The Long Winter
Chapter Six

They awoke to a frigid morning with a darkened sky that Sunday after Thanksgiving. The fair weather was about to come to an abrupt end. Rob was silently wishing for their Jeep to make the trip home, instead of the rental van.

 

“Did you see the sky out there, Dad?” Mitch came into their room.

 

“Yes, I did,” Rob frowned. “Are the boys about ready to load? I think we need to head out as soon as possible.”

 

“I already told them,” Mitch informed, “They’re packed and ready.”

 

“Paula,” Rob called into the bathroom, “Did we get everything in there? Can we start loading?”

 

“Yes, Honey,” she came out, “Just making a final sweep. Let’s get going.”

 

~*~

 

After checking out, and grabbing donuts to eat on the road, Rob aimed the van for home. Terry had left the day before, once he’d seen Chelsea safely onto her plane.

 

“I liked Chelsea,” Jason shared, “She’s real nice. Do you think she’ll come for Christmas?”

 

“Hope so,” Paula smiled, “I liked her, too.”

 

“I think you boys all did a good job of making her feel welcome,” Rob praised, “I’m sure she appreciated it.”

 

“I know she did,” Mitch reported, “She told me so. She said you were the best behaved boys she’d ever seen.”

 

“Really?” Kevin’s eyes grew wide.

 

“Us?” Keith scrunched his nose.

 

“She’s from California,” Jason explained to his younger brothers, “Kids are probably different out there.”

 

Rob laughed, “Kids are kids, Jason. But you boys are very well behaved. You made me proud this weekend.”

 

“Thanks, Dad,” Jason smiled.

 

“Thanks,” the twins said together.

 

Rob glanced at Paula with a silent question, then when he saw the answer in her eyes, he spoke, “Since we’ve all got some time together now, there’s something we need to discuss as a family.”

 

“Do we have another brother?” Keith asked.

 

“No, Honey,” Paula chuckled, “Just listen to your father, OK?”

 

“There are about to be some big changes at the office where I work,” Rob shared, “and I have to make a choice about those changes. Basically, what it boils down to, is that if I stay there I’ll be away from home, and all of you, a lot more. Your mother and I have talked about it and neither one of us likes that idea. Do you?”

 

They all shook their heads, including Mitch.

 

“The other option,” Rob continued, “is for me to start working from home on my own. If I do that, we can start running the stable, like we’ve talked about in the past. It’ll mean we all have to pitch in and work. It will also mean watching our money a little closer. How do you guys feel about that?”

 

“Our own stable?” Kevin spoke first, “That’s cool, Dad.”

 

“That sounds neat,” Keith agreed.

 

“Would you start teaching us stuff?” Jason wondered, “I mean, instead of Mom?”

 

“Probably some things,” Rob answered, “Like math and science.”

 

“Could we do more projects?” Kevin wondered.

 

“Like the hot walker?” Keith piped in, “That was fun!”

 

“I’m sure we’d end up finding lots of projects,” Rob smiled.

 

“We’d love to have you home, Dad,” Jason spoke for all of them, “We all like it when you help with school. I mean, not that we don’t like it with Mom…but…”

 

“It’s OK, Honey,” Paula assured, “I like it when your dad helps, too.”

 

“Mitch,” Rob asked, “What do you have to say about it?”

 

“Well,” he shrugged, “I don’t think I should have much input. I’m not really involved in this.”

 

“Nonsense,” Paula told him, “You’re part of this family now, too.”

 

“OK,” he conceded, “I’d be willing to help out with the stable however I could. I’d certainly do the vet work for you.  Of course, I can’t do it for free, since I work for Doc, you know.  But I would be willing to forego my cut if that helps out.”

 

“Thank you, Son,” Rob looked back at him, “I really wasn’t asking for that. I do appreciate it, though. By the way, you don’t have heated water at your place for your horses, do you? If you want to just leave them at our place for the winter, you’re more than welcome to.”

 

“No,” Mitch confirmed, “I only have stock tanks and if it stays this cold, I’m going to have a problem. You sure you don’t mind keeping them?”

