“We’re on a road, though. We’d feel it if we were out in the pasture.”
“It’s her road. I’m sure of it. We’re about to go around the bend and she’ll have all her lights on so we can see the house.”
“And not run into it?”
“That would be preferable.”
“And you know where the bend is?”
“Thunder does.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Here we go.” He swung slowly to the right again, taking the curve his gut told him was under the tires. If he got stuck in a ditch driving blind like an idiot, he’d never hear the end of it.
“Lights! I see them! Not very bright because they’re blocked by the snow, but that’s the house. You did it.” She sank back against the seat.
“I’ll probably get a lecture.”
“Why?”
“Mom sent me a text just as I was pulling into your folks’ place. She said if it got worse she wanted me to hold up there and reschedule this discussion.”
“But it didn’t get worse until we were on our way.”
“That’s what I say. She might see it differently.”
“But you didn’t want to put this off.”
“No, ma’am, I did not.”
“Understood. I’ll back you up. It wasn’t that bad when we left, and then we had no choice but to keep going.”
“Sounds perfectly rational to me.” He inched his way up to the house, getting as close to the porch as he dared. Even grazing it would wipe out his credibility. Pushing gently on the brake, he brought Thunder to a stop and switched off the engine.
“We’re here.” She sounded relieved.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I wasn’t scared. Not too much, anyway, and we needed to get here. Telling her about the book is a big deal.”
“It is, in more ways than one. Yikes, here comes Andy.”
Wearing a heavy parka with the fur-lined hood up, his mom’s beloved husband made his way down the steps. Head down, he started toward the truck, a bundle in his arms, like a Saint Bernard with a keg of brandy. Or in this case, the Rescue Quilt.
Rance unfastened his seat belt. “Stay here. I’ll go meet him.” Hopping down, he closed the door and clamped his hand on his hat as he started toward Andy. The wind was vicious, turning the snow into thousands of tiny needles.
“Looks like you have the Rescue Quilt!”
“I do!”
“Thank you!” He wouldn’t have thought it necessary, but now that he was out in the storm, he was grateful, especially for Lani’s sake. He moved faster so Andy wouldn’t have so far to go.
When they met, Rance took the old familiar quilt. “I appreciate this. Lani will, too.”
“Glad you made it, son.” Turning, he battled his way back to the porch steps.
Rance watched until he got there okay before heading around to Thunder’s passenger door, one hand gripping the quilt and the other securing his hat. He had to squeeze between the front bumper and the porch. Another foot and he would have banged into it.
