Page 39 of Cold Winter Nights

The early morning light filtered through the snow-covered trees as Stone finished connecting his snow plow to the front of his work truck. The engine rumbled to life with a roar that vibrated through the cab.

He felt Stone’s tension rolling off him in waves. Stone hadn’t said much since they’d woken up. They didn’t eat breakfast, well leftovers, hell they’d barely even kissed before Stone rushed to get dressed. Royal was starting to feel his stress as much as the freezing cold.

Slow flurries were still falling but the sun was bright and fighting on their side.

Stone gripped the steering wheel so tight the leather creaked as he crept down the snow-covered mountain. A deep frown had settled between his brows, and his jaw was set in a way that told Royal all he needed to know.

The storm had most likely caused damage to the town square and the festival set up.

Royal’s fingers twitched at his side, and despite every instinct telling him to leave Stone to his thoughts, he reached out and placed his hand on his arm.

“Bo,” he whispered, unable to hide his worry. “Are you okay?”

Stone threw him a flicker of a glance before he turned back to the road. The muscles in his neck flexed as he clenched his jaw hard enough to cut glass. “I’m fine,” he muttered.

He knew Stone was the opposite.

Stone swerved to avoid a snow drift, causing them to skid on a patch of ice.

Royal wanted to comfort Stone just as he did last night, by wrapping him in his arms, but Stone had gone back into the silent, solid rock he was.

Royal released a slow breath. “I know you’re worried, but whatever’s happened in the town, we’ll figure it out together. Just…just don’t shut me out okay?”

His words weren’t a solution, they were meant to be a thread of solace, a plea.

Stone didn’t respond, but he didn’t pull away either. That was something.

Royal rubbed his palm over the thick fabric of Stone’s coat, keeping his touch light, not wanting to overwhelm him, but he couldn’t help wanting to calm him.

When they got to the bottom of the hill and Stone rounded the corner into town, Royal’s stomach dropped.

What had been a charming winter festival site less than twenty-four hours ago was now a disaster. The towering Christmas tree that’d been decorated with such care lay broken and scattered across the ground, half buried in snow. Royal’s spirit plummeted when he saw the wreckage of the vendor booths blown across the square, their tents ripped apart. The makeshift animal pens—the ones Stone’s company had spent a week building—were destroyed. And the snow…it wasn’t just a dusting.

Royal didn’t need to be a financial expert to know what this would mean for Windeville. Without the festival, the town would face a big loss.

The vendors would have to be reimbursed, the bed and breakfast would remain empty, and the small family-run shops would lose their busiest time of the year.

Royal’s mind spun with numbers, projections and the depths of the town’s financial hole widening.

He glanced over to find Stone frozen in place. His eyes were hard, but beneath the surface, Royal could feel the sharp pang of helplessness. This was Stone’s home, his responsibility. He probably believed he had a commitment to fix all of this himself.

Royal knew that feeling well.

But there was no way to get all the mess cleaned up in a few hours or even days.

As Stone drove robotically past the power technicians struggling to restore electricity, Royal caught glimpses of people, some were clearing their driveways, while some were using shovels on the sidewalks, each of them with an expression of frustration and disappointment. There were more plows attached to personal trucks working the road. The shops were closed, shutters drawn and their windows covered with a thick frost mirroring the chill in Royal’s chest.

The kids, however, were out playing—laughing, throwing snowballs, and building massive snowmen, oblivious to the damage surrounding them. They had no idea their town was reeling or even that the festival was canceled.

Royal’s heart ached for the people who had made him feel welcome and loved. He’d only been there a short time, but it already felt like home. And, Stone while he’d only had a few intense moments, a couple of dates, and one night with him—one perfect, magical night with him—their connection was real and undeniable. Royal wanted to help. He cared for Stone and he cared for the people in Windeville.

Stone’s crew were already in the main square working with quiet urgency, digging through the snow, and hauling lumber.

As Stone pulled the truck into the parking lot of the bed and breakfast, he didn’t turn off the engine, instead he hesitated, his face grim as he stared straight ahead.

“Bo,” Royal whispered.

“I’m not sure I’ll make it back tonight,” Stone rumbled. “There’s so much I have to do.”

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