“It’s equipment of some kind,” Cody said, and nodded. “And it’s getting louder. I’m hoping it’s Jesse in one of the ranch tractors.”

“What makes you think it’s Jesse?” she asked.

“Because the folks at the ranch are the only ones who know where we are. It could be the county workers trying to clear some of the roads, so we can’t get too excited,” he said.

Stevie heard what he said, but the words had little effect on her hope. They had been stranded since sometime Wednesday, and this was Saturday. She wanted to go home to her own bed, eat some chocolate, drink real coffee first thing in the morning—enjoy all the luxuries she had taken for granted in the past.

She rushed across the room, righted the sofa, and shoved everything into her go bag together. “We need to get a box ready for the cats, just in case. We can’t leave them behind. What do we do with the water to keep the pipes from freezing? Should we leave the fire burning in the stove?”

“Slow down, Stevie.” Cody removed his coat and hung it back on a nail. “We’ll take care of all that when we figure out if it’s really Jesse.”

“But we should be ready,” she said.

“All right, then.” He glanced around the room. “We haven’t cooked yet, so everything is in place. Skillet back where we found it. Dishes on the workbench, which is fine. I’ll turn the water to the sink and toilet off at the wall and then drain the pipes. Since the well is under the barn, the pipes should be fine. And if it is Jesse, I can put out the fire with what water is in the coffeepot. Satisfied now?”

“I do feel better,” she admitted and went to the window. “Cody, it is a tractor. I can see the sunlight bouncing off the windshield. It’s coming down the lane, so it’s got to be more than just a county vehicle. They wouldn’t plow anything but the roads.”

“You’re sure eager to get out of here,” Cody said.

“Aren’t you?” she asked.

“I’ve learned to make the best of whatever situation I’m in,” he answered. “Truth is, I’ve kind of enjoyed being stranded. No technology. Living on what we can find.”

“Weren’t you bored at times?” Stevie asked.

“Sure, but life isn’t all happy times. You got to have some rain before you can fully appreciate the rainbow,” he said with a grin.

“Well, I’ve survived the rain, even if it was frozen, and now I’m ready for the rainbow, which in my mind is shampoo, a long bath, a candy bar, something other than tuna fish for breakfast, and my own bed with real pillows,” she told him.