“I’m looking forward to having a normal Christmas again. Last year was anything but that. And it’ll be fun to show you around. If you want to, that is. I know you weren’t really all that keen on the cold and snow.”

“And skiing,” she added. “But yeah, I’d like for you to show me around. My first time in the snow, my first—and probably only—white Christmas. Something different for me. I’m trying to keep an open mind about the whole holiday and all.”

Chapter Sixteen

Abby smiled, watching Nic as she stared around them, the white landscape nearly blinding in the bright sunshine. They’d first seen patches of snow when they’d entered Cimarron Canyon. Most of the canyon was part of the state park and she’d pulled into a picnic area. Nic had been out before she’d even stopped her Explorer. She’d walked into a snowbank, bending over to scoop up a handful of snow with childlike laughter. Abby had been completely charmed by her antics, something she would have never thought possible with Nic Bennett.

Now, though, as they were crossing Cimarron Pass, the snow was more widespread and the higher peaks around them were covered. Nic seemed to be in awe of it all.

“Is this what it’ll be like in Red River?”

“Around the ski area for sure. The town itself is in a valley, but it’s still over eight thousand feet. Most years there’s snow on the ground from December through March. My parents’ place is west of town, in the foothills. My mother said they had over five inches the other day.”

“Do you think it’ll snow while we’re here?”

“I’m sure it will. I don’t remember a time when it didn’t snow at least once during the holidays. December and January are the snowiest months here. Late February and early March get a lot of snow too. I’ve come up here in March a couple of times for spring skiing. It’s not quite so cold then.”

Nic touched the window with the back of her hand and nodded. “Yeah, it feels really cold.”

Abby glanced at the touchscreen. “It’s twenty-eight. But with no wind and lots of sunshine, it’s not too bad.”

“You probably think it’s silly—a grown woman like I am getting excited about the snow.”

Abby laughed. “Not silly, no. I’m excited too and I’ve been here dozens of times in the winter. But I would think you’d be nervous.”

“Yeah, speaking of that, you’re not going to leave me alone with your mother, right?”

“Not for a second, no. She’s really very nice, though. Just nosy. And I think you’ll love my grandparents. As you’ll see when you meet them, my mother takes after hers.”

“What about your father?”