rolled over on his side with his back toward the door. She studied the long length of his spine for a moment. The width of his shoulders. The definition of the muscles that showed beneath his tanned skin.
How is it a man who’s traveled all the way from Ohio in autumn can spend so much time in the sun?
Maybe it was a good sign that he’d rolled over. Maybe he would rest easier now and find some escape from his fevered nightmares.
Leah briefly debated going outside at all. She knew she could take the easy way out and use the chamber pot but she figured the exercise and the frigid air would do her a world of good and would wake her up enough to deal with the tasks that awaited her. Leah put on her gloves and chiseled some steps in the snow with her hands, throwing the excess snow in the bucket. Using her makeshift staircase, she climbed to the top of the snowdrift. Dodger, done with his business, ran back and greeted her as she slid down the opposite side.
Leah grinned as she rose to her feet and looked back at the way she’d come. Getting back in might not be so easy. A shovel stood against the porch rail and she wrenched it free. Walking to the outhouse was a balancing act and she was thrilled that she made it without falling. Even more so when she was able to free the door after a few sharp jabs with the shovel.
She came out to find Dodger rushing around on top of the snow, searching for familiar scents, wagging his tail when he found a new one. Leah closed her eyes, turned a slow circle and breathed in the crisp, cold air. “We made it through the night Lord, and for that I am grateful. Please give me the strength and wisdom I need to make it through this coming day.” She opened her eyes and stared up at the thick gray clouds. They weren’t done with Angel’s End.Nature was taking a rest, gathering its strength for the next onslaught. Just as she was. But first she needed to check on her chickens.
The drifting wasn’t as bad around the shed door. Plus she had the added benefit of it opening inward. The chickens stirred when she came in, raising sleepy heads and staring at her with their black beady eyes. Her little banty rooster rushed over to investigate the intrusion. He swelled up the speckled feathers on his chest and stretched his head up, trying with all his might to appear larger than he really was. “Go on Roscoe.” Leah nudged him with her foot and he strutted away with his shiny black tail feathers twitching with indignation.
Leah laughed at his antics and grabbed the dipper from the hook, stuck it in the bag and scattered feed on the floor. The hens quickly abandoned their nests to join in the scramble for every last bite. Leah took her basket from the shelf and gathered the eggs that were left behind. Leah checked the water pan. The top was frozen over so she chipped it free and left, satisfied that the chickens would survive another day of bad weather.
“Momma!” Banks’s cry was shrill, panicked. Leah took off at a run. She slipped, and fell forward on her hands. The basket landed on the snow and the eggs tumbled out and cracked except for one that bounced and rolled away. Leah ignored the mess. Her boots gave her no traction as she fought her way forward. Finally she was able to stand and move. Dodger bounded toward the door with a sharp growl, scrabbled his way over the drift and disappeared just as Leah slid under the porch overhang.
Banks called out again. Leah went through the door headfirst and landed on her outstretched arms. Her coat and skirts flew up around her waist as she flopped over and scrambled to her feet.
“Banks?”
“In here.” His voice came from his room, not hers. Leah grabbed on to the door frame as she skidded to a stop. Dodger stood in the room with the ruff of his neck standing straight up. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he stared up at Banks and Pastor Key.
“You’ve got to get away Brody,” Pastor Key said. “It’s not safe here.” He stood in
How is it a man who’s traveled all the way from Ohio in autumn can spend so much time in the sun?
Maybe it was a good sign that he’d rolled over. Maybe he would rest easier now and find some escape from his fevered nightmares.
Leah briefly debated going outside at all. She knew she could take the easy way out and use the chamber pot but she figured the exercise and the frigid air would do her a world of good and would wake her up enough to deal with the tasks that awaited her. Leah put on her gloves and chiseled some steps in the snow with her hands, throwing the excess snow in the bucket. Using her makeshift staircase, she climbed to the top of the snowdrift. Dodger, done with his business, ran back and greeted her as she slid down the opposite side.
Leah grinned as she rose to her feet and looked back at the way she’d come. Getting back in might not be so easy. A shovel stood against the porch rail and she wrenched it free. Walking to the outhouse was a balancing act and she was thrilled that she made it without falling. Even more so when she was able to free the door after a few sharp jabs with the shovel.
She came out to find Dodger rushing around on top of the snow, searching for familiar scents, wagging his tail when he found a new one. Leah closed her eyes, turned a slow circle and breathed in the crisp, cold air. “We made it through the night Lord, and for that I am grateful. Please give me the strength and wisdom I need to make it through this coming day.” She opened her eyes and stared up at the thick gray clouds. They weren’t done with Angel’s End.Nature was taking a rest, gathering its strength for the next onslaught. Just as she was. But first she needed to check on her chickens.
The drifting wasn’t as bad around the shed door. Plus she had the added benefit of it opening inward. The chickens stirred when she came in, raising sleepy heads and staring at her with their black beady eyes. Her little banty rooster rushed over to investigate the intrusion. He swelled up the speckled feathers on his chest and stretched his head up, trying with all his might to appear larger than he really was. “Go on Roscoe.” Leah nudged him with her foot and he strutted away with his shiny black tail feathers twitching with indignation.
Leah laughed at his antics and grabbed the dipper from the hook, stuck it in the bag and scattered feed on the floor. The hens quickly abandoned their nests to join in the scramble for every last bite. Leah took her basket from the shelf and gathered the eggs that were left behind. Leah checked the water pan. The top was frozen over so she chipped it free and left, satisfied that the chickens would survive another day of bad weather.
“Momma!” Banks’s cry was shrill, panicked. Leah took off at a run. She slipped, and fell forward on her hands. The basket landed on the snow and the eggs tumbled out and cracked except for one that bounced and rolled away. Leah ignored the mess. Her boots gave her no traction as she fought her way forward. Finally she was able to stand and move. Dodger bounded toward the door with a sharp growl, scrabbled his way over the drift and disappeared just as Leah slid under the porch overhang.
Banks called out again. Leah went through the door headfirst and landed on her outstretched arms. Her coat and skirts flew up around her waist as she flopped over and scrambled to her feet.
“Banks?”
“In here.” His voice came from his room, not hers. Leah grabbed on to the door frame as she skidded to a stop. Dodger stood in the room with the ruff of his neck standing straight up. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he stared up at Banks and Pastor Key.
“You’ve got to get away Brody,” Pastor Key said. “It’s not safe here.” He stood in
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