“How well?” With lightning speed, he threw a ball at the branch above Katie and laughed heartily when a clump of snow landed on her black bonnet.
“Mighty well,” she exclaimed. Well, attempted to, around a mouth of frozen slush.
It was every man for himself. Katie formed snowballs as quickly as she could and threw them at her attacker. Jonathan proved to be a very able fighter himself. His aim was true and his laugh merry.
After a few minutes, they both were slumped against trees and laughing loud and heartily. “You surely managed to surprise me, Jonathan. I didn’t know you could be so lighthearted.”
“I didn’t know you could throw so hard,” he teased. “I thought you’d throw like a girl.”
“Henry taught me many things. You’d be surprised at what I can do.” Lifting her chin, she said, “He even taught me to play basketball.”
“I guess we each still have much to learn about the other.” Brushing a stray clump of snow from her nose, he added, “I welcome that, Katie.”
His declaration left her as breathless as the snowball fight had. “I…I do, too.” Yes, their connection felt even stronger now. Katie knew something subtle had changed between them. Tension filled the air as they stared at each other. For a moment, Jonathan looked about to speak, then, shaking his head, he slowly stood up. “I suppose we better find a suitable tree.”
“Yes. We had better.” She scrambled to her feet as well. When a clump of snow clung to the hem of her dress, she shook the fabric harder than she intended. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll run out of time.”
The silence shifted again, filling the distance between them with a sweet expectation.
Slowly, they continued to walk through the trees. After a few moments, over a ridge in the distance, Katie saw a buck, its grand rack of antlers proudly displayed. She pointed.
“Ah, yes. He is a beauty, for sure.” Together they smiled when two other deer carefully moved out of the cover of evergreens and stepped into the clearing. Then, as one caught sight or smell of them, they darted away as one.
“Did you have your rifle?” Katie knew deer meat would last a good long time.
“I didn’t need it today. I shot a deer at the beginning of hunting season. Eli and I divided it up—he’s making sausage for me. So, I don’t need any more.”
“I’m mighty glad. I do love to look at their graceful presence.”
“I do, too.”
Finally they came to the perfect oak tree. It was a homely, rather short and stunted thing, but the trunk was good and solid, and the lines were lovely. With little effort, Jonathan chopped it down. Birds and squirrels around them squawked in annoyance as the branches cracked and fell to the ground with a hefty thump.
Holding the sturdy ax in his right hand as if it was no heavier than a fork, he glanced her way. “Could you hold this for me?”
“Surely.” She tried not to show her surprise when she realized just how strong Jonathan was. The ax had to weigh over ten pounds, at least.
Katie then stood to one side as Jonathan wrapped a rope around the bottom branches and began to pull.
By the time they got back to the wagon, Katie felt glorious. Her cheeks burned from the cold, but her body was warm, thanks to the added weight of the ax and the brisk pace in which they returned to the wagon. After securing the tree onto the open back, Jonathan pulled out the basket. “Do you think we could have our snacks now?”
“Of course.” Feeling like a child playing house, Katie scrambled back to the bench seat and poured two cups of cocoa into thick ceramic mugs.
Jonathan sipped gratefully. “It’s still warm.”
Wrapping her mittened hands around her mug, Katie nodded. “I’m glad.” She opened a tin. “Cookie?”
“You like to bake very much, don’t you?”
She was surprised he’d noticed. “Yes.”
“It shows. You are a mighty good cook.”
“Thank you. I…enjoy cooking.” Handing him the tin, she hastened to come up with something else to say. “Hannah was in charge of making the thumbprints in each one of these.”
He bit into his with obvious pleasure. “It’s been nice to see the kitchen so busy. You have a great way with Mary and Hannah. The girls’ moods have brightened considerably since you came.”
“I’m glad. I like being with them.”
“I know they like you, too. The girls enjoy your company, Katie.”
She bit into a cookie to refrain from answering.
But that seemed to be just fine for Jonathan. To her surprise, he even seemed to be in the mood to chat. “Katie, when I first came to your home, when I first came to speak with you, I was only thinking of needin’ someone till Winnie came back.”