Only 06 - Winter Fire

he said.
    â€œWaste of time,” she said. “There are plenty of snakes to replace the ones you scare away.”
    â€œSome snakes are worse than others.”
    â€œCulpepper snakes?”
    â€œYou don’t scare them away. You cut off their heads and bury them under a rock.”
    A chill went through Sarah. At that moment Hunter sounded and looked very much like Case.
    It was a relief when Morgan came in with a small burlap bag of coffee beans and a hand-sized grinder. Veryquickly the smell of brewing coffee filled the cabin and drifted out through the chinks in the logs.
    Case and Ute appeared not long after. Case, at least, was freshly washed.
    â€œI hope you brought your own cups,” she said wryly. “I’m plumb out.”
    Each man held out a tin cup. She dipped out coffee for them and prodded the cornbread.
    â€œIt’s ready,” she said, “but you might burn your fingers.”
    Ute filled his plate with beans and cornbread, chose a spot near the fire, and sat on his heels. With the ease of a man who rarely used a chair or a table, he began eating, balancing everything without awkwardness.
    Belatedly Case noticed that Sarah wasn’t having any coffee.
    â€œDon’t you like coffee?” he asked her.
    â€œSure, but Conner took his cup up to the rim with him,” she said.
    Hunter and Morgan realized they were drinking from the only other cups Sarah owned. As one, the men stood and held their cups out to her.
    â€œSit down,” Case said. “She can use my cup.”
    After a moment of hesitation, Hunter and Morgan sat down at the table again.
    Sarah began piling food onto a plate. When it was full, she handed it to Case.
    â€œI suppose Conner took his plate with him, too,” Case said easily.
    â€œPacked to the brim with food,” she agreed.
    â€œThen we’ll share.”
    With no more warning than that, he delivered a spoonful of beans to her mouth. Startled, she took the food without protest at first. Then she realized she was eating his breakfast and started to object.
    â€œMind your manners,” Case said. “No talking when your mouth is full, remember?”
    Morgan coughed suddenly.
    Hunter gave his brother a sideways, speculative look.
    Case didn’t notice. He was too busy feeding Sarah. Every time she opened her mouth to say something to him, she got another helping of food. Only when she kept her lips firmly shut did he begin eating himself.
    â€œTake some coffee,” he said. “Or do you want me to feed you like a baby bird, a spoonful at a time?”
    Nervously she licked her lips. The sudden narrowing of his eyes as he watched her tongue made her breathless.
    â€œI don’t think,” she said huskily, “that would be a good idea. I’d burn my mouth.”
    â€œOr something,” he said, but his voice was too low for anyone except her to hear.
    After that there was silence except for the small noises of men scraping tin plates with spoons and Sarah stirring the fire when she added more wood.
    When the last of the food was gone, Hunter pushed back from the table with a contented sigh.
    â€œI haven’t had beans like that since Texas,” he said.
    â€œIt’s those wicked little peppers,” she said. “Ute taught me to like them.”
    â€œJalapeños?” Hunter asked.
    â€œ Sí ,” Ute said.
    â€œI’ll have to find some seeds for Elyssa.”
    â€œI’ll send seeds with you,” Ute said.
    â€œMy wife would like that. She lost most of her garden when the raiders salted it. We’ve been scouting seeds and cuttings and such ever since.”
    â€œWe have squash, potatoes, beans, corn, and seeds for greens,” Sarah said. “You’re welcome to what you need. If you want flaxseed for cloth or oil, or fertile eggs, we have some to spare.”
    â€œEspecially the way Conner collects eggs,” Case said dryly.
    â€œMy brother hates that chore,” she explained to Hunter.
    â€œI’ll take it over,” Case said. “And I’ll build a chicken run as soon as my own cabin is finished.”
    Hunter gave his brother a startled look. “I take it you’re planning on settling here?”
    â€œYes. The land…” Case hesitated, then shrugged. “The land eases me. I belong here.”
    Hunter looked at Sarah. She was very busy scrubbing out the bean pot.
    â€œWell, then we better take care of