by Pat Ballard
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty, we’ve got a snowman to build, and snowball fights to have.”
She smiled lazily and sat up in bed, propping the pillows behind her to give her some support. The covers fell to her waist as she reached for the cup of coffee Sam handed to her. She looked up to find him gazing at the unexpected view being offered to him.
With her free hand, Nella pulled the sheet up under her arms to cover herself. When Sam looked up and met her eyes, there was a soft glow in his.
“I’m sorry,” he said sheepishly, sitting on the side of the bed. “I find I’m becoming intrigued with some of your assets.”
“Thanks for the coffee.” Nella tried to change the subject. This conversation was coming too soon after her thoughts of the night before.
“I went down and lit the furnace this morning, and built a fire in the fireplace, so the house is beginning to warm up now. It snowed about three inches, and Jake is driving me crazy to get out and play in it, but he doesn’t have any warm clothes.”
“Neither do I, since we came here directly from Hawaii. In fact, where did you get that jacket you had on last night?”
“Oh, that was one of my old jackets that I leave here. Actually, I hadn’t given warm clothes any thought, since I’d only planned to stay up here a couple of weeks. But I’ve enjoyed it so much I haven’t wanted to leave.”
“What about your work? Don’t you miss it?”
“My work goes on whether I’m there or not. I hire the most competent people I can find so things are done the way I want them done, even in my absence. Of course, I keep in touch with them by phone, so I know all is well.”
“But don’t you miss the hands-on work, and being in the middle of what’s happening?”
“This time last year, I would have, but now I don’t. Since I’ve had Jake around so much, I think my values are changing. I don’t understand it myself, but I really don’t miss my work. I don’t know if this is just a passing state of mind that I’m going through, or if it’s permanent, but, no, I don’t miss it at all.”
“So how are we going to play in the snow without warm clothes?” Nella asked.
“I guess I’ll have to go down to Bowling Green and buy you and Jake a few items to get by on until we can all go on a shopping spree. The snow won’t melt today. The temperature isn’t supposed to get over freezing all day. I listened to the weather earlier. We’re having unseasonably cold weather for this time of year. But occasionally, we do have these cold snaps.”
“Will it be safe to drive in this snow?” Concern sounded in her voice.
“There’s only a few inches, and I don’t believe it’s going to get any worse, and of course, it’ll be safe! Remember, I grew up driving these hills under these conditions. I’m an old pro.”
From out of nowhere, a sobering thought struck Nella.
“Sam, what would we do if we got snowbound up here?” Her eyes grew large just at the thought.
She had forgotten to hold the sheet as they talked, and it had gradually worked its way back down almost to her waist.
“Right now, that doesn’t sound like a bad situation to be in at all.” Sam’s voice was soft and husky as his eyes took in the soft, alluring skin that showed from the top of her nightgown. Nella quickly pulled the sheet back up.
Chuckling softly, Sam stood up.
“When you get dressed, I’ll show you something that should put your mind at ease about getting snowbound, as remote a possibility as that is. I’ll go check on Jake.”
Wondering what was in store for her now, Nella hurriedly dressed in the warmest clothes she could find and went to the kitchen, where she heard Jake talking. He was just finishing a bowl of cereal.
“Mommy, Mommy,” he started as soon as he saw her. “Daddy’s going to town to get me some warm clothes so I can play in the snow!” His excitement overflowed with each word.
“I know, sweetheart, won’t that be fun?” she said, leaning over and kissing his cheek.
“Are you finished, Jake?” Sam had come over to stand beside them.
At Jake’s nod, Sam reached down and lifted him from the chair. Then, taking Nella’s hand, he led them to the door to the basement steps. He let go of Nella’s hand to unlock the door with a key that hung on a nail beside the door. After putting the key back, he opened the door and flipped on a light switch.
