Blizzard: Colorado, 1886 Read Online Free

half-full bowl, and the flecks of shell. Then, without meaning to, she pictured the blood on her father’s shirt, the crimson lines running down his forearm to his fingertips.

    Hadyn stood staring at the cabin door, his hands balled into fists. Maggie had no right to talk to him like this. And her parents were crazy to leave them here alone. He kicked at the icy dirt. The last thing he wanted to do was go back into the cabin.
    He glanced toward the road. It would be easy enough to follow the fresh wagon tracks into Estes Park. Mr. Cleave would know someone who would drive him down to Lyons. And from there, he would just take the train back home. His parents would have to understand; after all, they’d never meant for him to be stranded in this wilderness.
    Without allowing himself to think any further, Hadyn started walking toward the cabin. He could carry his bag, and he’d take some food. If he got thirsty, he could just melt some clean snow in hismouth. It was midmorning. He would have plenty of time to get to Cleave’s before dark.
    Hadyn jerked open the door. Maggie was standing in front of the fireplace, her gloves off, her fingers spread across the warmth.
    â€œI’m going home,” Hadyn said flatly. He walked into the little storeroom where he had slept the night before.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Maggie asked from the other room.
    â€œI’m talking about going home,” Hadyn said evenly. “To St. Louis.” He began gathering up his things.
    â€œHadyn. You can’t go,” Maggie said from the doorway. Her voice sounded tight, as if she were about to cry.
    Hadyn looked up. “I can do whatever I want to do.” He rolled up the last of his shirts and stuffed it in alongside the others. When he got home he would have the laundress wash and iron his clothes. Cook would have a meal ready within an hour of his arrival. He couldn’t wait.
    â€œYou can’t go home.” The desperation in Maggie’s voice startled him—and made him angry.
    â€œYou can’t stop me.” He wound a scarf around hisneck and jammed on his hat. Striding back in to the table, he scooped up the nuts they had shelled and put them in his pockets.
    Maggie watched him, furious. “But my parents . . . and your parents—”
    â€œMine will be angry when I tell them about this ,” Hadyn said, gesturing at the empty cabin. “Anything could happen to us here, and your parents didn’t give it a second thought.”
    â€œMy father was hurt, Hadyn.”
    Hadyn straightened up, then slung his bag over his shoulder. “Do you want to come with me down to Mr. Cleave’s store?”
    Maggie shook her head, her eyes narrowed. “I have to stay here. Papa needs me to—”
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜Papa needs me,’ ” Hadyn repeated in a comically whiny voice. He knew she would turn red, and she did. “You ought to come with me, Maggie.”
    She stiffened. “I have to take care of the ranch. I’m staying.”
    Hadyn nodded. “You stay, then, but get out of my way.”
    Maggie stepped back and Hadyn crossed the parlor to the kitchen. He wrapped some corn bread anda hunk of cooked venison in a piece of newspaper. When he returned to the parlor, Maggie was gone. He went out the front door, closing it behind himself.
    Halfway down the road, Hadyn heard Maggie shout at him. He turned and looked back at her, then went on. He was sick of people making him do things he didn’t want to do.

Chapter Four
    Maggie shouted at Hadyn until her throat hurt. She couldn’t go chasing after him—she had to get the calf in. She stood, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, angry and scared. She could see Hadyn turning the corner, starting down the road.
    Maggie bit at her lip. He’d probably come back in an hour or two when he got cold. She looked up at the sky. It was clouding up a little, the