He pulled back the blankets and rose and searched the duffel and fished out a few toys. The little cars and Batman. He placed them in front of the fire for when Matty woke. Fresh clothes and a toothbrush. He laid the last dry log on the embers and watched it catch flame. Then he pulled on his boots and crossed the kitchen to the back door. Outside he filled the fry pan with clean snow. His cheeks hot. He could feel that he had a fever. How bad? He went in and put the fry pan in the hot outer coals of the fire. Matty still asleep. From the duffel he dug out a tin of peaches and coffee and spoons and set it all on top of the piano. Three potatoes and one can of beans left. The beans and can opener he put on the hearth, by the toys.

There had been no cars on the road in front of the house. Not in the night, and not in the morning either. No one passing by.

He’ll be safe here for one day. You’ll leave and be back by dark.

He made two trips to the woodpile and heaped a nice stack by the hearth. A few more would be enough. On the third trip he felt weak and stopped at the porch, light-headed. He turned and looked at the fields. The farmland: dead and white. The driveway, the road. Some coffee would help. Maybe a bite of peaches.

Come on, Jack. Just last the day.

You have to hold on.

The door squeaked behind him. Matty stood holding the knob, coat zipped to his chin, wild hair tangled, fidgeting from foot to foot.

“You brought Batman.”

“I did.”

“Are we having peaches?”

“Yes. We are.”

Matty watched him a minute. “Are you okay?”

Jack smiled. The wounds stung in his mouth. “Yeah. I’m just getting wood.”

“Can I help?”

“I’d like that.”

Matty smiled. He looked at the sky. “It’s gonna snow.”

“I think you’re right.”

“We could make a snowman later.”

“That sounds good.”

Jack melted snow in the pan and made coffee. He poured a cup and handed it to Matty, who sat in front of the fire. “Have some,” he said.

Matty took the cup in both hands and leaned his face into the dark heat. He tilted the cup and sipped. “It’s really good.”

They drank the coffee together, hot and strong. Then Jack peeled back the tab on the peaches. He gave the tin to Matty with a spoon. “Go ahead.”

“You have some.”

“I want you to have it.”

Matty spooned a wedge into his mouth and handed the tin back. “Now you.”