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Authors: Janice Kay Johnson

Snowbound (7 page)

BOOK: Snowbound
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He remembered the incredible smells coming from the kitchen on holidays when he was a kid, and his remarkable ability to resist them. They dont want to be put to work.

She laughed and resumed dicing. Youre right. Theyre not crazy about this whole KP thing.

Are their families rich enough that they have housekeepers? He didnt care, but wanted to keep her talking.

Oh, probably. Certainly someone to clean. I doubt any one of them has ever scrubbed a toilet bowl.

Why did you choose the private school then?

I started in a public school. Thats where I did my student teaching. But it can be frustrating. The classes are too big. Lots of the kids need help they dont get. The advanced placement classes go to teachers with seniority. I saw the ad, and was attracted to the idea of a smaller school and a closer relationship with the students. This is only my second year, but Ive been really happy at Willamette Prep.

He nodded.

Were done, she said in surprise, looking around. It smells fabulous already. Are we planning a vegetable?

Maybe not tonight. I can heat some garlic bread. He kept loaves in one of the freezers.

O-oh. That sounds good.

Ill make a cobbler for dessert. I have blackberries, huckleberries

Really? She looked at him as if hed offered her a sleigh ride behind white ponies with silver bells on their harnesses. I love huckleberries!

This laugh came more easily. Youre easy to please.

Thats not what my mom says. She thinks Im picky.

He lifted his brows. About food, or men?

Both. She set the cutting boards in the sink along with the paring knives, and began wiping the counter. Your turn. Ive bared my soul, and I dont know anything about you.

You know I was in the National Guard and went to Iraq.
And was wounded.

Yes, but besides that. A wave of the sponge dismissed the transforming events of his life. Are
your
parents still married? What do they think about you buying the lodge?

Yes. Theyre still married. I cant imagine them fighting. He thought about that. My mother, maybe. But Dad is the strong, silent type. He nods to whatever she says. She was always telling us kids, your father says Or, your father thinks We didnt believe her. We knew he must think something, but we were pretty sure he never told anyone what that was.

Her laugh was a lovely cascade of notes. But he must have courted her, once upon a time.

No, I think she courted him. She asked him to marry her, and he nodded.

Fiona giggled. What does he do? For a living, I mean.

Plumbing. Has his own business.

Did he want you to go into it?

Fallon and Son? Dont know.

Solemnly she concluded, He never said.

This time, they laughed together. John was astonished by the sound. No, not just the sound, but the
feeling.
It took him a minute to identify it. Happiness, or something close. He felt carefree.

Shed opened the dishwasher and begun loading it. So what
do
they think of your taking up innkeeping?

He tried to stay relaxed. Theyre puzzled.

Youre not yourself,
his mother had said.
Johnny, what happened to you?

He hadnt been able to tell her.
I killed too many people. Some I didnt mean to kill.

Mom wouldnt have understood. She wouldnt have had any words to put in Dads mouth.

Your brother or sister? Fiona asked, as casually as if the conversation hadnt become emotionally loaded. Or do you have both?

Two sisters. Theyre puzzled, too.

That wasnt entirely true. Mary, much like his mother in personality, was. Liz, quieter and more thoughtful like John, had come to him and said, Ive been reading things. I know lots of soldiers have been coming back
traumatized. Whatever happened must have been awful, to change you like this.

Words had stuck in his throat, even with his favorite sister.

Shed given him a swift hug. We love you, John. Im so glad youre safely home.

He had feared being called up again, knowing he couldnt endure it, but in the end his emotional state was moot; hed never be physically able to serve again. He was glad, but felt guilty, too, because he had friends who would be going back. That was his idea of hell: another tour in Iraq.

Before Fiona could ask more questions, the swinging door opened and Hopper came in.

Hey, that smells really good. Whens dinner?

Gosh, it might be quicker if we had help, his teacher said with clear mischief. The garlic bread needs slicing, doesnt it, John?

No fair! You already said we have to clean the kitchen!

She laughed at him. Just trying to scare you. John, when will dinner be ready?

An hour.

The boy came over to the stove, dipped a finger in the sauce and tasted, dancing out of the kitchen just ahead of the towel Fiona snapped at him.

Glass of wine? John asked.

She looked wistful, but said, I shouldnt. Im still on the job. Sort of. I dont want the kids going back and telling anyone I drank when I was in charge.

He nodded, unsurprised when she said, Speaking of which, let me go count noses. Again.

Telling himself he didnt mind some time alone, he went to the freezer and took out bags of the red, high-bush huckleberries hed picked and frozen that summer. By the time he got back, shed returned and was getting a pitcher of cranberry juice from the refrigerator.

All present and accounted for, she reported. Nobody seems to need me.