 

“Not at all,” Rob told him, “We’re in good shape that way. If you want to ride, there’s more room at our place, anyway.”

 

“I think I’ll take you up on that, then,” Mitch agreed, “I bet we hit snow before we reach home.”

 

“I bet you’re right,” Rob agreed, “So, it sounds to me like everyone’s OK with this idea of a stable. It may mean not having such a big Christmas this year. Are you boys OK with that?”

 

They all nodded, but Jason spoke, “Sure, Dad. We already got a new brother this year, and now we’ve got a new cousin. That’s better than presents.”

 

Paula and Rob exchanged smiles. He told them, “Thank you, Boys. You’re the best sons a man could ask for…all four of you.”

 

~*~

 

As predicted, they drove into snow about a third of the way home. It was just heavy enough to slow traffic down.  Paula tried to keep the boys occupied without distracting Rob from driving. Mitch helped by telling them stories from his days in vet school.

 

“Do you think I could be a vet someday, like you?” Kevin asked.

 

“I’m sure you could,” Mitch told him, “But only if you study hard and remember what you learn. It’s not easy to get into vet school these days.”

 

“I bet Mitch would help you study,” Paula suggested. “And when you get a little older, maybe Doc would give you a part time job at the clinic. You can learn a lot that way, can’t you, Mitch?”

 

“Sure can,” he nodded, “Maybe next summer you could ride out on some calls with me.”

 

“I’m going to be an architect like Dad,” Keith announced.

 

“Well,” Paula informed, “I’m sure Dad will help you learn. Won’t you, Dad?”

“What’s that?” Rob was concentrating on driving.

 

“Sorry, Honey,” Paula apologized, “Keith was just saying he wants to be an architect like you. I told him you’d help him learn how.”

 

“Oh, sure I will,” Rob was still only half listening, “Sorry, but this van doesn’t like the snow. I’d much rather be in the Jeep or truck.”

 

“Want some relief?” Mitch offered, “I’ll drive for a while if you want.”

 

“Thanks,” Rob shook his head, “but I’m OK. We’ll be home before too much longer.”

 

“Rob’s driven this road so much he could almost do it blindfolded,” Paula reminded, “When he was still driving back and forth to see me every weekend, he kept the road hot.”

 

“Yeah,” Mitch teased, “but he was a lot younger then.”

 

Rob glanced at him in the rearview mirror, “If you want to live to be my age, you’d better pipe down back there.”

 

“Who? Me?” Mitch laughed.

 

“Yes, you,” Rob warned, “I’m not too old to put you in your place.”

 

“Hey, Guys,” Paula frowned, “Stop, OK? I know you’re just teasing each other, but it sounds bad.”

 

“Sorry, Mom,” Mitch said, “I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. Believe me, Dad, I wish I’d meet a girl worth driving 400 miles every weekend for. I think you may have gotten the last one."

 

“What about Chelsea?” Kevin asked. “Didn’t you like her, Mitch?”

 

“She’s really pretty,” Keith agreed.

 

“She’s our cousin,” Jason reminded, “She doesn’t count.”

 

“Jason’s right,” Mitch lamented, “She’s family, so she’s off limits. She is pretty, though.”

 

~*~

 

It was late afternoon before they finally headed down the lane toward their house. A trip that normally took three hours had taken almost twice that long. The snow was coming down heavy by then and the farm had a soft white blanket on it.

 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Paula remarked.

 

“Now that we’re home, it is,” Rob grinned. “Although if this keeps up, I may have fun turning this van back in tomorrow.”

 

“Maybe we should park it at the end of the lane, by the road, after we unload,” Paula suggested.

 

“I have a better idea,” Mitch offered, “I’ll help you unload, then I’ll follow you over to the clinic. You can park it there overnight. I’ll swing by and pick you up tomorrow morning on my way in.”

 

“Actually,” Rob parked the van and stepped out into about three inches of snow, “I think I’ll take you up on that. If we get two more inches this thing will never make it down our lane or our road. The Jeep can go through anything and the truck almost can, but this thing handles terrible in it.”

