Operation White Christmas: Escape to the Country

by Nicki Edwards

  Her mind wandered back to the animal’s eyes that had caused her to swerve. What sort of animal might it have been? Her mind ran through the list of possibilities. It definitely wasn’t a moose. Not big enough. Maybe a deer? No, unlikely. She appeared to be in a farming area, so a cow maybe. No, it had been smaller than that. She flicked the headlights onto high beam and stared into the near-dark sky. Movement caught her eye and she waited for her eyes to adjust to the changing light caused by the drifting snow.

  Is that a sheep?

  She squinted but it was difficult to make out the shape of the animal. It appeared to have a long neck.

  “It’s an alpaca!”

  It took her two seconds to make her decision. She was certain she hadn’t hit the animal but perhaps it was hurt and that’s why it was still standing in the middle of the road. She needed to move it before it caused another accident.

  She twisted in her seat and grabbed her coat. Thankfully she’d been smart enough to unpack it from her suitcase when she got to Buffalo airport. She’d nearly choked when she’d seen the price of the North Face jacket, but the salesman assured her she’d never feel the Canadian cold. Zipping it up to her neck, she patted the duck down and prayed he was right and the jacket was as warm as promised. Pushing open the car door she gasped in shock as the wind whipped snow into her face. It felt like sharp shards of ice against her skin.

  The moment she stepped from the car into the slushy snow, she realized she had made a huge mistake. Her knee-high leather boots, which looked great with her denim jeans, were going to be useless once they were wet. She tramped cautiously through the gray sludge wishing her boots didn’t have heels. She was glad no one was watching her except the animal who still stood in the middle of the road. It was shivering and making strange bleating sounds. Hollie got closer and realized it was only a baby. Where was its mother? She gazed around the barren white landscape but saw nothing.

  Hollie trembled in the eerie stillness. It was so quiet she wondered whether her ears were still blocked from the flight. She popped them but the silence remained as heavy as before. Snow continued to fall softly, blanketing the ground in a fresh whisper.

  “G’day little fella,” she cooed gently as she held out her hand and walked slowly toward the animal. The last thing she needed to do was frighten it and make it run away. She chewed her lip. Was it tame? How had it ended up out here all alone? Thankfully it wore a halter around its head, but once she caught it and dragged it off the road, what was she supposed to do with it? The snow still fell and the wind was freezing. She didn’t like her chances of walking along the side of the road in the dark dragging a strange animal until she found a house. At least she’d have a story to tell Mackenzie and her parents when she got home. This winter experience hadn’t been on the list!

  Hollie’s hope surged as bright lights blinked in the distance. The road assistance people had been faster than she’d expected.

  She didn’t want to play the role of dumb damsel in distress, but right now, she was definitely happy her knight was on his way. Whether or not he was wearing shining armor was inconsequential. Someone was coming and she wasn’t going to have to spend the night in her car with an animal for company, as cute as it was.

  She squinted harder, trying to work out what type of vehicle it was. When she finally made out the outline, she laughed aloud, causing the little animal to flick its ears backward and forward in fright. She stroked its neck and whispered soothing sounds.

  Her knight in shining armor was dressed in a bright blue parka and his trusty steed was a snowmobile.

  The vehicle pulled up a short distance away. The engine died, plunging them into silence.

  “You alright?” he called out as he removed his goggles.

  Hollie caught a flash of gray-green eyes. Dark brown hair peeked out from beneath his helmet. He had a relaxed, just-rolled-out-of-bed sort of look about him, which she immediately liked. He also looked safe. She felt her shoulders relax.

  “I’m okay but my car’s not. It’s stuck.”

  He pulled off his helmet, dropped it on the seat of the snowmobile and strode toward her. How did he make walking on snow look so easy? And kind of sexy? When she’d tried it she’d slipped and slid like a kid on roller skates for the first time.

  “Thanks for catching Roo,” he said, pointing to the animal placidly standing at her side.

  “Roo?”

