A Promise for Her Love (4 page)
Read A Promise for Her Love Online
Authors: Elaina Lee
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Caylie shielded her eyes against the white light from the clouds glaring off the snow. Lined in a pretty row, six snowmobiles waited for the gathering Marshall family.
"Please tell me you don't own all of these."
Rick zipped up his leather jacket. "I own two and rented the others. Walking in the snow to the forest with kids is not fun. Trust me."
"You'd think it'd be an adventure." She accepted the shades he handed her, the lenses changing yellow to blue depending on the angle. Sliding them on, she couldn't help but wonder if she looked as cool as the people who wore them in ads.
"It's an adventure all right, if you like whining wet kids who are too tired to look at trees, let alone walk back to the house on their own. No, all our tree hunting will be done on the back of a motorized vehicle, thank you very much."
Caylie laughed and picked up the silver helmet on the seat. "All right then. I guess I'm riding with you?"
His brows waggled as he pushed his sunglasses up. "If that's okay."
"More than fine," she said with a grin.
"Who am I riding with?" Kyle asked, a helmet resting against his body under his arm.
"Do you think you can drive one? I was hoping you'd take Whitney." Rick motioned with his head to a little girl with bright orange hair in braided pigtails. Barely eleven, her braces gleamed in an excited smile, seeming to sense she'd be riding with Kyle.
"Aw come on, man. Anyone but her," he begged, desperation widening his eyes. "She hasn't stopped following me around since she got here."
Rick plopped the helmet down on his head and then snapped the straps under his chin. "I know. And she's an only child. Her parents are riding together, and that leaves you with an empty seat and the only other old enough to drive."
Glaring, Kyle snatched his helmet from under his arm and then pointed it towards Rick. "This is payback for this morning, isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he stated innocently, swinging a leg over the snowmobile.
Caylie wondered if she shouldn't step up for her brother, but before she could say anything, Rick yelled, "Everyone have a radio? I don't want anyone to get separated from the group. If we need to slow down, let me know!"
He turned the engine over and then revved it, cuing everyone it was time to load up. Caylie made sure Kyle took on his passenger before sliding up behind Rick. Having to deal with a lovesick tween wouldn't hurt Kyle, she decided.
Once everyone had been accounted for, the mobiles sped toward the tree line. Caylie held tight to Rick's solid form, thankful he blocked the frigid air flying at them along with snowflakes, which stung like needles against her exposed skin.
The metal skis under the vehicle glided along the icy ground. Occasionally a faint slope in the landscape caused them to catch air, sending her stomach into her throat. Not one for anything more exciting than a carousel, Caylie began to think maybe snowmobiles weren't for her.
Thankfully when her nerves began to officially revolt, they reached the tree line and were forced to go slow. The engine throttled down and Caylie relaxed some. The tall pines blotted out the sky. Shaded from what little sun filtered through the clouds, the temperature dropped a few degrees in the forest. She hoped Kyle had worn enough. Glancing over her shoulder, she searched him out and noted he had on a sweater jacket with a hoodie. Great.
"All right," Ricked called. "Start looking for a tree!"
"How tall can it be, Uncle Rick?"
Caylie smiled at the excitement in the Rick's five-year-old nephew's voice.
"As tall as you want, Walter."
Every tree became
the
tree until he saw another one, setting off a barrage of discussion from everyone. Caylie figured they'd be here all day.
"So," she asked once they were separated a little from the pack, "how exactly is a tree chosen with this group?"
"Ah, that's the best part. My house, my tree. I suggest one."
Caylie chuckled. "I see."
"Do you see one you like?"
"I don't know, but we're running out of snow." In the forest ahead, the thick cover of the canopy had kept the snow from collecting.
"Hmm, that we are." He picked up his radio and spoke, "Okay everyone, shut them down. We're walking. Stay paired up and always keep each other in sight. Announce when you find a tree." Replies of understanding trickled in. The engines died and only the calm of birds singing surrounded them.