 

~*~

 

Paula looked out the bedroom window, “It’s finally stopped.”

 

Rob came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her, “It’s almost as beautiful as you are.”

 

“I hope Mitch didn’t have any trouble getting home,” she leaned back into him, “Do you think we should call and check before we go to bed?”

 

“His truck gets around good,” Rob assured, “It’s got all that weight in back from the vet bed. Besides, he’s got his cell phone. He’d call if he needed help.”

 

“I’m sure you’re right,” she turned around and snuggled up, “Just looking out there makes me cold.”

 

“I’d be glad to warm you up,” he started leading her to the bed.

 

“How would you do that?” She asked, her eyes twinkling.

 

He reached for the light switch, and pulled her into bed with him, “I have a plan…”

 

~*~

 

“You never did tell me your solutions,” Rob spoke softly, holding Paula gently against him in the darkness.

 

“Solutions?” She asked.

 

“To my concerns about quitting my job,” he explained.

 

“Oh those,” she made tiny little patterns on his chest with her finger, “Well, it just so happens, that the other day I got a call from Doc. He wanted to know who your firm had its insurance with. He’s trying to find coverage for his employees, but he’s having trouble coming up with the minimum amount of people to get a good deal. I’d be willing to bet that he’d let us go in with them, just to give them enough people in their group.”

 

“Do you mind talking to him about it?” Rob asked, lifting her hand and kissing her fingers, “If we could work something out like that, it would make me feel better.”

 

“I’ll call him tomorrow,” Paula answered. “And as far as college goes, I don’t think we need to worry about it.  Our boys are every bit as smart as you and Terry. You both got full scholarships, I’m sure they can too. Mitch did. Why wouldn’t they?”

 

“Mitch did?” Rob seemed surprised.

 

“Um-hmm,” Paula looked up at him, “He didn’t tell you that? Chelsea did too. Brains seem to run in the family.”

 

“I hate to count on that,” Rob confessed, “But we may have to. At least it’s not an immediate need.”

 

“No,” she agreed, “It’s not. And you know, one of these days, my mom and dad will be gone and we’ll have their place to do something with. We can sell it and put that money toward college or split it up between them for whatever they may need. Or maybe just let one of them have the place if they want it….”

 

“OK,” he reached up and kissed her, “I get the idea. Don’t worry about it now, right?”

 

“Right,” she ran her fingers through his hair, “Do you know how much I’m going to like having you home?”

 

“You’re really OK with this?” He wasn’t so certain, “I mean, I’ll still be there for a couple of months, but…”

 

“OK with it?” She kissed him, “I love it! I’d spend every moment of my life with you if I could.”

 

“There is one other thing that worries me,” he confessed.

 

“What is it, Honey?” She asked quietly.

 

“If something were to happen to me,” he told her, “I wouldn’t want to leave you and the boys in an impossible situation.”

 

Paula shivered at the thought and cuddled as closely to him as she could, “Rob, if something happened to you now, it would be an impossible situation for me. I don’t think I could function without you.”

 

“Honey,” he stated, “You’d have to…for the boys. I know you’d be OK with money, because I’ve got a good life insurance policy…but taking on all this extra work with a stable…the boys could only do so much, they’re so young…”

 

“Rob,” tears were flowing down her cheeks, “You don’t understand. I mean I don’t think I could get through a day without you. I’m not talking about money or fences or horses. Terry and Mitch would help with those things. I just don’t think I could face a day without you. I wouldn’t want to be on this earth, if you weren’t on it with me.”

 

“Baby,” he wiped her eyes, “I didn’t mean to scare you…Please, Honey, don’t cry. It’s OK…Hey, I don’t want anything to happen to me either.”

 

“I’m sorry,” she didn’t cry easily, “Do you remember when we first met and you asked me if I was afraid of anything?”

 

“Yes, I do,” he recalled, “And you said ‘Not really’.”

 

“Well,” she started crying again, “I am afraid of something now. I’m afraid of losing you.”

