Nick Barkley scowled out the window. "Snow!" he growled. "What's the world coming to?"
Jarrod shook in head in wonder at the fluffy flakes swirling lazily down from the sky. "I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," he admitted. "Up in the mountains, maybe, but not here in the valley."
Audra bounded down the stairs, wearing a fur cape and hat. "Isn't it beautiful?" she exclaimed. "The children at the orphanage will be so excited! They'll just have so much fun, playing in the snow! I'm heading over there now, do either of you want to come?"
Nick looked at his sister in disbelief. "You've gotta be kidding. Who in their right mind would think THAT," he gestured at the snow, "is fun?"
Audra gave the tall cowboy a pout. "Don't be such a spoil sport, Nick."
"Yes, Nick," Jarrod kidded, blue eyes twinkling, "don't be such a spoil sport."
Nick threw his older brother a dirty look. "I don't see you out there frolicking, counsellor."
"No, you don't," Jarrod agreed. "Got a whole bunch of paperwork that's going to keep me warm and cozy indoors all day today."
"Well, you just do that, Pappy," Nick groused. "Don't spare a thought for all us hard working types freezing our tails off out there today." He paused a moment. "Speaking of hard working types, anyone seen Heath this morning?"
Audra shook her head. "No, but you know Heath. He's probably been hard at work for hours." She adjusted her hat. "See you boys later," she called cheerily as she left the house.
Nick continued staring out the window, in no big hurry to head out. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream emanated from outside.
"That sounds like Audra!" Jarrod exclaimed and the two men dashed out of the house, right into a hail of snowballs.
Heath definitely had been hard at work. After seeing the snow on the ground that morning, he gave in to impulse and quickly got busy, stacking an impressive pile of snowballs at the corner of the house. He'd been waiting there about half an hour for one of his siblings to come outside and the looks on their faces were well worth the cold feet and hands.
"What's the big idea?" Nick yelled and got a snowball smack in the face. "I'll get you for this, boy!" and scooped up his own handful of snow.
But Heath picked his location well and Nick's snowball hit the corner of the house instead. Another projectile came flying, this one catching Jarrod on the shoulder. Jarrod retaliated and Heath ducked just in time.
Realizing their brother had a defensible position, his three siblings decided on a frontal attack. With a wide grin, Nick tackled Heath and stuffed a handful of snow down the back of his jacket. Heath's stockpile was plundered and the air was thick with flying missiles, joined by the sounds of laughter.
"What in the world-" The four of them froze, too late to stop the stray snowball. Victoria brought her hand up to wipe off her face.
"I'd better be getting to the orphanage," Audra said quickly.
"Think I'll join you, sis," Heath stated.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Nick added.
"A very good idea," Jarrod concurred. "Let's go."
They didn't even see the snowballs that hit each of them, one, two, three, four, right in the back of the head.