The sun burned through the steam revealing a small creek of black water between two pillows of snow. Behind it, funnels of rock, with holes in the top like chimneys, chugged out plumes of steam, spitting water like an overboiled kettle on the flame. Bison grazing nearby struggled to lift their heads up, their beards were so weighed down by the ice balls that had formed in them. But they responded to the promise of heat and light sparkling across the surface of the dashing water and slowly made their way towards it.

“I’m just scared by how much I love you,” said Peter after a while.

Cooper nodded as if that was just about the measure of things.

“Peter?” he said after a while.

“What?”

“Oh, nothin’. I just wanted to hear your name is all.”

Peter smiled. He watched the way Cooper put his Stetson back on brim-first to shield his eyes from the sun and loved him that little bit more for not letting him be the only one to worry about them. For some reason it was reassuring seeing him get anxious like this. Not that he ever wanted Cooper to worry. Never. But he didn’t need to know that.

“Do you think we’ll ever run out of things to talk about?” said Peter after a while.

Cooper pushed the brim of his Stetson up with his forefinger to reveal a raised eyebrow, and for the first time, Peter saw a bit of old Bud in him. “Don’t you ever quit thinkin’?”

Peter smiled. “Come here.”

Peter swung his right leg back over the saddle to dismount and slipped down on to the ground. Cooper strode forward holding his gaze in ways that told him they were about to kiss. He cupped the back of Peter’s head to bring him in close and their lips met.

They set up camp. Cooper fashioned an A-frame out of four ski poles dug into the snow at cross angles with a sheet of tarpaulin over the top to form a tent, then quickly bundled their blankets and then Peter inside. Some time later, after they’d kissed, Peter found that his mind was free of all those stupid little insecurities. He lay back in Cooper’s arms listening to the tarpaulin crinkle in the wind and none of them seemed to matter any more.

“Reckon we just needed to cuddle so tight you can’t squeeze a toothpick between us,” said Cooper after a while.

“I know,” said Peter. “We won’t leave it so long next time.”

“It’s real important we don’t. We can get through anythin’ as long as we stay close.”

“I love you,” said Peter.

Cooper leaned over, gently kissing Peter’s forehead. “So much. I can’t keep none of it in.”

Peter slipped his hand inside Cooper’s and listened to the earth below them grumble away in constant motion.