 

“Oh, Honey,” he held her tightly and felt a tear in his own eye, “You won’t lose me. I promise. I won’t leave you here alone. Don’t be afraid.”

 

“You can’t really promise me that,” she laughed through tears, “but hearing you say it, makes me believe it.”

 

“Believe it,” he assured, “I’d move heaven and earth to be with you. I love you with everything in me, Paula.  You are my heart and soul.”

 

“And you’re mine,” she sniffed, “Maybe we can just grow really old together and then hold hands and say ‘One, two, three…Die’, and go together.”

 

“I like that plan,” he kissed her, “Maybe that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

 

~*~

 

Paula glanced out the window in the kitchen. Rob’s blue truck was coming down the lane. The boys were out playing in the snow, and started throwing snowballs at his truck as he approached. She began setting the table, waiting for them to all come rushing in. The back door opened and she heard them all tromping into the laundry room, including Rob. After several minutes, they trailed in, cheeks rosy from the cold, all laughing and jostling.

 

“Supper’s ready, Guys. Get cleaned up,” Paula announced, “Hi, Sweetheart.”

 

“Hey, Baby,” Rob hugged and kissed her, “Mmm, you made chili, huh? Good idea.”

 

“Did they bomb you too bad?” She asked.

 

“Not any worse than I got them,” he chuckled, “Glad I changed clothes before I left work.”

 

“How was work?” She began spooning chili into bowls, “Did you tell them your answer?”

“I couldn’t,” he started carrying the bowls to the table for her, “None of them made it to work today! Can you believe that? I have the farthest to come by a long shot, and I made it in.  But none of the partners made it to the office at all.”

 

“You weren’t the only one there, were you?” She found it hard to believe.

 

“No,” he shook his head, “Mark and Paul made it, and so did Sandy and Lisa.”

 

“That’s all?” She was incredulous.

 

“Just us,” he nodded, “Come on, Boys! Dinner’s on the table.”

 

~*~

 

The sun was starting to melt the snow the next day and Paula was just about to tell the boys to break for lunch.

 

“That’s Dad’s truck,” Jason announced, pointing out the window.

 

“It’s too early,” Keith argued.

 

“It is him,” Kevin ran to look.

 

“Boys,” Paula had a bad feeling, “Don’t rush all over him when he comes in. Something must be wrong. Just tell him hello and then leave us for a few minutes. I’ll get lunch ready as soon as I can.”

 

“OK, Mom,” Jason agreed.

 

It was several minutes before Rob walked in. The look on his face confirmed Paula’s fears. Sam, who stayed inside when it was cold, went to greet him while he hung his coat.

 

“Hi, Sam,” Rob reached down to pet him, “Hi, Boys. I need to talk to your mother.”

 

“Hi, Dad,” they all spoke and filed out obediently, heading to their room.

 

Paula went to him, “Hi, Honey. What’s wrong?”

 

Instead of the usual kiss, he swept her into his arms and held her tightly, “I think I messed up.”

 

“Messed up?” She asked, “How? Come here, sit down and tell me what happened.”

 

“They all made it in today,” he followed her to the sofa and sat next to her, “So I told them I had an answer for them.”

 

“And?” She had one hand on his shoulder, the other holding his hand.

 

“They didn’t like my answer,” he told her, “They told me to go ahead and pack up and come home.”

 

“They fired you?” Paula gasped, “After all these years? All you’ve done for them? Here you are the only one that even made it in yesterday, and they can’t even let you work out your contract?”

 

“Pretty much,” he looked her in the eye, “I guess I should have waited to tell them.”

 

“Well,” Paula comforted, “It was only two more months, anyway.”

 

“Two more months of income,” he corrected. “Now we don’t have anything coming in. We don’t have any boarders yet. It’s impossible to give lessons in this weather…”

 

“Hey,” she kissed his cheek, “We’ll be fine. We’ve got a pretty good nest egg put back. The freezer’s full of beef and chicken and corn and beans. We’ve got fresh eggs every day. Don’t worry, we’re not going to starve.”

