Chapter Four

The smell of fresh coffee and bacon drifted from the kitchen into the living room and tapped Nick on his nose. He was just thinking to open his eyes when he heard Elizabeth say rather sternly, "Adam! You're not supposed to be in here! What happened? Did Tabitha leave the back door open?"

Nick found himself wondering just who Adam was. He was unprepared to hear what sounded like a low, moaning sound roll through the air…and it didn't sound human. His eyes shot open. The second his eyes focused to the light, Nick had his heart jump into his throat as he scrambled to sit up. He couldn't believe there was a huge black bear in the living room looking at him.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth quickly apologized. "I wasn't thinking when you first arrived. When I realized my mistake, I came back out of the bedroom last night. I was going to tell you all about Adam only you were already asleep. I thought I'd have time to tell you more this morning." By the time she finished speaking Nick saw a young girl step out of the bedroom. He was surprised once more when Elizabeth not only started talking, but signing as well.

"Why didn't you let him out the back door?" A questioning look appeared on Elizabeth's face as she talked to the child.

"Not know we have company," Tabitha shrugged as she signed back. "Sorry."

'Of course she didn't,' Elizabeth inwardly sighed and gave herself a lecture for not waking her stepdaughter and telling her about their visitor. "I'm the one who's sorry. I, obviously, have had my mind on other things." She said as she signed. "Go get dressed for the day. I'll take care of Adam." She then opened the front door, told the animal to go outside. Then, due to the look of disbelief that was still on Nick's face, Elizabeth looked on her guest apologetically. "My late husband and I were trying to get him adjusted to the outdoors. I'm still working on it and, to a large degree have been succeeding. He isn't here nearly as much as he used to be, spends most of his days roaming the mountain side and sleeping in various spots. Still, he shows up now and then. I am actually hoping that by next spring he will be ready to be totally on his own. Adam should soon be in a cave, ready to hibernate." She then went back into the kitchen, asking him if he wanted a cup of coffee as she did so.

"Yes, thanks." Nick, who had managed to put his heart back into place, quickly threw his socks and boots on. Then, to be polite, he started to fold the blankets he'd used. He was surprised when he felt a tap on his arm. He turned to find Tabitha pointing to the blanket and then started signing.

Elizabeth, who had seen the confusion in Nick's eyes, figured he didn't know sign language. That being the case, she told him, "She's offering to take care of the blankets while you come and get your coffee, along with something to eat."

Nick smiled and handed the young girl the blanket, even as he asked his hostess how to say thank you. After Elizabeth showed him, Nick looked at Tabitha, smiled and made the sign he'd been shown. He was pleased when the young child grinned wide. Though, when she made another sign, Elizabeth had to once again tell him what was being said.

Nick sat down at the table. There were two plates in the middle of the table. One held pancakes while the other held bacon. Elizabeth was placing three smaller plate around the table with utensils next to the plates. He looked out the window. From the looks of it, he was thinking the storm the night before had dumped at least a foot of snow on the ground. "It can't be easy for you up here, alone with your daughter." He turned his gaze away from the window. He might have added 'and a bear' only he was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she'd have a bear around in the first place.

For a moment Elizabeth said nothing. Memories of her first two years ran through her mind. It had not been an easy adjustment to make, living so far away from other people. Still, Jason had been more than kind and patient with her. In fact, they'd had a very platonic relationship the first two years of their marriage. "Stepdaughter," She corrected Nick as Tabitha stepped out of the bedroom and headed for the table. "Tabitha's mother died when she was an infant. Typhoid broke out in the town where they lived, and she contracted it. Though, I ceased to think of Tabitha as a stepchild a long time ago. And, no, it's not easy at times, though we manage. It helps that there's a couple living, roughly, seven and a half miles away. They drop in now and then, to check on us. It was Philip and Marie who helped me put out the fire I mentioned." The fact that the couple were the only neighbors she had was something Elizabeth saw no reason to state. After all, she was sure Nick Barkley could figure that one out on his own. By the time she finished speaking Tabitha was sitting at the table. Once the food was blessed they began eating.

After he'd eaten some of what had to be the best tasting food he'd had when he wasn't eating his mother's or Silas's cooking, Nick again looked out the window. While the sky was nowhere near ugly or threatening looking, it still had plenty of clouds. It made him think that, once he had wood chopped for the young widow, he'd best figure out the fastest way back to the path he'd been on before he'd taken a wrong turn.

"I'll get the wood chopped for you before I leave." Nick said as he picked up his empty plate and started to stand…only to find Tabitha standing up, signing something and then holding out her hands.

"She's telling you she'll clean up. She always helps me clean up after breakfast." Elizabeth explained.

Remembering the sign for thank you, Nick thanked the young girl -which had Tabitha beaming-and then headed for the door. Once he out of the cabin, Elizabeth was shocked when Tabitha put down the plates and signed "He be good catch for you."

Without thinking, Elizabeth snapped "TABITHA!"

It didn't matter that she hadn't signed. Her stepdaughter, who could read lips somewhat, understood what Elizabeth had exclaimed. It only made her eyes sparkle and laugh as a smile spread across her face. "WHAT? I deaf not blind!" The young girl continued chuckling as she hurried to clean up the table while her stepmother felt grateful their visitor would soon be on his way.