The usual dank, moist basement odor greeted them as they descended the stairs. When they reached the bottom step, Sam made a sharp turn and went back under the stairwell. There, to Nella’s surprise, was another door that was concealed from anyone who didn’t know it was there. Taking another key from a nail, Sam opened the door and flipped on a light switch.
In front of them was a long, narrow room, approximately eight feet wide and twenty to thirty feet long. The room was lined with shelves on both sides. The shelves were loaded with jars of canned and dried food.
“See. e have enough food here to last us at least a year, and probably longer. So I don’t think we have to be worried about getting snowbound. In fact, we probably could stay up here for several years and not run out of food. You want to try and see how long we could stay?”
The teasing note in his voice brought Nella’s eyes from the awesome sight of the food, quickly to his. He was standing close, still holding Jake in his arms.
What would it be like to stay here for several years with just the three of them, she wondered? And what on earth had come over Sam? Why was he making all of these insinuating remarks all of a sudden?
“Go on, look around,” he encouraged her.
Nella walked the length of the shelves and could not believe the variety of canned foods she saw. There was canned beef, pork, and chicken, and practically every kind of vegetable that could be grown in the area. Corn, peas, beans, tomatoes, onions, carrots—and the list went on. There were also jars containing dried peas and beans, and a few things she didn’t recognize.
“Did you do all of this?” she asked, making her way back to him.
“No, not exactly. I have an arrangement with one of the neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Adams. They weren’t at the McCoys’ house the other night. I hoped they would be, so you could meet them. They were good friends with my grandparents. Anyway, I buy all of the seeds to plant, furnish the tractor and gas, and they grow the food and prepare it, and we split it. This arrangement helps them, and me. They keep half and bring half over here. They have a key to the house, so they can bring the stuff in and keep it rotated so it doesn’t get too old on the shelves. They also keep a watch on the house, year round.”
Nella was almost back to Sam and Jake when she stopped and gave a blood-curdling scream.
“Nella, what’s wrong?” Sam rushed toward her.
“No! Stop, Sam! Don’t come any closer!” she warned, pointing at a huge spider hanging from a web, directly between them. She shivered uncontrollably as she looked at the ugly spider. She’d almost run her face right into it. The spider’s body was the size of the ball of Nella’s thumb. Just the thought of that thing being on her gave her cold chills.
Spotting the cause of her alarm, Sam burst out laughing. He gripped the web just above the spider and lowered the offending object to the floor, then kicked it under one of the shelves.
Nella looked at him in open-eyed horror. “Why didn’t you kill it?”
“Because she’ll eat other bugs that come in here to try to eat our food,” Sam explained, as if talking to a child.
“Well, there’s plenty of food in here to share with a few little bugs, and if that monster stays, I go,” Nella said flatly, and started to push past Sam.
He reached out and stopped her with an arm across her waist.
“You really amaze me. You’ll fight a stranger to protect my son. You’ll risk your life in the ocean to save his life. You’ll take on the world to stand up for what you believe in, but you’re afraid of, no, horrified, of a spider?”
With Sam this close and those golden brown eyes starin
g deeply into hers, the spider seemed far away, and of minor importance.
“You gonna kiss her, or not?” Jake's small, impatient voice interrupted the moment.
“Yes, Son, I’m gonna kiss her.” And he slowly lowered his lips to hers.
Nella couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to, as his eyes held her transfixed until his lips covered hers. The kiss was slow and gentle and probing, and would have gone on longer if Jake hadn’t wrapped his arms around both of their necks and started giggling and trying to kiss each one of them on the cheek.
Sam and Nella started smiling even as their lips tried to hold the kiss, but the small boy was so persistent that Sam raised his head slowly. The smile was still on Nella’s lips and her eyes were a soft, smoky haze as she opened them.
Sam wanted nothing more than to continue what he’d started, but Jake’s voice interrupted his intentions. “Are you going to town now, Daddy?” The child had remembered the snow, and wanted to go play in it.
“Yes, I guess I’d better go, before it gets any later.” Reluctantly, he led them back upstairs.
