Page 57 of Mistletoe

Emma lurched forward, pressing herself closer. Her feet tripped over his while his arms caught her at the waist. They tipped over into the snow. Hal landed on his back, clutching Emma to his chest.

“You make me topsy-turvy,” she said and laughed, burying her face in the fabric of his shirt. The happy, joyful sound filled him with a sensation he barely recognized: home.

This.

This was what he wanted. This was what he sought when he left Earth two centuries ago. This was the burning need that sustained him through the darkness. This was what breathed life back into him.

There was no future without Emma.

She was an immovable force, tethering him to the world.

To himself.

He understood what his brother tried to tell him.

Chapter Fourteen

Emma

Mistletoe Farm

The Barn

The blizzard cameout of nowhere.

Knowing that didn’t help her current situation.

Emma trudged forward, holding a hand over her face to shield herself. The snow flew sideways, obscuring anything more than a foot in front of her. The wind pierced all her layers, sending freezing cold needles directly to her skin. Worse, it stung her eyes. She blinked back tears, trying to clear her vision. Tears leaked down her cheeks, the exposed skin burning.

She couldn’t see the barn. Turning around, she couldn’t see the house either. Not even the glow of lights. There was only the snow narrowing her world down to the space directly in front of her.

She took a few steps forward and realized that she had been there before. The blowing snow hadn’t covered the older tracks. She was going in circles.

No need to panic. She made the journey from the house to the barn a dozen times a day. She’d done it in the rain, in the middle of the night without a star in the sky, and she could do it now in a blizzard.

Hopefully.

Taking a moment to orient herself, Emma pushed forward. She could do this. She knew the way. She repeated that mantra with every step.

A figure emerged from the snow, dark and massive. The only splash of color was a red scarf.

Hal.

Without saying a word, he scooped her off her feet and cradled her against his chest. She should have protested, but it was nice having a barricade against the wind. She buried her face against the fabric of his coat, enjoying the warmth.

Once inside the barn, Hal set her down.

“Thank you.” She stomped her boots to remove the snow. “The storm is worse than I thought.”

“What were you thinking?” he demanded.

“I was thinking the goats needed fresh water and hay, and I should do it now because the storm won’t let up until morning.” Emma shook the snow off her coat and hung it on a peg to dry. Her first attempt missed the peg entirely, but she found it and a nearby lantern.

The lantern sputtered to life. The dim glow illuminated Hal, adding drama to his features. His hair escaped from his braid and had been tousled by the wind. His coat hung open.

“The weather is vicious. You should have remained inside.”

“I still have to take care of the animals.”

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