He brought blankets, cushions, and a heavy quilt.
Then he arranged a comfortable resting space close to the fire, making sure she had the support and room she needed.
She watched him with a small smile.
“You've become terribly domestic.”
He looked over his shoulder.
“Don't tell anyone.”
She laughed.
He returned to the blankets.
Then she said quietly, “Thank you.”
He looked up.
“For what?”
“For listening when I told you not to climb onto the roof.”
He smiled.
“Reckon I'd have been an idiot not to.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Wouldn't have stopped you yesterday.”
He laughed.
“Probably not.”
He sat beside her.
For several minutes, they watched the flames.
Then he looked toward the old glove resting on the table.
He picked it up.
Turned it over.
And slowly placed it beside the lantern.
The woman followed his gaze.
“Does it still bother you?”
He shook his head.
“Not the way it did.”
She waited.
He looked toward her.
“For four years, I wondered why I survived that storm.”
Her expression softened.
He continued.
“Some days, I wished I hadn't.”
The woman became very still.
He lowered his eyes.
“I never told anyone that.”
She reached for his hand.
He took it.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he looked toward her.
“Tonight, I'm glad I did.”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
He squeezed her hand.
“Because I got to find you.”
She closed her eyes.
A tear slid down her cheek.
He leaned closer.
“Darling?”
She opened her eyes.
“Yes?”
“May I kiss you?”
Her lips trembled.
For a moment, she looked as though she didn't believe the question was real.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.”
He moved closer slowly, giving her time to change her mind.
She lifted her hand toward his face.
Her fingers rested against his beard.
Then he bent his head.
Their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss.
It was not hurried.
It was not desperate.
It was the careful beginning of something both had been afraid to imagine.
When he drew back, she was crying.
He immediately looked concerned.
“Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
He studied her.
“Then what?”
She gave a trembling smile.
“I'd forgotten what it felt like to be kissed by someone who wanted to.”
The words broke his heart.
He brushed a tear from her cheek.
Then he kissed her forehead.
“Darling, I wanted to do that the first time you invited me inside.”