From outside, he could make out the dancing flicker of candlelight in the front room, and he tracked the swishing movements of a flashlight as the person holding it worked their way around the house.
“Seems like they’re doing just fine in there,” Holden justified to Scout.
The dog barked, and that illuminating gaze swung out the window and straight onto Holden like a spotlight.
He groaned.
“Looks like we’re doing this,” he mumbled, maneuvering the still-running snowmobile up to the house before cutting the engine. “Come on, girl. Let’s get it over with.”
“What are you doing here?” Rachel had the door open before he’d even scaled the front steps.
“I’m just making the rounds over the mountain to make sure everyone is okay and has what they need to endure the storm.”
She kept the floodlight on him. “What are you? Some sort of knight in shining snow gear?”
Holden gave an imperceptible shrug. “Just trying to be a good neighbor.”
The woman actually snorted. “Sure, you are. Good neighbors go around sabotaging Christmas tree contests all the time.”
“I didn’t sabotage anything!” Holden’s volume rose along with his blood pressure. He fought to reclaim both. “Are you good here, or do you need anything?”
She didn’t respond right away, and Holden took that as his cue to leave. He turned to go.
“Wait.”
He froze. “Yeah?”
“My mom and dad actually headed back to their store an hour ago to pick up batteries and more candles, but they’re stuck there and have to wait it out for a bit.” She looked around him. “So if you have either of those things, I guess I could use them.”
“I’ve got both. Hang tight and I’ll grab them for you.”
Apparently Scout took that as an invitation to make herself at home because the dog suddenly loped into the house, shaking off her dense fur right in the entryway.
“Scout!” Holden scolded from the snowmobile. He ascended the front steps two at a time, but it was too late. Bits of snow dotted the walls like fresh spackle. “I’m so sorry.” He let himself in when Rachel took a step back. “Do you have a towel I could use to get this cleaned up? I’ve never seen her do that before.”
“She was probably uncomfortable riding on the back of that snowmobile in a blizzard. I don’t blame her.”
That wasn’t it at all. Scout loved the snow, loved being covered in it head-to-toe. No, Holden had a feeling his dog was doing something else entirely. Could a canine actually play matchmaker?
“But to answer your question, yes, I do have a towel.” Rachel moved further into the cabin, using the flashlight to illuminate the path. “Right over here in the linen closet.”
In all the years they’d known one another, Holden had never set foot in the Joy’s cabin. It felt a lot like his parents’—likely built in the same era. Long, wooden beams stretched across a high-pitched roof and pine cabinets and trim accented the beige walls. His gaze traveled the room, pausing on a massive, floor-to-ceiling stone hearth.
“Your fire’s out.”
“I know.”
Holden tilted his head. “You plan to get that started? It’s going to turn into a freezer in here if you don’t get it lit soon.”
“I’m working on it,” Rachel said. “Or Iwasworking on it before you came snooping around.”
“I wasn’t snooping around,” he defended. “Not this time, at least.”
Rachel’s lips pinched tightly. “Do you have the candles and batteries?”
Holden dipped his hand into his jacket and pulled out a set of four taper candles, along with pairs of batteries ranging from AA to D. “This should cover things.” He settled the items on the table.
“Great, then you can be on your way.” She practically shooed him out the door.
