Snowbound

The next morning MacGyver, Evelyn, and Joanna gathered solemnly around the large table in the teachers' lounge to await the restoration crew and insurance agent. Every now and again one of them would voice a theory regarding the motive or identity of the vandal. So far, all they could determine was that it had to be someone with access to and familiarity with the building who wanted the Challengers program to end. No one mentioned that the perpetrator might be trying to frame MacGyver, but the notion niggled at all of them. After about an hour, Mac glanced at his watch and sighed heavily.

"The kids are gonna be here soon to start decorating for the party. I need to meet them and tell them the bad news."

"I'll come with you," Joanna offered.

MacGyver was about to tell her he could handle it, but if he was honest with himself, he craved her company and moral support. They reached the main entrance as the first students arrived. Once the entire group had assembled, Mac explained what had happened to the gym and the need to cancel the New Year's Eve party. This announcement was met with the expected groans of disappointment.

"We don't have to have it in the gym," one of the older boys spoke up. "Why can't we use the rec room? That way we could play games and stuff. That might be even more fun!" Several teenage heads nodded and enthusiasm began to bloom.

MacGyver glanced at Joanna and saw the concern on her face.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Mac announced, causing another round of moans of teenage angst. "So far whoever is doing this has only targeted the property, but to be on the safe side, I want to keep everyone out of the building until this person is caught."

The teens once again expressed their displeasure, but this time it was tempered with understanding and they quietly began to disperse. As MacGyver turned to head toward his office he caught sight of an unfamiliar beige sedan pulling into the parking lot. Joanna must have seen it, too, as she stood steadfastly by his side. Together they watched as the car stopped and a petite woman emerged from the driver's side. The passenger door opened to reveal a heavy-set balding man climbing to his feet.

MacGyver burst through the door with Joanna on his heels.

"Pete! Connie!" he called. "What are you guys doing here?!"

"I told you we'd be passing through on our way up to Door County," Connie explained as she hugged him. "We went to your place, but Sam said you were here, so here we are!"

"Well come on in," MacGyver invited. "Evelyn's here as well."

"Wonderful!" Connie exclaimed. "Now we can all catch up!" She linked arms with Jo and they quickly headed into the school, Mac leading Pete at a slower pace.

"I thought everyone was on winter break. What are you all doing here?" Pete asked suspiciously.

MacGyver tried to keep his voice light. "There was an incident in the gym yesterday we needed to take care of."

Pete stopped in his tracks causing Mac to do the same. "What kind of incident?" the older man asked.

"It's nothing, Pete," MacGyver began walking again. "A pipe in the locker room burst and flooded the place. We're just here to make sure everything gets taken care of." Mac didn't like lying to his friend, but he didn't want to upset the older man either.

Connie turned toward MacGyver as he and Pete entered the teachers' lounge.

"Joanna just told me about the gym. What a shame you had to cancel the party. Those old pipes chose the worst time to burst!" She shook her head in dismay.

"You can say that again," Mac agreed as he looked at Jo who shrugged one shoulder. He was relieved their white lies meshed, but he was also amazed at how attuned they were to each other, at least on this point.

"So I guess that leaves you without any New Year's plans," Connie remarked.

"Dear…" Pete drew out the one syllable word as a warning which his wife chose to ignore.

"Why don't you all come up to the B&B and we can celebrate together?" she suggested eagerly.

"That sounds lovely!" Evelyn exclaimed before frowning. "Unfortunately, I've already promised to meet some friends for dinner and a movie that night. We haven't all been together since I retired from the correctional facility and who knows when we'll all be able to meet up like this again."

"Well, perhaps some other time," Connie reassured her friend and then turned to Mac and Joanna. "What about you two? You no longer have a party to chaperone."

"Isn't the place all booked up?" Jo asked skeptically.

"That's the beauty of it!" Connie declared. "They haven't opened to the public yet. We'll have the place all to ourselves. Sort of a trial run for the new owners!"

MacGyver sensed Joanna's conflict over the sudden invitation so he pulled her aside as unobtrusively as possible.

"I know this is unexpected," he told her quietly, "but it might be good for us to get away from here for a while."

"But what if something else happens?"

"I'm gonna talk to the police and have them increase patrols in the area. Besides, if someone is impersonating me, they can't do it if I'm not here. How can I be in two places at once?"

MacGyver could still see the indecision in Joanna's eyes. He gave her his most charming smile. The one they both knew she couldn't resist.

"You don't play fair, MacGyver," Jo complained.

"You're just saying that because I won," he remarked smartly, earning himself a playful slap on the shoulder.

