teddy faced forward when he saw a car parked in their driveway. A burly figure stood at the door, bundled in a white sweater and a tan beanie.
“Who’s that?” Teddy asked.
“I don’t know,” Geoff said. “You said everyone canceled, right?”
Teddy turned to Geoff, eyes wide. “I think this is the guy who reserved one night. I could have sworn he canceled.”
“Well,” Geoff said. “Let’s go say hello.”
“What about the storm?”
“He’s only here for one night, right? If he leaves after breakfast, he’ll be out of the area before the storm hits.”
“You’re right,” Teddy said. “Let’s greet our guest.”
Chapter Two
CIARAN
Ciaran turned off the highway and began a trek down a road that went on for miles. The snow drifted down, covering the road ahead. Outside his car window were snow-covered fields. He’d occasionally pass a farmhouse with a barn, but not much more.
He’d stopped in Oregon to buy chains, and he was glad he had. The roads became icier as he turned onto a mountain pass. His GPS said he was two hours from his destination, Thistle. It sounded small and quaint. He needed to escape the bustling city of San Francisco. He’d planned one night before heading to Canada to visit his parents.
I bet it’d be nice to live in a small village. I’d also be closer to my parents if I lived in Washington.
For the past five years, he’d wondered about moving out of California, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Something inside always stopped him. Fear? Fear of what, though, he couldn’t tell. Ciaran never took risks unless he’d planned for the worst-case scenario. He didn’t have the savings to move,so it wasn’t a risk he’d take. The worst-case scenario was homelessness.
My family wouldn’t let that happen. They’d help me.
Ciaran pulled into a small gas station in the middle of nowhere.
He got out and stretched. His stomach growled, and the snacks inside called out to him.
The shop was clean and stocked.
“Well, hello there,” a woman behind the counter called. “What can I do for you?”
“Hello,” Ciaran said. “I’m just stopping for gas and some snacks.”
“We have plenty of both,” she said. “Heading north or south?”
“North,” he said. “I’m heading to Thistle.”
“That’s a lovely village, but I’m not sure it’s wise. How long are you staying?”
“Just one night,” Ciaran said. “Then I’m heading up to British Columbia to visit family.”
“Well, don’t stay too long. There’s a storm brewing, and the roads will be closed by Saturday.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He bought some snacks, a soda, and filled his car with gas before getting back on the road.
Ciaran turned on the radio and tuned to the emergency station to check on the storm the woman mentioned.
The radio announcer described the snowfall and how the area was expected to get at least two inches overnight.