I do.

John was staggered by the fervency of his reaction. Instinctively he rejected it.

No. If he needed anything at all, it was solitude. He was attracted to her, enjoying the novelty of having lighthearted conversation with a pretty woman.
Need
was gut level. It was the next breath, the next meal, the chance to sink into the oblivion of sleep.

If he already hated the idea of watching her drive away with her vanful of kids, well, that was a good sign. It meant someday he might want to return to his former life. To live normally againwhatever that meant.

He surfaced to realize that Fiona was watching him.

Her voice was soft, her tone tentative. I could go back to my book if youd rather.

If he were smart, hed say,
Why dont you do that while I finish up here?
Not being unfriendly, but making clear that he didnt need her, either.

Stay. He sounded rusty again, as if he didnt know how to ask for what he wanted. He tried again. Talk to me. Tell me about What? Her life? What she
expected the right man to be like? No. Hed scare her. He was scaring himself. A movie. I havent seen one in a long time. Whats the last one you went to?

She relaxed, as hed hoped she would. While he measured sugar and flour and put together the cobbler, she told him about a thriller with a huge budget, big stars and an unlikely plot.

At one point he glanced at the clock and thought in surprise,
They havent even been here twenty-four hours.

How, in such a short time, had he gotten to the point where he had thoughts like,
I need her?
He hadnt kissed her, hadnt touched her beyond a hand on her shoulder, didnt know that she felt anything at all for him. He suspected shed have been just as friendly to the codger whod owned the lodge before him.

Although, she had spent the afternoon reading about the Iraq war.

Maybe because of him, maybe not.

Shed moved on to talking about other things, an exhibit at the Portland Art Museum, music she liked. John guessed he must have nodded or interjected a word here and there, because he didnt want her to quit.

He didnt
need
her; that had been a ridiculous thought. But he wouldnt mind if snow kept falling for another day or two.

And maybe if the state road crew left Thunder Mountain Lodge isolated for a while after that, hed eventually get his fill and want his solitude back.

Just not yet.

CHAPTER SIX

A
FTER DINNER
,
Willow disappeared again. At first, Fiona didnt pay any attention. Shed probably just gone to the bathroom. But when she didnt come back, Fiona set down her book on the upholstered chair shed been occupying a cozy distance from the crackling fire, and went upstairs.

The doors to both girls bedrooms were open, Willow in neither. Only the bathroom door was shut. Fiona knocked lightly.

Willow? Are you okay?

Ms. Mac? The voice was high and shaky. Are you by yourself?

Everyone else is downstairs.

My period started! she wailed.

Surely, surely, not her first one,
Fiona prayed.

I left tampons in the basket on the counter.

I cant use them. She was definitely crying. Theythey hurt. I never use them!

Oh, Lord. Fiona stood facing the door panel. All right, she said. Ill ask the other girls. Maybe one of them has a pad in her purse.

Otherwise, they might just have to go back to the rags
their great-grandmothers would have used. She decided not to mention that option yet.

Why dont you just fold a bunch of toilet paper inside your underwear for now?

There was a pause, then a horrified,
Toilet paper?

Nope. Fiona definitely wasnt saying a word about rags, or the interesting historical fact that women on the Oregon Trail had had to reuse them without washing when no water was available, and had dried them by hanging them on the back of the wagon. Diapers, too. Must have been a pretty sight for the driver of the next wagon in line.

Ill be back, she said.

She paused for a moment on the stairs, looking at the tableau below her. Everyone was lounging, one group playing poker, a few reading or listening to music. They looked amazingly content, considering they were stranded here and not on vacation. Unaware of her above, John tossed a log onto the fire, raising a storm of sparks. For just a moment, she couldnt help letting her gaze linger on his broad shoulders andokay, admit itthe way his jeans clung to muscular thighs and butt. His shoulders were nice, too, broad and strong.

Willow,
she reminded herself.

Continuing down, Fiona caught Erins eye. Erin had been reading, sitting on an area rug, legs outstretched, and leaning against the massive leather sofa. Troy lay on the sofa, eyes closed, headphones on, his fingers drumming on the leather.

Erin stood and casually made her way over to the teacher. Is something wrong?

Willows period started, Fiona said in a low voice. Shes not comfortable using tampons. Any chance you have a pad?

Erin shook her head. I use tampons. Besides, I just had mine. I didnt bring anything.

Okay, Ill ask the other girls.

Tabitha threw down her cards and stood. Im going to get something to drink, she announced.

Fiona stopped her on the way to the kitchen and repeated her question.

Tabitha, too, shook her head. Uh-uh.

Kelli had her back to Fiona, so Fiona signaled to Amy next.

Amy didnt want to be separated from the boys. When Fiona gestured for the second time, she said, What?

