Harvey always looked forward to the end of winter, he enjoyed the quiet reflection that came with the cold season. He tended to spend more nights on the radio, waiting for infrequent voices to drift over the airways rather than be outside in the bitter cold. Each trip out into the snowy tundra felt like an adventure, even just crossing the square to the saloon after sunset.
He was just coming back from a morning trip to Pierre's when he heard the urgent pounding of horse hooves. For a moment the farmer was silhouetted at the top of the stairs from the old community center downhill to the main square, her hair streamed out from under a mask of a skeleton that covered her face, protecting her from the chill rush of wind as she moved with pace.
The farmer rode their horse with saddlebags laden with logs of wood and a basket of stones filled to its brim. With practiced steps she maneuvered her horse down the steps, her cowboy hat fitting the horsemanship she showed as they turned west onto the road that led to their grandfather's old farm. Not noticing Harvey's impressed gaze watching her the farmer picked up speed as she trotted over the icy mud down to her farm.
But she hadn't reached the lamppost by the exit of the town before her horse stared to slip, turning away as its hooves started to slip in the deeper mud. Cussing she hopped off the horse and tried leading it gently on but it didn't budge.
Tentatively Harvey wandered up towards them. He was no fan of horses, large animals with unpredictable and iron hooves were not a risk he thought worth their company, so he was nervous around the large farm animal. Unsuccessful at coaxing the animal along the farmer half turned, noticing him approach. Harvey waved one hand in greeting, cursing inwardly about his embarrassing home knitted mittens he was wearing, his other arm weighed down with his own small bag of groceries, but compared to her it was nothing. He took in the large bounty of bags she had loaded on her horse and its reluctance to continue the trek home.
"I thought winter was meant to be the off season for your farm?" His voice was slightly awed with how much she had loaded on. She pulled up the mask and stuck it in her pack to give him a grin and a wink.
"When you start knowing what to look for, its amazing what you can find even in the depts of winter. Best to always have some line of revenue."
"I hate to say this, but I do make a lot more money during flu season. I guess if people stopped getting sick, I'd be out of business. Don't get the wrong idea! I want people to be healthy... really!" He didn't understand why his mouth seemed to keep going as the word blurted out awkwardly. He blushed under her raised brow, but to his relief she kept smiling, even letting out a little giggle as she turned to begin lifting bags off her horse to lighten its load.
"Today though my winter gathering might be a bit too fruitful, Roach here is on strike," The farmer grumbled out, shooting a look at the horse, apparently named Roach, who stood placidly by the path and began to nibble on some icy grass by the base of the fence as she stripped the basket of rock onto her back with a grunt.
"Speaking of healthy this should be some good exercise carrying all this ore back to the farm, I think I overdid it in the mines today." Harvey watched with concern as she loaded bag after bag of ores, geodes, stone and coal off the back of her horse who tossed its head appreciatively and perked its head back up, done with its nibbling for now. He couldn't help but place his own bags down and step forward to take one of the baskets she was manhandling down.
"I can help you take some of it back, I haven't seen your place since just after you grandfather passed away, it was sad to see it so rundown before you came along." The farmer blushed at his compliment and bashfully trust a bag at him, followed by two more. His totes for his groceries went onto the lightened up horse as the pair became weighed down and after loading two up across each shoulder they started together towards the farm.
They looked like pack mules, both sweating in their warm winter clothes as they trudged down the wet and muddy lane. Even loaded as she was with a heaving backpack and sacks of wooden logs the farmer talked easily as she walked along, chatting about the large omelet Gus was planning for a special Sunday breakfast. Harvey struggled along next to her, his boots threatening to slide out in the icy mud, and his shoulders sore from the straps that cut in. His hot breath made his glasses start to fog up making his vision murky. He could barely see that the bus stop was behind them as they walked the last tree lined stretch of driveway to the farm as the farmer lead the horse behind the pair.
The farmer gestured to her porch and following her with a blind stumble he hoisted the bags off his shoulder to dump them onto the deck with a heavy thud. He pulled off one mitten to wipe his sweaty forehead and take his glasses off to clean them. Catching his breath as he put them back on his jaw dropped in shock as he looked around him.
The one rundown field was transformed. The farmhouse was clean and painted, surrounded by wooden decking lined with colorful chests and a crafting workshop extended before the house. Some fields sat empty in the icy cold with neat coops and a barn sitting behind, next to a still and sparking pond. The farmer led her horse to a stable over by the silos and barn as Harvey stood on her porch and took it all in. The winter may have meant no crops grew by the waiting sprinklers but the farm still heaved with activity, from the fishponds that swirled with a odd red tinted fish the kegs and preserving jars nearby seemed to almost hum with the fermentation activity within. The cold and quiet farm were bustling with life.
After not very long the farmer came back, her face was also pink and flushed from exertion and cold but she stilled grinned and grappled the bags that sat on the porch, talking as she did, "I really appreciate the help doc, I don't think I could have lugged all that back by myself. Can I offer you a cup of coffee as a thank you?" As she spoke she sorted her stash, taking various bags over to the colored chests clustered by her workbench.
Harvey rubbed his hands to keep warm and nodded enthusiastically. Quickly finishing up the farmer held the door for Harvey who walked eagerly into the farm and cozy farmhouse. Here again she had worked wonders and she showed him her new kitchen extension as she heated them up some coffee on her cozy woodfire stove that kept the cottage cozy and warm. To pass the time while she prepared the drinks Harvey turned on the TV to some cooking show he only half watched as his eyes explored the interesting kink knacks she had around her living room. He poked away a large blue bear plushie as he sat in the green armchair arranged before the fire and TV, the farmer came to join passing him a steaming fragrant brew that made his mouth water.
He hummed in approval as he took a sip feeling the steam melt the ice in his moustache. "Mmmm this is my favorite stuff, its like you read my mind." She gave him a glowing smile at his compliment and they sat in companiable silence watching Queen of Sauce together. It was only the short winter day and the growing threat of sunset that finally drove Harvey to stand up and say his farewells. He reluctantly turned away from the cozy living room that smelled of coffee and woodsmoke and began the trudge back to his apartment over the clinic.
The walk back home felt longer without the fearless farmer by his side, strange shadows seemed to loom in the trees by the bus stop and he swore he spotted small shadowy footprints hiding behind bushes in the snow. He picked up his pace and got back to the square just as the streetlights were clicking on and the temperature was plummeting. It was a relief to get back to his own apartment and change his wet clothes and shoes into his cozy pajamas, but as he curled into bed that night he dreamed of the smell of woodsmoke and a dazzling grin.