CHAPTER A (by Jan)

She sits alone at the window.

Outside the soft gray sky gently releases snowflakes that have been falling for hours. It won’t be long before the roads must be shut down, and time will seems to stand still as the snow continues falling, falling. This weather is really nothing new to this valley town; in fact snow can be seen year-round on the mountains in the distance. Storms have been cycling through the area for days now.

She sits at the window, an afghan wrapped around her shoulders against the chill in the room. But she does not realize the temperature has dropped, she does not see the snow as she stares out the window. What she sees in her mind’s eye is different, much different.

She is at the coast. Her horse is galloping freely along the line of the surf. Sunshine warms here, the wind blows her hair all around her face. It is a beautiful morning to be riding. And he makes it perfect.

He rides up besides her, finally catching up. How did she get so lucky to find him? He reaches out to slow her, to take her hand, and she looks up at him. The face she sees is one she’s come to know well: dark, expressive eyes that so rarely flash with anger, the longish nose the hints of his Mediterranean heritage, the mouth that speaks such sweet words to her. His shiny, dark hair frames his face and skims his shoulder perfectly. Guiding his stallion closer to her mare, he leans in to kiss her. The aftershave he used after their morning shower is like an urgent whisper to her brain, reminding her of their night together. As he starts to pull away, she pulls him back for another kiss. Now it is her turn to pull away, an as a laugh rises up in her throat, she spurs her horse back into a run.

“Catch me if you can!” She teases him with a look, a wink, over her shoulder. This is going to be a great day, he thinks, and urges his horse to go after her. The chase, again, is on – in more ways than one.

Yet outside the window, the snowflakes are falling, falling...