Caylie accepted Rick's help to get off the bike. Stiff wind tore through the trees, kicking up snow. Cold, she took off her helmet and then replaced it with her toboggan. She pulled the knitted ear covers down as far as they'd go. Kyle attempted to put his hood on over the helmet, and she bit her tongue to keep from laughing. The teen years still laid claim to his brain cells.
Rick's arm wrapped around her waist. She wished the nearness provided some warmth, but layers of clothing and a steady breeze kept away any heat.
"One of these a winner?" he asked.
Trying not to shiver, and failing, she looked around. All the trees seemed impossibly tall to fit into his house, despite some of the rooms having a three-story clearance. "They're all so big."
"Let's go find a smaller one then."
They headed off in search of the perfect tree. Caylie made sure to keep everyone within her vision, especially her brother, though Whitney seemed to be doing a good job making sure he didn't wander off alone. The redhead chattered endlessly, her snow boots clomping inelegantly, while her long arms swayed at her sides.
"That was really mean of you to stick Whitney with Kyle," she said, though couldn't stop the laughter in her voice.
"Trust me, she would have tagged along after him anyway. I didn't add to that mess at all."
She laughed. "I suppose not."
"How about that one?" He stopped and pointed.
Caylie followed his line of sight and spotted the twelve-foot pine with full branches. Her heart swelled. "Yes, that is perfect. Do you have enough to decorate it? And a ladder?"
"Of course," he stated with a grin. "You aren't going to find a shrimpy tree out here."
The pride in his words made her eyes roll. "Of course not."
The radio squawked when he went to speak into it. "We found it. Come take a look," he announced.
When everyone had gathered, they headed toward the Marshall family tree. Thankfully, the tree was the best so far. Since everyone was cold and the kids were getting cranky, not much of an argument occurred. Except from five-year-old Walter, who liked the tree his size best. Rick had his staff cut down both trees.
Once satisfied the correct trees would be making it to the house, the group began the trek back to the snowmobiles. Caylie couldn't stop herself from glancing at the tree as often as possible. For the first time in so many years, there would be presents under a
real
tree. And not just any tree, but the noblest tree she'd ever seen.
She searched out her brother, curious if he liked it or not. While she wouldn't be able to get an honest answer, his body language would tell her enough. A quick scan of the group didn't reveal him.
Stopping, she grabbed Rick's jacket, panic setting in. "Where's Kyle?"
***
Rick glanced at his watch. Three hours until the storm was projected to arrive. Since weather was a science, and rarely an accurate one, he figured they had an hour at the very most.
"All right, we've searched the area where we looked for trees, and we didn't find him," he said, hopping on the snowmobile. "Where do you think he went? Back to the house?"
"Walking? Someone would have seen him for sure when everyone else went back. No." She shook her head. "No, he wandered off. I bet you anything he was looking for a cell signal."
"How did Whitney not say anything?" he asked more to himself than to Caylie.
"All the excitement with the tree he slipped away." She climbed up behind him and growled. "He is so grounded from that stupid phone when we find him!"
Rick wondered how Kyle had managed to slip away without leaving any footprints. If he really was looking for a better signal, heading deeper into the forest wouldn't be the way to go. He'd have needed to move out of the thick tree cover, yet no one had seen any indication he'd gone that way, though Rick figured his relatives didn't know much about tracking. He didn't know a whole lot, only what his dad had taught him as a kid during hunting season.
Back on a faster mode of transportation, Rick kept a close eye on any changes in the untouched snow around them.
"Anything?" Caylie asked over the rumble of the engine, her arms wrapped tight around his waist.
"I don't see anything on this side."
He whipped the snowmobile around, narrowly avoiding a tree. The storm was brewing. Already beyond the shelter of the trees, the snow had begun to fall in a heavy white sheet. They had to find him soon, or even they wouldn't be able to make it back to the house safely.
"Kyle!" Caylie shouted. Her body shifted behind him.
The echo of her voice and the engine thrumming were the only noise in the desolate woods. Rick had to hope Kyle would at least
hear
them and head in their direction if he truly was lost. For all he knew, the kid was sitting on a rock, carrying on a conversation with his girl, completely oblivious anyone had noticed his absence. Or cared. Funny thing about teens, they often forgot their importance.
