Snowbound - Harlequin.com

60 SNOWBOUND
each other, all blurred in white. They were thigh deep and
higher in the white blanket that enveloped the landscape,
the shed and the cabins he could usually see from here.
John raised his voice. “Time out!”
The action stopped and heads turned his way.
“When you get cold and decide to come in, everyone
go get an armful of wood and bring it. Pile’s just around
the side of the lodge.” He jerked his thumb toward the
north corner.
“Girls, too?” a voice squeaked.
“Girls, too.”
He went back inside, where Amy was elaborating on
what pigs all boys were, while Fiona soothed with
common sense. As far as he could see, the girl was a
spoiled brat, but what did he know?
Not that much later, the kids did all carry in wood,
and all three boys and one of the girls willingly went
back for another load.
John nodded his approval as they dumped split
lengths in the wrought-iron racks. “That should keep us
going for a bit.”
“It’s a really big fireplace,” the girl said. “Have you
ever had to cook in it?”
“No. The generator hasn’t failed me yet.”
“God forbid,” Fiona murmured.
He silently seconded her prayer, if that’s what it was.
He’d be okay on his own with just the fire. But trying to
feed ten of them? No ability to do laundry for who knew
how long? He remembered all too well what it felt like
to go for days without a chance to do more than sponge
your underarms and genitals with lukewarm water, to get