Raising Kane (Rough Riders #9)(60)

His sheepskin coat was coated with snow, as were the coveralls and snow boots.


“Yeah, well, the wind’s whistlin’ a little too loud for me to knock politely.”


“What are you doing here? The roads are terrible, or closed, according to the radio.”


“I had to get a couple of portable propane tanks in case something freezes. I saw your car and wondered what the devil you’re still doin’ here.”


“The Mercedes isn’t exactly an all-terrain vehicle. Plus I was waiting to hear about Hayden’s class, and I had to verify the folks at the retirement home are keeping dad tonight.”


“So once again you worried about everybody except yourself.”


She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m safer here than trying to get home. I decided to stay put.”


“Smart cookie. But I have a better idea.” He gave her the hot grin that could’ve melted polar ice caps.


“Why don’t you come home with me?”


“You’re going back out in this?”


“No choice. This close to calving I’ve gotta check cattle in the mornin’, even if it’s still blizzarding.


So what’s it gonna be, Red?”


“But Hayden—”


“Is in Casper. Cam told me about Anton, Kyler and Hayden getting snowed in on the school field trip.


They won’t be back until tomorrow at the earliest, and if Hayden needs to get in touch with you, he’ll call your cell anyway, right?”


He had a point.


“You and me, spendin’ the whole night together. Alone. You gotta admit this chance ain’t gonna come along very often.”


Wow. She hadn’t considered that. Cuddled up to Kane all night, instead of camping out on the lumpy office couch? “Okay. Let me get my stuff.”


“Quickly. And bundle up. I’ll wait here so I ain’t draggin’ snow all over the carpet.”


Ginger shut down her computer. She shoved her cell phone and the charger in her purse and switched out her low-heeled pumps for snow boots. Coat on, hat on, scarf on, gloves on, she turned off the lights, grabbed her bag and returned to the foyer. “Ready.”


His critical gaze stopped at her knee length skirt. “Don’t you have pants?”


“No. This is it.”


“Let’s hope we ain’t gotta walk anywhere far.”


Kane’s big truck plowed through the snowdrifts in town. Once they were out of town, visibility was nearly zero and their progress slowed considerably.


The sky remained a pitch-black backdrop as the truck’s headlights cut through the swirling flakes, which weren’t falling softly—en masse the flakes became a blur of pure white. Wind whipped icy crystals with enough gale force they created a pinging sound against the windshield. The truck bumped over piles of snow blocking the road. A couple of times she caught sight of drifts several feet high before the truck broke them into a powdery spray that floated away on the wind.


Ginger stayed quiet throughout the drive. She had no idea where they were or how far they’d gone.


Nearly forty-five minutes had passed since they’d left Sundance.


The truck slowed. Stopped. Kane leaned forward and squinted. “Can you see any light out there?”



“Like a yard light?”


“Exactly.”


“Maybe if you cut the headlights.”


Kane clicked the lights off, even the interior lights.


Talk about dark and spooky. Ginger focused on the blackness out her window. A snow squall faded and she caught a fleeting glimpse of light. “There. Straight ahead.”


“You sure?”


No. “Yes, I’m sure.”


“Hope you’re right, Red. If I run over a fence, you’ll be out here fixin’ fence with me early summer.”


“I know how to wield a pair of wire cutters, so bring it, cowboy.”


Kane gunned the truck. For a second it felt as if they were airborne. They landed hard and Ginger held onto the support strap hanging from the top of the doorframe.


“Sorry.” Snow covered the windshield as they annihilated another drift. The wipers whisked away the remnants in a rapid slap slap slap and they skidded to a stop.


“We’re here.”


Ginger made out the faint orange glow of the porch light. Snow had drifted in front of the screen door up to the door handle.


“Looks like I’m gonna hafta shovel again before we can get inside. Sit tight. No reason for you to be out in this.” Then he bailed from the truck.


She watched him shoveling snow until he’d created a pile as high as the deck rails beside him. Despite the freezing-ass weather, something warm moved through her. Clearing a path for her through the snow was akin to him throwing his coat over a mud puddle. But Kane had proved himself thoughtful and chivalrous to the core numerous times. For the first time they’d be alone tonight—all night—and they could do whatever they liked.


Ginger had a few specific things she’d like to do with him.