 

“Property taxes are due,” he moaned, “We may not have much of a Christmas.”

 

“Rob,” she was using her firm voice, “When do I start Christmas shopping for the boys?”

 

He gave her a wry smile, “As soon as their birthdays are over.”

 

“Then don’t worry about Christmas,” she told him, “It’s already basically done. You know I try to finish my shopping before Thanksgiving.”

 

“We’re going to really have to cut corners, Paula,” he warned.

 

“I understand, Honey,” she reassured, “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. Now, come on, let’s work on lunch together, OK?”

 

~*~

 

Sam went to the door to greet Mitch as he let himself in. The smell of vegetable soup wafted through the air as he came into the kitchen.

 

“Where is everybody?” He asked.

 

“Well,” Paula looked out the window, “they were out in the stable. I’m surprised they didn’t swarm you when you drove up. How are you today?”

 

“I’m fine,” he lifted the lid on the pot, “Smells good. So, what’s up? When Dad calls in the middle of the day and says be here for supper, I’m guessing something’s wrong. He didn’t exactly invite me. It was more like a summons.”

 

“Sorry, Mitch,” she patted his shoulder, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it to sound that way. He just wants to have everyone here tonight to talk about the stable business.”

 

“Why so urgent?” He started getting bowls out of the cabinet for her.

 

“Because he lost his job today,” she frowned, “He told them he didn’t want the partnership and they told him to leave now.”

 

“You’re kidding!” He gasped, “That’s awful.”

 

“Here they come,” she looked out again, “Just leave the bowls here and I’ll dip it up in the kitchen.”

 

~*~

 

The food had been blessed and they were all eating when Rob started the discussion, “Well, the first thing we need to do is come up with a name for our stable.  Does anybody have any ideas?”

 

“I guess the military might frown on us calling it Ft. Jackson, huh?” Paula laughed.

 

“I don’t think Fort anything would go over well,” Mitch shook his head, “Why not just Jackson’s Stable?”

 

“You’re name’s not Jackson, though,” Kevin argued.

 

“Well,” he shrugged, “it’s not my stable.”

 

“It’s all of ours,” Keith told him, “So if we use a name we have to use everyone’s.”

 

“Too many names,” Jason said, “We need to just use letters. Like R&P, for Rob and Paula.”

 

“Well,” Keith argued, “Then it’s got to be R&P&M&J&K&K.”

 

“That sounds more like alphabet soup,” Mitch teased.

 

“How about J&M?” Kevin posed, “For Jackson and Martin. That gets everyone.”

 

“I like it,” Rob nodded, “What do you think, Paula?”

“Sounds good,” Paula agreed, “Mitch?”

 

“You sure you want to give me equal billing on this thing?”

 

“Why wouldn’t we?” Rob asked, “I’m about to ask you if we can use your horses for lessons?”

 

“OK,” he chuckled, “J&M it is, then. And yes, you can use my horses.”

 

“Are you going to use our horses, Mom?” Jason asked.

 

“Well,” she started down the list, “I can’t possibly use Dancer. She’s too skittish for beginners. Besides, I’m thinking of breeding her. But I can use Buttermilk. What about your horses? They’re certainly calm enough. How do you boys feel about me using them?”

 

“They’re all old, too,” Rob interjected. “None of them could be used much.”

 

“Ginger’s not that old,” Jason offered. “She’s just 20. You can use her all you want.”

 

“Buckshot’s almost 30,” Keith said, “But he’s still a really good horse. I don’t mind if you use him.”

 

“Same with Chief,” Kevin agreed, “If he gets tired, he just stops.”

 

“I’m thinking that pair would be really good for little kids that aren’t used to horses,” Paula reflected. “They’re dog gentle and they’re small. Don’t you think, Rob?”

 

“Yes,” he nodded, “Buttermilk’s in her 20’s now, too. I was thinking I might see about bringing ButterScotch down. He belongs to me, you know.”

 

“He’d be good,” Paula agreed.

