Snow Belle (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 1)

by Jackie Castle

  Eventually, the cold was overtaken by the trusty little heater, and Haley fell into an exhausted sleep.

  She dreamed of Ethan’s disappointed face. Then Bill sauntered into her dream world, shaking his head and telling her how low she was being for lying to Ethan.

  “He’s a good guy. Why are you trying to chase him off? Not that I didn’t mind that kiss. Been dreaming some time about what that might be like.”

  She’d thrown one of his couch pillows at him.

  He’d given her his bedroom while he slept on the couch, even if he did drone on with lectures about letting herself have a bit of fun in life. “You’ll want to let someone in sooner or later, Haley Belle. He was a good one. I’ll never figure you out.”

  She didn’t want to be figured out.

  Sometime during the cold night, Haley woke up shivering. Had she fallen into Lake Michigan’s frozen depths? She sat up. Wally whined and tried to scoot under the blankets. The heater sat silent, having died again.

  “Oh, I’m so tired of this. Blast you!” She shoved her icy feet into her work boots and went over to bang on the heater. Nothing. She kicked it against the wall. It landed on its side, lifeless.

  “I’m done staying out here!” She grabbed her blankets and went out to Lady Blue. Puffs of breath clouded around her head. Man, the temp must have dropped below zero. She started the engine to get it going and warmed up while she went back into her little room and yanked her clothes from the closet. After several trips back and forth, she finally got all her things in her truck.

  “Let’s go, Walls. We’re going up to the house. At least until we find a buyer or spring comes.”

  She didn’t bother to unpack her truck. The only room with a made-up bed was Ethan’s. She didn’t care. Exhausted and furious, she fell into the warm bed, the scent of the musky cologne he always wore, lingering. Tears welled up and wouldn’t stop until she cried herself to sleep.

  The sound of sirens woke her a second time. Sirens out this way? She turned over in the bed, burying her head under the pillow and wanting to cry all over again. Why’d she have to go and run off the best man she’d ever met in her whole miserable life?

  God, are You mad at me? I did lie to get him to skedaddle. What choice did I have? He has such a wonderful gift. You can’t possibly mean for him to stay in his hole, can You?

  The sirens grew louder. Wally bolted from the bed and began running in circles, howling. They were coming awfully close. She rushed to the window and peered out. Black smoke filled the sky.

  “What?” She ran to the balcony door and yanked it open, ignoring the frigid temperatures as she rushed outside. The fire trucks came toward her house but then turned up the drive to the barn. No! The barn! Her horses. No, no, no!

  She quickly dressed in warm clothes pulled from Papop’s closet, and ran out the front door. The horses raced away from the barn and toward the woods. Thank you, God! They made it out alive. She rushed down to the street and hopped over the fence that ran along the roadway dividing her land.

  Sheriff Boyd was ordering around the men from the firetruck. When he saw her, he clutched at his chest and slumped against his cruiser. “Good grief, Haley. I was so afraid you were sleeping inside.” He actually grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. “Thank the Good Lord you’re alive.”

  “My barn. Sheriff—”

  “You just stay back here. They got your horses out. Is your dog with you, too?”

  She nodded but had to cover her mouth to protect her burning lungs from the thick smoke. Flames licked up the side of the weathered wood as if the structure were made of no more than thin newspaper. Tears flowed down her cheeks. This couldn’t be happening. That blasted heater! She’d kicked it aside without bothering to unplug it from the wall. This was her fault.

  Sorrow clamped its thick hand around her throat, threatening to strangle her.

  Her barn. Her dreams. Gone. All of it. Up in smoke!

  Her head swam and she swayed. Sheriff Boyd caught her and made her sit in the passenger seat of his cruiser. She buried her face in her hands, wanting to stop the spinning. Everything spinning. Her life was a destructive tornado. When would it stop? When would she catch a break?

  A cry welled up from her stinging lungs. Now, what would she do?

