Read Online Angels in the Snow by Rexanne Becnel - Free Book Online

place,” Charles responded irritably, trying his cell phone again, to no avail. “What’s the matter with these weathermen? They predicted a white Christmas, but nobody said anything about a storm like this.” He watched as little Josie wormed her way inside the front opening of her father’s coat, then was lifted into his arms and nearly lost inside the thick army-green wool.
    â€œTake this coffee,” Marilyn murmured. “I hope you like it with milk and sugar.”
    â€œMy mother always gave us milk coffee like this,” Judith replied over the edge of her steaming mug. She smiled at Marilyn, then let her gaze sweep over the others and come to rest on Charles. For a moment he was warmed by the old familiar glow in her eyes. But then she looked away and spoke once more to Marilyn.
    â€œI think we need to get everyone warmly dressed and get some breakfast going. We’ll all have to stay in the living room near the fire.”
    â€œWe can use blankets to block off the stairwell so no heat escapes upstairs,” Joe said. “The boys can bring down rugs and blankets so we can all be comfortable in here. If that’s okay,” he added, glancing at Charles.
    Charles sighed and rubbed his brow. “Whatever. Do we have any battery-powered radios here?”
    â€œNone that I’ve found,” Joe said.
    â€œThere’s a radio in the car,” Judith pointed out.
    Charles straightened. “Good thinking, Jude. Maybe I can find a local station with some news about this damned storm.”
    â€œIt’s still snowing pretty hard. Be careful.”
    He smiled at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring my phone with me. With any luck it’ll work outside. I’ll reach the state police, and we’ll have snowplows out here in no time.”
    While Charles suited up for his trek to the car, Judith and Marilyn got the house organized. “Get these potted sculptures out of here,” Judith told Alex and Robbie. “Also, this hall tree. Bring in the dining table and chairs. And the rug, too. Put them over there.”
    â€œHere are candles and two antique oil lamps. I hope they work,” Marilyn said as Josie came bounding down the stairs ahead of her father. He carried a wicker basket in his arms.
    â€œThe rabbit needs quiet and a warm spot.”
    Behind him Jennifer and Lucy came, loaded down with pillows. “We thought we’d scatter these pillows on the floor in front of the fire,” Lucy said. “Like in Moonbeam’s tepee.”
    â€œMoonbeam’s tepee?” Alex gave the girl a skeptical look. “An Indian tent?”
    Lucy shrugged. “I think she’s Native American. Isn’t she, Mom?”
    Marilyn smiled, then told Judith, “My stepsister lives in a tepee part of the year. She’s got a little Huron blood.”
    â€œShe chews deerskins to make them soft.” Robbie stared challengingly at Alex and Jennifer. “She says if you kill animals you should honor them by using every part of them. The skin. The bones. The meat—even the heart and the brains.”
    â€œThat’s disgusting!” Jennifer exclaimed.
    â€œYou like hamburgers, don’t you?” he pressed on. “And leather shoes. Is that gross?”
    â€œThat’s enough, Robbie.” Marilyn gave him a warning.
    â€œAunt Moonbeam is really nice,” Lucy told Jennifer with a reassuring smile. She tossed her dark, waist-length hair behind her shoulder. “You’d like her. She makes the best bread.”
    â€œAcorn bread with wild honey,” Robbie said. “She smokes the hives and steals the honey.”
    â€œYou can’t make bread out of acorns.” Jennifer glared at the laughing Robbie.
    â€œAcorn bread,” he continued. “Cattail pancakes. Daylily fritters.”
    â€œRobbie.”
    He glanced at his mother, then shot Jennifer a last look as he started toward the door.