  “My llama. When she was born, she bounced like a kangaroo. Hence the name. Roo.”

  Hollie giggled. “She’s the reason my car is in the ditch.”

  The man tilted his head. “Where are you from? England?”

  “Australia.”

  He chuckled. “That’s cool. What are you doing in Canada?”

  His gaze swept over her, taking in her unwashed hair, her Michelin-Man black puffer jacket and soggy leather boots. His appreciative expression took her by surprise.

  “It’s a long story.” She licked her lips. “Um, do you think you could help me get my car out?”

  The man rubbed the back of his gloved hand across his smooth face. With his strong jawline, he reminded her of the Aussie hunk from Bondi Vet, Chris Brown. He even had the same small cleft in his chin.

  “Not now. It’s almost dark and the forecast is for more snow. Have you called the CAA?”

  “Yes, but they said they could be hours.”

  He shrugged. “Sounds about right. We don’t always get snow before Christmas in this part of Ontario, but winter’s arrived early and most people were unprepared.”

  She chewed on the inside of her mouth. “What should I do then?”

  “Come back to my place. Where were you headed anyways?”

  “Niagara-on-the-Lake.” She briefly explained her accommodation in Niagara Falls had fallen through, leaving out the reason why.

  “No room at the inn, eh?” he said with a chuckle.

  “Something like that. Because of Chrissy most places were full.”

  He frowned. “Who’s Chrissy?”

  She stared at him. “Chrissy? Christmas. The hotels are booked out because of Christmas.”

  “Oh.”

  “Anyway, the girl at the desk suggested I drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Her parents own a bed and breakfast there and she called them. Lucky for me they had a cancellation. I figured I’ve got nothing to lose.”

  “Well you can call them and let them know you’re not arriving tonight. If the snow stops tomorrow, I’ll pull your car out and you can get on your way in the morning.”

  “But where will I stay tonight?”

  “I’ve got plenty of room, as long as you don’t mind sharing with me and the menagerie.”

  For a few confused seconds Hollie thought he was suggesting something else before her tired brain unscrambled his words. She stared at him again. Should she trust him? She rubbed her hands together and chewed on her lip. He might be a total stranger, but he did have nice eyes and a gorgeous smile so that had to count for something. Didn’t it?

  He must have seen her hesitate. Pulling off a thick glove, he held out his hand. She imagined it was larger than a bear’s paw. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Jim. Jim Bell. It’s nice to meet you.”

  He sounded like he genuinely meant it and his smile was so inviting that despite her uncertainty, Hollie smiled back. She grasped his warm fingers and shook. “I’m Hollie Douglas.”

  *

  Jim flinched when their hands met. “Your hands are like ice.”

  She snatched her hands back and shoved them into her pockets. “You know what they say – cold hands, warm heart.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to adjust to her accent. “I don’t care what they say, we need to get you warm. Where are your gloves?” He allowed his eyes to flick to her dark brown hair falling across her shoulders. “And where’s your hat?”

  Stray wisps of wayward hair were stuck to her tanned cheeks and he had an unfamiliar urge to brush them away and tu
ck them behind her ears. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and clenched his gloved hands into fists. A smattering of freckles crossed her button nose. Fatigue had caused dark circles to form beneath her brown eyes – eyes that were currently staring at him in total panic. She looked freezing, frightened and absolutely fabulous. In less than one minute Hollie Douglas had caught his attention in a way no woman had in two years. He tried to dislodge the uneasy feeling that had settled on his chest, dropped into his stomach and made his skin tingle all over.

  “I honestly had no idea how cold it would be.” Her teeth were chattering but she gave him a weak smile, holding out both arms and giving him an imploring look. “At least I’ve got a warm coat.”

  Her coat might be warm, but when he glanced down at her feet, he narrowed his eyes. “But your feet are soaked. You don’t even have proper boots.”

  She chewed so hard on her bottom lip he thought she was going to make it bleed.

  “I didn’t know I’d need them.”

