Page 15 of Snowed in With My Small Town Billionaire

“The snow is over the doorway. There’s no way out. I’m afraid that we’re going to have to hang out here and pray that someone rescues us sooner rather than later.”

Gwen’s stomach dropped. The fear that had been pushed back because of the adrenaline rush flooded through her. Shelooked at Brent who was standing in the middle of the room, shaking, his eyes wide with fear.

“Okay, first things first. We’ll need heat. Hopefully, at least the top of the chimney isn’t covered.”

She lit a small fire in the fireplace and was happy to see that the smoke went up the chimney instead of back inside the cabin. Gwen put a couple more logs in the fireplace and got a decent fire going. She surveyed the amount of wood they had and said a silent prayer that help would come soon.

Audrey had filled a pan with bottled water and put it near the hearth. “We’ve got some instant coffee and hot chocolate. We also have a few boxes of breakfast bars, several cans of soup and beef stew, crackers, and other food. We’ll be just fine.”

She handed a couple breakfast bars to Brent and Gwen. Jerome grunted at her when she offered him one.

Gwen sat down on the couch and pulled Brent down next to her. He snuggled up close to her. Audrey made everyone hot drinks and then sat in the recliner in front of the fireplace.

“Brent, we’re fine. The cabin held steady against the snow. It isn’t going to fall apart now.” Gwen certainly hoped she was speaking the truth. “Everyone knows we’re here. We’ve got food and several cases of water. We’ll be fine.”

He nodded.

Gwen poked him in the shoulder. “I just thought of something. I saw a utility closet. What do you want to bet that there will be some supplies in there. Do you want to help me look?”

Brent nodded again. She walked into her room, grabbed her cell phone, and turned on the flashlight option, grateful that she remembered to put it on the charger before she went to bed.

They found several useful items in the utility closet. At least ten candles were on one shelf, along with some lanterns and extra batteries. A few big cans of Sterno were stacked in one corner and several grill lighters. There was a shovel, first aid kit, emergency thermal blankets, hand and foot warmers, and a five-gallon bucket with a plastic liner and a toilet seat attached on top along with a package of toilet paper.

Gwen pulled the bucket out and grinned. “I’m glad to see this. It’s my favorite emergency item of all time.”

She took it into the bathroom while Brent handed Audrey five candles. She lit them and said, “We’ll save the lanterns for when the candles burn out.”

“Let’s say a little prayer,” Jerome said.

They bowed their heads and Jerome spoke. “Lord, we come to You in this time of need. Please watch over us, keep us safe, and give us strength to face whatever lies ahead. Guide those who are searching and help them find us soon. We trust in Your protection and plan. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone else repeated.

“I have a couple decks of cards. How about some canasta?” Audrey asked.

Everyone looked at her as though she had lost her mind.

“What, would you rather stare at the door and will someone to come through it? Even if they started digging us out right away, it would take hours. My guess is that everyone else is snowed in, too, and we have to wait. We may as well play games and enjoy ourselves.”

“I’m in, but I’ll keep score,” Gwen said. “I think you cheat,” she pointed a finger at her mother teasingly.

“I would never,” Audrey protested, laughing.

“I’ll play if Gwen can be my partner,” Brent said.

“You only want to be her partner because she gets all the wildcards,” Jerome said, walking back to the coffee table.

Everyone sat on the floor, close to the fire and candles, and played canasta. Although everyone put on their happy faces, she knew they were all terrified that they wouldn’t be found in time.

7

C H A P T E R

Sawyer

Sawyer wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath coming in quicky steamy puffs and he leaned on his shovel. His muscles ached from hours of shoveling, but he couldn’t very well go back inside the lodge and rest when there were people still trapped in their cabins.

The four men had devised a rotation of digging so that they didn’t drop. Each man would dig for thirty minutes and rest for thirty minutes. He glanced over at Lucas who was trying to catch his breath since he had just stepped back from his turn to dig. Lucas looked as exhausted as Sawyer felt.

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