Sam left shortly thereafter and headed for Bowling Green, saying it would probably be at least two hours before he could get back.
The sun had been shining a little when he left, but the clouds soon moved back in, and now a few new flakes of snow were beginning to fall. Nella sat and watched it in awe. The serenity and beauty of it thrilled her.
Jake had become tired of waiting for his dad to return and had fallen asleep, so the house was quiet. Nella had time to herself, and as always of late, her thoughts went back to Sam. She just couldn’t figure out where his change of attitude had come from, but ever since they spent the night with the McCoys’ he’d acted differently toward her.
Was he just toying with her? He seemed so sincere, though. And he was different up here. Sam du Cannon the business magnate had become Sam du Cannon the laid-back, relaxed family man. And with that change came all the attention he was giving her lately.
What should she do? She was attracted to him, but was that all it was—just attraction?
She needed to fall in love with her husband like she needed a hole in her head. She knew she should try to discourage the attention she was getting from him, but she didn’t want to. She enjoyed every moment of it, even if Sam wasn’t sincere. But where would it lead? Would she fall in love with him only to be hurt when they returned to their other life and Sam became his old self?
Now, wait! She mentally shook herself. She was a strong woman, and in total control of her emotions. She wouldn’t allow herself to fall in love with him, but why not play his game and see where he was going with it? If he was indeed just toying with her, just to add another woman to his long list, she could play that game, too. In fact, she could play that game better than the infallible Mr. Sam du Cannon. And he might be the one who fell in love with her against his will. Now wouldn’t that be a hoot? How would Sam be if he were in love?
She smiled softly to herself as she made plans to charm and captivate the powerful Samuel L. du Cannon.
Sam realized a smile was playing with the corners of his mouth, and his eyes almost felt as if they were twinkling, as he maneuvered the Jeep up the last incline to the house. Surprised, he wondered how long it’d been since he felt like this. He was almost home, and couldn’t wait to get there. Couldn’t wait to be with his son, and the woman who waited for him there.
Woman. What a perfect description for Nella. He’d known many women in his thirty-five years, but none of them epitomized that word like Nella. She was woman.
At that thought he chuckled out loud and brought the Jeep to a stop in front of the house. He’d been listening to the radio all afternoon, and the cold front that was supposed to have missed them was coming straight at them. An Arctic mass of cold air was dipping lower south than it usually did this time of year. The weather forecasters were saying it could be the worst storm for this area in many years. Maybe even a record. But Sam didn’t care. He was home, he had plenty of food, and he had a family. The warm glow in his inner being could keep them all warm for months.
Nella met him at the door and took some of the packages.
“Did you buy out Bowling Green?” she asked, as he went back to the Jeep for more packages.
“Just about,” he said, “but a good man has to provide fer his fambly.” He jokingly reverted to his “country” slang. “What’s that heavenly smell?” he asked, coming through the door.
“Well,” Nella joined in his game, “a good woman has ter keep ’er man fed, whilst he’s out providin’ fer her and the young’uns. That there smell is a pot of beef stew I made fer ye.”
Laughing out loud together seemed so right. So natural. But suddenly serious, Sam handed Nella several of the bags.
“I took a chance and bought you some warm clothes, too. I hope they fit. The lady at the store was more than glad to help me.” Satisfaction sounded in his voice.
Nella had an instant vision of a size six salesperson falling all over herself trying to help Sam decide what size clothes to buy for her.
As if reading her mind, Sam continued, “The sales lady is about your size, and very attractive. She had some great suggestions that helped me a lot.” Then, stopping and looking Nella up and down, he grinned. “But her boobs weren’t nearly as big as yours are.”
“Sam!” Nella scolded. Then, remembering she was going to play along with him, she batted her eyelashes at him and said in her best Scarlet O’Hara drawl, “Why, thank you, suh.”
Caught off guard, Sam headed toward her, but she darted behind the couch for protection.