  Her voice quivered and she looked like she was going to cry. The tiny glimmer of spunk she’d first carried had melted and her vulnerability tugged on a part of him that he had kept locked up for years. She looked thoroughly chastised and he instantly regretted his rebuke. He touched her shoulder.

  “It’s alright. I’m sorry, Hollie. Come on, jump on and I’ll take you back to the house.”

  “But what about Roo?”

  “I’ll tie her to the fence and come back for her and your stuff later once I’ve got you sorted.”

  “Do you live far away?”

  He shook his head and pointed. “Five minutes that direction.”

  Pulling his gloves off, he handed them to her. “Put these on before you get frostbite. Does your coat have a hood?”

  She shrugged and gave him a sheepish look. “I have no idea. This is the first time I’ve worn it.”

  “Turn around and I’ll check.”

  He held her arms gently and spun her around slowly. He felt unexpected warmth coming from her neck and as he fiddled with the back of her coat, undoing the buttons for her hood, something hot seared his heart. Moments later he covered her head with the hood and turned her around again. Her floral perfume wafted up his nostrils. His fingers tingled once again to brush her hair away from her face.

  “There. That’s much better.”

  They were so close he could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes. Something shifted in his gut. His mouth became moist and he swallowed twice. He pulled away, breaking contact, but not before he caught the flash of something familiar in her eyes.

  “Ever ridden a skidoo?”

  She shook her head.

  “Grab what you need from the car, your purse, cell phone, whatever, and I’ll come back for your suitcase later.”

  She waded awkwardly through the thick snow back to the car and retrieved her carry-on flight bag from the backseat. When she returned, she passed him the keys and he pocketed them.

  “Will Roo be okay?” she asked as she watched him tie Roo to the fence. Her concern for his pet was palpable.

  “She’ll be fine.”

  He put his helmet on, climbed onto the snowmobile and started the engine. The vehicle rumbled and throbbed beneath him.

  “I’ll be right back for her after I take you to the house. Come on, jump behind me and put your arms around my waist. I’ll take it slow.”

  Hollie placed an unsteady hand on his shoulder and swung her right leg over the snowmobile. Her hair brushed against his cheek, making his skin prickle. It had been a long time since he’d experienced that sort of response and he’d forgotten what it felt like. She landed with an awkward thwack on the cushioned seat behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and laughed.

  She scowled at him, but he caught the sparkle of gold dust in her eyes. “It was lower than I expected,” she explained.

  He grinned before pulling down his goggles. She hesitantly put both gloved hands on his hips and he felt her jump when he grabbed her hands and pulled them tighter around his waist. When he was certain she wasn’t going to fall off the back, he released the choke and took off.

  For the next few minutes he forgot where he was going. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman wrap her arms around his waist and hang on like her life depended on it. It felt nice. Very nice. Nice to be needed.

  Chapter 5

  Hollie concentrated on hanging on tight. Her thighs gripped the seat and her shaking hands gripped Jim’s waist. The icy wind lashed across her skin, freezing her nostrils and burning her lungs. She tucked her face into the back of his jacket for protection. Despite her puffer coat, she had never been so cold in her entire life.

  The snowmobile cut straight across a paddock toward a clump of trees in the distance. Between the snow-laden branches of the pine trees, lights twinkled. They entered through an open gate into a small farmyard surrounded by an L-shaped outbuilding. A white-painted two-story timber farmhouse sat apart from the other structures. Hints of age indicated the house had been built in another century.

  Jim pulled up to a back door and cut the engine. Hollie didn’t want to admit that once she’d calmed down and relaxed, the ride had been exhilarating and over too soon.

  Pulling off goggles and helmet, Jim wriggled backward in his seat. Hollie begrudgingly broke contact and slid back to allow him room to get off. After two months on her own, the touch of a man felt nice. Very nice.

  Lights blazed from two windows on the bottom story, otherwise the rest of the house was in total darkness. Doubts crept in. It didn’t matter that the house looked like a home – warm and welcoming – what was she doing going inside with a total stranger?