 

“Both of mine are pretty laid back and they’re still young,” Mitch reported, “Cheyenne is 12 and Dakota is 10.”

 

He was referring to his pair of Paint horses. Cheyenne was a beautiful black and white mare. Dakota a striking sorrel and white gelding.

 

“I think that’s a good place to start,” Rob decided, “If we need more, then that means we’ll be making enough money to buy more. We can’t do much for lessons in this kind of weather, anyway. It’ll be spring before we can do much there. I’m thinking we could offer trail rides, too.”

 

“Good idea,” Mitch agreed.

 

“We could help with that!” Jason volunteered.

 

“Yes,” Rob agreed, “You sure could.”

 

“We need an indoor arena,” Mitch remarked. “Then weather wouldn’t be an issue.”

 

“Well,” Rob gave him a wry look, “When you find a big pile of money laying around, let me know and we’ll build one.”

 

Mitch sighed, “Sorry. No money piles around my place either. I will keep my eyes and ears open for more good lesson and trail horses. I’ll also spread the word about the stable.”

 

“Rob,” Paula suggested, “Why don’t you make up some fliers and business cards. You can post the fliers around town and Mitch could carry some cards with him in case someone’s interested. That won’t cause problems with Doc, will it?”

 

“No,” Mitch assured, “I told him yesterday about the stable and he thought it was great. His is full anyway and keeping it staffed is such a headache, I think he’d just as soon close it down. He did say we could work a deal out for me to do the vet work. Something like cost plus ten percent—like he does for employees. At least for our horses anyway.”

 

“I need to remember to hug him for that!” Paula smiled, “Rob, while we’re waiting for business to show up, go ahead and design an indoor arena.”

 

“Why?” He gave her an incredulous look.

 

“You can start teaching the boys how to design,” she explained, “And if we ever get the chance to build it, we’ll already have the plans.”

 

He gave her a look that said he thought it was a waste of time.

 

“Believe, Honey,” she blew a kiss across the table at him, “Just believe.”

 

“I’ll get you some red slippers and you can click your heels together, Dad,” Mitch teased.

 

Rob ignored him, his eyes locked with hers, “OK, Sweetheart, if you say so. We’ll start the design work this week for school.”

 

~*~

 

Paula finished loading the dishwasher and started it. She was heading to the living room to be with all the guys, when she heard Mitch and Rob talking.

 

“That was really weird, Dad,” Mitch was saying, “When she told you to just believe and you fell under her spell, or whatever.”

 

“In case you haven’t noticed,” Rob chuckled, “I’m always under her spell. I’ve learned that when she says something like that, it’s better not to argue or question it. Just because it doesn’t make sense to me, doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a reason.”

 

“What do you mean?” Mitch asked.

 

“Well,” he expounded, “Like a while back she asked me out of the blue if I’d build a hot walker with the boys for a school project. Now, here we are about to start a stable and we’ll need it. Sometimes it’s like she has a sixth sense about things. She feels things coming or something.”

 

“That women’s intuition thing?” Mitch wondered, “Well, it’s still weird.”

 

“Maybe,” Rob shrugged, “But I trust her. You just wait…you’ll fall under some girl’s spell some day.”

 

“In case you haven’t noticed, Dad,” Mitch informed, “I would’ve fallen under hers, if it weren’t for you.”

 

Paula wondered what kind of look Rob gave Mitch after that comment. She stayed put and listened.

 

“She’s a little old for you,” Rob replied, “Don’t you think?”

 

“I wouldn’t let that stand in my way,” Mitch confessed.

 

“Just as long as you let me stand in your way,” Rob’s voice was getting stern, “That’s all I need to know.”

 

“Oh,” Mitch reported, “Don’t worry. That’s history. I really do think of her like my mom, now. But when I first met her…Well, let’s just say I would’ve been more than happy to take her off your hands.”

 

“So maybe what I walked in on that day wasn’t so innocent after all?”

Rob questioned.

 

“It was on her part, I assure you,” Mitch was honest, “But not on mine. What can I say? We have the same taste in women. Imagine that.”

