“Yes. You?”
“Nothing bruised but my pride. I will try harder to save you next time.”
“You did a good job as a landing pad.”
He offered his hand. I took it. His grip was strong and familiar.
The woodshed was fully stocked. We worked together, stacking pieces into the canvas carry bag that sat on the pile of wood. The thick walls dulled the loudness of the wind, and the constant sound of wood clunking together in the bag kept us company.
“Is there another bag?” I asked. “We don’t want to fill this one too much. It will be too heavy.”
He searched the shed and found another hanging on a hook. We half-filled that one. We found a rhythm quickly—just like when we worked together on the farm vetting the horses.
As we turned to go, I swung the bag over my shoulder. The momentum caused me to lose my footing again. He caught me with both arms around my waist.
“Steady,” he murmured. His warm breath caressed my neck.
I didn’t move, relishing his embrace. He was sure and steady, the rock he always was, the one I could depend on.
I turned my face to his. The darkness settled into the lines of his face, somehow smoothing them and highlighting them at the same time. His eyes were filled with warmth and kindness. There was snow in his eyebrows. I resisted the urge to brush it away.
“You alright?” he asked, softer this time.
“I’m fine.” My voice was quieter than I meant it to be.
He let me go and I wished he hadn’t.
“Let’s go before we freeze,” he said.
I nodded and set off. He followed, allowing me to set the pace, not pushing me forward, always patient.
He’d waited for this time together for over fifty years. I think it was fair to say the man had the patience of a saint. I chewed on my lip. If this went further, we could ruin a great friendship. Would it be worth it? We’d both been through marriages anddivorces that ended in bitterness. I wouldn’t ever want that to be us.
My ex was nothing like Dan, though. John had shirked his responsibility long before he left to go back to Ireland. He removed himself from decision-making, which meant I bore the burden of making the choices for the farm and our family. Then he’d be stroppy because I put Taylor, our child, before him. He became more and more absent from our lives and our bed. Other things and other people were more important. I was insignificant.
No, Dan was nothing like him. Dan was steadfast and loyal.
We arrived at the door, and I opened it. Heat rushed out to meet us, enveloping me like Dan had enveloped me in his arms only moments ago. If we crossed the threshold together, there might be no turning back.
I stepped inside.
CHAPTER 5
Dan
Lorraine moved aheadof me into the cabin, shaking snow from her coat and pulling off her hat and gloves. I closed the door behind us, sealing out the wind. We dumped the bags of wood. The sudden silence swallowed me whole.
She walked on the spot. “I can’t feel my toes.”
Her lips were purple.
“I’m surprised you can feel anything.”
She laughed and pulled off her boots. I helped her with her coat, which was heavy and wet. She moved towards the fire, hugging herself and shivering.
“You need to get out of those wet clothes,” I said.
Her eyes met mine, and my heart did a little leap in my chest. “Are you offering to help?”