Can I talk to you for a minute?

She was aware of John Fallon turning from the fire and watching them. No surpriseshe was
always
aware of him when he was in the room.

Amy rolled her eyes and stood. When Fiona quietly repeated the question yet again, Amy curled her lip. Why cant she use tampons like everyone else?

Is something wrong? Hopper asked.

Amy looked at somethingor someonebehind Fiona, then said deliberately, pitching her voice so everyone could hear, Willows having her period. And she doesnt like the tampons the rest of us use. Like its any of your business.

They all heard a gasp.

Fiona turned to see Willow halfway down the stairs, her face blanched. For a long, suspended moment, she
and Amy stared at each other. Then Willows face crumpled and she turned and fled.

Keeping her voice level with an effort, Fiona said, That was mean. I thought better of you, Amy.

What? she snapped, tossed her head. Like boys dont know we menstruate?

Everyone was listening, even Troy, who took off his headphones.

Willow is younger than you, and shy. You did that deliberately. Fiona shook her head and went to John.

Nasty little thing, isnt she? he murmured.

Fiona was mad enough to say, Im beginning to think so. Is there any chance you have any more supplies? Uh, besides tampons?

I dont know. Ill look. He headed for the kitchen.

Out of the corner of her eye, Fiona was grateful to see Erin quietly heading up the stairs.

With a sniff, Amy plopped down again at the small table where shed been playing poker with the others.

That was cold, Troy said loudly.

She spun in her chair and narrowed her eyes to slits. What do
you
know?

I know you like being the center of attention. He sounded thoughtful, as if just realizing. You get pissed whenever anyone else is.

I do not!

It was mean, Dieter said. Jeez, Amy.

She spun back to face him. Because Im not mealy-mouthed? Whys it a big deal?

He shrugged. Its not, except it is to Willow. I saw
you looking at her when you said that. Like, you wouldnt have if she hadnt been there to overhear.

Furious spots of color had appeared on her cheeks. Youre the one whos being mean!

He just shrugged.

Amy looked at Hopper. He bowed his head.

Not cool, Kelli said.

Amy burst into tears, scrambled up so fast her chair fell over with a crash and raced for the stairs. Everyone let her go.

Of course, it was Fionas job to go after her. Eventually. Once shed taken care of Willows problem.

So much for the peaceful tableau. With a sigh, Fiona followed John to the kitchen, passing an unsuspecting Tabitha who had a can of pop in her hand, said, Any luck? and at Fionas shake of the head went back to join the others.

John came out of the storeroom with a couple of pink-wrapped items. These? he asked, holding them up.

Oh, bless you! Fiona said fervently. My next option was to suggest rags, and I know that wouldnt go over well.

Rags?

Never mind. She took the two wrapped pads. Is this all you could find?

No, theres a bunch of them. Different colors and, uh, sizes. His shoulders moved. Ones left behind. I save anything like that, if I think it might come in handy.

John Fallon, you are the best innkeeper in the entire world. Before she could think twice about it, she stood
on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek, then twirled away before she could see how he reacted. Before
she
could react, to the scratchy texture of his cheek, the smell of the wood hed been handling, his nearness. Ill take these to her, she said, backing away.

Ill collect as many as I can find. If there was a slightly odd note in his voice, Fiona didnt pause to analyze it.

Instead she hurried upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door. Willow?

Her teary voice said, Yes?

I found some pads.

Really? The door opened a crack, and Erin held a hand out.

Fiona gave her the pads. Then, with a sigh, she went to the bedroom next door and knocked. Amy?

Go away!

We need to talk.

I dont want to talk!

Tough,
she wanted to say.

You cant hide up here for the next three days.

I want to go home!

We all want to go home. Except, maybe, Fiona. She decided to shelve the slightly startling realization to think about later. Can I come in?

After a long pause, Amy said, Oh, fine, a bitter note in her voice.
I cant stop you,
she might as well have said,
but I dont have to be nice.

Or maybe, Fiona thought, trying to be charitable,
I really do want to talk to you, but Im sulking so I cant admit it.

Amy lay flat on her back on one of the beds, staring up at the ceiling. Fiona could tell she had hastily wiped away tears.

You okay? she asked gently, sitting on the other bed.

They all act like they hate me.

No, they were just expressing disapproval.

Shes such a
mouse,
Amy spat.

Fiona counted to five. Not everyone has your confidence, Amy.

You should have seen her outside. She was all over Hopper.

Ah. Was revenge sweet?

Are you sure she was flirting, and not just playing?

Playing? Amy rolled a sidelong, incredulous look at Fiona. Oh, right.

Willow is young in a lot of ways

Not
that
young.