“Leave me alone! I want to see my new clothes!”
She was amazed at what she found. He’d bought a beautiful wool cape, boots, socks, several pair of jeans, and pullover sweaters.
“Sam, you act like we’re going to be here all winter,” Nella protested.
“Well, according to the weather men, we might.”
Nella hadn’t bothered trying to hear a weather forecast, so she was surprised to hear Sam saying they were in for a bad storm. “Are we going to be okay?” Concern edged her voice.
“We’re going to be fine,” Sam assured her. “In fact, this is going to be the best winter I’ve had in years. I hope you’ll feel the same way.” Not giving her a chance to answer, he left the room, saying over his shoulder, “Go put on some warm clothes while I wake Jake up. I want to play in the snow.”
Nella hastily dressed in a pair of the jeans and a pretty purple sweater, and put on her new boots. She was surprised at how well everything fit. Sam and the sales lady had done an excellent job of fitting her.
By the time she’d dressed Jake was awake, and Sam had him in a new pair of jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, and a fleece-lined, water-resistant jacket. Jake was strutting around the room. “Look at my new clothes! Can I sleep in them tonight?”
“Well, I think after the snow gets them all cold and wet, you won’t want to sleep in them, Son,” Sam told him patiently, and then looked at Nella. “Wow! I did pretty good, huh?”
“Well, the sweater could have been a little larger,” Nella answered, pulling at it to try to stretch it a little.
“Oh, I like it just like it is,” Sam said with a lopsided grin. “I like it a lot.” He gave a knowing wink.
Before she could answer, Jake tugged at her hand. “Come on, I want to go outside!”
The snow was coming down harder now, and the flakes were huge and fluffy. Nella stopped and stood with her face turned up into the falling snow. She delighted in the feel of it landing on her skin. It was so quiet, and smelled so fresh. She felt she could stand here forever and become a snow queen. She’d always loved the beach, but she’d found a new love.
Jake was running and jumping and falling in the snow. He’d never seen snow before, and his excitement was complete.
Nella was still standing motionless, looking around her in awe, when she felt the whop of a snowball on the back of her head.
She turned around to catch Sam in the act of throwing a second snowball. Just as she looked at him a large snowball hit her right in the face.
The snow stung when it hit her and she immediately grabbed her face with both hands, bending forward to brush the snow off. Then the idea came. She dropped to her knees, bent forward, and moaned softly.
Sam was beside her instantly, leaning over her. “Nella, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you in the face.” The concern in his voice almost made Nella change her plan, but not quite. She reached out suddenly and grabbed him around the legs. Pushing all her weight against him, she shoved him backwards into the snow, causing him to land flat on his back. Moving swiftly, she straddled him and started scooping hands full of snow into his face.
Laughing heartily, Jake joined her. The surprised look on Sam’s face was priceless. Then he started laughing and trying to get up.
Nella knew she was in for some horrible punishment when he did get up, so she jumped swiftly to her feet and ran away as fast as the deepening snow would allow.
When she stopped to look back, Sam was casually helping Jake start a snowman. He acted as if nothing had happened. Oh no. Now she’d have to be constantly on guard, because she knew Sam would get even. The question was when and how?
Moving a little closer, she called. “We’re even, okay? You hit me two times, and I only rolled you once. That makes us even, okay?” No answer. Not even a hint that he’d heard her. He just continued talking to Jake.
“Sam? Did you hear me?” She moved a little closer, but he continued to ignore her.
Jake called, “Mommy, come and help us! We’re gonna make a really big snowman.”
“Sam, we’re even, okay? Promise!” Now she was even closer, and when Sam didn’t answer her, she stamped her foot angrily. “Sam! Answer me!”
The foot that she stamped landed on a slick, frozen spot on the ground, causing her to lose her footing, and before she knew what was happening she was lying flat on her back. As swiftly as a springing jungle cat, Sam was on top of her.
