"You have a broken ankle."
The woman stared.
"I can't stay."
"You can."
"We have nothing."
Martha shook her head.
"You have Lily."
The woman looked away.
"I can't feed her."
"You don't have to."
"I can't pay you."
Martha's expression softened.
"We didn't ask."
The woman swallowed.
"I can't owe you."
Gideon spoke from the other side of the room.
"Then don't."
She looked at him.
"Help us when you can."
The woman stared at him.
"Help you?"
"Someday."
She gave a weak laugh.
"I don't know if I can."
"Neither did we."
Martha looked at Gideon.
He smiled faintly.
"We managed."
The woman closed her eyes.
For the first time since waking, her body seemed to relax.
Outside, the wind began rising again.
By late afternoon, the storm returned.
Not as violently as before.
But enough to make travel impossible.
Martha checked the windows.
Gideon reinforced the door.
Lily sat near the oven, turning the little wooden horse over in her hands.
"You made it?"
She looked at Gideon.
He nodded.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
She studied him.
"Can you make a cow?"
Gideon blinked.
"A cow?"
"Yes."
"I suppose."
"And a dog."
"That's two animals."
"And a chicken."
Martha laughed.
"You're building an entire farm."
Lily looked at her seriously.
"Maybe."
Gideon sighed.
"I see how this is going."
Martha leaned against the table.
"You've been recruited."
"Apparently."
That evening, Martha made stew again.
There was something about feeding people during storms that made her feel useful in a way no other task could.
She watched Lily eat.
She watched Sarah sleep.
She watched Gideon carve another animal beside the oven.
And suddenly she understood why the cabin had always felt larger than its walls.
A home was not measured by how many people owned it.
It was measured by how many people could breathe easier once they entered.
After supper, Gideon went outside to check the barn.
Martha waited by the window.
The wind shook the shutters.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
She put on her coat.
Before she reached the door, it opened.
Gideon stepped inside.
Snow covered his shoulders.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You were gone too long."
"I had to reinforce the north wall."
Martha frowned.
"The beam?"
"Still holding."
"Still?"
He hesitated.
"Mostly."
She stared at him.
"Mostly?"
"It needs the stones tomorrow."
"You promised tomorrow."
"I know."
"You are not going out again tonight."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."