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Calam kicked the snow off her boots, then she cracked her back and took a good look around her. “Boy, Katie, it sure is coming down out there.”
“Like sheep in a fog,” said Katie. She handed Calamity a hot cup of coffee fresh off the griddle, then checked on the baked chicken she’d been slaving over for the last couple of hours. It looked perfect. She added a little more salt and butter, then got to work on the taters and the boiled turnips. Calamity went about setting the table, tucking her boots by the fire so the melted snow wouldn’t get everywhere. And so the evening went for them – quiet, companionable, and happy.
The air crackled with electricity, in a way that made no sense to Calamity. Sure, she thought Katie was mighty purty, but she had no idea why she was drawn so strongly to her. Maybe it was the way she looked at Calam – maybe it was about the way she had opened up her home to her as well, or how she’d stood up to everyone for Calamity – the same way Calamity had stood up to everyone for her. It was one heck of a miracle to have someone who wants to be that close to you in your life. She didn’t want to ask any questions, but being with Katie made her want to ask questions.
Katie got the biscuits out of the oven and some cookies as well. Together, they sat down and had their dinner before sitting right in front of the fire while the wind roared outside. Katie knit, Calam whittled. That was how their evenings always went.
But when it was time for them to go to their separate bunks that night, they realized both of their bedrooms were a tad too chilly to sleep solo. While they each had a well-banked fire, Katie’s room was warmer and Calamity’s wouldn’t get toasty until she tossed more fatwood on it. She did so, but until it was ready…
Well, Katie’s bed looked downright cozy. And so they crawled under the quilts together and – fully dressed, mind you – wrapped their arms around each other. It took two extra blankets on top of them for them to feel properly cozy, but they did indeed feel cozy.
Together, they closed their eyes and the wind howled on. Then Katie said, “Calamity. Do you remember what you said, when you thought I was Adelaide?”
“I do. I said you were purty in those ruffles,” Calamity yawned. “Just one lady appreciating another.”
“Well, I did feel appreciated, quite,” said Katie, flushing as she confessed this. “Rather, that is…”
“Whatt’re you trying to get out, girl?” asked Calamity.
“I’ve been enjoying living with you,” Katie said. “So very much. And I don’t know if you’ve been…”
“Well, sure,” Calamity said. “Living with you’s been like peaches on pie. Sweet and lovely, o’course.”
Katie then said, “would you like to live with me forever?” She huddled under the covers as that question exited her mouth. Clearly, she feared that Calamity might not appreciate the question – or worse, might be mean about it.
Calamity considered the notion. “You wouldn’t mind if I went roaming every once in awhile?” she asked.
“Oh of course not! Would you take me with you sometimes?” Katie asked. “I sometimes get the itch to travel, too.”
“I’d be glad to have you at the back of my saddle,” Calamity said. And then she asked, “why’re you asking? Something go wrong with your latest beaux?”
Katie shook her head, “I just think it would be better to be with you,” she confessed. “And all I want is to be with you, these days.”
“Well,” Calamity remarked, her eyes widening. “Well…”
“I’ve said too much,” Katie groaned.
“Nope!” Calamity said. “Now you see here, Miss Brown. I’ve been watching you paint hearts all over this cabin and cooking me fine meals and singing like the world’s prettiest canary. You think I don’t have feelings for a fine lady like you?”
“But that’s impossible. What about Danny? What about Wild Bill?” Katie asked.
Calamity shook his head. “What I feel about Danny ain’t never gonna hold a candle to what you do for me. Every time I look at you, I sit there and I see little tweeting birds and beautiful flowers. You’re magic like that, Katie. I guess I’ve been holding back those feelings for a long time. But they’re real as the storm brewin’ outside our window.”
Katie blushed. “Well, who knew you had a flatterer in you, Calam?”
“A scout’s gotta have all kinds of skills when they’re out on the trail, but flattery ain’t one. I’m no finesser, Miss Brown. Everything I say is true.”
Katie nestled a little bit closer to Calamity. “Well,” she said. “I suppose that thoroughly settles the question of my staying.”
“And the question of me going. Now we have a roaring fire and a beautiful night, Kate. Whatt’re we gonna do with it?”
Happily inspired, Katie leaned in. Now the question was, how long would they be able to hide away from the rest of the world in their little cabin.
**
The storm choked out its last burst of energy sometime around noontime the next day. Calamity and Katie dressed up warm and shoveled their way to the barn, making sure the horses were still warm, well-fed and watered. They carved two pathways through the snow, back to the cabin.
“Suppose we could have griddlecakes?” asked Calamity.
“There’s still fatback in the ice room. Think you could grab some?”
Calamity grinned, tipping her hat toward Katie. It was going to be her job to make this woman happy forever, and all because Katie had the bravery to ask her to stay. Well, if last night proved anything, she was definitely able to hold up her end of the bargain.
With that, Katie headed down to the smokehouse. She’d eat like a natural-born queen with Katie at her side, and she was going to make sure that Katie felt warm as a desert princess.
They were together now, all thanks to a woman’s touch.