Page 55 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“I don’t think so.”

“Have someone get him ready for me, and tell them not to let anyone else ride him out.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sorry, Juni. I gotta get out there.”

When she faced me, her brow was furrowed. “It’s a bad one, Cord. Snow’s coming right off the lake.”

I walked over, kissed her quickly, and ran out the door. I hoped to hell she didn’t get it into her head to call her brother. There’d be no way he’d be able to get here; that’s how much snow had fallen in the last hour.

15

JUNIPER

Itried pulling a weather app up on my phone, but my signal wasn’t strong enough for it to load. There had to be a TV in the cottage, somewhere. When I found one in the bedroom, I turned it on, found the local weather, and sat in a chair near the window.

“Folks, if you aren’t somewhere safe and warm, get there as quickly as you can. According to radar reports, what we’re experiencing is a bomb cyclone,” said the newscaster. He went on to explain the weather phenomenon could generate winds reaching eighty miles per hour and sometimes higher. That kind of wind could uproot fences, utility poles, and trees. Flying debris, blizzard conditions, poor visibility, and structural damage were also possible. I moved the curtain and looked out the window. Snow was already up to the bottom pane.

“Hey, Mom,” I said when she picked up.

“Gray said you’re at the Lilacs.”

“I’m actually at the cottage where Cord lives.”

“Do you have power, sweetheart?”

“So far, we do. Before he went out to take care of the cattle, Cord lit the fireplace, so it’s warm too and should stay that way if the power does go out.”

She gasped. “Did you say Cord is out in this?”

“He had to, Mom. The livestock.”

I could hear her talking to someone, but the mic was covered, so I couldn’t make out her words.

“I’d send Dad to get you, but he said the roads are already impassable.”

“Tell him to stay put. I’m safe. I wouldn’t leave anyway until Cord got back. Is Gray home?”

“Yes, he’s right here. Do you want to talk to him?”

“No. I just wanted to make sure he was.”

“Okay, honey. Keep in touch.”

“I will, and please, no heroics from Dad or Gray.”

“I’ll pass your instructions on.”

I ended the call just as the lights flickered and the TV shut off. Seconds later, everything came back on. I checked the time on my phone. Cord had been gone for close to thirty minutes. I knew it could be hours more before he might be back. I tried to keep my eyes open, but after I’d jarred myself awake three or four times,my neck started to ache, so I straightened the blankets and lay on the bed.

“Hey, sleeping beauty.”

I opened my eyes and looked up at Cord, who sat beside me on the bed. Snow coated his hair and the scruff of his beard, and when he removed his gloves, his hands looked as blue as his lips did.

“You need to get out of those wet clothes and into warm water. Do you have a tub or just a shower?”

His teeth were chattering. “Both.”

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