When Sallie let the quilt fall from her shoulders, Ola wasn't sure what to do. Sallie was directly in front of her, naked, and Ola seemed unable to turn away. “You'll freeze,” she said to Sallie. “You'll freeze again.”

“And you will save me.” Ola was startled and shaky when Sallie reached out and pulled the cord that held the robe together, but she did not resist, nor when Sallie reached her arm in the front of the robe and pulled it around the both of them. She let Sallie pull her into her embrace and felt her skin tighten as if it would soon split.

“I saved you.”

The sleet and rain had stopped, and a small, steady snow had come again, helping to coat the ice until it was walkable. They dressed, though Sallie's clothes were still slightly damp, and they went outside to empty the chamber pot into the privy and to break the ice on the spring pond and draw fresh water.

The land had grown beautiful in the storm, and there was still ice sparkling on the tree limbs, and the snow was untouched by anything, save their footprints and the tracks of a lone rabbit. They stood together outside the cabin, only their shoulders touching, and looked at the scene before them, and smiled.

They sat together much of the day, usually not talking, always touching, but just barely. They drank tea and ate corn bread before the fire. They would look at each other and smile and look away, though sometimes Sallie, always Sallie, would take Ola's jaw in her hand and angle Ola's mouth up for kissing.

Sallie's clothes were off and in front of the fire again, and Ola took hers off as well. They sat and lay in front of the fire, touched, kissed, and dozed.

Ola May came wide awake to the sound of the door opening. She jumped up, grabbing at the quilt to cover herself, but Sallie was lying on it, just coming from sleep herself, leaving Ola with only her hands and arms to cover her body. She crouched next to Sallie and stared wide-eyed at her brother, who stared back, wide-eyed.

“Get out,” Ola yelled, but her brother simply stood and stared at the two naked women. “At least turn around,” she said. “Let us get some clothes.”

And he did, slowly, uncertainly, while Ola May got her robe and Sallie wrapped herself in the quilt.

“What?” he asked. “What are you doing?”

“Doing what we're doing. Now get out of here. What are you here for?”

“To see if you're all right.”

“I'm all right. Don't I look all right?” She immediately wished she hadn't said that, having just stood before her brother stark naked.

“The storm,” he said. “Was worried about you in the storm.”

“No worry. No need to worry,” she lied. She had a quick image of Sallie standing at the door, nearly dead, the night before.