Read When Snow Falls for Free Online

had happened. “So…will you try to eat?”
    “If you want,” she relented, a shrug in her voice.
    “Good. I’ll be right back.”
    Her cell phone, which she’d put on the counter, rang while she was on her way to the kitchen. Glancing at the display, she could see it was Eve and wasn’t surprised. She’d left The Gold Nugget only an hour ago, but Eve called her more than anyone else.
    “You’d better not have canceled your cruise,” Cheyenne said as soon as she picked up.
    “No, although I should,” Eve responded with a note of chagrin.
    “There’s no point. You can’t stop what’s going to happen.”
    “But I could help you through it.”
    “You’ve already done everything you can. What’s up?”
    Eve’s voice filled with breathless excitement. “I did it.”
    Cheyenne had opened the cupboard and was reaching for two bowls, but she dropped her hand. What was Eve talking about? “Did what?”
    “I asked him out!”
    Cheyenne froze. “You mean Joe?”
    “Who else, silly? I just…worked up the nerve, called him at the station and said, ‘I’d really like to get to know you better. Is there any chance you’d be interested in having dinner with me tomorrow?’”
    Gripping the edge of the counter, Chey managed a strangled “And what did he say?”
    “Yes!” It sounded as if she was jumping up and down. “He was so nice about it. He didn’t make me feel uncomfortable at all.”
    Of course not. Joe was good at making other people feel accepted, regardless of the situation. He’d looked after Cheyenne as a sort of unofficial big brother ever since she’d moved to town, hadn’t he? Not once had he treated her as if she was insignificant, like so many of the other popular guys had at first. Although Cheyenne was eventually accepted by the “in” crowd, she felt that Eve had so much more to offer. She came from a highly regarded family. She was beautiful in the classic sense with a slender figure, dramatic widow’s peak and shiny dark hair. And she was such a nice person. Chey couldn’t imagine anyone not loving Eve.
    “That—” Chey had to clear her throat “—that’s so exciting. Where will you take him?”
    “I think we’ll drive to Jackson and have dinner at the Old Milano Hotel.”
    “The one famous for its prime rib?”
    “That’s it.”
    Slumping onto the counter, Cheyenne rested her forehead in her hands. “That’ll be romantic.”
    “Are you bringing me that soup today or tomorrow?” her mother interrupted, calling from her room.
    Cheyenne covered the phone. “Give me a minute!”
    “I might not have a minute!”
    “Is that Anita?” Eve asked.
    After making a sound of exasperation, Cheyenne laughed. “Yeah. Pleasant as always.”
    “I don’t know how you do it. I’ll let you go, but…what do you think I should wear?”
    Cheyenne knew Eve’s wardrobe as well as her own. They were the same size and often shared clothes. Until Cheyenne became an adult and had her own money, she was the only one who’d benefited from the arrangement. But that was slowly changing. Now it was Chey’s turn to give back. Eve had plenty of cute things, but she loved the new dress Cheyenne had found in San Francisco during her last visit. “I’ve got that pretty Caren Templet I got on sale, if you want to wear it. It would go perfectly with your leopard-print shoes and the black jacket with the fake fur.”
    “You’d let me borrow that?” Eve said. “You haven’t even worn it yourself. The tags are still on the sleeve!”
    “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
    “Exactly.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. Her mother was making a fuss. She had to get going. “This is a special occasion.” She fought the lump rising in her throat. “Wear it. You’ll be stunning.”
    “That is so sweet. Thank you, Chey. You are the best friend anyone could ever have.”
    In reality, it was the other way around. If not for Eve, Cheyenne would’ve run away while in high