Page 8 (1/2)

Chapter One

She was lost in the Colorado Rockies with snohipping against the windshield like hail, and if she had to guess why the steering wheel was pulling so hard to the left? She would say she had a flat Her holiday joy was now complete

Georgia pulled over onto the snow-covered shoulder and braced herself before going out to look Sure enough, her rear driver’s side tire was flat as a pancake

Shivering in her Louisiana excuse for a winter coat, she got back into the car and called Connie for the second time in the last half hour “That’s it, Christmas and I are officially done”

“I hear you selling but I’h loud and clear “Georgia Virginia Bale giving up on Christht is day That classic er will be playing Tiny Tie”

Georgia snorted, leaning back against the headrest of her rental car as she listened to Connie’s voice piping through the speakers At least she had cell phone reception and heat But that didn’telse

“Get ready for those big hed “I’ve got a flat tire”

“You’re kidding me”

“Sadly, I aia warmed her hands on her coffee thermos and took a sip “You know my holiday track record I love it but it does not love ht this year I’d have a real Christmas in a real winter wonderland I’dhar to be stranded in a blizzard, though I probably should have been” She shivered, despite the hot air blowing on her boots “And damn it, Connie, you did not tell me it would be this cold”

“Spoken like a true southerner Snow is cold? Who knew?” Connie dropped her sarcastic tone as swiftly as she’d picked it up Georgia knehy Her friend orried “As much as I’d love to believe in et triple A out in this weather Just tell me where you are and let Lee call Siht? One of his business partners? He has a truck with chains on his tires and a tow thingy that—“

“No” Georgia sat up straight, her voice adaies your friend has, nobody should be out in this weather It’s hu to this sadistic GPS andthe exit I would have been there by now if I had just ignored her like I wanted to”

“Recalculating…Recalculating…” The GPS blurted with unexpected but i

“Oh shut up!” Georgia snatched the useless device off its suction cup with a pop and tossed it on the floor of the passenger side “Bitchy little know-it-all”

Connie snorted “Does she at least tell you where you are right now?”

“I’n I saas for Woodland Park and a place called Divide Not sure where that is in relation to Denver, but at least I can say I’m now officially in the mountains Don’t worry I’ll make it to you eventually”

In the background, a familiar voice said, “Divide? Oh she’s less than two hours away Tell her to let us call in Charli’s boys”

“I heard that, Lori Ann No one’s boys need to be called I kno to change a flat tire Besides, I have Roux to keep , so there’s no reason for me to either”

The large black mouth cur in the back seat raised her head sleepily when she heard her namental in her silence “I know I know I should have stopped as soon as this weather started You don’t have to rub it in”