Romantic Tales - Contemporary

A Christmas Kiss
by Shannon Randall
© 2001 Montgomery Creek Publishing, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Snowflakes like mini snowballs pelted the car mercilessly. Narrow bands of snow had already built up along the sides of the front window making it difficult to see. The wind blew the fallen snow in blinding sheets across the country road. The Windy City gusts of Chicago would cower beneath the onslaught.

Lee Cummings had driven into a nasty snowstorm.

She should have listened to the weather reports before leaving the house that morning. If she had been aware of the coming storm, she would have waited another day to make the seven-hour drive. Lee had thought long and hard before accepting her friend’s invitation to spend Christmas with her family. The vision of a Norman Rockwell holiday was too tempting to politely decline.

Jenny had promised a good old-fashioned country Christmas with delicious food and lots of people at her family cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. Lee reminded her friend that she was a city girl. Her minimum requirements were an inside toilet, shower, and warm bed. Jenny had assured her that those amenities were available.

Gripping the steering wheel in a death grip, Lee scanned the side of the road. According to Jenny’s directions, the next street should be the last turn before reaching the cabin. With her luck, Lee mused, she would likely take the wrong street and disappear in to the bowels of the storm. She was about to give up hope when a wooden post came into view. The words Birchwood Road were barely visible beneath the snow covered road sign.  Beyond the road was the lake where the cabin would be nestled in the trees. 

"How is anyone supposed to see that in a storm?" she grumbled, swiping at a short blond curl that had fallen over her eyes.

She drove up to what appeared to be an intersection, but she might as well been on the moon. There was not a car or truck in sight. Afraid to slow down and get trapped in the snow, she reduced her speed and turned down the road. She was thankful she drove a Ford Explorer. The snow was beginning to accumulate to a depth that would cause problems for any other vehicle.

Glancing at the odometer, Lee estimated she was about one-quarter of a mile from the cabin. The thought of sitting in front of a fire with a cup of coffee enlivened her spirits. She was looking forward to the frivolity of a large family celebration. Having been an only child, Christmas at the Cummings home had always been rather subdued.

Although the snow was blowing furiously, it could not hide the cabin nestled beyond the grove of trees. Lee could have shouted with relief. She had arrived without sliding into a ditch or missing a turn to drive off into the countryside. Tall trees lined the curving road, which led to the cabin. A black, four wheel drive pickup truck was parked in front. She drove up beside the other vehicle and turned off the ignition.

Tilting her had back against the seat, she allowed her imagination to conjure up the taste of rich hot coffee and lounging by a blazing fire. The gentle brushing of snow rapidly attaching to the windows reminded her that reality was just a few steps away. Checking her watch, she reflected it was a little after two o’clock. She was surprised only the one truck was parked in front. Where was everyone? She recalled Jenny stating the entire family would already be at the cabin. Perhaps they had parked in the back yard.

She grabbed her stocking hat from the passenger seat and smothered her short blond hair beneath the soft wool. The icy fingers of the wind snatched at her ankle length wool coat when she opened the car door. Jumping down into the twelve inches of accumulated snow, she hurried to the front porch. The extended roof offered little protection from the wrath of Mother Nature. Knocking firmly, Lee anticipated the opening door. A tingling sensation had her wiggling cold toes inside her soft leather boots.

Why didn’t anyone come to the door?

She rapped harder, but there was no sound except the blustering wind. In normal circumstances, she was not a snoop, but action was required in this situation. She would turn into a snow woman if she did not get out of the storm.

Peering inside the front window, her hopes dimmed. The cabin was deserted. No logs burned invitingly in the fireplace. No voices raised in casual conversation met her ears. No hot coffee was brewing.

She had to go to the bathroom.

Lee supposed she would become a snow woman after all. Leaning against the door jam in exhausted defeat, she didn’t hear the distinct sound of large boots traversing the snow from the forest. She was unaware of the man who stopped short in surprise at discovering a stranger standing at his doorstep.

"Excuse me," a male voice shouted. "Can I help you?"

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