Levi laid his coat over her body as best as he could then gently scooped her up. With a constant prayer that she would be OK he slowly made his way back to the house. Each step he took became more and more painful and labored as his own body began to succumb to the raging storm around him. He felt like he'd been walking for hours when he finally felt the ice covered rope against his left thigh. Praying that he was going towards the house and not the barn, he kept the rope against his leg until the house finally came into view.

Relief flowed through him as he walked up the steps and across the porch to the back door. Balancing on one foot, he kicked the door with the other then waited. It was only a scant moment before the door was thrown open. They were all but snatched inside by Harold as he clucked around them.

"I've got the tub set up in your room with some tepid water and more water heating. We need to warm her slowly." Harold said as he took charge of the situation.

Levi was extremely grateful, his teeth were chattering so hard speech was almost impossible; however he was able to mumble, "Thank you." Without stopping he continued his way up the back stairs to their room. Once there, he laid her down gently on the bed then as quickly as his frozen fingers would allow, he began to undress her. Once her clothes had been removed Levi hesitantly put his ear to her chest. Tears formed in his eyes as he heard a faint heartbeat.

He sat on the hearth with his back to the fire warming himself as he slowly added hot water to the tub. Hope had not woken up yet but her skin now had a healthy, rosy glow and her lips were no longer blue. When the hot water began to cool, he lifted her out of the tub wrapping her in a warm towel then sat in the arm chair by the fire. There he held her until her long ebony hair dried into soft silky curls.

The relief felt earlier was quickly fading. He'd moved the arm chair beside their bed hours ago. After he got her in bed and covered with several blankets, he changed his clothes and waited for her to wake up. There was no way that God would let him find her and then take her away, so he knew she would wake up. A soft knock brought him out of his deep thoughts. "Come in." He answered in a hoarse voice.

"I brought you some hot coffee, stew, and cornbread. Is there any change?" Harold asked as he walked across the room laying the tray of food the bedside table.

"No, she's moaned a few times but she still hasn't opened her eyes."

"She'll be fine, you'll see." Harold said to his son-in-law. "You look exhausted. Why don't you lay down with her and rest. I will make sure Ellie eats and gets to bed." The older man held his hands up to stave off any argument. "Make and old man happy and let me do this. You just stay here with her."

"OK. Thank you Harold." As the older man left, Levi looked over at the tray of food and as if on cue, his stomach growled. Sighing, he picked up the tray and began to eat. When he finished he removed his clothes and climbed into bed with his wife. A smile played across his lips as she slid closer to him feeling her silky soft skin against his. It was definitely a good idea to not bother with putting a gown on her. Wrapping his arms around her, he closed his eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The first thing she noticed was how warm and safe she felt, then the silence. The storm must have finally past. As her eyes fluttered open she saw slate blue eyes full of tenderness and concern watching her. Strong arms hugged her closer to him as his warm soft lips came down on hers is what was meant to be a tender kiss but quickly became heated.

Levi propped up on his elbow then looked down into deep violet eyes. His nostrils flared slightly as he took a deep breath willing his body to relax. The last thing his wife needed was him pawing all over her so he simply laid his forehead against hers. "I thought I'd lost you." He said in a whisper full of anguish.

"How – how did you find me? The last thing I remember is falling to my knees. I willed myself to get up but I just couldn't."

He pulled back to look at her. "What happened Hope? "

"Oh Levi, I'm so sorry." Her eyes became luminescent with unshed tears. "If I'd just listened to you everything would have been fine. I went to milk the cow and get eggs just like I do every morning. I knew it would be warmer in the barn so I wore my lighter shawl. Then when I got ready to leave I realized that a storm had blown in. I never even thought to use the rope to guide myself back to the house. I promise it will never happen again."

"Make sure that it doesn't because I can't go through that again. The thought of losing you is just – just, I can't lose you!"

The thought of hurting him was too much to bear. Hope wrapped her arms around his neck bringing his mouth to hers. A little maneuvering and she had him laying over her with her legs wrapped around his waist. His lips left hers as they trailed a path to her jaw then her neck causing chills of excitement to course through her body and moans of pleasure to escape her lips.

His teeth grazed her collar bone as they nipped their way down to her breast and pebbled nipple. With his left hand he cupped her breast and gently rolled her nipple between his thumb and fore finger as Hope arched her back into him. Shoving her fingers through his thick shaggy hair, she brought his mouth back to hers.

It took everything he had but finally he managed to pull his mouth from his wife's. "We can't, Love. You need your rest."

"I'm fine, just a little tired." She panted. "But what would really make me feel better is for you to make love to me. I need you." It was all the encouragement he needed from his wife. He began to make love to her careful to keep the pace slow and easy.