 

Paula decided enough had been said, so she entered the room, “What are you two talking about so intently? And where are the boys? I thought they were in here with you.”

 

“I sent them upstairs with an assignment,” Rob answered, looking up from where he sat in the floor, “They were all bouncing ideas around for the arena, so I told them to each go write down their own list and make their own sketch. Tomorrow we’ll compare notes and start the design.”

 

“Wow, you didn’t waste any time,” she sat down next to him, “I’m impressed.”

 

“I wanted to capitalize on their enthusiasm,” he explained, “Seize the moment.”

 

Mitch was also sitting in the floor, watching her intently. Sam was laying next to him, reveling in the attention he was getting.

 

“So,” Paula decided to push a little, “What were you two talking about?”

 

Rob put his arm around her and pulled her close, “You, my dear.”

 

“Me?” Paula wondered how much he’d disclose, “What about me?”

 

“It seems I need to keep a close eye on my eldest son,” Rob was an honest man by nature, “Or he might snatch you away from me.”

 

Paula smiled, put her arms around his neck and kissed him, “If you don’t know by now that there isn’t another man on earth who could snatch me away from you, then I don’t know how I could convince you.”

 

“Do you know how jealous I am of you two?” Mitch commented. “Man, what I wouldn’t give to have what you have.”

 

“I used to feel that way,” Paula turned back to face him, “When I watched your great grandparents together, I thought the same thing. They were just like two puzzle pieces that fit together to make a perfect picture.”

 

“That’s a pretty good description of you and Dad,” Mitch reflected.

 

“It’ll happen, Mitch,” Paula assured. “Just don’t rush it. She’s out there. Wait for her. She’ll show up when the time is right.”

 

“How can you be so sure?” He wondered.

 

Paula moved over to sit in front of Rob and leaned back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and listened as she advised his son.

 

“You know, Mitch,” she told him, “I used to ride the rodeo circuit. I met a lot of cowboys that way. Most of them were really nice. A lot of them were really fun. Some of them were pretty cute, even handsome. Several of them were sexy. A few of them were even smart. But that was all.

 

“There wasn’t anything there,” she continued, “I just kept looking for that missing ingredient. The one I saw between your great grandparents.”

 

“So what happened?” Mitch leaned forward.

 

“I met your father,” Paula answered, “Before I even knew his name, I knew I wanted to marry him. Nothing else…no one else…even existed in that moment. It was like fitting those two puzzle pieces together and getting to see the picture.”

 

“Love at first sight, huh?” Mitch raised his eyebrows, “Thought that was just in the movies.”

 

“Now you know better,” Rob spoke, “Because I felt the same way when I saw her. After being with her, when I went back to St. Louis, I tossed my cigarettes, dumped my liquor and shut the door on all the other women I knew. I had no interest in anyone else. There were several other women I’d been seeing off and on, and they kept calling and coming over. I just kept turning them away. As far as I was concerned, they didn’t even exist anymore.”

 

“Well,” Mitch gave a half smile, “I definitely understand what you saw in her…but I’m not sure why she was so swept away by you.”

 

“I was younger then,” Rob defended.

 

“It was what I felt,” she told them, “It’s what I still feel when I’m with him. For the first time in my life, I felt complete.”

 

~*~

 

The days passed, a bitter cold wind blowing rain, ice or snow during most of them. Rob helped with school. They all helped make Christmas presents. Paula helped keep spirits up.

 

“Do you think Chelsea will still get to come?” Jason asked, looking out the window at the blowing snow.

 

“I hope so,” Paula was baking cookies, “It sure is bad weather for this early in the winter. We usually don’t get this until January or February.”

 

Rob came into the kitchen, “I just got off the phone with Terry. Chelsea called. She’s stranded in Denver.”

 

“Oh no!” Paula cried, “Is she going to make it here?”

 

“She’s trying to get a flight into St. Louis now,” he reported, “Then my folks can pick her up. I guess the airports in Tulsa and Springfield are both shut down right now. St. Louis is still up and running at the moment, so maybe she can get there.”

