Page 12 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“I’m sure he’s changed, being a military man. You know how it can straighten the worst ones out.”
Where was Agnes going with this? “I wouldn’t know.”
“The things I could tell you about that boy. Good thing his brothers came along when they did. He was out of the house before he could corrupt them.”
She wasn’t about to ask Agnes for specifics. Guilt pricked at her, hearing Agnes hint at Kade’s transgressions. It felt like betrayal, taking advantage of Elaine’s kindness while listening to Agnes’s gossip about the Behars.
“Listen, Agnes. It’s been a really long day. Please let me know when you get back to town. I’m here for the foreseeable future, so we can meet whenever.”
“Will do,” Agnes said. “I hope to be back tomorrow. Worst-case scenario, Monday.”
They said goodbye, but Fallon still held the phone to her ear for a while after Agnes hung up.
Kade a former bad boy?
She smiled to herself. Maybe they weren’t such opposites after all.
ChapterFour
Kade clamored up the steps to the side porch early the next morning with a canvas carrier filled with split oak logs in each hand, fighting the wind that pushed at his back and the fat flakes that clung to his lashes. He set down one of the bags to open the door but found it already opened a crack. A clear hazel eye peeked out at him.
Startled, he almost dropped one of the bags.
“I-I saw you coming across the driveway,” Fallon said as she opened the door all the way. “I didn’t want the cold air blowing in before you were ready to come inside.”
“Thank you.” He set the bags at his feet and closed the door before winter blew into the mudroom. The snow had returned with a fury.
“I don’t think anyone is up yet,” she said with a tentative smile. “I might just go back to my room—”
“My parents are in the barn, taking care of the herd. They’ve been up since before dawn.”
Fallon crossed her arms, uncrossed them, ran a hand through her hair. “I should have guessed. Farm life and all that.”
“Do you have a farm background?” He shrugged off his coat, hung it on a peg above the shoe rack. After kicking off his boots, he toted the firewood through the kitchen to the stone fireplace in the great room. Fallon followed.
“No, but some of my friends did.”
He took a few logs and arranged them on the grate before tucking a fire starter in the middle. Then he pulled open the damper as he glanced at her.
“Where are you from?”
“I live outside Minneapolis now.” Fallon settled on the edge of the couch to watch him.
“Have you always lived in Minnesota?” He crumpled newspaper, lit it, and stuffed it into the open space between the wood. After lighting another wad of paper, he held it up near the flue, waiting for the draw. He was glad to have a task at the moment. Her obvious discomfort with finding herself alone with him would probably be contagious if there wasn’t a fire to build.
“We moved a lot. My parents were…ah, how do I say this…somewhat nomadic, I guess? Seven states in all. I’ve lived the longest in the Twin Cities. I went there for school and stayed after graduation.”
That didn’t tell him much. He’d guess she was in her late twenties or early thirties.
The smoke from the burning newspaper changed direction and slowly lifted up the flue. Kade closed the screen as the fire grew, its heat caressing his face. He stood.
“Can I get you some coffee? There are muffins too.”
Fallon rubbed her legs self-consciously and looked around the room. It was then that he noticed her pajamas. Chickens wearing Santa hats decorated the flannel top and bottoms. Fallon caught him looking and chuckled.
“Your mother’s,” she said, taking a fistful of the fabric. “I obviously didn’t pack for a sleepover.”
“Lucky you.”