Sometime later they lay with their legs tangled in the sheets, her head on his chest and sense of satisfaction. The light of the fire filled the room with an amber glow as the shadow from the flames danced on the ceiling. "Don't ever do that to me again." Levi whispered as his right hand absently stroked the inky curls away from her flushed face.

"I promise. Levi, I was so scared. I didn't think I would ever see you or Ellie again."

"Sshhh. It's OK. Everything worked out, I found you and you're safe. Now, how about I get you something to eat." Easing away from her, he slid out of the bed and pulled on his pants. "I will be right back."

A little while later he came back with a tray loaded down with tasty food. Levi carefully laid the tray on the bed side table then slid his pants back off. He climbed in bed and brought the tray to his lap.

Hope's eyes bulged when she saw the tray. "How hungry do you think I am?" She asked with a chuckle.

"I wasn't sure what you would want. So I just got a little of everything that was available." He said with a sheepish look on his handsome face then handed her a bowl of stew that Harold had been kind enough to keep warm for them.

The stew was surprisingly good. She quickly ate what was in her bowl then accepted a slice of bread slathered with fresh sweet butter. Lastly he handed her a glass of cool milk to wash it all down. Groaning, Hope flopped back onto the soft feather bed and rubbed her flat stomach. "Oh my goodness I'm so full. If I eat like that too often I will have to let my dresses out."

Levi moved the tray to the bed side table, stoked and banked the fire for the night then crawled back into bed and lay down on his back. Hope rolled over laying her head on his chest then threw her right arm and leg over him. "Thank you."

"For what?" He asked as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"For coming to find me this morning and for getting me something to eat." She mumbled sleepily.

"There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." He whispered but he knew she didn't hear him. A soft snore told him she was fast asleep. He wasn't going to dwell on the events of the day. Things could have very easily turned out differently. Hugging her a little tighter, he sent up another prayer of thanks then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Hope stepped back from the table smiling as she admired her work. It looked pretty darn good. She'd been baking for days and this morning she got up well before dawn to have everything ready for this afternoon. It was Christmas Day and she was a bundle of nerves. For one, this was her first Christmas here and she wanted it to be perfect. Then there were the gifts she had for Levi.

Her nervous fingers patted her hair then ran down the front of her apron. "Levi." She called out then went back to the kitchen.

A few minutes later he walked out of his office and into the kitchen where he found his wife with her hands fidgeting with her apron. He watched her for a moment, his brow furrowing at her nervousness. "Did you need something?"

A deep voice startled her causing her to jump slightly. "I I'm sorry. I didn't hear you walk in."

Levi took a moment to look at his wife. She was so beautiful and most days confident in whom she was. There was barely any resemblance to the woman that stepped off that train all those months ago. "Dinner smells delicious; I can hardly wait to dig in." He said as he walked across the room and took her into his arms.

"Well, that's why I called you. Dinner's ready. Why don't you go call the men while I pull this last batch of biscuits out of the oven?"

He opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut when his wife raised a single ebony eyebrow. Huffing slightly, he walked out of the kitchen, grabbed his sheep skin coat, then went to go get his men from the bunk house. They had argued, no, talked about having the men eat with them. Levi wanted it to be just the four of them but Hope had insisted all of the unmarried men eat with them.

It wasn't that he didn't want them in his house or even eating with them. He didn't want the men near his gently bread wife. Not that he didn't trust her, he did, completely. But she was a beautiful woman and beautiful women have been known to cause normally sane men to do things only an insane man would do. And dammit, he liked all of his men; they were hard workers and well trained. The last think he wanted to do was kill one of them, but he would if any of them so much as let their gaze stray from her face.

Pristine snow crunched beneath his boots as he stomped his way to the bunk house. Fortunately he was smart enough to know that he could not win and shut his mouth, giving in to his wife's wishes before he ended up in the dog house or rather the bunk house. It had not snowed anymore since the day Hope had gotten lost. She didn't know it but she got all turned around that day and was heading away from the house. If he had not found her, she would have never found her way back and died in that storm.

Heavy gray clouds gave way to white fluffy ones allowing the sun to shine for the first time in days. Finally he reached the bunk house. He snatched the door open. "Dinner's ready." His voice was gruff and each man got the stare as they got up to exit the door. Several of the newer men shuffled uncomfortably not sure of what to make of the boss' mood. There was NO mistaking the meaning of the look. Each and every one of them would be on their best behavior. It was a rare treat to be able to eat with the family in the big house. Besides, Tuck had already warned them that if they got out of line they wouldn't have a job.

XD;