SNOWBOUND HEARTS: Chapter Nine

With a suddenness that caught her off guard, his hand reached out, enveloping her wrist in a light grasp. She felt the warmth of his touch as he guided her back to the bench, his fingers steady...

Snowbound Hearts is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations, reviews, and articles.

Copyright © 2024 by Mina Beckett

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7375127-6-9

Print ISBN: 978-1-7375127-7-6

Published by: CurtissLynn Publishing

Cover design: Shiver Shot Design

All rights reserved.

BEHIND THE WORDS

This chapter is all about tension—both emotional and suspenseful. Anna’s instinct is to run, but for the first time, she hesitates. She’s learning to trust, even though it terrifies her. Meanwhile, Dwight, a man who avoids complications, finds himself drawn deeper into hers.

His leather workshop isn’t just a setting; it’s a reflection of his grief, a quiet space where he’s tried to rebuild after loss. Anna, on the other hand, has spent so much time running, she’s never faced hers. Their conversation is a turning point—she’s not just revealing secrets; she’s asking for help. And Dwight doesn’t pull away.

The key on the table is more than just an object—it’s a test of trust and a step toward the truth. And then there’s Brian Clark. Until now, Dwight has been steady, controlled. But grief and guilt are never silent, and when Brian throws his accusations, the cracks in Dwight’s armor start to show.

Now, Anna has the key—literally and figuratively. But what happens when she finally unlocks the past?

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CHAPTER NINE

Anna’s fight-or-flight mode kicked in and she began scanning the area for a safe place to hide. The house was too far away, and the inside of the barn was even more ominous looking than the wood line from where the noise had originated.

She could run to the bunkhouse. And say what? She’d heard a noise. Humiliating herself would only make things worse. “Calm down,” she whispered, wishing she could slow her racing heart that easily.

Anna hadn’t come this far and fought off Malachi Wolfe to shrivel into a frightened ball of nerves. Spinning around, she saw the faint glow of a light in one of the outbuildings near the barn.

Another snap, closer and louder than the last, caused her to jump and set out at a dead run.

Go! Go!

She was nearly at the building when the toe of her right shoe caught on the edge of a frozen set of hoof prints left by a horse. She went down, her face and hands plowing through the cold snow, causing her to let out a shriek.

As if staged, she slid to a stop in front of the building as the door swung open. Dwight stepped out, his large body casting a shadow on the white ground. “Anna?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” she said, spitting snow and dirt from her bloody mouth. “It’s me, making a grand entrance as usual.”

Dwight crouched down beside her, the light at his back hiding his features. He reached out and gently took her by the arms. “What happened? What in the hell are you doing out here?”

Grimacing, she held onto his forearms, feeling the strength and solidity of his muscular arms beneath her fingertips. With each flex of his muscles, she could sense the power contained within. “Looking for you.”

He led her inside the building and sat her on a wooden bench, then he dug into his back pocket for a handkerchief, retrieved a rolling stool, and sat down in front of her. “Well,” he said, the hint of a warmness playing on his lips. “You found me.”