Page 3 of Hot Times in Heart Falls, Vignettes Vol 3

She stuck out her tongue at him.

Before Walker could intervene, Carter narrowed his gaze.

“Here, try this.” Carter grabbed one of the plain tortilla chips that were in bowls around the table meant to nibble on to cool things off. Only he scooped up a healthy serving of the salsa labeled extra spicy and passed the chip across the table. “Eat it.”

“Carter,” Ivy said softly.

Harper wasn’t perturbed. “You do it too,” she ordered as she accepted the chip from him.

Walker had shared enough meals with his youngest to know exactly what was about to happen. The kid had an iron-lined stomach and a flame-retardant mouth. Why Carter hadn’t clued in to this fact yet, Walker had no idea.

Eye to eye as if locked in epic battle, Harper and Carter put the spice-laden chips into their mouth at the same time.

There was no possible way to call a cheat this time.

Five seconds later, Carter’s eyes started to water. Ten seconds, and he panted lightly. His little sister, however, calmly swallowed down her chip as if she were lapping up ice cream.

When Harper grabbed the bowl of salsa and the chips and casually scooped up another serving, Carter snorted. “You’re impossible.”

Harper glanced at Walker. “More spicy things, Daddy?”

“I think Harper wins,” Chloe announced, raising her hands and clapping. Then she leaned in close enough to pat her little sister on the back. “But Carter’s right. You’re impossible.”

Faithful barked as if agreeing.

The wind rattled against the door hard enough that Walker got up to make sure the latch was firmly locked. “Spicy challenge is done. Everybody grab a snack bowl, and we’ll go watch a show together.”

The fact Harper took the chips and salsa with her didn’t surprise anyone.

* * *

The wind swirled away from the little house, the laughter and eager voices fading in the distance as it moved toward the nearby lake.

It paused to rattle the chimney at the house beside the animal rescue. Through the window, an older couple were visible cuddling on a couch in front of a fire. An old dog lay curled up at their feet.

With Ashton’s arms around her shoulders, Sonora pressed a hand to his cheek as she leaned in and touched their lips together.

Another swirl, and the wind crossed the wide meadow toward the nearby ranch. Light shone from the windows at the three main houses and the barn. The soft glow of the yard light over the arena flickered on the snow that had begun to fall.

The man-door to the barn opened. Closed.

Four figures, from a tall woman down to a toddling child, walked slowly together through the darkness. The warm glow of the lantern held in the teenager’s hand created an oasis of golden light around them.

Up ahead, the wind hit the main house. The ranch-style building, low and wide, forced the wind to sweep over the roof before sliding past the kitchen window as it cranked open, and the rich scent of chocolate spilled onto the air...

* * *

Caleb glanced out the window, swearing as he saw the bobbing light of a lantern halfway between the barn and the house. They were coming back too soon.

He glanced at the oven timer to see three minutes remained.

Resisting the temptation to open the oven door and check on the cookies, a bubbling sound and the scent of something not quite right pulled his attention back to the stovetop.

He jerked the pot of hot chocolate to a different burner and stirred rapidly, leaning down to give a cautious sniff.

“Thank God.” He hadn’t burnt it.

Another quick peek out the window followed, even as Caleb tried to ignore the rising sense of panic caused by the approaching quartet.