Page 4 of Winter's Kiss

I watched him grab every item in the back of my car, trip by trip. One item at a time. He placed them in the back of his truck. This man didn’t know me and yet he faced the coldness of the night, and the heaviness of the snow, to ensure I had everything I needed before we left. He pulled a tarp over the items and secured it before he made his way to the driver's side and climbed into the cab. The scent of bergamot, lavender and fir balsam brushed across me. I closed my eyes briefly with a large inhale.

“I don’t know how to thank you for this,” I stated, our gazes connected for the first time in the light. My heart skipped a beat at his blue-grey eyes. He had to be the most handsome man I’d ever seen.

“You just did.” He replied simply. His attention shifted to the road before him. He clicked the truck into gear.

“My name is Natasha.” He returned his eyes to me. “Natasha Saunders.” There was a moment of silence before he nodded his head just slightly.

“Rowland Quinn.” Rowland, I repeated his name in my mind. Without another word, he pulled forward. I glanced at my car in the mirror once more until it faded in the snowfall.

Our drive had no moments of small talk, Rowland kept his eyes on the road. Other than a quick radio call, he had not spoken a single word. I wanted to ask about Muddy Waters, why I hadn’t seen a single house or passed a car before meeting him. Had it just been luck that he appeared when he did? One mile after the other, I relaxed back on the bucket seat of his truck when he slowed and started down what appeared to be another road.

I glanced over at him briefly before a light in the distance caught my attention. He slowed around a slight turn and pulled up in front of a large three-story cabin that seemed to glow in the darkness that surrounded it. My mouth parted at the beauty; my gaze lowered to an older couple as they stepped from the front entrance. I turned and looked at Rowland, as he jumped from the cab, without a single word.

Suddenly my door flew opened, shocked I jumped as my attention shifted to the couple who stood with smiles plastered across their faces. The man was tall, stocky, but that could be the layers of clothing he had on. He sported a long thick beard that rested on the top of his chest and held the color of silver. His semi-long hair matched his beard in color. He reminded me of Santa Claus, a fact that brought a smile to my lips.

“Good evening, dear.” His welcoming big brown eyes shined up at me. “My name is Theo, and this is my wife, Anna.” I glanced over at the woman with a wider smile pulled at the corner of my lips.

The older woman looked like someone you would see in a homemade apple pie advertisement. She was small in height yet rounder in the frame. Her hair held a light brown color with a hint of silver peeking through as though highlights. Her eyes were the most welcoming blue, with a smile that could lighten a dark room.

“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Natasha.” The woman made a step toward me, one I would have normally felt uncomfortable with but surprisingly didn’t. She took my hand and waited for me to climb from the cab of Rowland’s truck before she put her arm around my shoulders.

“Been some night for you, I’m sure.” She patted the side of my arms as we started up the wooden steps. “I bet you could use a nice cup of tea or hot cocoa.” Was she serious? I wondered with a smile.

“That would be lovely, but I should help with my things.” The woman giggled with a nod as we stepped onto the covered porch.

“Nonsense dear, the boys will take care of your things. You’re lucky Rowland found you when he did. That road tends to be ignored in storms such as these.” I glanced back to Rowland, surprised to find him looking at me.

“Scary to think how long you would have been out there.” Anna continued. I brought my attention to the house as the woman walked me through the threshold. My first thought, I had died and gone into a Hallmark movie.

The house held a warmth to it that could not be described in words. The light wooden walls held the cold from outside at bay and offered a gentle feel. Pictures hung throughout the house and sat on thin tables that lined the large, opened foyer. A fire crackled in a room just off the left of the entrance. I barely had time to register everything as Anna escorted me into the open kitchen.

“Have a seat, dear. I’ll get you that cup of tea.” She made her way to the stove and grabbed the red kettle before she made a swift movement to the sink. My mother had never been this welcoming. I smiled and slid onto the stool with a slow unzip of my jacket.

This is where true pleasant people hid, I thought. I found humor in the fact getting into a car with a stranger, and going to their home, would never be something done in my hometown. The idea of it made me laugh.

As handsome as Rowland was, in my neck of the woods he would be looked at as some grisly mountain man-killer or something. I glanced around the room; pictures hung throughout.

“Well, your items are safe and sound in your room, dear,” Theo stated as he walked into the room.

“Thank you. I promise I will repay you for this.” Theo scoffed and shook his head as he lifted onto the stool next to me.

“You’ll do no such thing.” He quickly answered.

“Thank you, again.” It had been the only thing I could say. The kettle started its high pitch whistle, Anna, with a swift movement, pulled it from the burner. She poured the steaming water into the three mugs she had already placed along the counter. “None for Rowland?” I asked as I noticed the number of mugs.

“He had already left to travel home,” Theo answered.

“Sure, he needed to tend to Tucker, why he never takes him on his day trip to Frostford is beyond me,” Anna added as she placed the mug in front of me, and with a smile, I took hold of the white porcelain.

“Tucker his son?” I asked before I realized the words left my tongue.

“His dog, dear,” Anna responded. I wanted to ask more, but something in me told me to stop. These people had been nice enough to open their homes to me, the last thing I wanted to do was push my nose where it didn’t belong.

“You have a charming home,” I added. “It will be nice staying in such a cozy place for the night. The last place I stayed was not very warm in its atmosphere.” Theo crinkled his brows, as though confused by my statement.

“For the night?” Anna questioned. Had I missed something?

“Dear, this storm is just starting. The closest you’re going to get to your car is perhaps the end of the week. Surely Rowland had mentioned that?” A week? Wait, what? I was supposed to be at my sister's the next day and be home at the end of the week.

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