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Mochi decided she had to greet the stranger. She walked right up and stood next to Leah. Mochi barked and followed it with a deep growl. She did it again.

“Mochi, that’s enough,” Shaun said in a firm voice.

Mochi was not listening to him as she continued her bark-growl routine.

Leah reached out and petted her head. “It’s okay, girl. The deputy is a friend.” Mochi stopped making a fuss but didn’t move from her side. Leah turned her attention back to the deputy. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m checking in on residents, especially the ones who don’t live right in town. How are you all doing?”

“Other than we don’t have power, we’re doing okay,” Leah said.

“She fed us a big breakfast,” Henry said.

“Shaun built us a warm fire, and we have games to play. We’ll be fine,” Martha said.

Shaun nodded toward the young couple. “What about them? Did you talk them into staying put?”

The deputy nodded. “I told them that non-essential personnel were to stay off the roads. They weren’t happy about it.”

“They’re trying to get to her family in Maine,” Leah said.

The deputy nodded. “Can they stay with you until tomorrow?” When Leah nodded, he said, “That’s good because I don’t think they’re going to have any luck getting the truck’s doors open. It is frozen solid. Hopefully, the afternoon sun will help melt some of it.”

Leah couldn’t contain her curiosity. “If it’s so bad out, how are you getting around?”

The deputy smiled. “I have chains on my tires. It’s not perfect, but it certainly helps.”

Just then Brock and Molly made it back inside. Brock looked in Leah’s direction. “Would it be okay if we had our room back?”

“Certainly. The key is still on the check-in desk.”

“Thank you.” Brock sent her a strained smile as they passed her by.

Everyone’s attention returned to the deputy. Leah knew everyone was wondering the same thing. “Do you know how long we’ll be without power?”

“A tree went down out by the Paulson farm. It took the power lines down. We have a call in with the power company, but you know how it can be—too many calls and not enough personnel. I’m hoping they’ll get the lines up by the end of the day. I should be going. I have more residents to check on.”

“Thanks for checking in,” Leah said. “Be careful out there.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll try my best.” He turned and gingerly made his way back down the steps.

Leah closed the door against the cold air that was in the single digits. At least the wind had stopped howling. That had to be a good sign.

The sun was trying to poke out from behind the wall of clouds. Maybe by this evening everything would be back to normal. Not that anything in her life was normal these days.

He wasn’t into games.

And yet Shaun had found himself playing multiple rounds of chess with Henry. The women had prepared cold-cut sandwiches for lunch. The newlyweds grabbed their food and took it back up to their room. It had to be pretty cold up there by now. Leah tried to get them to stay downstairs near the fireplace, but they’d politely refused.

Shaun tried off and on during the day to reach his father, but his call wouldn’t go through. The cell phone tower must be out or so caked with ice that it was no longer functional.

He knew his father was at his sister’s place, but Shaun still felt as though he should be heading home—even if it meant dealing with his ex-wife. As soon as the thought of Mandi came to mind, he pushed it away. He might have to deal with her when he was in Kentucky, but he refused to let her ruin his time away. And then he realized there was a benefit to the storm—his ex couldn’t phone him.

“What are you smiling about?” Leah’s voice drew him from his thoughts.

He hadn’t realized his thoughts had transferred to his face. He quickly subdued the smile. “Uh. Nothing.” He certainly wasn’t going to ruin the evening with talk of his ex. “Where is everybody else?”

“Brock and Molly went to their room. I’m worried about Molly. She hardly ate. She’s really taking it hard about not being able to get home.”