Chapter 2
While Jules had been working, fierce winds had blown the snow into high drifts, blocking entrance to his front door. His snowshoes weren’t working as well as they had earlier, and he sank as he waded through nearly knee-deep drifts on his way around the cottage. Icy-cold wetness slipped inside his boots, and he nearly cried from relief when he saw the clear path to the back door.
He tried the handle, and when it wouldn’t budge, he wanted to scream. He knew it wasn’t locked—nobody locked their door on the island. It was probably just frozen. Jules put more strength into it, and it rushed open, carrying him with the force until he fell face down on the kitchen floor. He pushed himself up, but froze when something ran across his legs and jumped over his head. Something wearing a b
