Tyler jumped out first and tried to move through the snow toward them. But he sank nearly thigh-deep in the snow and could hardly move. Kade climbed out next and tried to wade toward them but was unsuccessful too.
Emberly reached them first and fell into Tyler’s arms.
He hugged her tight. “You all right?”
“We’re just fine.” She pulled back and was swept up into a hug by Kade.
Both of the men were bundled in heavy winter gear and boots, clearly prepared for the harsh conditions.
Tyler met Max’s gaze and nodded what appeared to be a friendly greeting. At the very least, he was not scowling at Max as he usually did.
Max nodded back. His nerves were already tightening in defense, knowing he would have a battle ahead when he revealed that he and Emberly had gotten married. Tyler would likely be displeased, to put it mildly.
Kade drew Emberly into the crook of his arm and squeezed her. “We’re sorry we couldn’t make it up here sooner. But thewind didn’t let up until the middle of last night. We wanted to start out right away, but Dad told us to wait until daylight.”
“Don’t worry.” Emberly leaned into her brother. “I figured you’d come when you could.”
“The others?” Tyler asked, his eyes still filled with worry.
“They are at the cabin,” Max replied.
Emberly glanced back toward the center of the lake. “Max and I came out to fish since we ran out of food last night.”
“So you just ran out?” Kade was examining them both as though making sure they were okay. “Dad thought the place was stocked enough to get you through a few days.”
“We had to ration the supplies to get us to today, and we’re hungry. We caught one fish, a sixteen-inch brook trout. But we were too cold to stay out and catch more.”
Tyler turned back to the helicopter. “Come on. We’ve got hand and toe warmers.”
After unstrapping their snowshoes, Emberly and Max were hoisted into the helicopter and told to warm up, then Tyler and Kade strapped on their own snowshoes and set out to the cabin to retrieve Braun and Winzig.
While they were gone, Max did his best to help Emberly warm her fingers and toes. Once she was well on her way to thawing, they began eating the nuts and energy bars Kade and Tyler had brought along.
“Are you getting warm now, darling?” Max had drawn Emberly against him on the seat, hoping to lend her his body heat.
“I’m doing better.” She had only eaten half of her bar and handed the remainder to him. “Here. I’m done.”
“Thank you, my love. But I want you to eat it. I shall be fine until we reach the ranch.” He had already eaten two bars and two packages of nuts, making sure to leave enough for bothWinzig and Braun. The food had taken away the harshness of his hunger, but obviously Emberly sensed he was still famished.
She broke off a piece and held it up to his mouth.
He pressed his lips together.
She smiled at him innocently. “When should we tell my brothers about our marriage?”
“Whenever you would—”
She cut him off by shoving the piece of energy bar into his mouth.
He had no choice but to chew and swallow. “I see what you are—”
She stuffed the remainder of the bar in his mouth, her smile turning decidedly smug and making him want to kiss that smugness away until she was breathless.
He loved this woman more than life. That was what the past few days had shown him. The time together had also shown him that he wanted to spend his life devoted to making sure she knew how much he loved her.
As he finished eating the bar, he shifted and took off her hat. He tossed it to the floor and then reached for the tip of her braid. Locking eyes with hers, he tugged loose the hair tie and began to unravel her hair.
Over the past couple of days and nights, he had loved the freedom he now had to touch her and kiss her, including combing his fingers through her hair. Her hair was thick and silky and glorious, and he reveled in undoing it and undoing her in the process, because she always took great pleasure in having his hands in her hair.
