Read Online Journey of the Magi by Barbara Edwards - Free Book Online

He swayed as his bones turned to gelatin.
    “Naw, George said he’ll make sure you get a check as quick as possible.” The chief turned and shouted for the insurance man to join them.
    Dan blinked to clear his eyes. George’s fancy suit and boots had been replaced by the same fire gear as the rest of the volunteers. He ignored the soot on his manicured fingers while he shook Dan’s hand.
    “Quite a loss, Dan. Good thing you have coverage.”
    “But I don’t,” Dan protested, bewildered by his friend’s assurance.
    “Well, Noel made me promise not to tell you, but she paid for December’s premium with her tips.”
    Dan sat abruptly, his legs folding like paper under him. Luckily he landed on a crusted snowbank.
    Noel paid it? He remembered her bitterness about her husband’s lapse and closed his eyes. She’d helped him when she had so little for herself and her children. A tear leaked from under his lids.
    How stupid he’d been. He wanted to kick himself. When he refused her offer to stay and help, the pain in her eyes had almost shattered him.
    He needed to tell her it was the shock that made him push her out, that and his pride. He was the one others depended on. Molly and Ella, Ernie and Noel were the latest in a long line. He had to admit he’d avoided being in anyone’s debt until Noel arrived and turned his feelings upside down.
    He’d been a fool to send her away, but that was something he could fix.

Chapter Six
    Noel’s hands shook from the combination of excitement and fear. Tonight was Christmas Eve. The long drive was over. Luckily she’d found motels along the way that included breakfast and stretched her funds. Carols whispered from the radio. Stopping every few hours to feed Nicholas and let Holly run had eaten away the time. Holly had fallen asleep during the last long hour so her pestering was silenced.
    Every day she had called Dan and assured him they were doing fine, but their brief exchanges weren’t enough. The Nash’s cold steering wheel squealed reluctantly as she turned into the gravel driveway.
    Home. After all these years, she was home. She blinked away happy tears before she peered through the windshield for her first glimpse. The big old house hunkered under protective snow-laden pines. Frost coated the windshield glass and kept her from seeing details.
    Noel held her breath as her heart thumped. No. She’d finally admitted “home is where the heart is” and her heart was with a man in a tiny town in Minnesota. She’d missed Dan every minute of every mile they traveled. Tonight she’d tell him she loved him and wanted to be with him.
    Noel grinned when she pictured his reaction. Her foot lifted from the accelerator and her eyes widened. Lights blazed in every window of the two-story farmhouse. A full moon rose from behind the trees and spread a glistening path before them over the deep snow.
    She pressed her hand over her quivering lips. It looked so welcoming. Her neighbor had the power turned on and the drive plowed and sanded. The tires spun and hummed over the packed surface until she parked close to the front steps. Noel’s thoughts raced as she opened the car door.
    Her boots crunched in the snow, and she wound her green scarf around her neck to keep out the wind. From here she could see a wreath, red bow and all, hung on the front door.
    The cell phone waited to call Dan, but first she’d get a fire going for heat, and feed the children. She couldn’t wait to let him know she was heading back to Minnesota.
    Bending to wake Holly, she thought she heard his deep voice.
    “Noel! Noel!” His repeated shout jerked her upright.
    Surprise locked her in place when Dan leaped down the steps toward her. Laughter bubbled free before she flung herself into his embrace. Harriet bounced around their feet like a rubber ball on steroids.
    “Dan! What are you doing here?” Her heart raced with joy.
    His warm lips smothered her questions, and Noel forgot everything but being