I slipped into something comfortable,a three-piece wool walking suit with a matching shawl paired with three layers of wool stockings. The day’s air was purely arctic, the tears from the wind in my face threatening to freeze every time my lashes became wet from them. I took Horse into town with me andbrought him into the neighbor’s carriage house behind the shop due to the weather.
It was becoming hard to walk quickly when even my bones could feel the cold. The blacksmith was not too far off, and I needed to pick up my tools. My amateur carving knives were not cutting it, pun aside.
The white coating made it easier to spot even the slightest shadows, including the one that began walking in stride with me.
“You might turn blue if you keep insisting on walking in such weather,” Silas commented as he caught up to me.
“I don’t know what you mean.” My teeth chattered as my jaw was beginning to lock up. “Besides, it would be cruel to make my horse wait outside for small errands. Walking is healthy.”
“You don’t have anything warmer to wear?” He pinched at my sleeve.
“Nope.” I raised my chin and practically said the words to the sky in an attempt to ignore him.
“If you say so, Krampus,” he teased, brushing some flakes off my fur hat.
“What brings our paths together this morning?” I looked up at him. “Surely it is not a coincidence.”
“I wanted to see you.”
“And?”
“Nothing more.”
I shook my head at him. We arrived in front of the blacksmith. The large barn doors in front of the shop were only slightly ajar to keep out most of the windchill. The sound of metal chimes became clearer the closer we got.
“John?” I called out.
Inside, the shop was just as rustic as the outside. A roaring furnace stood proud in the industrial space, governing over its dominion. Next to the furnace, there was a brawny figure swinginga mallet down on a red-hot rod of metal. Pieces of cherry-colored metal flaked off to expose bright yellow on the rod underneath before calming down to the same red. The flakes turned ashen as they settled.
“John!” I raised my voice over the ring of the hammer.
The tanned man turned to see me and flashed a smile as bright as the furnace itself.
“I didn’t see you there! I would have held on to your tools until tomorrow—it is far too cold to be walking about today.” He submerged the hot metal with a hiss in the water barrel next to his anvil and approached as he discarded his leather gloves.
He gave me a friendly hug before holding me by my shoulders at arm’s length.
“I think you are the only customer I can greet with a hug since your attire is usually as black as the soot on my hands,” he laughed, wrinkles at the outer corner of his eyes appearing along with his smile. “Who is this young gentleman?” He glanced over my shoulder before he passed me.
“Silas Forbes—” He held a hand out for John.
“There is no need for formalities; come here.” John laughed merrily before wrapping his arms around him, slapping the back of Silas’s shoulder before pulling back. “Any friend of Alina is a friend of mine.”
I physically recoiled at the mention of friends, but it only amused Silas.
“It is such a relief to meet someone genial in this town; it has been quite a task making acquaintances,” Silas joked. “I would be completely lost without my hospitablefriend.”
“I figured I would take my tools now. I understand you will be closing the shop for a few days to prepare for incoming weather.” I removed my hat so I could shake the moisture from the melted snow.
“Of course! Though if you did not pick them up, I would have dropped them at the house,” he reached under his work bench and pulled out a leather bag that was rolled neatly in a log shape aside from the handle and strap that held it together.
“I wouldn’t ask that of you.”
“You never ask anything of anyone.” John raised his brow and handed the bag to Silas. When John let go of the bag, I could see Silas jolt due to the weight of it, but he recovered smoothly and pretended it didn’t happen. I suppose he didn’t expect the weight.
“Will you be coming for Christmas?” I did not want to sound too hopeful in case he had other plans this year, but it was nice having him visit.
“If you want me to, I will come,” he replied, his eyes somber.