 

“Poor Chelsea,” Paula frowned, “She won’t want to come visit again after all this.”

 

“I hope she brought a coat this time,” Jason commented.

 

“Do you think your dad will be OK to drive down in this?” Paula asked.

 

“He’ll be fine,” Rob nodded, “If it’s too bad, I’ll drive the Jeep up and get them all.”

 

The phone started ringing and Rob grabbed it, “Hello? She did? OK…Good…Let me know if you need me, OK? All right, bye.”

 

“Terry?” Paula guessed.

 

“Yes,” he nodded, “She’s going to St. Louis. She’ll be fine now.”

 

~*~

 

The snow had stopped and the roads were clear on Christmas Eve. Bill, Sally and Chelsea were on their way down. The house was bustling with activity.

 

Mitch walked in and inhaled, “Mmm. Is that gingerbread I smell?”

 

“Yeah,” Kevin answered from the mantle he was decorating, “Mom’s making cookies.”

 

“Hey, Son,” Rob walked in, carrying a big box, “There’s another box just like this upstairs. Can you bring it down?”

 

“Where upstairs?” Mitch headed up, “Oh…you mean this one?”

 

“That’s the one,” Rob called back.

 

“Honey,” Paula called from the kitchen, “Can you come here for a second?”

 

“Yes,” Rob stuck his head around the corner.

 

“I’ve been thinking,” Paula reported, “We’d better prepare for more people to stay here.”

 

“Excuse me?” He gave her a quizzical look.

 

“Well,” she clarified, “Chelsea’s not used to cold weather and Terry only has the one wood stove and the other gas stove. His bedrooms have no heat at all…”

 

“Oh,” Rob understood, “Maybe we should invite her to stay here where there’s heat, you mean?”

 

“Yes,” Paula nodded, “So we need to rearrange the study so the couch in there can be folded out into a bed.”

 

“OK,” he agreed, “I’ll get Mitch to help me move things around. I guess we’ll put my folks in the guest room?”

 

“Yes,” she was icing cookies, “I think so. Is the couch in the living room clear so it can be folded out if we need to?”

 

“Well, we won’t need both of them,” he told her.

 

“Is it?”

 

“I’ll be sure it is,” he kissed her, “I should just go with this, right?”

 

“Right,” she dabbed icing on his nose and he laughed.

 

“Does that make me a gingerbread man?” He grabbed her.

 

“Let me see,” she licked the icing off and shook her head, “No, still my husband.”

 

~*~

 

“Grandma & Grandpa are here!” Jason announced.

 

“Which ones?” Keith ran to the door, “Oh!”

 

“Well?” Kevin came to look for himself and saw Paula’s parents getting out of their black Dodge truck.

 

“Help them in, Boys,” Paula called.

 

They all clamored out and assisted them with the bags and sacks that needed to come in. Clay and Hazel were older than Rob’s parents, having married later in life. Hazel was starting to get feeble and Paula worried when she got out on ice and snow. She always had visions of a broken hip or arm. Clay was still steady though, and she worried less about him.

 

“Rob,” Paula summoned him to the kitchen again.

 

“At your service,” he teased.

 

“Have you got plenty of wood cut?” She wondered. Their furnace used wood to heat both the house and their water.

 

“Oh yeah,” he nodded, “We’re in good shape, why?”

 

“I just don’t want you to have to stop and split wood while everyone’s here,” she explained. “Do we have plenty of fuel in the big tank for the generator? Are the kerosene lamps all ready, just in case?”

 

He looked at her for a moment, then came over and took her in his arms, “We’re prepared for anything short of nuclear holocaust. Don’t worry. I’ve had plenty of time on my hands lately. If everyone ends up staying here, we’re ready.”

 

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart,” she cuddled into him, “I just feel it coming. I feel it in my bones, you know?”

 

“I know you do,” he kissed her, “I got that message loud and clear when you mentioned the extra couch earlier. Anybody and everybody can stay as long as necessary.&#