I froze, startled because I hadn't heard him approach. Had he heard what Milly just said?

I looked down at my feet, feeling – what was I feeling? I was slightly scared, because once again I realized how big he is. Could he still be mad from that snowball?

"Daniel and Ephraim will be alright." I heard Ben's deep voice say. "The rest of them are out finishing up a few last minute chores."

"Well you'd better tell them to get back here before their dinner's cold. I'll be back to collect the trays in half an hour and whatever's not eaten is going with me. Come, Dorcas, our own dinner will be getting cold." She paused and looked at me sharply. "On second thought, maybe we'd better stay here for a while. You're still chilled. We'll wait until you're all warmed up again before heading back."

Ben also gave me a sharp glance. His scrutiny made me feel slightly uncomfortable. He put his hand on the small of my back and gently guided me towards the small wood stove that the brothers had set up in the corner where their cots were. I sat down on a little stool they had there. Ben picked up a blanket that was on one of the cots and gently draped it over my shoulders; he then walked over to Milly, who was standing a few feet away. Even though they spoke in lower voices, I was still near enough to hear it.

"Why doesn't she have a coat on?" Ben was angry.

"Because when you grabbed her, she was in her nightgown. She stayed up all last night just so that she'd have some clothes to wear today." Milly's response was sharp.

"Oh." Ben's voice sounded slightly guilty.

I stood up and turned around. "Really, I think I'll be fine. It'll be better once I'm actually back at the house and in front of a real fire."

Milly nodded and smiled. "Okay, Dorcas."

I started to follow her out the door, but stopped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back and saw Ben, an uncomfortable look on his face. "Here," he said, holding out a jacket. "Take this."

"I can't take your coat," I protested, thinking of what it would be like for him to work all day in the cold without it.

"It's the least I can do. I mean, when I took you I wasn't even thinking about clothes, or the cold or anything like that. I behaved like a fool. Please take it. I'll come to the house and get it tomorrow morning before starting the chores." He had an anxious look in his eye, and I knew that he was, in his very awkward way, trying to make things better between us.

I gave him a small smile. "How about you walk me back to the house, that way you can bring it back tonight? I know how cold it can get in the mornings."

"You're sure? I mean, it's alright?" He asked hesitantly.

"I'm sure. Let's go," I took the proffered coat and slipped it on.

I'm a tall girl, taller than most, but even so his coat was huge on me. I wrapped it tightly around my chest and held my arm out to see that the coat sleeve went well beyond my hand. I chuckled slightly at this and smiled up at him. He was smiling too, and as we stood, smiling at looking into each other's eyes, I caught a wisp of that feeling that this was right. I hurriedly broke the glance.

"Come on, let's get you back," Ben murmured as we headed out the barn doors.

Snow was falling again, and I couldn't help but think that all of the boys' shovelling and hard work would be wasted with this new snowfall. I looked up to watch the snow fall down. It was so beautiful at night. The moon was peeking through a hole in the clouds. All around us the night was still. I sighed and closed my eyes, drinking in the peace.

I shook myself back and looked up at Ben, he was gazing at me with an odd look in his eyes, and I remembered that he didn't have a coat on. "I'm sorry, we'd better get going or you'll freeze to death."

"I don't mind," he said quietly.

When we reached the porch we stood there for a few moments. I slipped the coat off and immediately missed it. The coat had been comfortably worn-in. I could feel that it was a coat that had seen many hard years and yet was still as good as the day it was first made. I handed it to Ben and he slipped it on, wearing it as if it was a second skin.

"Well, good night," I said quietly.

"Good night," Ben replied and turned to go.

"Wait, Ben!" I called. He turned back to me and I paused. I took a few steps so that we were near each other once more. "I'm sorry about the snowball today." I apologized. "It was childish of me, especially the rocks."

"It's okay," Ben smiled. "It didn't really hurt that much."

"I just – I just needed to do something, do you know what I mean?" I tried to explain myself, and was certain that I was making everything worse.

"Don't worry about it, Dorcas." I froze and realized it was the first time he'd called my by my first name. I felt a shiver go up my spine and I knew that it wasn't because of the cold. "And I'm sorry for taking you without your clothes or anything like that." He said awkwardly.

He didn't apologize for taking me, just for taking me without my things. I wasn't quite sure what to say to that and I told him so.

"It's okay, I know it's not much of an apology," he gave a small laugh and I smiled at him.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around tomorrow then." I said.

He gave me one last smile and went down the porch steps.