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On New Year's Eve Day, Connie Thornton maneuvered her sedan into the empty parking lot of The Open Arms Bed and Breakfast. She had insisted they all ride together so Sam could use the Nomad while they were gone. MacGyver had readily agreed since he was not anxious to expose the classic vehicle to the unforgiving winter environment the Door County Peninsula could provide.

Climbing from the passenger seat, Joanna stood and stretched her back and leg muscles as she admired the historic three-story home in front of her. More like a traditional Southern mansion, the building was painted a sunny yellow with white gingerbread trim and winter greenery draped on the railing of the wraparound porch. The front door opened and a couple about her age hurried to greet them. They introduced themselves as Beth and Dean Richards, the owners of the establishment. Dean and MacGyver quickly unloaded the luggage from the trunk and soon the group stood in the large foyer divesting themselves of winter coats and snow boots.

Dean picked up the Thornton's luggage and led them to their third floor suite while Beth led Joanna and MacGyver to their respective rooms on the second floor. Mac's room was decorated in deep burgundies accented with pale yellow that exuded a welcoming warmth. He promptly deposited his duffle bag on the bed and began to unpack after assuring Beth that the room more than met his needs.

Joanna's room was across the hall from MacGyver's, and when Beth opened the door Jo was greeted with soothing cornflower blue and white décor. She was pleased to see that she had a private bathroom as well as a bay window with a bench seat…a perfect reading nook. The four poster bed was covered with a handmade Amish quilt in the wedding ring design. Across from the bed was a large stone fireplace. A heavy wooden dresser and padded rocking chair completed the furnishings.

"I trust these accommodations will be adequate?" Beth asked.

Joanna turned to the other woman and smiled. "Definitely more than adequate," she assured her host. "This room, this entire house, is absolutely lovely. You and your husband have done a wonderful job with it."

"Thank you," Beth said. "We wanted each room to have its own 'feel', so to speak, so we varied the color schemes, but we made sure every room had a private bathroom and fireplace. Most of the furniture as well as all the quilts are Amish made."

"I didn't realize there were Amish communities nearby."

"There aren't. But a local store buys from Amish craftsmen throughout the state. If you have a chance you should check it out, but for now take your time getting settled. I'll have a cold lunch buffet ready for everyone in the dining room."

Joanna unpacked quickly, eager to join the others downstairs. However, she paused long enough to peer out the window and take in the surrounding landscape. Winter had come to the northern part of the state and a blanket of snow covered the ground. Except for some out buildings behind the B&B there were no other dwellings nearby and it had been a good ten minute drive from town, but no doubt the summer tourist season would see people flocking to the area in droves, triggering more construction.

After lunch, Beth gave her two female guests and MacGyver a tour of the main floor. A large sitting area with a wide screen television and huge fireplace occupied the front of the house. A big country kitchen with commercial appliances sat off the dining area, and in the back of the house was another sitting area similar to the one in front. Large wood doors across from the stairs separated the owner's private quarters from the rest of the house.

The foursome returned to the living room where Pete and Dean were sitting in wingback chairs discussing the next day's college bowl games and making friendly wagers. Mac joined in the discussion and Beth excused herself to clean up the buffet.

"Oh, here, let us help with that," Connie volunteered herself and Joanna.

"No need," Beth said with an easy smile. "I'm going to have to get used to this for when we open for real."

Connie then turned to Jo. "Well, in that case, how about we go into town and do a little shopping."

"Sounds great," Joanna replied. "Beth told me about a store that carries a lot of Amish products. I'd really like to check it out."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

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With Joanna and Connie gone for the afternoon and Dean assisting his wife with household chores, Pete and MacGyver relaxed in the front room, the TV turned to a news program. The reporter droned on about unrest in the Middle East and other areas around the globe and the attempts of the U.S. government to resolve the clashes as peacefully as possible.

"Do you miss it?" Pete suddenly asked MacGyver.

"Huh?" Mac had been staring out the window, paying little attention to the news program.

"I asked if you miss going out on missions," Pete repeated.

"No, I really don't," MacGyver replied earnestly. "I actually enjoy knowing I'll be sleeping in the same bed every night."

"Well I'll be!" Pete exclaimed. "I never thought I'd see the day when you settled down."

"Maybe I never had a reason to until now," Mac murmured.

"And what, or who, might that reason be?"

"I'd rather not say just yet," MacGyver replied, becoming uncomfortable with this conversation.

"It's Joanna, isn't it?" Pete asked.

Mac remained silent.

"I knew it!" the older man exclaimed. "I knew there was something going on between you two the way Sam sang her praises at Christmas!"

"There's nothing going on between us," MacGyver said more forcefully than he had intended. "We're friends, colleagues, that's all."

