Christmas in the Air by Irene Brand Read Free Book Online Page A

Les’s wrinkled face when he walked in a few minutes later. He held up a jar of ground coffee. “We had to hunt for a long time before we found it,” he said. “Is the water hot?”
    Roxanne laid an experimental finger on the side of the pan. “Warm, but not hot.”
    â€œI’ll put another log or two on the fire,” Les said.“I’m trying to be sparin’ of the fuel. We might be here several days, and we don’t want to run out, but I’ve got to have my coffee.”
    â€œA sausage biscuit would taste pretty good right now,” Sean said. “Have you got one of those tucked away in your coat pocket?”
    Although Les was friendly to everyone else, he seemed to dislike Sean, and he snapped, “No, city boy, you’re gonna have to rough it like the rest of us.”
    Sean exchanged a quick glance with Roxanne and shrugged his shoulders. Livia knew Sean had been joking. In fact, under the circumstances, she thought the basketball player was adjusting quite well to the situation. She touched Sean’s hand.
    â€œHe’s one of those people who’s grouchy before he has a cup of coffee,” she whispered. “He’ll probably be all right after we’ve eaten.”
    Sean responded by giving Livia a quick hug just as Quinn stepped into the door. Livia felt her face flushing as Quinn observed the gesture with obscure curiosity. Quinn’s day-old stubble was frosted with snowflakes, and he looked unbelievably handsome to Livia.
    She moved quickly away from Sean and joined Roxanne and Marie, who were examining the boxes of food the men had brought from the truck.
    â€œHere are some individual boxes of cereal,” Roxanne said. “We put the milk in the supply room, and it will be cold enough for us to use on our cereal.” She set out a box of doughnuts.
    â€œWe have some juice in individual containers, too,” Marie said. “We’re fortunate to have this much.”
    â€œI started my truck and picked up a weather report on the radio,” Quinn said. “I wish I had better news, but there’s another round of snow coming this afternoon and twenty-below temperatures predicted for tonight.”
    The very thought caused cold chills to run up and down Livia’s spine. The little church had been frigid last night, and that meant it would get worse.
    â€œWhat about our chances of being rescued?” Eric asked, with a quick glance at his wife.
    Quinn shook his head. “Several counties in this area are completely isolated. No rescue today, I’m sure.”
    â€œSo not only will we be away from home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we may not get out of here for several days,” Allen said.
    â€œLooks like,” Quinn said.
    â€œI wish there was some way to let my wife know I’m all right,” Allen said. “But I suppose all of you have the same concern.”
    Quinn moved to Livia’s side. “I’m sorry you can’t get home,” he said quietly.
    â€œYeah, me, too,” she agreed. “But things could be a lot worse.”
    If she couldn’t be at Heritage Farm for Christmas, she welcomed this time with Quinn.
    â€œHave you said anything about our plans to celebrate Christmas?”
    She shook her head. “Let’s wait until they’ve hadsome breakfast. They might be more responsive to the idea then.”
    By the time they’d eaten their cereal and doughnuts, the water was hot enough for coffee. The coffee drinkers sipped on their favorite beverage from disposable cups, a sense of satisfaction on their faces. Marie and Livia didn’t like coffee, so they drank juice.
    They finished eating by nine o’clock, with a long day looming before them. The room was dim because the overcast skies kept the sun hidden. The candles had been extinguished to preserve them, as well as to improve the oxygen in the room.
    In spite of heavy socks and boots,