  Maybe God was furious with her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ethan stared up at the gilded ceiling towering above him. Rows of empty velvet seats swooped upward in every direction. Heavy drapes hung over the walls and across entry ways.

  He’d played one set with the whole orchestra. He and Stephen were trying out for the last two seats in the string section. They’d have to work their way up. Stephen was confident it wouldn’t take long.

  His friend, who now performed his solo, had chosen a difficult piece but was nailing it. He sat in the chair they’d provided and played with his eyes closed. A slight sheen of sweat dampened his forehead and caused his spiky black hair to droop a bit.

  They both played the violin, though Stephen could also play the cello. Ethan knew some piano but never liked the feel of it as much as he loved holding his Willhelm.

  Stephen was talented, but Ethan had a unique style which was the thing that caught most people’s attention.

  Is this what you want for me, Lord? Is it? He’d been prepared to stay with Haley. A bit of string not yet severed from her still tugged at his heart. He knew she’d not have him. She’d just push him away again. Hopefully, she’d not carry through with doing anything completely stupid.

  Funny, though, he wasn’t the least bit angry at her for staying the night at Bill’s apartment. Deep down, he knew Bill wouldn’t misuse her. And she might be a bit wild in her ways, but she wasn’t foolish. No, whatever production she’d put on was to get him to leave. He was even more convinced that she loved him.

  Still, she was also more stubborn than a mule, in that she’d refuse to take him back unless he could prove this wasn’t for him. The only thing he was upset about was that she was right. He did need to exhaust all his options. He needed to be one hundred percent sure that this wasn’t for him. Which was why he’d come to try out. He needed to see for himself.

  A smattering of applause signaled that Stephen had completed his number. He stood, gave a bow, and gathered his sheets of music. As they passed each other, Stephen grinned. He’d done well. Ethan smiled back, letting him know his playing had been spot-on.

  “Your turn to blow them away, my friend.” Stephen smacked Ethan’s shoulder then went to take his seat while Ethan had his turn.

  He tried to sit. He didn’t really need the music because he knew the piece by heart. “Nearer My God to Thee” was one of his mother’s favorites, so he’d played it many times, learning new and interesting variations of the old song.

  “I’m sorry,” Ethan stood and moved away from the chair. “I do better when I stand.” He set the violin under his chin and drew the bow. That was the problem with all this. Music carried him away. He needed to sway and move with its rhythm. That’s why he didn’t like the piano or cello as much. And that’s why he wasn’t suited for an orchestra. No way would he be able to sit for long periods of time, playing from a chair. It wasn’t in him.

  And that’s why, as he came to the end of the song, he let the bow slip, dropping an obvious note. He tried not to cringe too much as the awful sound echoed through the auditorium.

  “Oops.”

  * * * *

  “Not even the orchestra?” Dad asked as he and Stephen walked into his home a week before Christmas. Mom had outdone herself with the decorations. He’d no sooner dropped his bags at the door before his sister plowed into his arms, wrapping him in a hug. “I’ve missed you, too, Bek.”

  Bekka pulled back and looked him over. “Why’d you … do it?”

  How did she know? He glared over his shoulder at Stephen, wondering if he had called her during the trip back. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “I asked Stephen to Skype
your performance.” She lowered her voice so their parents wouldn’t hear. “I saw what you did. That was on purpose.”

  He’d have to explain later. Even now it didn’t make complete sense to him, though it did a little.

  Mom burst in from the kitchen and was the next to grab him up in a hug only mothers were capable of giving. “Praise the Lord. You’re here. You’re safe and unharmed. And we’re going to celebrate. You staying, Stephen, honey? You know you are always welcome to a meal.”

  He politely declined. “Ma is making a dinner, too. Then we’re going over to see Beth.”

  Once Ethan had his belongings back in his room, and everyone was sitting around the table, he ate as if he hadn’t eaten all week. They’d both been eager to make it home before the next cluster of clouds dumped another six feet of snow on them. He didn’t need any more side trips now. He had things to do. Plans to make.