"Thou doth protest too much, my friend."

Mac groaned. "Don't go quoting Shakespeare on me. It's not gonna work."

Now it was Pete's turn to be silent.

"OK, fine. Maybe I like Jo a little more than I let on."

Pete turned toward his friend's voice and cocked an eyebrow.

Mac sighed. "Maybe more than a little."

"So what are you doing about it?"

"Nothing!" MacGyver exclaimed. "It's not like that. She's not like that!"

Pete shook his head in confusion. "You're losing me, Mac."

MacGyver jammed his fingers through his already mussed hair. "She's not like any other woman I've been involved with, Pete. She's sweet and innocent. Strong and tenacious. And she's not looking for commitment."

"It sounds like you finally met your match," Pete chuckled.

"Maybe I have, Pete," Mac responded quietly. "Maybe I have."

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A light snow was beginning to fall as Connie and Joanna emerged from a small shop that offered handmade jewelry and pottery and headed to the Amish store Beth had suggested they visit. The family-owned business sold mainly large, sturdy furniture, but it also carried homemade Amish candies and the quilts like Beth bought for the B&B.

While Connie admired the quality wood furnishings, Joanna's attention was quickly snagged by a delicate quilt boasting pale hues of blue, green and pink that reminded her of a summer sunset. The price was a bit steep, but given the high quality of the product it seemed reasonable. Joanna quickly purchased it before she changed her mind. Connie approached as Jo was completing the transaction.

"It's absolutely lovely!" Connie exclaimed.

"Thanks. It's almost too pretty to use," Jo remarked as she accepted her package and turned toward the door.

"The snow is coming down harder. I think we'd better head back," Connie suggested and Joanna agreed.

They hadn't been back on the road but a few minutes before Connie broke the amicable silence.

"How are you and MacGyver getting on these days?"

"We're fine," Joanna replied, her stomach beginning to roil in anticipation of the interrogation she knew was coming.

"Come on, Jo, it's just us gals and a few snowflakes. How do you really feel about him? And don't waste your breath trying to convince me you're just friends."

"But we are just friends. And that's all we can ever be."

"Now what makes you say that?" Connie asked, exasperated.

"I know we don't know each other well, so you'll just have to trust me when I say I'm not the kind of girl MacGyver would be interested in."

"How so?"

Joanna looked out the passenger side window and sighed. "Mac is an intelligent, attractive, charming man who could have any woman he wanted, and probably has. He's traveled all around the world and experienced things that I can't even imagine. What in the world would he want with a shy, sheltered girl who's lived in the same place, the same house, all her life?"

"Have you asked him?"

Joanna gasped, her eyes huge as saucers. "Of course not!"

"Don't you think it's about time you did?"

Jo sat in stunned silence at Connie's suggestion.

By the time the two women returned to the B&B the snow was coming down harder and the wind had picked up already creating drifts and poor visibility.

"Thank goodness your back!" Pete exclaimed as they walked through the door. "The weather service just issued a winter storm warning for the area. Mac and Dean are out back chopping wood and Beth is gathering candles and flashlights in case the power goes out."

"You don't really think it will get that bad, do you?" Connie asked, a worried frown on her face.

"It depends on how the storm tracks," Joanna explained. "There's a good chance it will miss us."

"She's right," MacGyver confirmed as he and Dean entered the room, stomping snow off their boots. "Either way there's nothing we can do about it."

That evening Beth prepared a delicious dinner in honor of the holiday and Connie insisted that both Beth and Dean join them in the dining room to share the meal. The winter wind whipped icy snow pellets against the house as the three couples savored the homemade food. Just as the dessert dishes were being cleared away the lights on the large chandelier above them flickered and went dark. Everyone held their breath as the seconds ticked by and the lights remained off.

"Looks like the power lines are down," Dean declared as he and Beth went into action lighting candles and handing out flashlights while MacGyver stoked the fire. Soon the soft glow of the luminaries filled the living room and the little group settled into the comfortable chairs and sofas to await the New Year which was still a few hours away. At Connie's urging, Beth and Dean recounted how they decided to take on the task of renovating and operating the B&B. Conversation flowed from there and time passed quickly. Suddenly the grandfather clock in the hallway began to peal. Everyone sat silently counting the number of chimes. Twelve.

"It's midnight!" Connie exclaimed.

"Happy New Year, everyone," Pete declared with a smile as the others joined in with similar wishes. Joanna watched as first Beth and Dean and then Connie and Pete welcomed in 1996 with a kiss. Then her gaze fell on MacGyver. He was standing nearby, hands shoved in the front pockets of his jeans, rocking back on his heels.

