“Yep!” Ethan confirms, though he gives me a look that tells me he’s on to me.
“Then count me in,” I say.
Morgan throws one fist up into the air. “Then let’s ride!”
Jake Eckhart
Stacy’s arm tightens around mine for a moment as everyone else starts discussing how fast the snowmobiles go.
“I can stay here with you,” I murmur into her ear, gently pulling her against me. Instinctively, she nestles closer against my side. “I don’t want you to worry about me while I'm out with everyone.”
Honestly, the last thing I want is to leave my pregnant fiancée. Even though riding a snowmobile as fast as I can down one of these snowy, beautiful hills sounds super enticing, I don’t want Stacy out of my sight. I love her so fiercely it physically pains me to be away from her. My sole purpose in life is to make sure she’s safe and comfortable at all times.
Stacy tips her head up and gently wraps her arms around me. Her fingers dance over my side, feeling my muscles through a long sleeve shirt that clings to my rugged form. After a moment, she shakes her head, a small smile forming on her sweet mouth.
“No, it’s okay. Since I can’t ride one of the snowmobiles and Ryan is still too small, you have to go out and experience this winter wonderland for the both of us.”
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “You know I can’t pass up an opportunity to bake. Ryan and I will save you some cookies. Plus, I'm looking forward to bonding with Margot a little. I’m hoping she can help ease some of my new mom fears.”
“Fears?” I ask, but Ryan interrupts before Stacy can answer.
“I don’t want to stay here!” He’s gotten a little flustered about not being old enough to ride the snowmobiles. His outburst is heading towards full-blow meltdown stage when Margot steps in with a suggestion.
“Ava and Darcy are staying here,” she says. “They’re going to help bake cookies so Santa is sure to stop here in the morning.”
I sigh with relief when the woman’s bribe works. I mouth a silent ‘thank you’, to Margot and let her lead Ryan away to play with Ava and Darcy once she’d calmed down.
I turn my attention back to Stacy, smoothing my hand down her back, relishing the curves of her body that I’d already memorized long ago. “Sweetheart,” I say, softly. “I really don’t mind staying back with you and Ryan . . .”
Everyone else is starting to walk toward the door of the lodge. It’s now or never.
I know I’ve been a little extra overprotective since I found out about Stacy’s pregnancy, but I just don’t want to miss any part of it. It’s already going by so quickly. It scares me at times, how fragile and brief the time we have in this world is.
Then again, I also know there will be fewer chances of bad things happening here. Ethan has assured me that the lodge is private and safe. And I’ve seen that for myself in the short time we’ve been here.
“This is what we came here for, Jake,” Stacy says in a gentle but firm tone. “Remember what you said before we left? That there won’t be as many opportunities to be spontaneous once our baby is here? This is one of those opportunities, and I think you should seize it.”
A little taste of adventure would be fun . . .
I make up my mind and nod, stepping away from her just enough to slip my jacket on. I drag a warm knit hat over my brown hair, tugging it down to cover my ears.
I bend down and pull Stacy in for one more kiss. “You’re right, sweetheart. I’m gonna go have some fun while I can, especially since this is just the first of many kids for us.”
She gulps, eyes rounding slightly as her voice drops to a whisper. “Wait, what? Exactly how many kids do you think I'm going to pop out, Jake?”
A laugh rumbles through me. I pull her against me one last time, bending all the way down to kiss the top of her head. “Well, we need enough to field a football team, right?” I kiss her cheek. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t forget to save me some cookies!”
She just nods, her cheeks glowing as I head out through the door.
“Look who’s managed to separate himself from his better half!” Eric teases as I join everyone by the snowmobiles.
I grin at him, eyes glinting. “That’s funny coming from the guy who’s going to end up sharing a snowmobile with his better half.”
“Not a chance!” Morgan yells as she leaps onto one of the nearby snowmobiles. “I'm riding solo this afternoon. You guys can eat my snow!”
Eric King
Like a pack of swift snow foxes, the snowmobiles race over the frosted fields. Wakes of snow are left behind us as we weave through the trees. They tower over us like silent watchmen wearing coats of snow. My head fills with lyrics and my heart feels wild and free. Every icy breath I take is scented with pine. It’s as exhilarating as it is soothing.
This little adventure started out simple enough. Donovan begged for a tour of the tree farm’s perimeter, but only about fifteen minutes passed before Jake, Morgan and I started smack talking with Ethan and Owen about which of us could ride faster. Only a few seconds after that, the five of us took off while Co-Co shouted at us not to break any bones.
Now, I'm at the front of the pack, speeding along as fast as this snowmobile will take me. Ethan and Owen are only a hair’s distance behind. I can tell they’re close because I can hear them laughing over the cold breeze whipping past me. The rest of the pack
