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“Chris and Daphne, can you start the roast? Let’s put all the little potatoes in the pot – just cut them in quarters, and we’ll be right back. Lena, if you’ll come with me.”
“What’s wrong?” Lena began, with almost a sense of foreboding, as Houghton walked past the entry to the kitchen with another person. She barely caught a glimpse of this new arrival, but it never seemed to be a big deal until now.
“Good luck,” Chris said softly, looking at her with a wariness that surprised her – as Lena swallowed, hurrying to follow Jill.
Jill looked at her, smiled, and nodded.
“Friendship, trust, and understanding… remember?”
“I trust you, but what is happening?”
“Your cabin mate just arrived.”
“That…guy?”Lena hesitated, feeling almost sick to her stomach as the carpet had just been pulled out from her peaceful reverie. “I can’t share a cabin with a guy.”
“He is not a threat and needs a friend desperately. He’s healing, too, and was just discharged due to a severe injury. I don’t have enough cabins for everyone, so some of you are going to have to double up.”
“I can double up with Chris…”
“She’s paired with Gideon.”
“What?” Lena hissed in stunned silence, realizing now what the other woman meant when she said good luck.
“What about Daphne?”
“Her cabin mate will be here this Friday or next – so please don’t make her worry. We got the phone call late last night. There are a few extenuating circumstances that may delay his arrival.”
“Like what?”
“Like if they have to amputate his leg or not.”
“Oh my gosh… Jill, that’s awful,” Lena gasped, stunned and following the other woman out of instinct before hesitating as Jill turned to her – clasping her hands.
“That right there,” Jill began softly, looking at her. “That kindness is what everyone needs and deserves that lives here on the property. Just because this person is male doesn’t mean that he doesn’t deserve the same kindness you just showed for someone who hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Won’t this be… weird?” she whispered nervously – only to see a dark-haired man with an angular face walk out of the cabin and look at them.
“Is there a problem?” he said defensively.
“Is there?” Jill asked Lena softly – and she shook her head ‘no’ only to see the man disappear inside once more.
“Come,” she began. “Let me introduce the two of you – and feel free to use the fireplace now because while you are getting the eggs and helping in the kitchen? His responsibility is the wood for all the cabins.”
“All of them?”
“Yep.”
“Does he know that?”
“He’s about to find out.”
“Oh mercy…”
“Working farm, remember?”
“I know, but…”
“Gideon cleans the stalls and feeds the horses. Chris handles feeding and milking the cows, Daphne maneuvers the snow plow on the roads, and…”
