“You’re not much for these kinds of things either, huh?” Maddie asked, her voice tinged with humor.
Sam smiled faintly, shaking his head. “Not really. But it’s good to be around people sometimes. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”
With a little snort, Maddie looked around at the men and women laughing and talking, the warmth of the fire contrasting sharply with the coldness of the night. The dancing shadows turned the snow blue.
She knew he was right. As hard as it was to be out here, surrounded by reminders of the life she used to have, it was better than sitting alone in the dark. And there was something about the mountain community—its quiet strength, its resilience, the open-hearted welcome—that was starting to feel like home.
“You ever think about leaving?” she asked suddenly, the question surprising even herself. She wasn’t quite sure where it had come from.
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Leaving?”
“The mountains,” Maddie clarified. “All this...quiet.”
Sam shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. “No. I came here to find the quiet. Sometimes it’s the only thing that makes sense. Probably what keeps me sane.”
Maddie nodded, his words resonating with her. The mountainsdidmake sense. Even in their stillness, even in the snow and the biting cold, there was a kind of peace here—a peace she’d been searching for. She just hadn’t known until now it could be found here.
“I think I’m starting to understand that,” Maddie said quietly, more to herself than to Sam.
They stood in silence for a while longer, the warmth of the fire flickering across their faces, the sound of the others fading into the background. For the first time in months, maybe even years, Maddie felt something come alive inside her—a sense of possibility, of life continuing, even after everything had changed.
Fargo nudged her hand with his nose, breaking her reverie. She smiled and pulled off one glove, kneeling to scratch behind his ears, feeling the softness of his fur against her cold fingers. “Hiya, buddy. You certainly like people, don’t you?”
“Well, he certainly likes you,” Sam said with a chuckle.
“I like him too,” Maddie replied, standing back up. The warmth of the fire felt good, but it was the warmth of the company that truly thawed the ice in her heart.
As the evening wound down, Schatzi caught Maddie’s eye from across the fire and gave her a knowing smile. Maddie returned the smile, feeling something well up in her that she hadn’t expected: hope.
Hope that maybe this Christmas, despite everything, she could begin to heal.
Hope that the mountains, with their quiet strength, might just be the place where she found herself again.
And wouldn’t that be a miracle?
Chapter Nine
Maddie was wiping down the kitchen counter after breakfast the next morning when she heard a sound that nearly stopped her heart—a loud crash followed by a sharp cry of pain and a scared meow. Her heart lurched, and the dish towel dropped from her hands.
“Aunt Schatzi?” she called out, her voice tight with fear as she rushed toward the sound.
Rounding the corner into the living room, she found Aunt Schatzi crumpled on the floor near the staircase, her face pale, her breath coming in quick, shallow pants. Her cane lay on the floor beside her, and her right arm was bent at an unnatural angle. Ernie, the ever-watchful orange tabby, stood nearby, his tail twitching nervously.
“Oh, no, Schatzi!” Maddie gasped, dropping to her knees beside her aunt. “What happened?”
Schatzi winced, clutching her arm. “I—ugh. I missed the last step. I grabbed the railing, but my shoulder went wonky. Stupid, stupid. My arm... It’s bad, Maddie.”
Maddie’s hands hovered, unsure of where to touch her aunt without causing more pain. Schatzi’s skin was clammy, herforehead damp with sweat. Her breathing was shallow, and her face twisted with pain every time she tried to move.
“Okay, we need to get you to a doctor. Or, better yet, the emergency room. Or is there a clinic?” Maddie’s voice was shaking. She gently touched Schatzi’s good arm, trying to keep her calm. “I’ll call Sam. He can help us get you there.”
Schatzi’s face contorted in frustration. “No need to fuss. Feels like a stupid dislocation. I’ve had worse.”
Maddie wasn’t convinced. Schatzi was tough, but the way her arm hung unnaturally and the paleness of her face told Maddie it was serious enough to warrant professional care. “You’re not going to argue with me on this one, Aunt Schatzi. I’ll be right back.”
Maddie scrambled to her feet, grabbed her aunt’s phone from the kitchen counter, and quickly scrolled to Sam’s number. She hadn’t wanted to rely on him so soon, but right now, she didn’t see another choice. Her fingers trembled as she pressed the button to call him.
She started talking as soon as he answered. “Sam? It’s Maddie. I need your help—Schatzi fell, and I think she dislocated her shoulder. I can’t get her to the clinic by myself.”
