Snowstorm
By TT
Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note/Warning: There is a dream sequence that is in italics.
Snowstorm
By TT
Stephanie turned the key again, begging her car to start, though she knew it was futile.
This sort of behavior she would have expected from the sort of POS car she frequently bought, but right now she was driving a new Buick Rendezvous. It had been Connie, of all people, who had convinced her to look for an American car since she had the best luck with them. So far, she had only managed to put 400 miles on the new car, not nearly enough for any problems.
Giving up, she rested her head on the steering wheel, her eyes closed in denial.
Currently, she was somewhere in the Pine Barrens, off the main road. She had gotten a lead on one of her skips, finding out the man was at a family cabin down in the Barrens area. It was a bit of a drive, but the $1500 she was to get for brining him in would be worth it.
Of course, by the time she’d reached the address in question, there was no sign of her skip. There were no other cabins around and she couldn’t remember the last one she had passed.
As she headed back toward her car, she caught sight of the steel gray clouds that clothed the sky. She knew what that meant and immediately go into her Rendezvous. She flipped on the radio and discovered her worst fear. There was a severe winter storm headed toward New Jersey complete with high winds and heavy snowfall with possible white-out conditions.
Knowing she had quite a drive before her and terrified at the thought of being stuck in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, she put her car in gear and started toward Trenton as fast as the roads would allow.
She hadn’t gotten more than five miles, though, when the winds started, causing her to fight the wheel in order to stay on the road.
Not two minutes later, the snow began. It was just a few flakes at first and then slowly became more intense, causing her to slow her car to a more cautious speed.
Within five minutes of the snow beginning, she was in the midst of the blizzard and understood what white-out conditions really were.
She continued on her way, knowing she had little choice but to make her way back to civilization.
Less than a mile later, her car had sputtered to a stop and died.
Pulling out her cell, she discovered there was no signal where she was currently. When the car failed to start, fear began to fill her. She was alone on a deserted road in the middle of a snow storm. No one knew where she was and she had no way of contacting anyone.
Pushing back her fear, she glanced around the car. Her eyes fell on the bag in the backseat.
Reaching for it, she smiled as she remembered how adamant Lula had been in giving it to her and how reluctant she’d been to take it. Now, she could only thank her friend for her foresight.
With curiosity, and not a little trepidation, she opened the emergency bag and began to look at the contents.
As she unloaded the items, she had to admit that she was impressed.
In the bag she found a warm blanket, bottled water, a few granola bars, flares, a flashlight, a book, some orange triangles to put along the side of the road, a collapsible shovel and two pairs of socks. She was impressed at Lula’s preparedness. It was a side of her friend she wouldn’t have expected, but, she realized, she probably should have.
As the wind outside her car howled and the snow became a blanketing sheet of white, Stephanie realized she had little choice but to settle down for the duration and hope she didn’t freeze to death.
Taking off her shoes, she put one of the extra pairs of socks on her feet, ignoring the lime-green and metallic purple pom-poms on the top. Sliding her feet back in he shoes, she climbed over the front seat into the back and brought her purse and the emergency kit into it with her.
Unfolding the blanket, she was thankful for its warmth and its size. She would be able to cocoon herself in it to keep warm.
As she began to arrange things to settle in for the long haul, she thought it best to turn on her hazard lights.
Depending on how much snow they received, it was possible no one would see them, but at least they would provide a chance.
That done, she curled up in the back seat of her vehicle to wait.
Without realizing it, she fell asleep.
Stephanie awoke to an unusual sound. It took her just a few minutes to realize what had drawn her from her slumber
There was the sound of a soft snort coming from near the window.
Looking out of the frost-coated glass, she was surprised to see a shaggy-haired horse looking through her window.
With a shrug, she shed the blanket and moved to the door, watching as the horse backed away so the door would have room to swing open.
Stepping out of the car, Stephanie found herself breathless at the sight before her. The winter storm had frosted the world in a thick layer of glistening white. Crystalline coatings glazed the leafless trees as they reflected the filtered light back to the heavens as if shouting out their joy. All of nature seemed to sparkle and glow with the thrum of life.
It was a delicate world into which she stepped, but, oddly, it wasn't cold.
Given the way the wind had been howling and the snow blowing, she had expected to freeze, yet, now, she felt no discomfort at being outside her vehicle.
When her eyes returned to the wild horse, she reached out to it, allowing it to sniff her hand.
Having gained its acceptance, she brushed some of the snow from its coat and asked, “What are you doing here?”
The horse made a soft sound and began turning away from her. When the animal had taken a few steps, it turned and looked at her, then looked ahead.
Stephanie knew she was to follow.
