He removed his coat.
Martha brushed snow from his shoulders.
Her fingers lingered.
"You scared me."
"I know."
"You always say that."
"Because I always know."
She looked up at him.
For a moment they stood close.
Then a loud crack came from outside.
They both turned.
The sound had come from the barn.
Gideon immediately reached for his coat.
Martha caught his wrist.
"No."
"I need to see."
"No."
"Martha—"
"You are not going out alone."
He stopped.
She grabbed her coat.
"I didn't say I wouldn't go."
He stared at her.
Then, despite himself, he smiled.
"You're impossible."
"I learned from you."
They stepped into the storm together.
The snow hit their faces immediately.
The lantern in Gideon's hand barely pushed back the darkness.
They reached the barn.
One section of the north wall had shifted.
The horses were restless.
Daisy kicked at the stall.
Gideon opened the door.
"Easy."
Martha entered behind him.
Together they calmed the animals.
Then they heard something.
A low groan.
Wood bending.
Gideon looked upward.
"Move."
He grabbed Martha's arm.
The beam shifted.
They ran.
The corner of the barn collapsed behind them with a thunderous crash.
Snow and splintered wood filled the air.
The horses screamed.
Martha stumbled.
Gideon caught her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Then they heard Daisy.
The mare was trapped behind the fallen beam.
Gideon moved toward her.
Martha grabbed the lantern.
"Careful."
"I know."
He lifted the beam.
It barely moved.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Martha looked around.
There was a pulley hanging near the old hayloft.
"Gideon."
He followed her gaze.
"Rope."
They worked together.
They tied the rope around the fallen beam.
Gideon pulled.
Martha operated the pulley.
The beam rose.
Daisy scrambled free.
One horse after another followed.
Within minutes, the entire barn was empty.
They stood in the snow, breathing hard.
Gideon looked at Martha.
"Good work."
She smiled.
"We make a decent team."
He stepped closer.
"We make a very good team."
She touched his frozen beard.
"You'd better get inside."
"Yes, ma'am."
They led the horses toward the small shed beside the cabin.
It was not as comfortable as the barn.
But it was standing.
That night, all four animals slept safely under the smaller roof.
And Martha realized something.
The barn had collapsed.
The thing they had worried about all day had finally happened.