Schatzi, on the other hand, grumbled, mostly about how frustrated she was not to be able to knit, but there was a hint of gratitude in her blue eyes.
Her stubbornness couldn’t entirely mask her pain or the relief she felt in being looked after. Even Ernie seemed to senseit. The orange tabby rarely left Schatzi’s lap, curling up like a sentry, keeping her company as the fire crackled nearby.
“Maddie, I’m not made of glass,” Schatzi muttered one afternoon, wincing as she shifted in the chair. “You’ve already done enough fussing for a dozen winters.”
Maddie, chopping vegetables for soup, glanced over her shoulder. “It’s not fussing. It’s called caring.”
Schatzi raised a brow. “Same thing, isn’t it?”
“Not when it’s you,” Maddie replied with a grin, focusing on the knife and the rhythmic chop against the wooden board as she finished up the carrots.
Outside, the snow still blanketed the world in silence, but the skies had cleared, revealing a deep blue above the treetops. Maddie’s world had felt like that for so long—endless storms, then a stillness that left behind the same cold.
The house, though, was slowly thawing something in her. The warmth of the fire, the closeness of her aunt, the new understanding with Becca, and even Sam’s quiet presence in her life had started to melt the frost that had settled in her heart.
Just as Maddie dropped the vegetables into the pot, she heard the familiar sound of boots on snow. Her heart gave an unexpected flutter.
Over the past few days, Sam had checked in regularly, making sure they had enough firewood, offering to help with errands, bringing them some groceries, and generally giving Maddie more reasons to appreciate his steady, kind nature. Fargo was usually with him, trotting along like Sam’s shadow, ready to curl up by the fire or nudge Maddie’s hand for a pat.
“Sam’s here,” Schatzi announced from her chair as the knock sounded on the door.
“I heard him.” Maddie quickly wiped her hands on a towel and went to open the door, the cold air rushing in along withSam and Fargo. Sam’s cheeks were red from the cold, but his smile was as warm as ever.
“Morning,” he said, glancing between Maddie and Schatzi. “Thought I’d stop by, see if you ladies need anything before I head into town.”
Maddie returned his smile. “You’re too good to us, Sam.”
Schatzi made a huffing sound from her chair. “He’s good tome,” she corrected with a wink. “He just knows you’re stubborn and won’t ask for help.”
Maddie rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t deny the truth of it. Asking for help had never been easy for her, especially after Jack. She had become so used to handling everything on her own that accepting help felt like admitting a weakness.
Which was probably its own weakness.
Fargo wandered over to Schatzi’s chair and rested his head on her lap, his tail wagging lazily. He sniffed at Ernie. Ernie’s head came up and he gave the dog a serious look.
“It’s all right, boys. You’ve known each other too long to get uppity now.” Schatzi chuckled and patted Fargo on the head, her fingers trailing through his soft fur.
“How are you feeling today?” Sam asked Schatzi, his gaze assessing as he glanced at her arm in the sling.
“Like I’m being held prisoner,” Schatzi replied, though her tone was light. “Maddie’s determined to keep me tethered to this chair for the rest of the winter.”
“You need to rest, Aunt Schatzi,” Maddie said, returning to the stove to stir the pot. The smell of chicken and vegetables had just started to fill the kitchen, making the house feel cozier. She still had to add a cup of barley. She planned to make biscuits for their lunch, too. “The doctor said no heavy lifting.”
“That doctor’s never met a woman who spent seventy-eighty years in these mountains,” Schatzi muttered. “Heavy lifting is in our blood.”
Sam chuckled softly as he added a little wood to the fire, shaking his head, no doubt at the two of them bantering. His presence had a way of balancing things, of making the house feel more settled. Maddie found herself increasingly grateful for his quiet company.
“Well, if you need any more supplies, I’m happy to pick them up while I’m in town,” Sam said, his brown eyes shifting to meet Maddie’s. “Just give me a list.”
“Thank you,” Maddie replied, her heart warming at his offer as she lowered the temperature on the stove. “I’ll make sure we’re stocked up before the next snow hits.”
Sam gave a small nod, then knelt down to pet Fargo, who’d laid down by Schatzi’s feet, perfectly positioned so that Ernie’s tail swished over his head. As Sam ruffled the dog’s fur, something shifted in his expression—something a bit more serious.
“You know,” Sam said, looking up at Maddie, “I ran into Bill, Hannah’s dad, in town yesterday.”
Maddie turned away from the stove, her brow furrowing at the mention of the closed-off teenager. Hannah, with her quiet demeanor and guarded eyes, had been on Maddie’s mind since the girl’s last visit. There was something more going on with the girl, something Maddie couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“Her dad?” Maddie asked as she took a few steps toward the living room. “How’s he doing?”
