Three weeks after the butter incident, the Mountain Woman received a letter.
Her eldest sister had written.
Their mother was ill.
Not dying.
Weak.
Winter sickness.
The family wanted the Mountain Woman home by spring if possible.
The letter sat on the kitchen table.
The Mountain Man read nothing.
She did not offer it.
He saw her expression.
That was enough.
“What happened?”
The Mountain Woman folded the paper.
“Family.”
“Bad?”
“Maybe.”
He waited.
She explained.
Her mother.
Her brothers.
Spring.
The Mountain Man became quiet.
The Mountain Woman hated that silence now.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Say it wrong.”
He understood the reference.
His mouth tightened.
“You’ll go.”
The Mountain Woman stared.
“Maybe.”
He looked toward the window.
“Should.”
“You want me to?”
“No.”
“Then don’t say should.”
“She’s your mother.”
“I know who she is.”
The Mountain Man looked back.
“You’ll regret it if something happens.”
The Mountain Woman’s anger softened.
He was not pushing her away.
He was protecting her from regret.
Still, the thought of leaving hurt.
She sat.
“I don't know if they need me or if they miss having someone useful.”
The Mountain Man leaned against the table.
“You’re more than useful.”
The Mountain Woman looked at him.
He said it without drama.
That made it worse.
She blinked quickly.
The Mountain Man realized.
His expression softened.
He crouched beside her chair.
The Mountain Woman touched his beard.
“You really are dangerous when you speak more than six words.”
“So I've been told.”
“No one tells you anything.”
“You do.”
True.
Spring was still weeks away.
They decided nothing yet.
Then winter deepened.
A storm trapped them for six days.
Food held.
Wood held.
The cow remained healthy.
But on the fourth night, part of the barn roof shifted beneath heavy snow.
The Mountain Man heard it first.
A cracking sound.
He moved immediately.
The Mountain Woman grabbed her coat.
Outside, wind cut through everything.
They reached the barn.
One beam had twisted.
Not collapsed.
Close.
Animals inside.
The Mountain Man wanted her to stay back.
She refused.
They worked together.
Moved the cow.
Led the horse out.
Secured a temporary brace.
Shoveled weight from the roof edge.
By midnight, both were exhausted.
The Mountain Woman's hands trembled from cold.
The Mountain Man brought her inside.