Free Firefly Glen: Winter Baby (Harlequin Signature Select) by Kathleen O`Brien Page B

people. And there was one tiny path scratched through the mountains, just wide enough for a wagon. But then a bunch of New York millionaires decided the Glen was the perfect place to escape from the crowds and the dirty air. And before you could say hell no, they were everywhere, building mansions just like the ones they were so eager to get away from.”
    He clicked his teeth irritably. “They even had to cut a new road through the pass just so they could fit all their fancy furniture and gew-gaws. That’s why the loggers named it Vanity Gap, because it was the hole those rich fools squeezed their egos through.”
    Sarah chuckled. She’d heard the story before, but she never tired of it. It always amused her to hear heruncle’s indignation, as intense and righteous as if he’d been one of the original loggers himself—when, in fact, he was a direct descendent of one of those pesky millionaires.
    â€œAnd what exactly does this have to do,” she said, nudging him gently, “with the ice festival?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know. I guess it’s just more of the same. More change.” He sighed heavily. “Too much change. You know, your aunt hasn’t been gone a full year, but I wonder whether she’d even recognize some things around here today. They’re building a new subdivision in the woods where I asked her to marry me.”
    He squared his jaw hard. “I look around, Short Stuff, and I wonder how long it will be before there’s nothing left. Nothing left from before.”
    â€œI know how much you must miss her,” Sarah said quietly, beginning to understand her uncle’s fierce opposition to change. “I miss her, too. She was always so happy. She made everyone around her happy, too. You two had the most beautiful marriage I’ve ever seen.”
    â€œShe was too damn good for me, and that’s the truth.” Ward finally turned to Sarah. “Listen. It’s none of my business, but I’ve just got to say something. Just this one thing, and then I’ll shut up, I promise.”
    â€œYou don’t have to,” Sarah broke in, anticipating where he was heading. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
    Ward looked grim. “I doubt it. You don’t use words like this.”
    She chuckled. “Really, I do know. And it’s okay. I’m not going to.”
    He tilted his head. “Not going to what?”
    She smiled. “I’m not going to marry a constipated son of a bitch who doesn’t give a flying flip about anything except himself.”
    Ward whooped with laughter. He gathered her up into his arms and swung her around until she felt lightheaded, just as he had done when she was only thirteen. “Well, darn it, Short Stuff. Why the hell didn’t you say so?”

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€œY OU TELL YOUR UNCLE I want to know how he likes that book,” the tall, slim, silver-haired owner of Black Bear Books said as she handed Sarah her change. “Tell him he’s overdue for a visit. I’ve been keeping hot chocolate ready for him ever since Christmas.”
    Sarah smiled. She’d been in Firefly Glen only three days and she was already getting used to this. Every spinster and widow in town seemed to have a line out, hoping to catch her rich, rugged Uncle Ward. As soon as they realized Sarah was Ward’s great-niece, these women turned relentlessly chummy. They tucked little treats under her arm and whispered little messages into her ear, all sent with love to the owner of Winter House.
    Somehow Sarah managed to get out of the shop without committing her uncle to anything. She’d learned that, too—the women might be angling for him, but Ward had no intention of getting snagged on any of those sugary hooks.
    Sarah wasn’t due back at Winter House until lunch-time, so she walked slowly, browsing the shop windows. It was cold, but the air was crisp and