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Brock sat back down. “Her mother has given her a really hard time about eloping. But we didn’t want a big wedding and all of the stuff that went with it. We just wanted something small and intimate. When her mother ignored her request, we decided to elope.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Martha said. “I’m sure her mother will get over it.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Her mother insisted on this over-the-top party. If we miss it, I don’t know what will happen.” He once more got to his feet. “I really need to check on Molly.”

Without another word, he left the room. An awkward silence fell over the room.

Leah felt really bad for the young couple. That was no way to start their life together. She wondered what her mother would be like if she were still alive, and Leah was about to get married. Her mother had been pretty laidback, except when it came to talking about her family. Then her mother had been too busy to talk, or suddenly she’d have a lapse in memory.

Leah pushed those unwanted memories to the back of her mind. She looked around the table. No one was eating.

“Can I get anyone anything else? We don’t want this food to go bad.” In the grand scheme of things, this food wasn’t high on her list of priorities.

Shaun stood up. “I should get the fireplace going. With the wind and the falling temps, it’s going to get cold in here quickly.”

He nailed one of her big worries. “Shaun...” When he paused at the doorway and turned back to her, she said, “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Then his gaze moved to Mochi. “Come on, girl.”

Mochi ran after him. Except she noticed that her run was more like a bunny hop. She was so adorable, but it was her caretaker who had snared Leah’s full attention. If there was a silver lining to this winter storm, it meant she’d have a chance to get to know Shaun better.

Chapter Six

What else could go wrong?

Leah frowned as she cleared the kitchen table. This was not the day she’d envisioned. Far from it. Then again, it wasn’t the day any of them had envisioned. They’d just have to make the most of it.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up, she ventured into the big living room. It hadn’t taken long for the house to cool off. She was grateful for the fireplace. Once the fire got going, it wouldn’t take long until this room was comfortable.

Just then Shaun carried in another load of cut wood. Her gaze met his, and she sent him a grateful smile because if he hadn’t done it, she would have had to carry it in. After all, it was her job until the New Year.

A noise on the stairs had all of them turning to find Molly and Brock with their luggage in their hands. Brock walked over and placed the room key on the registration desk. Then they headed for the door. Leah couldn’t help but think they were making a mistake—a dangerous mistake.

Leah rushed after them. “Molly, please won’t you consider staying a little longer. Let them clear the roads.”

Molly wouldn’t look at her as she shook her head. “We can’t. We have to go. Brock can get us there in his pickup. We’ll be fine. Thank you. Goodbye.”

Behind his bride, Brock gave a little shrug. “Bye.”

And then they were out the door. They both had trouble making their way down the steps with all of the ice. And yet they thought they’d be able to drive in this weather.

Martha stepped up next to her to stare out the window. “I have a bad feeling about this. I wished they’d stayed.”

“Me too.” But she couldn’t make people do the right thing. She’d learned that a long time ago when she’d fought with her mother to reveal the name of her father—about her grandparents and any aunts or uncles. Her mother never told her about any of them. Now Leah could only hope this old house held the answers she sought.

Leah was just about to turn away from the window, when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head in that direction and noticed Deputy Luke Williams pull into the driveway. He was driving slowly.

She couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing at her place. She’d met the deputy once, right after she’d moved in. He’d stopped by and introduced himself, but that was the extent of their interaction.

“That’s not good,” Martha said as they continued to stand at the window.

Instead of coming straight to the door, the deputy made his way over to the young couple. If body gestures were anything to go by, Brock and Molly were not happy about what he was telling them. When the deputy turned away, Brock took his young wife into his arms to comfort her.

The deputy made his way to the house. He clutched the railing as he tried to make it up the icy steps. The salt she’d put down hadn’t done much to help. She really needed to do something else, but what? With the power out, she couldn’t even boil water to toss on them. She would keep thinking about a solution.

Before Deputy Williams had a chance to knock on the door, Leah opened it. “Good morning, Deputy.”

He took off his hat. “Morning, ma’am.” And then his gaze moved to take in Martha, Henry, and Shaun.