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‘Here we are. Did you say Paige had left the door unlocked for us?’
‘Yes, it should be.’ Poppy bit her lip. She’d cry if they couldn’t get in, after all the effort it had taken to get here. There was no way they could get back to the van now, and even if they did, the snow was probably deep enough to cover the exhaust and without being able to run the engine, they’d likely freeze, anyway.
Mack reached the door first and placed his hand on the handle, the signs of relief flooding across his face as it gave way and the door opened. A loud raucous of barking met them as at least six pups all bounded over, eager to see their visitors.
Mack ushered Poppy through first before closing the door behind them.
‘Hello. It’s okay. We’re here to help you.’ Holding her hands out, Poppy fussed the dogs as they sniffed around them.
‘Aw, you’re gorgeous pups, aren’t you?’ Mack knelt down as the dogs came up to him. After fussing them, he stood up again and held out his hands towards Poppy. ‘Let me help you with your coat. The sooner we can get warmed up, the better.’
She let Mack help her, clumps of snow falling onto the floor as he did. After helping him with his, she knelt down and pulled her trainers and socks off before wringing the water from her socks. She pulled out her mobile, her heart dropping as she realised there wasn’t a signal here either.
‘No signal?’
‘Nope, nothing.’ Poppy turned her screen around to show him.
‘Never mind. I’m sure Mr Thomas will have a landline. But first, let’s get that fire going and heat up this place.’ He walked across to the fire and began to pile kindling and logs onto it.
‘I’ll go and see if I can find some dog food.’ As she turned to the kitchen, she patted the side of her leg. ‘Come on, show me where your food is kept.’
* * *
Poppy winced as she held out her hands towards the warmth of the fire, the heat warming her cold fingers.
‘Here.’ Mack wrapped a blanket around her shoulders before passing her a mug. ‘I couldn’t find any tea or coffee or anything, so I’m afraid it’s just hot water.’
‘Thank you. I have a feeling this will be the best hot drink I’ve ever had.’ She smiled as she wrapped her hands around the mug and took a sip, the hot water immediately warming her throat. ‘Yep, best hot drink ever.’
‘Ha ha, you’re easily pleased.’ Mack chuckled as he leaned back against the sofa and pulled the blanket over his knees. He patted his lap and looked at the small spaniel watching him from the kitchen doorway. ‘Do you want to come up?’
‘Aw.’ Poppy held out the blanket as the small dog curled up between them. ‘I’m just glad we finally got here.’
‘Same here. For a moment there, I was wondering if we’d make it.’ Mack grimaced.
‘Oi. You didn’t tell me that.’ Poppy widened her eyes.
Mack shrugged. ‘Would it have helped if I had?’
Closing her eyes, she thought back to how far they’d had to trudge through the snow. ‘Nope. It definitely wouldn’t have.’
‘There you go then.’ Mack sighed. ‘The landline is down. I tried it while you were feeding the dogs, but hopefully it’ll be back up and working by the morning.’
Poppy couldn’t imagine a lone phone line leading to an almost derelict house on a farm in the middle of nowhere would be particularly high up on the priority list on Christmas Day. But what else could they do but hope?
‘At least the dogs are all okay.’ She nodded towards the group of dogs huddled by the fire, all clearly glad of the warmth.
‘Yes, I’ve checked them over and they all seem pretty healthy. They just need a good bath and a brush.’ He fussed over the spaniel curled up beside them. ‘Don’t you, buddy?’
‘They are gorgeous.’ Turning around, she pulled the curtain aside and looked outside. ‘I think the snow’s stopped.’
‘That’s a relief.’ Mack grinned. ‘As much as I love the snow when I’ve nothing to do but sit inside or take the boys sledging, I don’t like it quite so much when we’ve had to risk our lives driving and traipsing through it to rescue some pups.’
Poppy shook her head and laughed. ‘Yes, the rolling down the hill backwards in the van was my least favourite part, I think.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure, the half an hour before we spotted the house, when I thought my toes were going to break off from the cold wasn’t fun either.’ Holding his feet out towards the fire, he wriggled his toes.
‘Ha ha, yes, that stretch was tough too.’ Sighing, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
