“Whatever Madison is cooking smells great,”shesaid.
“I think it’s a sausage and spinach quiche. It was one of my mother’srecipes.”
“Was your mom a good cook?” sheasked.
“The best. She used to make a killer huckleberry pie. Madison found mom’s old recipe book in the attic and she’s been working her waythroughit.”
“I don’t know if my mom’s a good cook or not. Isn’t it funny that I don’t know something as simple as that?” Her tone held a hint of sadness. He instantly wanted to reach over and comfort her. It was all he could do to keep his hands inhislap.
“She just needs time,”hesaid.
“You really think after a day or two she’ll want toseeme?”
“It’spossible.”
“I guess I’ll just wait here a few days and try again. I saw the library in the living room. You have some really great books here,”shesaid.
“So you’re areader?”
“Yep. When I was at the orphanage, most of the other kids didn’t stay long enough for me to make friends, so books became my friends. I love getting lost in a good historical romance, but I also like to read books about science andastronomy.”
“I love astronomy too. I can name every constellation in the sky,”hesaid.
“Really? I’ll have to test you on that sometime.” She flashed a smile warm enough to melt hisheart.
“What are your plans for today?” heasked.
“I was going to take a few books up to my room and just hang outthere.”
“Have you ever been toYellowstonePark?”
“No. I’ve seen pictures though. I’ve always wanted to visit Old Faithful. I’ve stared at its static image on the postcard long enough that it makes me want to see it in person,”shesaid.
“Have you ever been on a snowmobile?” heasked.
“No.”
“If you want to see Old Faithful, we can hop on my snowmobile and drive out there. It’s about thirty miles from here. It’s going to be a cold ride, but I have built-in seatwarmers.”
“Really? Is it like riding a motorcycle?” sheasked.
“No. It’s much more stable. You have to really try to tiponeover.”
“I don’t want to impose onyourday.”
“You wouldn’t be. I was planning on heading out there sometime this week anyway. I love going into the park during the winter. Even though I’ve lived here all of my life, I still can’t get over how beautiful it is. President Grant was a smart man when he signed The Act of Dedication Law to preserve the land,”hesaid.
“Okay. I’ll gowithyou”
The second she agreed to the trip, a rush of energy burst through every cell in his body. He couldn’t wait to feel her arms around his waist, or the wind in his hair, as they drove through the openmeadows.
* * *
Carol wrappedher arms around Hank’s waist and clung to him. She’d put on a brave face when he’d described the snowmobile, but to actually sit on one out in the open with nothing to protect her sent quivers of trepidation through her belly. She had to trust that he knew how to drive thething.
“Go ahead and put your visor down,” he said. “Don’t open it until we stop. I know several great places along the way, so we’ll stop from time to time to look at them. How does thatsound?
“Soundsgood.”
