Page 15 of Merry & Wild

But when I try to flip on the bedroom light, it stays dark.

We’re out of power.

“Great,” I mutter.

That means there’s no power in the barn, and the heaters have stopped running.

Grimly, I hurry into dry, warm clothes and, without waking Joy, head back outside.

I find an oil lantern in the shed by the cabin, and with that lit, walk out to the barn, careful to stay in the foot tracks that we made earlier. Some are no longer noticeable, with the snow being blown about, but I can make out most of them.

At one point, I’m knocked back on my ass in the snow, and I curse as I struggle back to my feet. Damn, it’s fucking nasty out here tonight.

I hope my herd of cattle makes it through.

Grimly, I finally make my way inside the barn and quickly shut the door behind me to keep as much warm air inside as possible.

I touch the heater, relieved when it’s still warm, indicating that the power hasn’t been out long.

“That might have been what woke me,” I mutter, and hurry out behind the barn to start the generator. It won’t power my cabin or any of the other buildings on the property, but it’ll be enough power to keep this barn warm, and that’s the important thing for tonight.

It takes three pulls before it’ll start, but it finally roars to life, and when I walk into the barn, the lights and heaters are back on.

With that complete, I check in on the animals and then make my way back to the cabin.

I’m soaked all over again when I step inside, so I hurry back to my bedroom as quietly as possible, change into dry clothes, and then decide to call the bunkhouse.

I dial the number on the phone on the wall, then stretch the long, winding cord all the way back to the bathroom, hoping that I don’t disturb Joy.

“Boss?” my main ranch hand, Lucky, answers in a sleepy voice.

“Yeah, it’s me. Listen, the ranch is without power. I already went to the barn to start the generator, and it’s going now, keeping everyone warm inside. But with as bad as this storm is, we’ll need to check it every hour.”

“We can rotate that,” Lucky says with a yawn. “Did you just finish out there?”

“Yeah. Let’s start on the hour. I’ll take the six o’clock.”

“You got it, Boss. I’m on it.”

“Thanks.”

I pad back out to the kitchen and hang up the phone, then turn to see Joy sitting up on the couch, watching me. The light from the fire dances on her face.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“No power,” I reply simply and cross over to her. “I had to go out and start the generator for the barn. The guys will have to keep an eye on it. I’m sorry I woke you.”

“I don’t think it was you,” she says and reaches up to cup my cheek. “Your face is cold.”

“It’s a little brisk outside.”

That makes her grin. “You didn’t let me help you.”

I can’t resist taking her hand off my cheek and pulling it over to my lips. “As much as I appreciate your help, you’re a guest here. Besides, it’s too cold and too treacherous out there right now. I don’t want you in it.”

Her eyebrow lifts. “So, I’m just stuck here?”

“For the time being, yes.”

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