"What do you say?" he asked Jo with a lopsided grin.

"I hear it's bad luck to break tradition."

"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" MacGyver took his hands of his pockets and slowly approached Joanna who was now looking up at him. He placed his hands gently on her hips as he lowered his face and captured her lips in a soft, sweet kiss that ended way too soon.

"Happy New Year," he whispered huskily resting his forehead against hers.

"Happy New Year," she replied with a slow smile, her heart fluttering.

"I believe it's time for us old folks to call it a year and go up to bed," Connie announced.

"And us not-so-old folks as well," Dean declared. "We're gonna have a lot of snow to move around tomorrow if this storm keeps up."

Everyone gathered their flashlights and said their good-nights while Dean and MacGyver made sure roaring fires were laid in the bedrooms along with extra wood.

Joanna donned her flannel pajamas and quickly crawled into the soft, warm bed. She put the new quilt she just bought over the one that was already there for extra warmth but sleep eluded her. She lay staring at the ceiling, listening to the howling wind and the crackling fire and thinking about the midnight kiss she had shared with MacGyver. It had been very much like the one they had shared in Chicago the evening of Pete and Connie's wedding, but instead of the sweet happiness she had experienced then, she now felt sad and alone. Surely a man of MacGyver's experience couldn't remain satisfied with gentle, tender kisses. She had imagined that if Mac kissed her a second time it would be with more passion, more urgency. She sighed and turned on her side. Why was she making such a big deal about this? It was clearly just the obligatory New Year's kiss with little if any emotion behind it. At least for him.

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Hours later, as the snowstorm raged and the house slept, MacGyver sat wide awake on the living room floor in front of the fire. Leaning back against the coffee table, he plucked at the strings on the guitar Dean had loaned him earlier that day. He felt Joanna's presence before he saw her standing in the shadows wrapped in a quilt.

"That's a pretty song," she commented quietly. "What's it called."

"Eau d'Leo"

"I'm sorry, but it doesn't sound familiar," Joanna frowned.

"It shouldn't. It's just a little tune I came up with a while back."

Joanna's jaw literally dropped and MacGyver had to work to suppress a laugh.

"I'd say it's more than 'just a little tune'," she told him. "Have you written anything else?"

"Nope," he answered succinctly before asking, "What brings you down here?"

"The fire in my room went out."

"No problem, I'll go start another," he said as he began to get up.

"Don't bother," she stopped him. "If you don't mind sharing this one I can stay down here. I hate to waste all that wood on just me. We might need it later."

This time MacGyver did allow a small laugh to escape. "That's the same reason I'm down here. Have a seat and stay a while." He patted the floor next to him and she lowered herself to face the fire.

As they sat next to each other, staring at the flames consuming the logs all too quickly, Mac surreptitiously studied the woman next to him. Her skin was smooth and her cheeks flushed from the heat of the fire. Her brown eyes were warm and…sad. MacGyver longed to take her in his arms and make the sadness go away, but he forced himself to remain still. It had taken all the strength he had to keep their New Year's kiss brief and chaste. Joanna was not the kind of girl one trifled with. She deserved his respect and patience. He noticed her eyelids getting heavy and suggested she move to the couch but she refused.

"It's so nice and warm right here," she murmured sleepily, pulling the quilt tighter around her shoulders as she stretched out on the floor in front of the fireplace. MacGyver grabbed a throw pillow from a chair to put under her head and one for himself as well as he lie down beside her, careful to leave space between them. His last memory before drifting off to sleep was the fruity smell of her hair and what it would feel like to run his fingers through it.

Cold. It was so cold. And the ground was hard. MacGyver shivered and slowly opened his eyes to get his bearings. Joanna lay next to him still snuggled in her quilt, but the fireplace was dark and bare. They must have slept for hours. He rolled over and attempted to rise, but his entire body protested. There was a time when he thought nothing of sleeping on the ground or even in his Jeep. A time when couches and beds were a luxury. Using the coffee table as leverage, he managed to stand on his second attempt. He stretched out the taut muscles in his neck and back as he made his way to the window and pulled back the heavy drapes he had drawn the night before to help keep the cold at bay. Bright rays of winter sunlight glistening on the freshly fallen snow greeted him. The storm was over. He heard a soft moan behind him and turned to find Joanna fighting with her quilt as she struggled to sit up.

"Need some help?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm fine," she replied indignantly as she worked to massage the small of her back.

MacGyver walked over to her and held out his hand. "Here, grab on."

She looked at him as if he had just offered her a poisoned apple, but then with a sigh she latched on and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

"Floors aren't as soft as they used to be," he observed.

