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There was no disappointment in his voice. No reminder of what she was to him. No request for more than she had already given.
Kate relaxed against him. Outside, the wind rose and pushed hard against the house. Somewhere in the orchard, a branch cracked. Wes went still. Kate felt it in every muscle of the body beside her.
Neither of them moved from the sofa. The fire burned steadily. Kate closed her eyes.
Whatever the storm left behind would still be there in the morning.
CHAPTER 22
Wes
Wes woke to silence. For several seconds he lay without moving, trying to understand what had pulled him awake. The fire had burned down to a faint red glow in the grate, the room was gray with early morning light, and Kate was asleep against him beneath the blanket.
Then he realized what was missing. The wind. Rain still tapped occasionally against the windows, but the long roar through the trees had stopped.
His bear stirred. It’s over.
Wes looked toward the windows. The storm is. We don’t know about the orchard yet.
He had spent enough years working land to know better than to imagine the first quiet morning after bad weather meant everything was fine. There would be branches down. Fruit on the ground. Perhaps trees damaged in the exposed rows. There was no point guessing from the sofa. But Kate was warm against him, one hand curled loosely against his chest, and for once Wes did not get up the instant there was something outside that needed checking.
His bear approved. Five minutes will not change the trees.
Wes rested his cheek against Kate’s hair. That was true. Five minutes would not change anything.
Kate shifted eventually, drawing a deeper breath before opening her eyes. For a moment she looked confused by the room around her. Then she tipped her face toward him.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
She listened. “It’s quiet.”
“The worst of it’s passed.”
Kate pushed herself upright enough to look toward the windows. Her hair was mussed from sleep and she was still wearing his T-shirt beneath the blanket. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long.”
“And you haven’t gone outside?”
“Not yet.”
She smiled, leaned in and kissed him. There was no urgency in it. She kissed him because she was there and he was there.
When she drew away, her hand remained against his face. “We should check on everyone.”
Wes nodded.
Kate called Bramblewood while he rebuilt the fire enough to take the chill off the room. Janice answered quickly. Wes heard Kate ask about Penny, then smile. “She’s already awake?” A pause. “No, please don’t put her on yet. Tell her I’m coming over.” Another pause. “How bad?”
Kate’s expression changed slightly as she listened. Wes looked at her. She shook her head to tell him there was nothing terrible.
“Okay. We’ll be there soon.”
When she ended the call, Wes waited.
“Everyone’s fine. Penny slept through almost all of it, which seems deeply unfair considering the rest of us.”
