“Yes. I need to head to work. I’m hoping that man shows.” He checked his watch.
“I understand.” She nodded.
“The dogs can stay with you.” He kissed her lips, lingering for a moment, then got to his feet with a soft grunt. He strode to the living room, the floorboards creaking beneath his boots, and put his hat and coat on over his Kevlar vest.
“Rawley?”
He faced her, silhouetted against the frost-covered window. “Yes?”
“Please be careful.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you later. The snow is too bad for you to be out.” He leaned down, kissed her again, then walked out into the porch. “Shit, it’s cold.”
“Let me know when you get there.” She hugged herself against the blast of winter air.
“Yes, ma’am.” He closed the door behind him, then trudged through the deep snow to his truck, leaving a trail of deep footprints that were already beginning to fill with fresh powder.
****
As Skylar listened for his truck to start, she sighed. The truck started and she gazed out of the window to see him backing out of the driveway. She noticed his tires didn’t even spin. Apparently, he was used to this much snow.
“Well, of course, he is. He’s lived in Montana his entire life.”
Shaking her head, she walked to the sofa, sank into its cushions and picked up the remote, turning on the TV. She knew she should pack but that would just make her cry, tears stinging her eyes at the mere thought. Leaving Rawley felt like having her heart ripped from her chest.
She picked up her phone and called Ryan.
“Hey, good morning. This snow is beautiful; like a blanket of diamonds,” Ryan said, her voice warm and comforting.
“It is,” Skylar cleared her throat, fighting the tightness that threatened to choke her words.
“What’s wrong? You sound off.”
Skylar sighed, a heavy exhale that carried the weight of her decision. “I’m going to my cabin with Cosmo—”
“What? Why?” Ryan’s voice sharpened with concern.
“I can’t get anything done on my book. Those men were here, at my house leaving tracks right up to my windows, and it terrifies me they’ll be back.” She shuddered at the memory.
“When was this?”
“Yesterday. Rawley came out and made plaster casts of the footprints, then he brought his two Border collies here and spent the night. The way his eyes kept scanning the tree line told me he knows exactly how scared I am.”
“Does he know you’re going to leave?”
“Yes. He said he’s not happy about it but does think it’s best for now.”
“You’re coming back, right?” Ryan’s question hung in the air.
“Yes, but only after he catches the rustlers, and who knows how long that will take. Ryan, I’m going to miss him so much,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“You can keep in touch with him. That could help you through the lonely nights.”
“I know. I have no idea what I’ll do today, other than fold sweaters and jeans into my suitcase.”
“You’re leaving that soon? The roads are barely visible.”
“I want out of here for now. You have Seth and I’m alone in this too-quiet house with a cat. It’s just too scary right now.”