The two walked side by side for some time until they spotted a grove of evergreen trees whose dark green leaves seemed to glow in stark contrast to the white that rested upon them, bowing the branches downward. It was a breathtaking sight in the simplicity it portrayed.
She may not be a nature lover, but there was no denying Nature's beauty here.
Continuing to follow the horse, Stephanie was surprised when the animal walked right up to the trees and stopped.
Not knowing what else to do, Stephanie stopped as well and waited.
A moment later, it was as if one of the trees faded away, leaving an open pathway into the copse.
As the horse moved forward, Stephanie moved with him, looking around the small grove and taking in the wonder of the place.
She spotted a person standing in the middle of the grove. As they neared, she gasped as she looked upon one of the most beautiful creatures she had ever seen. It was a woman, garbed in glistening white robes. She was young and her skin was flawless and shimmered slightly, looking as delicate as the most fragile feather of frost. Her hair was as white as the pure snow and her eyebrows were delicate white arches over her eyes. Her eyes sparkled and glimmered with life. Tiny sparks of Winter fire seemed to flash, swirl and fall behind them, not entirely unlike a snow globe in which the snow had been disturbed.
Before Stephanie could open her mouth to ask a question, the woman held a finger up to her mouth and simply said, “Shh.”
With a start, Stephanie realized that was the first sound she’d heard since leaving her car. Glancing around, her eyes fell on the object beside the woman. It looked like a traditional white, concrete birdbath, but it was made of snow. Inside that snow was a pool of water, resting perfectly flat, without the faintest hint of a ripple.
Fascinated, Stephanie moved to the small pool for a closer look.
As her gaze took in the surface of the water, she was startled to see images and scenes flash by her. Most of them she didn’t know, some of them she did.
When she accidentally brushed against the side of the birdbath, the images shifted to those she was familiar with – Connie, her parents, Grandma Mazur – but settled on the images of Joe an Ranger.
She could see Joe in his office at the police station looking tired and stressed. There were papers and folders scattered across it. He was gesturing as he spoke on the phone to someone. In all the time she had known him, she had never seen him at work. It was fascinating and filled her with a new respect for him.
Allowing her eyes to shift to the other side of the pool, she saw Ranger was in his office, reviewing something. She watched as he stiffened slightly and looked around, his brow furrowed.
Her eyes widened as she wondered if he could sense her.
He eventually turned his attention back to the report, but the tension didn’t leave him.
“Ranger,” she whispered, her hushed voice sounding loud in the perfect silence.
She gasped as he turned his head and began looking around again. She saw him mouth the word “Babe”.
Without thinking, Stephanie reached her hand out and touched the image.
The disruption of the surface of the water was enough to cause the images to disappear.
Saddened and embarrassed by having destroyed the images, she backed away and looked guiltily to the woman, noticing the horse was standing beside her. Before she could say anything, the woman smiled and motioned toward a corner of the grove off to the right.
Looking in the indicated direction, she gasped at what she saw.
Standing to the side, near the tree line, stood Ranger, his mocha latte skin and black hair set off by the gleaming white shirt and jeans he was wearing.
Unable to stop herself, Stephanie took several steps toward him.
As if knowing she was coming, Ranger turned to look at her.
The look of confusion that had been on his face disappeared and a softer, much happier expression took its place. The smile that curved his lips was matched with a blinding smile on Stephanie’s own face as she hastened her steps to reach him more quickly.
As she arrived within an arm’s length of him, Stephanie stopped, drinking in the sight before her.
Ranger reached out and took her hands in his own, drawing her closer.
When they were finally touching, she slipped her arms around him as he did the same. Leaning forward, she heard him whisper, “Babe”, a second before their lips met.
It was a kiss from their hearts. The passion and desire were still there, but well banked. This kiss was filled with love, comfort and joy.
When they separated, their eyes caught and held as each got lost in the other’s eyes.
“Always,” Stephanie whispered, her heart knowing the question her mind couldn’t fathom.
“Always,” was Rangers whispered reply.
With this exchange of words, they understood that their ‘someday’ had begun. There would be no turning back or leaving for either of them. It had been a pledge from their hearts.
A presence nearby drew their attention away from each other and they spotted the woman. She smiled brilliantly at them before pointing to the ground by their feet.
Looking down, Stephanie could see something poking out of the snow.
Carefully, Ranger crouched down and brushed the snow away revealing a beautiful Christmas rose.
Plucking the delicate bloom, he stood and offered it to Stephanie.
With a smile and a slight blush, she accepted the gift, her eyes demurely dipping downward.
Stephanie felt more than heard him laugh as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close.
He placed a soft kiss on her jaw as he hugged her to him.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against his broad shoulder.
As she felt herself relaxing into him, she felt more than heard his mouth at her ear say, “Babe.”
