Page 48 of Snowed in With My Small Town Billionaire

Gwen looked into his eyes and smiled. “I know this sounds awful, but in a way, I’m grateful for the avalanche. It gave me a chance to realize the truth and to get to know you again.”

“I understand and I feel you,” Sawyer said. “Now, we just need to get off this bloody mountain and see where our feelingstake us. You might feel different when we’re not cooped up together and the threat of death isn’t constantly looming over our heads.”

“I don’t think that’s why I …” she started to say.

“Gwen, will you go outside with me?” Brent asked.

She looked down at her nephew and smiled. “Of course, I will.”

“How’s your cough been?” Sawyer asked.

“Just a little,” Brent said.

“Don’t get too cold. When you start shivering get your tail back inside,” Sawyer ordered.

“I will,” Brent promised.

Sawyer briefly wondered what Gwen was going to say, but then Oliver approached him.

“Were you serious about hunting?”

“Yeah, if we need to,” Sawyer said.

“We’re low on meat,” Oliver said. “I have a .22 for small game and a .30-06 for an elk or moose. At this point, small game might be preferable, because hopefully, help will come soon, although we wouldn’t waste any elk or moose meat.”

“Lucas and I will go out and take both rifles and see what we can get.”

“Thanks,” Oliver said.

Sawyer slung the .22 over his shoulder while Lucas carried the .30-06. The temperature seemed to have dropped even further. He hoped that they would find something soon.

After half an hour of walking in silence, Lucas spotted some movement in the trees ahead. There were some ptarmigans which are white plumed chicken-sized birds. Their featheredfeet act like snowshoes. In the winter, only their beak, eyes, and feet were visible against the snow.

Sawyer raised his rifle and managed to get five of them before the rest took off.

“Do you think five will be enough for the group?” Lucas asked as they picked up the birds and dropped them into a bag.

“It depends on what Millie does with them. If she puts them in a stew or something, it should be fine. If not, we’ll come back out.”

They walked quickly back to the lodge and found Millie in the kitchen.

“Do you think five birds will work or do we need to go find more?” Sawyer asked.

“These will work fine. I’ll boil them, shred them, and use them to make a slightly different version of chicken and dumplings,” she said.

“Do you know how to defeather and take care of them?” Sawyer asked.

“Tessie and I both do. This won’t be the first time we’ve had this particular meat for dinner and I reckon it won’t be the last.”

“How are we doing on meat and other food?” Lucas asked worriedly.

Millie drew in a sharp breath. “Let’s just say that if something doesn’t give soon, I’m going to have to ask you to go after an elk or moose.”

“We can do that. Both of our daddies made sure that he could hunt and field dress the animals with minimal waste. I’m sure you can use the hide, entrails, and bones for something,” Sawyer said.

“Well, the wolves can have the entrails and bones but we can use the rest,” Millie said, smiling at them. “Thank you for the birds. Now, skidaddle and let Tessie and me get to work.”

Sawyer kissed her on the cheek, making her grin.

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