  Dad sat at the head of the table and cut into his roast. His glowering stare landed on Ethan. “You certainly seem pleased with yourself, despite all your gallivanting and the turmoil you’ve put us through.”

  “Dad, I owe you both an apology.” He set his utensils down and looked his parents in the eye. “I’m really am sorry. I’ve been completely self-absorbed this past year. I should have come home much sooner. But there were some things I needed to think through.”

  His sister glared at him from across the table but, to her credit, said nothing as she popped a green bean into her frowning mouth. She had the same color hair and eyes as he did. Some people thought them twins until they learned they were a year apart in age.

  Dad leaned back in his chair. “I have a temporary fill for the position I was going to give you. Are you ready to settle down now? Have you got that wandering bug out of you?”

  “No, sir. I’m afraid I don’t intend to remain here.”

  Mom’s fork hit the plate with a loud clatter.

  “I should have called and talked to you about this sooner, as well. Mom, I’ll stay through the New Year, at least. I have a few things I need to work out.”

  Dad yanked his napkin from his collar and threw it down on his plate. “No. It’s not okay.”

  “Father!” Mom gasped. “You’re not kicking out one of our children.”

  “I’m not supporting his bohemian lifestyle anymore, either. I should have cut him off the moment he graduated college.”

  “Father!”

  Ethan held up his hands. “Deep breaths, everyone.”

  Jeremy, his younger brother, just grinned. “So glad you’re back, Eth. Takes the heat off me for a change. Bet I can tell them I bombed my math test and they’ll not even—”

  “You,” Dad roared. “Hush. And you’re grounded, Jeremy. After you do the dishes, you need to get to your room.”

  Ethan chuckled and threw him a wink. “Oops, spoke a little too soon, buddy.”

  “Aw, man.” He pushed his plate away, but Ethan noticed it was cleared off anyway.

  Bekka kicked Jeremy’s foot, then motioned for him to get going. “Let them talk. Go on.” She turned to Ethan. “I know you. What do you have up your sleeve this time?”

  He smiled at her. She did know him all too well. “Dad, I do plan to settle down. I’ve found a new home. It’s not more than half a day’s travel south of here, and you’re going to love visiting when I get it up and running. There’s a river for fishing that runs along the property line.”

  “WAIT … one moment!” Bekka shouted, waving her hands over her head like a referee. “What about your violin? You are not giving that up. Not after all you’ve been through. Ethan, tell us what’s going on.”

  “Well, here’s the gist of it. I was chasing my dreams and doing what I wanted with my life. The Lord literally knocked me off my feet or- technically -road … and I had a chance to stop and ask what He wanted me to do with my talent. You know, there’s millions of stars in the sky that are shining and people never see them.”

  Mom stared at him, her hand on her chest that rose and fell with her deep breaths. “You found your way back, didn’t you, son?”

  “Yes, Mom. I believe I did. And I’ve found another way to make all of us happy.”

  * * * *

  “I don’t get it,” Bekka laid back across his twin-sized bed, propping herself up on a pillow. “How is moving to a small town going to help you become famous with your violin?”

  The smaller bed would take getting used to again. He’d been blessed with full- and queen-sized beds since leaving home.

  “How many times do I need to repeat myself? I don’t need to be famous. I thought I did, but I don’t. My violin will always be a part of me.” He logged on to his parents’ Internet service. “The land down there, like up here, is simply beautiful. I just hope that house is still for sale. I can do a lot with it. First, I want to open a sports club where snowmobile riders and skiers can come in the winter. In the summer, I’ll rent out canoes. Maybe offer places for hunters to stay.”

  “But what does all this have to do with your…”

  He held up a hand to silence her and clicked on the website for Madison Creek. “I’ve already talked to Mr. Hechinger about my ideas, and he liked them.”

  “And Mr. Hechinger is…?”

  “One of the men who’s offering small business grants.” He explained the council’s plan to revive the town. She sat listening, her head shaking slightly in disbelief.

