The barn doors rattled.
Elias secured livestock.
Clara filled water containers and moved food nearer the stove.
At dusk, he came inside covered in snow.
“One heifer missing.”
Clara stopped.
“Where?”
“Fence broke near the north meadow.”
“You're not going out.”
“I have to.”
“You'll lose the trail.”
“I know the land.”
“You won't see ten feet.”
“She'll freeze.”
“So will you.”
Elias pulled on dry gloves.
Clara stood between him and the door.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Clara.”
“No.”
“I’m going.”
She planted both hands on her hips.
“If you leave in this, I will follow.”
His face changed.
“You will not.”
“I repaired your pump in twelve degrees. Don't test me.”
“This isn't a pump.”
“Exactly.”
He stared at her.
Clara stared back.
Finally Elias swore softly.
“What?”
“I said you're impossible.”
“And alive.”
He looked toward the storm.
Then toward her.
The battle lasted another minute.
Clara won.
They waited.
At midnight, both heard scratching against the porch.
Elias opened the door.
The missing heifer nearly fell inside.
She had somehow followed the cabin light home.
Clara laughed so hard she cried.
Elias pulled the animal toward the barn after the wind decreased.
When he returned, Clara stood beside the stove.
“You could have died.”
“I didn't go.”
“Because I stopped you.”
“Yes.”
“You’re welcome.”
Elias removed his coat.
Then suddenly he walked toward her.
Clara stopped breathing.
He stood close.
Very close.
Snow melted in his hair.
His eyes looked darker than usual.
“You said you'd follow me.”
“Yes.”
“That was foolish.”
“So was leaving.”
“I know.”
Clara expected argument.
Instead he whispered:
“That scared me.”
The honesty stripped away every joke.
She looked up.
“You were afraid for me?”
“Yes.”
She smiled faintly.
“I was afraid for you too.”
His hand lifted.
Stopped beside her cheek.
He did not touch.
Clara understood the question.
She leaned into his palm.
Elias closed his eyes.
His thumb moved once across her cheek.
Nothing in her life had ever felt so intimate.
Then a log collapsed in the stove.
Both startled.
Elias stepped back.
Clara laughed nervously.
The moment broke.
But not completely.
Nothing between them was the same afterward.
Christmas morning, Elias gave her a mirror.
Not new.
Old.