  Jim held out his hand, not giving her a chance to change her mind. “Let me help you in case you slip.”

  Strong fingers gripped her forearm and supported her across the snow to the back door. She placed her hand on the metal rail and carefully climbed the two steps.

  Jim reached around her and unlatched the door.

  “Go on in and make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in twenty minutes with Roo then I’ll make another trip for your suitcase.”

  “Don’t worry about my suitcase,” she said, indicating her small backpack. “I’ve got everything I need for the night in here.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded.

  “That’s great. I’d rather not go out in this more than I have to.”

  He gave her a gentle shove forward. “Go inside. You need to get warm.”

  She turned to face him, and held her breath as something in her heart shifted. His cheeks were ruddy, his lips rosy, and when he smiled, showing gorgeous straight teeth, her insides liquefied. She swallowed. Her brain kicked in and she remembered his gloves. Yanking them from her own fingers, she held them out to him. “Here. You’ll need these.”

  “Thanks Hollie. I’ll see you soon.”

  *

  Jim watched Hollie go inside and concentrated on steadying his breathing and marshaling his thoughts. When he’d headed out in search of Roo he hadn’t expected to be rescuing a different type of female.

  He pulled his gloves back on his freezing fingers and lifted them to his nose. He inhaled deeply, smelling Hollie’s perfume – it reminded him of jasmine and summer. Is that what Australia smelled like?

  Get a grip man!

  He strode down the steps, leaped back on the snowmobile and headed into the dark. The brisk air on his face was in sharp contrast to the hot blood thrumming through his veins, and it was precisely what he needed.

  He was glad he wouldn’t need to make a third trip to the hire car to get her suitcase. The car should be safe, and if it didn’t snow too much overnight, he’d easily be able to pull it out the next day with the tractor. If the car wasn’t damaged, she’d be on her way.

  Disappointment snagged him, surprised him, stopped him in his tracks. When was the last time he’d felt like this?

  Not since Maddie died.

  H
is heart clenched in pain. He’d never forget her, the light and love of his life who had died two years ago after a short battle with ovarian cancer. They’d been married five years. He closed his eyes, trying to recall her face, but all he saw was Hollie’s. A chill swept through him and guilt covered him like a wet blanket. It wasn’t that he never wanted to date another woman, it was still too soon.

  He shivered, more from the feelings of grief sweeping over him than the cold. He felt guilty thinking of another woman, but there was something about Hollie. She looked exhausted, but he’d bet a million bucks once she’d recovered from the long flight, her tanned skin would glow and her brown eyes would shine. He sighed heavily, feeling oddly sad that after tomorrow he’d never see her again.

  He arrived back at the car, relieved to find Roo was where he’d left her. Her ears flickered back and forth nervously as he approached her but once he’d scooped her in his arms and climbed back on the snowmobile, she stopped shaking. He used the windshield of the vehicle to protect her and headed home.

  The trip back seemed to take longer as his mind raced. Should he suggest to Hollie that she stay with him instead of going to the bed and breakfast? He shook his head. Was he crazy? She was on vacation. Why would she want to be stuck on a farm in the middle of rural Ontario? He quickly pushed the thought from his mind.

  *

  The door slammed behind Hollie, making her jump. Jim was gone and in his place total silence. She found herself in a small laundry room filled with coats on hooks and men’s boots of different varieties in a heap in the corner. A timber bench ran down one length of the room and at the end of the counter was a washing machine and dryer combo. Tins of dog food were stacked beside a plastic baby bottle upturned and drying on a tea towel.

  She kicked off her boots with a sigh. They were her favorites, the only pair she’d brought with her and they were ruined. Her socks were soaking wet too and she pulled those off and left them beside her boots, hoping they would dry overnight. She breathed in deeply, smelling the heady fragrance of wood smoke, cinnamon, and something cooking. Until then she hadn’t realized how hungry she was. Airline food didn’t cut it.