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Didn’t she realize that it would be better for them to all be in the same place? The unease continued to grow until he couldn’t take it anymore.
Luke tapped her contact information and placed the call, turning toward the window as it started ringing. The snowflakes were larger, heavy-looking. His truck was already covered in a thick layer despite the snow landing on a heated engine.
The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.
This wasAllie. She wouldn’t just not pick up. She’d tell him she’d changed her mind.
Right?
Suddenly he couldn’t be so sure. Even Luke knew better than to believe someone as good as Allie could take everything and keep taking it. She was human. There came a point in everyone’s life when they weren’t able to handle another piece of straw.
He stared at his phone after he shut it off. He could try again. He could call and call until she finally got the hint.
But based on the amount of snow coming down outside, he didn’t think he could risk the possibility that something was wrong. She could have been on her way here and slid off the side of the road. She might have ended up in a ditch somewhere, freezing and with no way to contact him.
His whole body chilled at the thought of losing her. He’d already lost one woman he cared about. Allie had brought joy back into his life and he’d let all his doubts come between them. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her, especially since the last thing he’d said to her hadn’t been how much he loved her.
“Dad?”
Molly’s soft voice came from behind him and he spun to face her. “What is it, sweetie?”
“Where’s Allie?”
“I’m not sure, Sweetie.”
Her eyes darted toward the window. “Aunt Jackie says there’s going to be a bunch of snow. Is Allie going to be okay?”
He followed her gaze, hating that he didn’t have an answer for her. “I don’t know, pumpkin.” The snow was going to be too much for everyone, including the folks in town if the forecast was accurate. Nobody in Sweet Bloom could have ever prepared themselves for it.
The lights flickered overhead and Molly gasped. Additional screams from the children filtered into the living room from other parts of the house. Molly ran toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Luke patted her head, knowing his decision had been made for him. He had to find Allie. It didn’t matter if she was ignoring him or not. He needed to get to her to make sure she was okay. Luke pulled away from his daughter and crouched down. “I’m going to go looking for Allie. You need to stay here with your aunt and uncle.”
Molly nodded.
“If I can’t take the truck, I’ll take Snowshoe. Tell Uncle Brent when you see if I take the truck or the horse.”
His daughter nodded again, her lower lip quivering.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. I have my phone on me. I’ll call if there’s a problem.” He gave her another hug then hurried toward the mudroom where he dressed in the warmest things he could find.
Each minute it took to saddle the horse felt like an eternity. The longer he took getting to her, was less time she had if she were really in trouble. Luke cinched the belt tighter, then immediately took hold of the reins and pulled Snowshoe out into the storm. Surprisingly, the horse didn’t seem bothered by the flakes that fell around them. It was as if she were in her own element, made for this kind of weather.
Luke lunged into the saddle and dug his heels into her flanks, urging her to move as quickly as she could. And just like that, they were off.
Snowflakes flew into his face, stinging his cheeks and making it harder to see. The unusual cold temperatures nipped at even his leather-gloved hands. The only thing making this ride tolerable was the ability to forget about the elements and focus solely on his objective of finding Allie.
They darted through trees and along the trails that were covered in snow until they reached the road. There weren’t any vehicles out, not surprising based on what he was currently experiencing. Thankfully, he’d chosen to ride rather than drive. Even he could tell the roads were hazardous from where he was on the shoulder.
The snow made it hard to see even a few feet ahead of him but then something red caught his eye. His heart leapt into his throat. Allie’s car was red. He was close enough to her house that this car spun out in the ditch could possibly belong to her.
He urged Snowshoe forward, pushing her as fast as he could without putting them in additional danger, then he pulled up on the reins the second they got to the car.
It definitely was Allie’s car.
Luke slid from the saddle. He dragged his legs through the foot and a half of snow that had drifted into the ditch until he reached the car. With shaking hands, he swiped at the windows and peered inside.
He couldn’t tell if he was more relieved or worried when he found it empty.