"You can say that again," she groaned, rubbing her back with one hand and her head with the other.

"Why don't you go upstairs and take a long, hot shower?" Mac suggested.

"How? The water runs on electricity."

"Maybe it's back on," Mac said hopefully as he walked to the far wall and flipped the light switch. "Nothing," he sighed.

"Lights won't be on for at least two more days," Dean informed them as he came down the stairs by followed by his wife and the Thornton's. "And we'll be lucky if the snowplow gets here any sooner."

"So we're stranded?" Joanna asked, quickly wrapping herself in the quilt when she realized she was still in her pajamas.

"Don't listen to Dean," his wife scoffed. "He exaggerates. We've been through a lot worse. The plows will surely come through by tomorrow." She turned to her husband. "Now let's get the generator going so I can fix our guests a proper breakfast."

The pair headed into the kitchen leaving Connie to stare at Mac and Jo before she hurriedly whispered into Pete's ear whose grin grew wider the longer she talked.

"Um, if you'll excuse us, Joanna and I were just heading upstairs to change," Mac said.

"Now you hold on one minute, young man," Connie instructed. "Did you two spend the night down here?"

"No!" Joanna quickly answered. "I came down when the fire in my bedroom died. Just a couple hours ago."

Mac let go a strangled cough. "We decided to share the fire here instead of wasting wood on another one." He winced as he felt Connie's eyes bore into his very soul.

"What a wonderful idea!" she exclaimed. "I say we all sleep here tonight to conserve the wood that's left. Now you two go upstairs and change. Breakfast will be ready in no time!"

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The rest of New Year's Day was spent dealing with snow removal. Dean and MacGyver plowed the long driveway and parking lot. Beth and Joanna shoveled out the Thornton's car and made a walkway to the front porch and cleaned off the steps. Connie and Pete monitored a battery operated transistor radio to stay aware of road and weather conditions in the area. All reports indicated that their area had been the bullseye for the strong winter storm and surrounding roads and communities where already cleaned up and passable. Just after supper a city snow plow came down and cleared the road in front of the B&B, and the group determined they would leave in the morning.

Since the power was still out, everyone slept in the living room that night, a fire roaring in the large fireplace. Beth and Dean pulled their mattress into the room for Pete and Connie while the younger couple crawled into sleeping bags on the floor. MacGyver and Joanna each took a couch. They all fell into a deep sleep and if someone snored, no one heard it.

Early the following morning everyone returned to their rooms to pack. Connie was carefully folding her clothes and placing them in the suitcase that lay open on the bed when she let out a long sigh.

"What's the matter, dear?" Pete asked, gingerly feeling for and packing his own clothes.

"I'm worried about Mac and Jo."

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing's happened. That's the problem!" Connie sighed again and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"I really think those two were made for each other, but they're both holding back. I know for a fact Joanna has strong feelings for MacGyver, but she refuses to believe he could be interested in her as anything more than a friend."

Pete chuckled. "I have it on good authority that Mac is pretty crazy about her as well, but she's so different than the girls he normally meets he's not quite sure what to do with her."

"Well, I think it's about time somebody—"

"Now hold it right there," Pete ordered his wife. "This is something they need to work out for themselves. Promise me you won't interfere."

Connie was silent for several seconds before she grudgingly agreed.

"But before we go, could you do me a favor?" she asked her husband.

Now it was Pete's turn to sigh. "You want me to talk to MacGyver."

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MacGyver had just finished packing and was zipping up his duffel bag when someone knocked on his door.

"It's open," he called and looked up to see Pete hesitantly stepping across the threshold. MacGyver hurried over and led his friend to a chair.

"Are you all set to go?" Mac asked.

"Yeah. Connie's just making sure we haven't left anything behind."

MacGyver nodded, but then remembered Pete couldn't see the gesture. "Did you need something?" he asked.

The older man grimaced.

"Pete, what's up?" Mac asked slowly.

"It's about you and Joanna."

"Aw man, we already talked about this! What do you want from me?"

"Have you considered asking her out on a date?" Pete asked.

"Why? We already spend a lot of time together."

"Sure, playing air hockey, eating pizza, and getting caught in tornadoes and blizzards. Why can't you two go out on a real date like regular people?"

"Maybe we're not like regular people," Mac retorted.

"Or maybe you're afraid she'll turn you down?" Pete countered. "Look, I probably shouldn't say this, but Connie told me that Joanna doesn't think you could be interested in her."

"What?! That's ridiculous!" MacGyver exclaimed.

"Apparently not to her," Pete said softly.

Mac jammed his fingers through his hair. "Fine. I'll think about it," he responded as he grabbed his bag and headed for the door.