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“ T hey’re going to find her.” Jason held her arm as they both stumbled through the snow to her car. “They probably have already.”

“One of the kids said he thought she and Marcie went behind this farmhouse to look at the horses in the barn. But when they went back, they weren’t there. It’s dark.” Faith fumbled with her keys.

“Let me drive.”

She gave him no argument as she climbed in the passenger side. “Lorna and Bill called the sheriff from the farmhouse. Half the town’s out there looking for them. But there’s so much snow, and they’re just little girls. Jason—”

He took her face in his hands, firmly. “We’re going to find them.”

“Yes.” She wiped away tears with the heels of her hands. “Let’s hurry.”

He couldn’t risk more than thirty miles an hour. They crept down the snow-covered road, searching the landscape for any sign. The hills and fields lay pristine and undisturbed. To Faith they looked unrelenting. But while fear still overwhelmed her, she’d conquered the tears.

Ten miles out of town the fields were lit up like noonday. Groups of cars crisscrossed the road and men and women tramped through the snow calling. Jason had barely stopped when Faith was out and running toward the sheriff.

“We haven’t found them yet, Faith, but we will. They won’t have gone far.”

“You’ve searched the barn and the outbuildings?”

The sheriff nodded at Jason. “Every inch.”

“How about in the other direction?”

“I’m going to send some men that way.”

“We’ll go now.”

The snow was blinding as he weaved through the other cars. He slackened his speed even more and started to pray. He’d been on a search party once in the Rockies. He hadn’t forgotten what a few hours in the wind and snow could do.

“I should have made her wear another sweater.” Faith gripped her hands together in her lap as she strained to see out the window.

In her hurry she’d forgotten her gloves but didn’t notice her numb fingers.

“She hates it so when I fuss and I didn’t want to spoil the evening for her.

Christmas is so special for Clara. She’s been so excited.

” Her voice broke as a ripple of fear became a wave.

“I should have made her wear another sweater. She’ll be— Stop! ”

The car fishtailed as he hit the brakes. It took every ounce of control for him to deal with the swerve. Faith pushed open the door and stumbled out. “Over there, it’s—”

“It’s a dog.” He had her by the arms before she could run across the empty field. “It’s a dog, Faith.”

“Oh, God.” Beyond control, she collapsed against him. “She’s just a little girl. Where could she be? Oh, Jason, where is she? I should have gone with her. If I’d been there she—”

“Stop it!”

“She’s cold and she must be frightened.”

“And she needs you.” He gave her a quick shake. “She needs you.”

Struggling for control, she pressed a hand to her mouth. “Yes. Yes, I’m all right. Let’s go. Let’s go a little further.”

“You wait in the car. I’m going to walk across this field for a bit and see if I spot something.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“I can move faster alone. I’ll only be a few minutes.” He started to urge her toward the car when a flash of red caught his eye. “Over there.”

He gripped her arm as he tried to see through the snow. Just at the edge of the field, he saw it again.

“It’s Clara.” Faith was already struggling away.

“She has a red coat.” Snow kicked up around her as she ran.

It fell cold and wet to mix with the tears that blinded her vision.

With all the breath she had she called out.

Arms spread wide, she caught both girls to her.

“Oh God, Clara, I’ve been so scared. Here, here now, you’re frozen, both of you.

We’ll get to the car. Everything’s going to be fine. Everything’s all right now.”

“Is my mom mad?” Shivering, Marcie wept against her shoulder.

“No, no, she’s just worried. Everyone is.”

“Up you go.” Jason hauled Clara up in his arms. For one brief minute he gave himself the luxury of nuzzling his daughter. Looking back, he saw Faith gathering up Marcie. “Can you manage?”

She smiled, holding the still weeping girl close. “No problem.”

“Then let’s go home.”

“We didn’t mean to get lost.” Clara’s tears ran down his collar.

“Of course you didn’t.”

“We just went to look at the horses and we got all turned around. We couldn’t find anybody. I wasn’t scared.” Her breath hitched as she pressed against him. “Just Marcie.”

His child. He felt his own vision blur as he wrapped his arms tighter around her. “You’re both safe now.”

“Mom was crying.”

“She’s okay, too.” He stopped at the car. “Can you handle them both on your lap in the front? They’ll be warmer.”

“Absolutely.” After Faith had settled in with Marcie, Jason handed her Clara. For one long moment, their gazes held over her head.

“We couldn’t find the lights of the house with all the snow,” Clara murmured as she held on to her mother. “Then we couldn’t find the road for the longest time. It was so cold. I didn’t lose my hat.”

“I know, baby. Here, get your wet mittens off. You, too, Marcie. Jason has the heater turned all the way up. You’ll be cooked before you know it.” She ran kisses over two cold faces and fought the need to break down. “What Christmas carols did you sing?”

“‘Jingle Bells,’” Marcie said with a sniffle.

“Ah, one of my favorites.”

“And ‘Joy to the World,’” Clara put in. The heater was pumping warm air over her hands and face. “You like that one better.”

“So I do but I can’t remember just how it starts. How does it start, Marcie?” She smiled at Clara and snuggled her closer.

In a thin, piping voice still wavery with tears Marcie started to sing. She was nearly through the first verse when they came to the rest of the search party.

“It’s my dad!” Bouncing on Faith’s lap, Marcie started to wave. “He doesn’t look mad.”

With a half laugh, Faith kissed the top of her head. “Merry Christmas, Marcie.”

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Monroe. See you tomorrow, Clara.” Marcie barely had time to open the door before she was scooped up.

“What a night.” There were waves and cheers as the car weaved through the crowd.

“It’s Christmas Eve,” Clara reminded her mother. The world was safe and warm again. “Maybe I should open that one big present tonight.”

“Not a chance,” Jason told her and tugged at her hair.

Faith turned Clara in her arms and squeezed tight.

“Don’t cry, Mom.”

“I have to, for just a minute.” True to her word, her eyes were dry when they arrived home. An exhausted Clara dozed on Jason’s shoulder as he carried her inside. “I’ll take her up, Jason.”

“We’ll take her up.”

She let her arms fall back to her sides and nodded.

They pulled off boots and socks and sweaters and wrapped Clara in warm flannel. She murmured a bit and tried to stay awake but the adventures of the evening took their toll. “It’s Christmas Eve,” she mumbled. “I’m going to get up real early in the morning.”

“As early as you like,” Faith told her as she pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“Can I have cookies for breakfast?”

“Half a dozen,” Faith agreed recklessly. She smiled and was asleep before Faith pulled the blankets around her.

“I was afraid…” She let her hand linger on her daughter’s cheek. “I was afraid I’d never see her like this again. Safe, warm. Jason, I don’t know how to thank you for just being there. If I’d been alone—” She broke off and shook her head.

“I think we should go downstairs, Faith.”

The tone made her press her lips together. She’d be ready, she promised herself, to handle the accusations, the bitterness, the resentment. “I think I’d like a drink,” she said as they walked downstairs. “Some brandy. It looks like the fire’s gone out.”

“I’ll take care of it. You get the brandy. There are some things I have to say.”

“All right.” She left him to go to the little cabinet in the dining room. When she came back, the fire was just catching. He straightened from it and took a snifter.

“Do you want to sit down?”

“No, I can’t.” She sipped, but it would have taken more than brandy to steady her nerves. “Whatever you have to say, Jason, you should say it.”