A freezing wind blew outside. I lowered my feet to the floor, a chill traveling up my spine. The cabin floor was freezing. I walked to the frosted window. Snow blanketed the environment. Grinning, I hastily dressed myself.

The air inside the chicken coop was humid, a stark contrast to the arctic air outside. Three white puffs of feathers lay on the ground sleeping. I gingerly reached underneath each chicken and pulled out three warm eggs. There was still enough bird feed present so I left for the barn.

Bessie was sleeping as well; the warm barn air could have easily made anything relaxed and drowsy. I restocked her feeding trough, however, the second I placed her food down, Bessie perked her head up. Hungry as usual. I swear she could eat every second of the day. Now that she was awake, I bent down to milk her.

I carried five bottles of milk to the shipping room. The list of milk orders hung on the wall to the left of the entrance. I set the bottles on the ground and pulled the list off the wall. There was only one order today. I hung the list where it had been just seconds before. One bottle of milk was placed in my backpack, while the others were stored in the shipping freezer. The eggs were placed in the shipping bin, hopefully to be shipped the next day.

Snowflakes fell from the heavens landing on my brunette hair. I loved snow! There was something about it that made me feel at peace with the world. I clutched the door handle and pushed. Warm air flooded out of the building while I entered. Rock was reclining at the inn's counter, eyes closed. I pulled my backpack around, removing the bottle of milk. "Rock, here is your milk order."

One of his large brown eyes opened. He smirked. "Awesome! Set it in the kitchen, babe."

I sighed walking into the kitchen. Before I came here, I thought I was lazy… Rock redefines the word. I pulled the curtains separating the kitchen and the lobby to the side, ready to walk back into the lobby to leave. The lobby door pushed open and Marlin walked in. He was carrying a large crate. He shot a quick smile my way.

Rock opened one eye again. "Sweet. Those the vegetables we ordered? Put 'em in the kitchen, wont cha?". Marlin frowned angrily at Rock. I held the curtain to the side allowing Marlin to pass underneath. He set the heavy crate on the kitchen table next to the milk bottle before speaking.

He wiped his brow. "Rock really bothers me" he growled.

I began to laugh. Those two were practically opposites as far as personalities go. Marlin and I left the inn together. Snow continued to gracefully float to the earth. Like a child, I stuck out my tongue trying to catch the frozen flakes. Marlin stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You're a strange woman."

"I don't care!" I grinned. "I love snow!"

He shook his head, laughing to himself. "You busy?"

"Nope, why?"

"Want to take a walk or something?"

"Sure."

"Every time I come here, I feel … different." Marlin sighed, staring at his reflection in the icy water. We stood on the edge of the goddess pond. Snowflakes continued to sprinkle down on us.

"Is that why you came here before?" My mind flashed to that cold rainy fall day. Marlin had gotten so worked up that he stormed off here.

Marlin sported his usual frown. "What day?"

I peered into the pond. "That day in fall… remember?"

I heard a heavy sigh. "Oh… yeah." Marlin responded. "I also come here to pray. They say a Goddess lives here you know."

My eyes grew large. "Really?"

"Yup."

"Wow, this valley is really something." I rested my hands on my hips.

"Jill…" Marlin said in a nervous tone.

Concern flashed on my face. "What is it?"

"Well, the Starry Night festival is coming up soon… and well, we are having a party at our house… if you want to come, you're more than welcome." His cheeks were tinting pink.

A party invite? Looks like I got worried over nothing. "That sounds like fun! When is it?"

He turned away from me a little. "Two weeks. I just want to make sure you had plenty of time to clear your busy schedule, you know… with your animals and all." I could hear the abundant sarcasm in the last comment.

I nudged him. "Jerk!"

I had forgotten that we were standing so close to the water's edge. Marlin toppled into the freezing water. As he was falling, his hand clutched my arm pulling me down as well. Luckily the pond wasn't too deep. We both sat in the water for a second until fully realizing what had just happened. "Oh My Gosh! Marlin! I'm so sorry."

He stood up, soaked. Extending a hand to me, he replied sharply "You're so damn lucky you're my friend." I grabbed hold of his hand and he pulled me up.

It was absolutely freezing now. "My farm is only a minute away, we can dry off there."

Inside my cabin, I searched frantically for towels. Being that I lived alone, I only had one… I looked at Marlin. He was shivering slightly as he stood in front of the door. I walked over, towel in hand. "Here. I'm so sorry! I feel terrible…"

He seized the towel from me, quickly wrapping his upper body. "What about you?"

I shrugged. "I'll just change my clothes in the bathroom." I walked to my dresser and pulled a fresh set of working clothes out. "I'll be right back, kay?"

I was mildly panicking. Marlin's health was already relatively delicate, and I had just pushed him into a pond…IN WINTER. He needed to dry off immediately.

I changed as swiftly as I physically could. When I rushed back into the main cabin room Marlin was rubbing his head with the fluffy white towel. His damp hair poked out at all ends. I snickered.

"Do you want another blanket? You look cold." I asked, now serious, as I walked to my bed. There were plenty of blankets he could use.

He glared. "I look cold? Really? I can't imagine why…"

I felt horrible. Gravity weighed heavy on my eyes, pulling them to stare at the cabin floor. Marlin started to laugh, catching me off guard completely. I perked up; my frowning confusion melting into a tiny smile.

I picked up a blanket from the bed and walked it over to Marlin. "Here. I don't want you to catch a cold. Vesta will kill me." I spread the blanket around his shoulders.

"Yeah she will. Hell, she'd probably kill me too for being outside too long in the cold."

His comment made me uneasy. "Wait… won't Vesta and Celia be worried about you?" My violet eyes fixed on the door. "What if they come looking for you?" My speech was racing. "What if-"

"Relax. They probably think I'm at the bar."

My staggered breathing was nowhere close to returning to normal. Marlin placed a hand on my arm. "Relax, Jill. I'll dry off and go straight home."

"No! Vesta's gonna kill me! Oh my gosh!" A lump formed in my throat as my eyes began to water.

"Jill, Vesta won't do anything to you." Marlin still tried to console me. "I won't let her."

His comment evoked a small smile from my panicked face. Vesta could be terrifying if she was upset… their anger was a trait that her and Marlin definitely shared.

We spent another ten minutes in the cabin. Marlin tried his best to dry himself off with the towel as I tried my best not to have a complete panic attack. Finally Marlin decided he wasn't going to get any drier and that he would probably be fine going the way he was. I walked him to the edge of my farm property, wishing that he get straight home to change clothing.