Snowbound - Harlequin.com

32 SNOWBOUND
Her chin came up. “This blizzard wasn’t predicted
so soon. And none of the meteorologists expected it to
be so major. It’s only November!”
“You ever noticed how ski areas open Thanksgiving
weekend? Means they’ve been getting snow for weeks.”
“That’s true, but we’re not at that kind of elevation
here…” She trailed off, then sighed. “You’re right. We
should have never set off without being prepared. I
knew we had chains, and I’ve driven in snow, so I got
complacent. But my dad kept down sleeping bags in the
trunk whenever we traveled during the winter.”
“Smart man.”
“You saved our lives.”
“No. It sounds like Dieter did.”
Her face softened. “He did. He’s an amazing boy.
Really brilliant. I mean, they’re all smart, but not like
him. And he’s so…together. Mature and, I don’t know,
comfortable with himself. Which, let me tell you, is rare
in sixteen-year-olds.”
The boys he’d known in Iraq were younger in years, if
older in experience. Living in a war zone did that to kids.
He jerked his head toward the kitchen. “They all that
age?”
“Willow is fifteen. She’s our only sophomore. And
Troy and Erin are seniors, so they’re seventeen. The rest
are juniors.”
John nodded.
“It’s nice of you to take charge. I really am tired.”
“Go. They’ll be fine.”
“I know. You’re right.”
Still she didn’t move, and he thought how easy it