Willows confidences werent hers to tell, and anyway, Fiona wasnt so sure Amy would care that the other girls mother had died and that might be why she was clinging to childhood.

No matter what you think Willow did to you, you owe her an apology.

Tears abruptly filled the sixteen-year-olds eyes, and she flipped so her back was to Fiona. No way!

To some extent the decision is yours. Fiona paused. But I suspect youll get the cold shoulder from the others until you say youre sorry.

Voice smothered by the pillow, Amy cried, But Im not!

Fiona stood. If you make your apology gracious enough, everyone will assume they were mistaken about your motives. Think about it.

Quietly she left the room, shutting the door behind her. Had it been smart, she wondered, to give a girl like Amy advice on how to manipulate people? How to get along with other people, yes. But shed done more than that. Shed as good as said,
Heres how to act out the scene so youll look good.

She made a face. It was done, and she couldnt take it back. She couldnt say,
If youre not sorry, well all be able to see right through you.

Willows and Erins voices now came from their bedroom.

Fiona rapped lightly on their half-open door. Can I come in?

Sure, Erin said.

Willows eyes were still puffy. She sat cross-legged on the bed, a pillow clutched to her stomach. Umwere those the only two pads?

No, John has quite a collection, apparently. Ill get them later. She smiled. Im going on down. Why dont you two come with me?

Willow hunched over and squeezed the pillow harder. I cant! Everyone knowsAnd I acted so stupid.

I think youll find everyone sympathizes with you. And, thanks to sex ed if not their own mothers, boys do know about menstruation.

Erin nodded, her black hair shimmering. Come on. Its better to get it over with.

Is Amy down there?

No, Fiona said. Right now, shesin her room. Shed almost said,
Sulking.
Thank goodness shed swallowed the admission in time.

Willow finally agreed, and accompanied Erin and Fiona back downstairs. Troy had his eyes closed and was listening to his music again. Only the poker players turned their heads.

Kelli smiled brightly and said, Hey.

Hopper asked, You want to play?

Color high, Willow shook her head shyly. No, thanks.

Dieter stood, abandoning his cards. How about Chinese checkers?

She bit her lip, gave Fiona a desperate look, then took a deep breath and nodded. Okay.

Erin went back to her book, and peace once again reigned.

John materialized at Fionas side. Did you convince the brat to apologize? he asked, voice pitched for her ears only.

She sighed. In a manner of speaking.

Whats that mean?

Youll see. She tried to shake off her oddly dark mood. Maybe Im wrong. She could be genuinely contrite.

He grunted. Fiona had no trouble interpreting the sound.

Has the snow let up yet? she asked.

He shook his head. Its going to be a while before you get out of here.

Of course she felt dismay, because the kids were
going to get bored and have even more trouble getting along. But if shed been here aloneWell, shed be
glad
to be stranded for longer.

And she knew perfectly well why.

Shoot, I forgot to try to call Dave again. My principal, she explained. I suppose Id better do it.

She retrieved her cell phone, but this time failed to get the call through. She followed John back to his room, where he took his phone from a bedside table. She succeeded no better with his.

They know youre here and safe, he said. Dont worry.

Ill bet the parents are worrying.

Because you would if one of them was your kid.

Well, of course I would! Dave got one call, I kept cutting out, and now not a word.

You cant do anything.

No. I know. After a minute, she smiled, if crookedly. Oh, well. Until Amys little outburst, everybody looked pretty happy.

You wearing down yet? Had his voice softened?

Im fine. Oh, let me retrieve the rest of those pads.

Right. He went into the storeroom and returned with another of the baskets he used for toiletries and soap in the bathroom, this one heaped with small, plastic-wrapped sanitary pads. This okay? Or should I put them in a brown paper bag?

She made a face at him. Girls bathroom. Boys bathroom. Remember?

He grinned, then said, Sorry I didnt offer any in the first place. I could have saved some trouble.

Amy was mad because she thought Willow was flirting with Hopper outside. I suspect shed have figured out some way to get back at her. This was just the first opportunity that arose.

Ah.

Makes you glad not to be sixteen again, doesnt it?

As if involuntarily, his hand rose to touch the scar on his face. Oh, I dont know.

Feeling insensitive, she said, Im sorry, then stopped. Okay, Im doing it again.

His fingers curled into a fist and his hand dropped to his side. Face completely blank of expression, John shook his head. Dont worry. That time, I might as well have asked for pity.

She let out a huff. I wasnt expressing pity. It was sympathy!

Which is completely different?

Yes! she exclaimed. Dont you know the difference?

Apparently not.

Do you thinkthat the scar makes you unattractive? She couldnt believe shed said that, and almost opened her mouth to once again say,
Im sorry.
Just in time, she stopped herself.

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