Page 52 of A Whiskey River Princess

Dirk laughed as he slipped back into his coat. “We need to wait for Gabriella. Come on. Let’s go get the saw.”

At that, Buster wagged his tail and headed over to the back door.

Dirk chuckled, opening the back door to let Buster out. “My sentiments exactly. We men spend most of our lives waiting for women, don’t we?” They walked into the barn and Dirk picked out a sturdy saw.

Then they headed back into the house just as Gabriella came out of the bedroom, dressed in a work dress and an old coat. He had burned the one she had worn when she first arrived, knowing she probably wouldn’t mind. Her hair was pulled back away from her face, and her blue eyes sparkled as she tied a scarf under her chin. Despite her drab dress, her beauty tugged at his heart. He looked away before she could see it in his eyes.

“Ready?” Dirk asked, offering her his arm.

“Are you sure we can do this today?” Gabriella asked, her eyebrows pulling together in concern. “I mean, look outside! The snow’s still coming down. I never knew it could snow so much!”

She was putting off the inevitable, and he knew it. One corner of his mouth curled into a smile, enjoying her spunk. The feisty kitten, unable to do any real harm, throwing a hissy fit again. “The snow’s slowed down a little. It’s just flurrying now, but the pass is still closed.” He thought for a moment and continued, “Hey! Later, we can go back into town, if you like.”

Gabriella tilted her head to the side. “Are you sure we’ll be able to make it?”

Dirk smiled, nodding. “Sure, we can. I know the woods like the back of my hand. Besides, I need to set everything up with Gavin Cole to help Billy out at the stables until after Christmas.”

“Who’s he?” Gabriella asked as she finished tying her shoes up over her ankles. She seemed to enjoy hearing about and meeting people from the town.

“He’s the church organist, but he takes odd jobs on the side.” Dirk picked up the saw, ready.

Gabriella nodded, taking in the saw.

Buster started whimpering at the door, ready to go.

Dirk smiled. “Well, I guess the boss has spoken.”

Gabriella took Dirk’s arm, her eyes wide. “Dirk, what happens if the snow is too deep, and we sink?”

Dirk laughed. “Anything to keep from going Christmas tree hunting, eh?”

She shrugged as she lifted her chin. “No, I just don’t want to sink into a snowdrift.”

“Don’t worry.” He opened the door for her as cold air rushed in. “I’ll dig you out if you sink.”

“Great,” she murmured under her breath, her voice filled with sarcasm as he laughed.

They headed out onto the porch, and Dirk pulled his collar up over his neck, adjusting the saw in his hand. It was still snowing out, but not blinding like it had been. “Good. It’s not that bad out. Earlier, it was really coming down.”

Gabriella scoffed. “You call this ‘not bad?’”

Dirk laughed. “We can see where we’re going, at least.”

“Yes, that’s a help,” she said sarcastically as she stepped down from the porch and almost fell face-first in the snow as she had predicted, but Dirk caught her with his free arm.

Dirk held her for a moment, looking in her eyes as he steadied her, his heart pounding. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, looking up at him with doe eyes, making no effort to pull away. “I’m fine.”

Dirk took a deliberate step back, holding her at arm’s length, his heart swelling. “Well, let’s go.” He held his hand out to her.

She took it without hesitation.

Buster ran ahead in the snow, bounding over the snowbanks, and then looked at them as if wondering what was taking them so long.

Although it was freezing cold out, warmth spread through Dirk’s body, as if an electric current were coming straight from her hand. When they were on flat ground, he could have let her hand go, but he didn’t. He was enjoying the feel of her hand in his, and she didn’t pull away.

Dirk gave her a smile. “Let’s see if we can find a tree.”

---