“Why don’t you try calling one more time before you go?” I asked as I watched him pile on layer after layer of winter gear.
“Good idea.” He tugged off one of the gloves he’d just put on and dialed Rod again. But after a minute he clicked off and shook his head. “No answer. I’ll just be gone for a couple of hours. Maybe three… or four. If you get cold, you can start the fireplace. I’ve got dry wood laid out. You know how to start a fire?”
I shook my head no.
“Oh. Well, I can do it before I leave.”
He strode to the fireplace and started building a fire, adding kindling in a teepee shape, along with a pile of wood shavings at the base.
When he lit the fire, it took quickly, the kindling burning fast. He stacked firewood next, taking care with how he placed the pieces. I didn’t understand the point, but it obviously meant something.
“You did that in under a minute!”
Tex glanced up at me. “Years of practice. Kind of like your showers.”
“I wonder what else we can do fast?”
He looked like he wanted to answer that bad, but instead he shook his head and said, “If the cabin loses power, the fire will keep you warm. Keep feeding it logs as it burns down. One an hour. And let the fire breathe.”
I had no idea what he meant by that last part, but I said, “Sure. I’ll let it breathe.”
Then he stood up and rumbled, “If anything happens, there are neighbors east of here. If you head out on the main road and hike south for a mile, you’ll hit the Yeagans. They’ll get you fixed up.” Tex looked out the window. “But I’m sure everything will be fine. The storm’s over. Now it’s just the aftermath to get through.”
I nodded again, pretending to follow along. Tex seemed to take this storm stuff seriously.
Being a city girl, I’d never paid much attention unless the power went out in my apartment. Whenever that had happened, I’d called around until I’d found a friend with power and gone to stay with them for a while.
Out here, it seemed like it would take a one-mile trek through the snow just to find a neighbor.
His gaze landed on me, and his eyes darted across my face. With a husky timbre in his voice, he said, “I’ll be back soon. You’ll be fine.”
“Definitely.Yoube fine. You’re the one going out into the snow. Not me.”
He gave me a small nod, the worry clear on his face now, and turned towards the door.
As soon as he opened it, winter came inside. A cold wind blew right through me. My elf costume wasn’t enough for these conditions. But it was toasty inside, so I’d be fine.
I grabbed his hand before he could take a step outside.
“Tex?”
He turned back to face me. “Yeah?”
“Rod’s going to be fine.”
He let out a deep breath, some of his tension easing away. “Thank you for saying that. I’m sure you’re right. I’ve just been in a constant state of worrying about him for the past few weeks.” Tex squeezed my hand. “You’re a good woman, Chloe.”
I squeezed back. “You are too.”
“A good woman?”
Laughing, I said, “No. A good man. You seem to really care about people. It’s a nice trait to have.”
Cold air continued to rush in through the open door, but we both stood there, locked with our hands together. Both of us seemed reluctant to let go.
What did that mean?
Something.
