Hometown Promise by Merrillee Whren

Author:Merrillee Whren
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-10-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The wind continued to howl, and Juliane kept looking out the front window as Lukas battled against the blowing snow. The front porch light barely illuminated the area enough to see him. He appeared to be a dark figure all but lost in a cloud of white. She didn’t want to admit that Elise was right, but she didn’t have a choice.

Juliane turned from the window and stared at her sister. “I can’t let him keep shoveling that snow. He’s going to freeze.”

“Finally, you’re convinced that this is a losing battle.” Elise grabbed hold of Juliane’s arm. “Lukas is stuck here. He’s going to have to spend the night.”

That’s what I was afraid of. Thankfully she hadn’t let the phrase slip out of her mouth. She didn’t want Elise to know what she was feeling. Not even for an instant did she want Elise to think she had an interest in Lukas, other than keeping the poor man from freezing to death, because she didn’t. Anyway, now that Elise had met Lukas, she’d clearly see that the man was out of Juliane’s league, and hopefully the teasing would stop.

Juliane glanced at the door. “I guess I’ll have to go out and get him.”

“And apologize for letting him go out in that storm.”

“He insisted. He’s a grown-up. I never forced him to go.”

Elise gave her an annoyed look. “Really, Juliane, did you think he was going to invite himself to stay?”

“Well—”

“Quit trying to make excuses.”

“I have to get my coat first.”

“Then go get it.”

Juliane left before she said something she would regret. As she retrieved her coat, she couldn’t believe they’d been so wrapped up in their planning that they hadn’t noticed the wind howling outside. Lukas could have left earlier, but now it was too late. He was never going to dig himself out tonight.

Juliane managed to smile as she returned to the living room. She tried to ignore Elise’s smug expression as she opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.

Juliane cupped her hands around her mouth. “Lukas! Lukas, quit shoveling and come into the house.” The wind blew the words right out of her mouth and left her gasping for breath. She called his name again, but he still kept shoveling. With the wind howling, he probably couldn’t hear. She had to go out to him.

Pulling the hood on her coat tight around her neck and face, she trudged through the snowbank. She kept her head down in order to keep the wind-driven snow from pelting her face. As she came up behind him, she called his name again. He jerked around, startling her and nearly causing her to lose her footing in the slippery snow. She grabbed hold of his arm to steady herself, and he held her up.

When she looked into his eyes, she swallowed hard while her pulse raced. She almost slipped again. “You’ve got to come in. You’re going to freeze out here.”

“But I’ll never get home if I do.” He pointed to the driveway between his car and the garage.

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