Stranded with the Rancher. Tina Radcliffe

stop snowing for another forty-eight hours. There’s a second storm system moving in after midnight. Some sort of freak meteorological conditions. Why, they’re saying we’re going to break records.”

      “The weatherman has been known to be wrong,” Dan stated.

      Beth swallowed past the lump in her throat.

      “Oh, I sincerely doubt it in this case,” Elsie said.

      Beth glanced at Dan, not missing the irony of the exchange. Hours ago he had made the same practical observation about the weather as his mother, but now he was offering Beth a tiny glimmer of hope. The gesture was kind, considering the reality she was faced with. Appetite waning, she stared unseeing at the remaining stew in the pottery bowl.

      “Beth? Are you all right, dear?” Elsie probed gently.

      “Yes. I’m sorry. I was supposed to start a new job Monday—that’s why I needed to make my flight.”

      “Where is this job?” Elsie asked.

      “A clinic in New York City.”

      “Oh, my. That’s not good,” she said. “Shall we pray about it? I know the good Lord is aware of the situation and has a solution in mind for you.”

      Beth had trouble meeting the older woman’s eyes. “No, but thank you.” She doubted the Lord cared about her job interview. He was busy taking care of important things, like people stranded in this blizzard.

      “We’ve got a landline,” Elsie added. “Perhaps you should try to leave a message for that clinic in New York soon, in case we lose the phones in the storm.”

      “That’s a good idea. Thank you,” Beth said.

      “By the way, I called Ben and Sara to let them know you’re safe, and staying here with us,” Dan interjected. “But I bet they’d like to hear from you.”

      Beth nodded and met his eyes. He was a thoughtful man and he was right, of course. She should have thought of calling Ben, but she wasn’t accustomed to checking in with anyone.

      “You look exhausted,” Elsie observed. “I’ll wrap up your stew and we’ll save it for later. Okay?” She looked to her son. “Show Beth the guest room, won’t you, Dan?”

      After stopping in the hall to grab her tote bag and coat, Dan led her to the other side of the big house. The Gallagher home was warm and friendly and it seemed to have been updated recently. The paint was fresh and the furniture new. Comfortable oak pieces filled the living room, and the burgundy-and-green color palette ran through the house. It was a no-fuss place that welcomed friends, family, children, grandchildren and very enthusiastic dogs.

      “I want to apologize for my behavior this morning,” Beth said as she followed Dan down the hall.

      “What behavior?” he asked, moving her tote from one hand to the other.

      “Are you kidding? I was freaking out.”

      “Totally normal.”

      “Not for me. Not ever,” she said.

      “Look, you can lose control with me anytime.”

      They both stopped in their tracks.

      Dan’s ears were red as he slowly turned around, and she could see the appalled expression on his face.

      Beth couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing. The humor of the situation eased the tension she’d been wearing like a heavy coat all day. For the first time in hours, she relaxed.

      “You know what I mean,” he said firmly.

      “I do.” She smiled. “Thank you for getting me to your house, and for trusting me to meet your family.”

      He nodded, and despite his stern expression, the corners of his mouth threatened to curve into a grin and his eyes sparkled with humor.

      “Dan, the CB is going off. You’ll want to see to that,” Elsie called out as she came down the hall with a medicine bottle and an ice pack. “I’ll get Beth settled in.”

      “Thanks.” He turned to Beth and gave a nod. “I’ll leave you in the good hands of Dr. Mom.”

      Beth continued to smile as she watched him walk away, then she hurried her steps to catch up with Elsie.

      Elsie opened a door at the end of the hall. “There are three bedrooms upstairs and this is the only one downstairs. When the kids were living at home they shared. My husband always said that sharing a room builds character. My kids are characters, so I suppose he was right.” She chuckled at her own words.

      Before Beth could respond, Elsie turned on the light and then handed her the ibuprofen and ice pack. “Here we go.”

      An antique, wrought-iron bed occupied most of the space. A thick duvet in a peach-and-rose-colored paisley covered it.

      “What a welcoming room,” Beth said.

      “Yes. Nice and toasty, being on the ground floor. Though not as quiet as upstairs.” Elsie walked directly across the hall. “Private bathroom. Plenty of towels and anything else you might need in the closet. I just stocked the drawers for you with shampoo and whatnot.” She grinned. “Girlie stuff. I keep a supply of it for when my daughters come home.”

      “Thank you, so much,” Beth said, truly touched by the kind gestures.

      “Oh, no problem. It’s fun to have company, and especially nice to have another woman around.”

      “Thank you.”

      Elsie looked at Beth, her expression sympathetic. “I’m so sorry about your job. But I will be sure to add you to my prayer list during my prayer time in the morning. And I want you to remember that God has a plan for you, Beth.”

      “I hope so,” she murmured.

      “No hoping about God. Trust me on this. After all, you don’t raise four children and bury a husband without learning a bit about the nature of the good Lord. He loves you so much He gathers your sorrows and collects your tears. Did you know that?”

      “No, I didn’t.” Beth pondered the words, finding herself intrigued by the comment.

      Elsie smiled. “Absolutely true. Now, you help yourself to anything you want. The refrigerator is open 24/7. I’m working on a quilt in the sewing room, other side of the kitchen. If you need anything feel free to come and find me.”

      “Okay.” She paused. “Mrs. Gallagher?”

      “Yes?”

      “Thanks very much.”

      Elsie cocked her head. “For what, dear?”

      “Welcoming me into your home,” Beth said.

      “You’re very welcome. And you can call me Elsie.”

      Beth nodded and slowly closed the door behind Dan’s mother. She sank into the peach Parsons chair next to the dresser and dug in her tote for her phone, punching in her cousin’s number.

      “Hey, Beth. Dan called to let us know what happened. He said you’re staying at his mother’s.”

      “Yes.”

      “Elsie is a hoot, isn’t she?”

      “She is.” Beth released a short laugh “Actually, all of the Gallaghers that I’ve met are nice. I like them.”

      “They’re good folk.”

      “So, is everything okay at your place?” Beth asked.

      “Yeah. We lost power, but I have a couple backup generators. That snow plays havoc on the trees and then they hit those wires, so we’re used to dealing with it.”

      “Could that happen here?”

      “Elsie has generators, too. Everyone does