A Cowgirl's Pride by Lorraine Nelson Read Free Book Online

hands.”
    “Where are Casey and Cammy?”
    “Up in their room. They’re a little miffed that
I wouldn’t let them go outside until the plowing is finished, but I didn’t want
to worry about them getting in the way.”
    “Okay if I take them out?”
    Zakia smiled. “They’d love that. Luke and the
wranglers are taking hay out to the herd, and the twins are chomping at the bit
for not being able to ride along.”
    “Good. Okay if I grab some toast or something?”
she asked as she set her coffee on the table.
    “There’s a plate of sausage and pancakes in the
warming oven if you want something more substantial.”
    “Homemade pancakes? Oh, wow! I’m going to gain
fifty pounds.” She laughed and collected the syrup, butter, and utensils before
grabbing the plate. She breathed in deep. “This smells heavenly.”
    She ate and refilled her coffee, relaxing back
in her chair. “I wish I had come home sooner.”
    “If wishes were horses…you would’ve been,” said
Zakia. “I can’t count the number of times I picked up the phone to call,
wanting to come back, but chickened out.”
    “Well, you’re here and I’m here. We’ll make the
best of it.”
    Zakia laughed heartily. “Not a doubt in my
mind.”
    The stomping sound of little feet preceded the
boys as they ran into the kitchen.
    “Don’t run in the house,” their mother scolded.
    They giggled.
    “Can we go outside?” the first one asked in a
rush as he drew to a halt beside his mother’s chair.
    “Is the plow done?” asked the other boy as he
hung back near the doorway.
    “No, the plowing isn’t finished, but how would
you like to take Auntie Leah outside and show her around?”
    Two identical faces turned toward her, one
hopeful, the other somewhat skeptical.
    “Can you make a snowball?” the first one asked.
    “Yes, can you?”
    He giggled. “Uh, huh. Big ones.”
    “Can you guys make snow angels?”
    “I can. Cammy always messes them up,” said Casey.
    Good! At least now she knew who she was talking
to. “How about a snowman?”
    “We can make big, big balls if we both push ‘em,
but it’s hard to put them on top,” Casey said.
    “Hmmm, that could be a problem. What about a
snow fort?”
    Both sets of eyes lit up. “Where?”
    “Well, I used to build mine behind the house so
no one would bust it.”
    “Really? You make forts with tunnels and
everything?” asked Cammy.
    “A tunnel for a doorway, yes.”
    “Can we go outside now?” asked Casey.
    Leah figured she’d kept them waiting long
enough. “We sure can. Get ready.”
    Zakia helped the boys get their snowsuits,
boots, hats, and mittens on while Leah donned her own equipment.
    “Grab your shovels,” she said on her way out the
door behind them.
    The shovels were standing neatly in a corner of
the back porch. The boys picked up two smaller ones, one blue and one red, and
she grabbed a larger, square one. Someone, probably Luke, had already cleared
the snow from the steps, but when she saw the size of the snowdrifts she’d have
to shovel to get around back, she almost changed her mind.
    The boys charged full steam ahead and had snow
flying everywhere as they cut into the drifts to start a path. She joined them,
and they were making decent progress when the sound of a motor made her turn
around.
Cal
was steering the handheld snowblower down the path toward the house, widening
it for easier walking. When he got near enough, he shut it down.
    “Where are you trying to get to?” he asked.
    “I’m taking the boys around back to build a snow
fort,” she replied, smiling, happy to see him.
    “Why don’t I make it a little easier for you?
Fall in line behind me or wait in the path. Your call.”
    “Casey, Cammy, hold onto your shovels and come
stand with me.
Cal
’s
going to make us a path.”
    “Yipee!” they chorused.
    Once
Cal
was ahead of them a ways, she filed in behind the boys, and they pretended to
be a mini train complete with whistles.
    “Woo woo!