Waking with a gasp, Stephanie looked around her environs, trying to figure out where she was. It took only a few minutes for her to remember her car dying and curling up in the back seat.
Reaching down, she was able to locate the flashlight. With a quick flick of the switch, there was a bright stream of light filling the interior of the car.
A shiver ran through her as the blanket fell away and the chill of the air reached her.
Since she was unable to see out the windows, she had no idea if it was still snowing or not.
Listening closely, she couldn’t hear the wind howling and decided to take a look.
With one deft move, she threw the blanket off of her legs and moved to the door.
As she reached for the door handle, she remembered the snow shovel she had seen earlier and grabbed it.
It took a bit of a shove, but she was finally able to get the door open.
When she finally succeeded in doing so, she looked around outside.
The snow had stopped and the clouds had departed, taking the wind with them. The late afternoon sun was grazing the crest of the snow, causing it to sparkle and glisten as if a thin layer of fairy dust had been sprinkled upon it.
Looking down, it appeared that almost a foot of snow had fallen.
Curious about how much time had passed, Stephanie dug out her phone and gasped. She had reached the skip’s cabin around 10 that morning. It was now a bit after three in the afternoon. The light would be fading soon since sunset was around 4:30 or so.
Though she knew it was hopeless, she flipped her phone open once more and realized that there was still no reception. With a sigh, she closed her phone and stepped out of the car after extending the small shovel.
Digging through the deep snow brought back memories of her childhood when she and Valerie had been required to help their father shovel. She could now remember exactly why she was so happy when he finally got a snow-blower.
She managed to finish her task relatively quickly and then went back to the back door in order to retrieve her snowbrush and brush off the car.
The sound of a motor caught her attention in the complete silence and she looked in the direction from which it was coming.
A black dot appeared down the road a second later and slowly became larger. It didn’t take her long to identify a black Explorer slowly making its way through the deep snow.
Shaking her head in wonder at the appearance of the vehicle, she stood beside her car and waited.
A few minutes later, the Explorer pulled to a stop beside her Rendezvous and the door opened.
Ranger stepped out of the driver’s side and Lester out of the passenger’s side.
“Have a little trouble Babe?” Ranger asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a smile.
“Only 400 miles and it died on me,” Stephanie replied, leaning back against the car and crossing her arms across her chest.
“Babe,” Ranger said, offering a full smile as he shook his head. Reaching out, he drew her into a hug.
After holding each other for a few minutes, Lester cleared his throat. “Keys?” he asked.
“They’re in the ignition,” Stephanie replied.
Lester shooed her out of the way and then opened the driver’s door. He slipped behind the wheel and turned the keys. He was met with a resounding silence. “We’ll have to call it in,” he advised Ranger.
Ranger simply nodded, his arms still holding Stephanie close.
“Need anything from in there, Babe?” he asked.
“Let me grab my purse,” she replied, stepping out of his embrace and immediately regretting the loss of his arms. “I’ll have to call road service when we get someplace with a signal,” she continued, leaning into the car. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “How did you guys find me?”
“GPS in your phone,” came Ranger’s reply.
“Huh,” Stephanie responded. “You could get GPS but I couldn’t get a cell signal. Figures.”
Turning her attention back to the interior, she reached for her purse.
As her hand came to rest on the strap, something caught her attention. Shifting her attention to see what it was, she gasped and stilled.
With a trembling hand, she gently picked up the delicate Christmas rose that rested on the back seat, her dream and the promises in it coming back to her.
Shaking off her reverie, she grabbed her purse and exited the vehicle.
Lester took the opportunity to lock the Rendezvous as Stephanie and Ranger headed toward the Explorer.
Ranger led Stephanie around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. As he was about to hand her in, he noticed the flower in her hand and froze. “I thought it was a dream,” he whispered.
Stephanie looked at him with wide eyes.
Meeting her blue gaze, Ranger clarified. “I was in my office when I thought I felt you, heard you. But I was alone. Then… And I woke up when Tank opened the door. “
“I was asleep in the back of the car,” Stephanie informed, her voice equally hushed. Looking up their eyes locked. “Always,” she whispered.
Cupping his hand around her, Ranger drew her closer and replied, “Always.”
“We’re losing light,” Lester called as he slipped into the back seat of the Explorer.
Stephanie and Ranger were startled out of their reverie and quickly entered the car.
“So, how did you get through all this snow?” she asked.
“Four wheel drive and chains,” was Ranger’s response as he put the car in gear and turned it around to head back to Trenton.
“Cool,” Stephanie replied, settling back in her seat, still holding the flower as she stared out at the snow-covered landscape. A gentle, happy smile curved her lips as she thought of her, of their, dream. “Cool,” she repeated.
End
To TT's 100_Prompts Table
To TT's Story Index
Email TT