Page 35 of His One True Wish

“Thank you,” I said, writing down the score and enjoying the fact that I was clearly in the lead.

Axl glanced outside. “Ifwe were to go out and get lanterns and some extra flashlights, this might be a good time.” He stood and stared into the snow. “Seems slightly less snowy.”

“Only slightly,” I said, looking at the swirling snow.

“Yeah, let’s do it. Will also help me get a read on bad it really is out there.” Axl stood up and pulled on his boots.

“You sure you aren’t trying to just end a losing Scrabble game?”

Axl laughed. “Nah. I’ll go into the barn and get them. My boots are sturdier, and no reason we should both get chilled. You stay here. We will finish the game when I am back.”

“I’ll go, too. I think it’s better to stick together.” There was no way I was letting him be the hero. I was capable of helping, so that’s what I was going to do. I sat on the couch and slipped into my boots.

Axl exhaled and sighed. “You aren’t going to let me go out there and just do this for you, are you?” He sounded weary.

“Nope,” I said, standing and reaching for my purple coat.

“Okay then,” he said. “We stick together.”

“We stick together,” I said, thinking there was something about those words that I liked.

After my boots, I put on my gloves and coat, and I borrowed Axl’s gray cap again. He put on a thick black coat over his shirt and vest.Cam sat in front of the fire eating a dog treat; Axl didn’t want to manage her outside.

“Follow my steps,” he said, his hand on the doorknob.

I nodded as he opened the back door. The wind stung my face, and when I inhaled, the bite of cold hit me deep in my lungs. The air tasted blue, and everything outside sparkled. It was a winter wonderland with sharp edges all around.

Axl worked his way down the stairs.

I ignored my nerves and racing pulse as I followed him. What was wrong with me? I grew up in Colorado and had spent plenty a snowy day in Smoke River. But this weather was different. This was the deepest snow on the coldest day I could ever remember. It was easy to feel safe inside playing a board game, but people died in weather like this. Gran always told me to never underestimate the mountain and what she could do.

Axl’s legs sunk deep into the snow. I followed him step for step.

“Easy-peasy,” I whispered. Concentrating on staying warm, I visualized myself inhaling warm tropical air. It didn’t help. It was so cold that my lungs ached.

Axl moved deliberately. He turned and looked at me, his cheeks pink, the end of his nose red from just a few minutes outdoors. “It will be warmer in the barn,” he said, his words sounding forced. “I need to pull the door open. Stand back.”

I gave him a thumbs-up.

Axl got on his knees and dug along the bottom of the door to give it some room to open. He made a small trench. I joined in, tossing snow behind us. It was hard, cold work, but soon we carved out a gap wide enough for the door to slide open and for Axl to slide his foot inside. Finally, the gap was wide enough. Axl slipped into the barn, and I followed.

The air inside was less bitterly cold. Axl reached for the light switch, but like everything else on the property, it didn’t turn on.

“Worth a shot,” he muttered.

It was still so cold. I shivered. My breath froze in puffs even in the barn, where at least it was a couple of degrees warmer than outside.

“Lanterns,” Axl said, clapping his hands. “Flashlights. We don’t want to be out here long.” He strode across the room and opened up a cabinet by the tool shed. He pulled out two large lanterns.

“Where is the oil?” I asked.

He handed me a plastic bottle, the oil inside frozen solid. I shrugged. It would have to work. Axl opened a drawer and took out two large flashlights. He flipped one on, illuminating the interior with a warm yellow light.

“Yes!” I said, jumping in the air. It felt so good to finally be right about something.

“Yes, indeed.” Axl smiled. He handed me a flashlight, which I slipped into my pocket. It wasn’t safe to light the lanterns in the barn, so Axl turned on his flashlight as we walked back to the door.

“We need anything else?” I asked.

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