  “Madison Creek is a quaint little town right on Lake Michigan. The people there… are…”

  Bekka sat up. “You met someone.”

  Ethan ducked his head behind the computer, hoping she wouldn’t see how red his burning cheeks had to be.

  “Who? Ethan, tell me. Did you…?” She grabbed his desk chair and spun him around. “Oh, man, you did. Who is she? Tell me all about my future sister-in-law.” She shoved him backward. He hit the desk with a loud bang that brought Mom to the door.

  “Don’t think I’m not eavesdropping on you two. I’ve been out there folding towels and putting them in the linen closet. Did I hear right? You’ve met someone, son?”

  He held up his hands. “Just wait, both of you. She broke it off with me. So… right now, I’m dating nobody.”

  “But that’s why you’re going back. Or why you want to. Right?” Bekka was yanking at his chair again. “Talk, mister, or you know we’ll both hound you until you satisfy our curiosity.”

  He typed in a web address. “I’m not sure I have much hope with Haley.”

  “Oh, I like that name.” Mom scooted Bekka over so she could sit on the bed. “Is she pretty?”

  “Come on, Ma,” Bekka nudged her with her shoulder. “You know she is. Is she a native or fudgie?”

  Ethan went ahead and told them all about Haley Isabelle Madison, speaking fast to keep them from interrupting him again. When he finished, the two women grinned at each other.

  Bekka shook her head. “A southerner. From Texas. Who knew he had it in him?” She turned her grin back to him. “So, are the Texas girls as hot and spicy as they—?”

  “Rebekkah Marie Winters.” Mom smacked her with a folded towel. “Hush that mouth. Good Lord.”

  Ethan chuckled at the flushed look on his mother’s face. He and Bekka got most of their looks from her. Like his mother, Bekka wore her hair long and often kept it in a bun or braid. Where the three of them were tall, lean, and dark-haired, Dad and Jeremy were shorter, stockier, with reddish hair and round faces.

  “Haley is a pistol. You’ll like her. I’m just afraid that when I show back up in Madison Creek, she’ll shoot me first and ask questions later.”

  Mom stood. “Very well, I best get to praying. I’m calling the Prayer Birds, too. We’ll be pounding on Heaven’s door about this.”

  Ethan buried his face in his hands. “Thanks. Now the whole town will know.”

  She waved off his concerns. “They’ve been gossiping about you, anyway; especially when you had that audition that was aired on TV. Everyone went crazy about that.
All I kept hearing all over town was Ethan this and Ethan that. Blah, blah, blah.” She shook her head. “I’m just concerned about your music.”

  “I’m telling you if you’d just give me a chance, I have a plan. What I need is time and a way to find a bit more money.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “You’ve never struck me as one to sit in a puddle of tears, Haley Madison.” Karen stood over her, a greasy bag in one hand and her huge purse in the other. She’d let herself in the house. Haley didn’t feel like getting up from her spot in front of the cold fireplace.

  “It’s freezing in here. If you’re going to throw a pity party, the least you can do is light a fire.” Karen dropped the bag with an outline of a castle in Haley’s lap. The scent of hamburgers and fries wafted up and caused her stomach to growl.

  Karen tossed a few logs on the fire, and lit the gas burner. “That’s better. Are you going to hog those hamburgers? Mine are the ones with no onions.” She sat in one of the vacant chairs and crossed her long legs. At least today she was dressed for the weather, with thick pants and snow boots.

  Haley dug out the small, palm-sized burgers and handed her one, along with a box of fries.

  Karen set them on the side table. “I’m sorry about the barn, Haley. We’ve honestly been wracking our brains for a way to help you and keep the integrity of what we are trying to do here. I’ve been making notes on ideas and I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but that barn burning down is probably the best thing to happen to you yet.”

  Haley was almost about to bite into the hamburger but stopped before her lips touched the bun. If she wasn’t so danged hungry, she might throw the whole bag at the pompous woman.