more.”
In an effort to turn his attention away from Molly’s sparkling
eyes and wind-kissed cheeks, Ethan searched the vast horizon below them. Birds
flitted about, singing as though the frigid temperatures and frozen landscape
wouldn’t bring the demise of at least some of their kind.
And then something else caught his eye.
Index finger across his lips, he whispered, “Sit very still and
look directly below us, near the edge of the front yard.”
A white-tailed deer materialized, a spot of tan suede against
the crystal forest.
“Oh!” Molly breathed, gloved hands bracketing her mouth. “A
deer.”
In seconds a fawn clambered into sight, his slick hooves
troublesome on the icy ground. When his front legs went in separate directions,
Molly slanted a smile toward Ethan.
Like co-conspirators they sat in hushed silence and watched the
deer paw at the ground, digging for dinner.
Ethan had work to do but was reluctant to break the beautiful
spell the wildlife—and time with Molly McCreight—created. Who knew sitting on
the roof in the frigid morning sun could be so entertaining?
After a bit the doe stopped digging and ambled away. Her fawn
followed along, white tail twitching.
“Food is scarce for them, too,” Ethan said softly.
“I wish we had some corn. It makes me sad to see them
hungry.”
That was twice now that she’d said we as naturally as if the two of them had been working together
forever. The idea felt better than it should have considering his
less-than-perfect track record with women.
Even though he’d made those mistakes before he’d turned his
life over to Jesus, the consequences remained. And he’d promised to concentrate
on raising Laney and to leave the ladies alone.
He just hoped he could keep that promise. Spending time with
Molly could become dangerously habit-forming. And until the roads cleared, he
had little choice in the matter.
“I’d better get busy,” he said more abruptly than he’d
intended. “That tree won’t saw itself.”
“Let me help.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and started to
rise. Halfway up, her footing gave way on the frosted slope, and she slipped
sideways.
Everything happened so fast but to Ethan the whole world
stopped. Adrenaline shot into his bloodstream. Without considering the risk to
himself, he grabbed for her, caught her around the waist with one hand, and
yanked her back, all the while grappling for something to hold on to with his
other.
Molly slammed into his chest, and his boots slid out from under
him. Together they skidded over the frozen shingles unchecked for several feet.
Fear lifted the hair on his neck as he faced
the
inevitable. They were going to plummet to the ground below.
* * *
Molly wanted to scream but there was no time. She and
Ethan picked up speed. Chilled wind pushed at her cheeks. Scenery blurred. Fear
of the inevitable fall clogged her throat.
Convinced they would tumble over the edge, she squeezed her
eyes tight and gave an inward cry. “Help us.”
They came to an abrupt, jarring stop. Other than the sound of
their frightened panting, all was silent. Even the birds had hushed.
Molly opened her eyes. They were inches from the edge, but
Ethan gripped a vent pipe with one hand and held her with the other. Instead of
amazement that she had narrowly escaped serious injury, Molly could only marvel
at how strong Ethan
must be.
For several frightened seconds they rested on the roof, cold
seeping through their jeans, while their ragged breathing slowed to normal.
“That was close,” Molly whispered. Her pulse thundered against
her temples; she was as unsettled by Ethan’s nearness as by the
near-accident.
Still clinging to the pipe for support, Ethan sat upright and
drew her up beside him. He steadied them both until their position was secure.
Molly wondered why he didn’t release her.
“I shouldn’t have let you come up here,” he said. “You could
have been hurt.”
His naturally tan face was
In an effort to turn his attention away from Molly’s sparkling
eyes and wind-kissed cheeks, Ethan searched the vast horizon below them. Birds
flitted about, singing as though the frigid temperatures and frozen landscape
wouldn’t bring the demise of at least some of their kind.
And then something else caught his eye.
Index finger across his lips, he whispered, “Sit very still and
look directly below us, near the edge of the front yard.”
A white-tailed deer materialized, a spot of tan suede against
the crystal forest.
“Oh!” Molly breathed, gloved hands bracketing her mouth. “A
deer.”
In seconds a fawn clambered into sight, his slick hooves
troublesome on the icy ground. When his front legs went in separate directions,
Molly slanted a smile toward Ethan.
Like co-conspirators they sat in hushed silence and watched the
deer paw at the ground, digging for dinner.
Ethan had work to do but was reluctant to break the beautiful
spell the wildlife—and time with Molly McCreight—created. Who knew sitting on
the roof in the frigid morning sun could be so entertaining?
After a bit the doe stopped digging and ambled away. Her fawn
followed along, white tail twitching.
“Food is scarce for them, too,” Ethan said softly.
“I wish we had some corn. It makes me sad to see them
hungry.”
That was twice now that she’d said we as naturally as if the two of them had been working together
forever. The idea felt better than it should have considering his
less-than-perfect track record with women.
Even though he’d made those mistakes before he’d turned his
life over to Jesus, the consequences remained. And he’d promised to concentrate
on raising Laney and to leave the ladies alone.
He just hoped he could keep that promise. Spending time with
Molly could become dangerously habit-forming. And until the roads cleared, he
had little choice in the matter.
“I’d better get busy,” he said more abruptly than he’d
intended. “That tree won’t saw itself.”
“Let me help.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and started to
rise. Halfway up, her footing gave way on the frosted slope, and she slipped
sideways.
Everything happened so fast but to Ethan the whole world
stopped. Adrenaline shot into his bloodstream. Without considering the risk to
himself, he grabbed for her, caught her around the waist with one hand, and
yanked her back, all the while grappling for something to hold on to with his
other.
Molly slammed into his chest, and his boots slid out from under
him. Together they skidded over the frozen shingles unchecked for several feet.
Fear lifted the hair on his neck as he faced
the
inevitable. They were going to plummet to the ground below.
* * *
Molly wanted to scream but there was no time. She and
Ethan picked up speed. Chilled wind pushed at her cheeks. Scenery blurred. Fear
of the inevitable fall clogged her throat.
Convinced they would tumble over the edge, she squeezed her
eyes tight and gave an inward cry. “Help us.”
They came to an abrupt, jarring stop. Other than the sound of
their frightened panting, all was silent. Even the birds had hushed.
Molly opened her eyes. They were inches from the edge, but
Ethan gripped a vent pipe with one hand and held her with the other. Instead of
amazement that she had narrowly escaped serious injury, Molly could only marvel
at how strong Ethan
must be.
For several frightened seconds they rested on the roof, cold
seeping through their jeans, while their ragged breathing slowed to normal.
“That was close,” Molly whispered. Her pulse thundered against
her temples; she was as unsettled by Ethan’s nearness as by the
near-accident.
Still clinging to the pipe for support, Ethan sat upright and
drew her up beside him. He steadied them both until their position was secure.
Molly wondered why he didn’t release her.
“I shouldn’t have let you come up here,” he said. “You could
have been hurt.”
His naturally tan face was
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