Page 37 of Cold Winter Nights

What he saw made his stomach drop.

His phone screen lit up with the town’s emergency alert. He didn’t even need to read it in full, knowing what it meant. He’d seen this enough in his years on this mountain. The storm was going to hit them hard. Big question was how hard.

Gusts of wind rattled the windows, like a warning that the storm had already begun, and it wasn’t until he heard the low hum of the wind and saw the snow falling thicker outside, that he realized how bad the weather had gotten.

He quickly slid Royal off him and leapt from the couch. Royal’s gentle voice murmured something that he didn’t register.

Stone went to his front door and pulled on his boots, already thinking about emergency protocols, his storm equipment, where he stored the extra batteries, and if he had enough gas for the generator.

“Bo,” Royal said around a yawn. “Your chest is my pillow. Come back.”

He turned and saw he was sitting up, looking over the back of the couch. If he wasn’t concerned about the warning, he’d find Royal’s ruffled hair and pouty lips endearing.

“I’m just checking on something,” he murmured, still staring out of the window at the heavy snow.

Royal padded barefoot across the floor, pressed into his back and wrapped both arms around his stomach. “What is it, what’s wrong?”

The question hung out there, unanswered for a long moment. Stone wasn’t sure what to say yet. His thoughts were tangled. Part of his mind was on preparation and if his town would be okay, and the other half was trying to convince him to bury himself under the covers in the warmth of the man behind him and stay there until it was all over.

A storm was nothing new this high up in the mountains…but this was different, this weekend was different.

The town’s festival that brought in tourists from miles away, was tomorrow. The highways had to be clear for people to drive through. This yearly event was what kept the town afloat for the next four months until the spring jubilee.

Stone rubbed his hand down his beard, the weight of a repeat of nineteen years ago settling anxiously into his chest.

“Looks like the storm coming is worse than we thought, Royal.” Stone stared at his phone as it buzzed again in his palm. “It’s going to get pretty bad overnight.”

Royal’s hand was gentle and comforting on his back. “It might not, Bo. The news always exaggerates the forecast.”

“Not always in our case. It’s because of the mountains, they’ll shelter some areas and enhance the wind in others. If the storm hits like they’re now predicting it will.” Stone shook his head. “It could destroy the decorations and stalls, everything that’s been constructed could be blown over if the winds are too strong. Then…”

The wind howled louder, shaking the trees. The snow piled up in thick drifts, already beginning to cover the driveway.

“Come to bed with me.” Royal’s voice was soothing this time, his breath warm against his neck.

Stone closed his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest.

Royal massaged his shoulders. Stone was sure he could feel the knots forming already.

“There’s nothing you can do right now, Bo. You can’t go outside, you shouldn’t drive.”

“I know,” he growled.

Royal stood in front of him and wrapped his arms around the back of his neck until he pulled him down to his lips.

“Let me help. Come to bed. We’ll think up a plan together.” Royal gazed into his eyes, “But you have to calm your mind, first.”

Stone stood frozen, his thoughts running wild. Should he rush to the town hall, coordinate his guys, get some volunteers working, connect his snow plow to his truck and head down the mountain now before it got too bad, and what about the stalls that’d taken him weeks to build?

Royal’s soothing voice broke through the chaos in his head, as he ran his hands through his hair, grounding him. There was a peaceful command within his touch. He wasn’t getting riled up or frantic like Stone’s insides were doing. He just let the situation hang there.

Stone took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs as Royal’s heat wrapped around him. He didn’t even realize his fists were balled tight until Royal grazed his fingertips over his wrist, gently uncurling them.

“Come on,” Royal whispered, his voice so gentle it felt like a whisper of a touch. “You’re not alone tonight…let me help you.”

Stone always wore his resolve and stubbornness like a suit of armor, but he fought that resistance and nodded.

“Whatever happens tonight, therewillbe work to do in the morning.” Royal guided him back to the bedroom. “You’ll need rest.”