When they'd covered the other section of the forest without any luck, he cut the engine. Caylie shouted again. They listened. Only the caw of a crow in the distance answered.
"I am the worst sister ever!" she wailed, her head landing hard against his back. "My parents trusted me with him, with his safety. How could I have let this happen?"
"You didn't let anything happen. He made the choice to leave the group, after being told not to."
"Because I raised him wrong." She groaned, the full weight of her body forcing him to brace himself against the handles. "He stole your father's urnâ"
"Which I can't be angry at him for. Not to mention he's definitely made amends with the homes he helped build this summer."
"True," she conceded and then sighed. "And now he's lost."
"We'll find him. I promise."
***
The dropping temperature was starting to make Caylie's legs go numb. Her jeans were little protection against the elements. Knowing Kyle wore much less made her anxiety level rise until tears began to waiver her vision.
What if
â No. She refused to let her mind go to such awful places.
Rick's radio chirped, followed by static. Caylie sat straighter, a glimmer of hope blossomed in her chest.
When nothing followed, Rick held down the button and spoke, then waited. A faint voice replied. Heart hammering, Caylie grabbed a fistful of Rick's jacket.
"Kyle," she whispered. "Where is he, did you hear?"
"He's just outside of range and Iâ" He looked down at the radio, "I have no idea how far or in what direction."
"Oh, I know!" Fumbling with her jacket pocket, she tried to pull out her phone. Unable to believe she hadn't thought of the idea sooner, she yanked the cell free. Turning it on, she held the device up, moving it this way and that until she had some semblance of a signal. "Um, go right, but as slow as you can."
The engine roared on, startling birds above. Their rapid flight sent down a cascade of fresh snow. Caylie shook the powdery ice from her hair and tried to listen for anything new on radio. Every few seconds she'd check her phone to see if the signal strength had increased any. From experience she knew service could be fleeting. Kyle may have had a few minutes of service before weather, or anything else, had made it disappear.
She directed Rick until the cell signal faded completely. Rick stopped again and Caylie shouted. This time the voice over the radio was crisp and clear.
"I can hear you!" Kyle said, excitement clear in his voice. "I can't see you though."
"What direction did you hear us from?"
"Uh..."
Rick turned the snowmobile back on and revved the engine hard. He held the radio close to his ear and then took off so fast Caylie almost lost her balance. Over the thundering motor, she couldn't hear the exchange between her brother and Rick. That one took place was all she needed to know.
A movement between the trees caught her attention. She hit Rick's shoulder. They changed direction and Kyle came into view. Caylie waited until the snowmobile slowed enough for her to get off. The ground hadn't stopped moving yet and she stumbled, but kept her balance.
"Are you okay? You're not hurt?" She rushed out, her hands reaching for her brother.
"I'm fine," he assured, his cheeks and nose bright red against his pale skin. "Just really cold."
Caylie glanced at their only means home. "Can that hold all of us?"
The twinkle in Rick's eyes made her raise a brow. "Yep."
Deciding the mischievous grin on her fiancé's face could wait a few minutes, she turned back to Kyle. "What were you doing way out here by yourself?"
He held up his phone and wiggled it. "I had a second of service and wanted to call Gloria."
"See," she ground out at Rick. "Told you." Before Kyle could object, or even realize her intentions, she snatched the phone from his hand. "This is mine."
"Wh..." He stared at her slack-jawed. "When do I get it back?"
"When you can pay the bill," she snapped and trudged across the hard ground. "Now, on the snowmobile before I decide you're to replace Whitney's nanny."
His gaze narrowed. "You wouldn't."
"Now, Kyle. Don't test me. You need a job, and last I heard they needed a new nanny. I'm sure Whitney would have zero objections."
With a put-out huff, Kyle climbed up behind Rick. There wasn't enough room for her. A little panic set in at the thought of having to wait alone in the middle of the forest. Surely they would never find this location again. They were lucky to have found it at all.
"Where do I ride?" she asked, hands on her hips.
Rick waggled his brows and patted his lap. "Right here, honey. Mount up."