Starry Night

fire going, she opened the cabin door. She blinked at the cold that seemed to come at her like a giant fist. It stole her breath, but she managed to pack the coffeepot with snow and then quickly came back inside. Searching through Finn’s cupboards, she found coffee and quickly assembled a pot. The coffee had just finished brewing when she heard Hennessey bark.
    Finn was back.
    Carrie couldn’t imagine where he’d gone or what he’d been doing, especially in the snow. She automatically reached for a second mug and filled it. Finn came in the door, followed by Hennessey, who instantly went to her side. She bent down and petted her newfound friend. Finn seemed surprised to see her up and about.
    “The storm has let up,” he murmured. “But not enough for Sawyer to fly.”
    “Oh.” Carrie had been afraid that was the case. She handed him a mug of steaming brew.
    “You made coffee,” he said, as if this was some gargantuan feat.
    “Yes.” It was one thing to get into a sparring match with him in the dead of night and quite another to do so when they were standing face-to-face. She’d made several accusations that she wished now had remained unsaid. It embarrassed her that she had delved into his personal life when what he did or didn’t do was none of her affair.
    Finn, too, seemed uneasy.
    “Have you had breakfast?” she asked, although she didn’t have a clue what she would cook if he hadn’t. It wasn’t like she had access to fresh eggs. From what little she’d picked up about life in the frozen north, being this close to the tree line meant that groceries, supplies, or anything else Finn needed would have to be flown in.
    “I ate earlier. You?”
    “Not yet.” This strained politeness was a complete turnaround from the way they’d behaved toward each other previously. Carrie felt responsible for clearing the air, although she wasn’t sure what to say or if she should even try. Perhaps it would be best to just pretend their verbal skirmish hadn’t happened.
    “There’s some caribou jerky if you’re interested. Made it myself this summer.”
    His attitude toward her appeared to be a bit more amicable, she noticed. “Thanks, but I’m not much of a breakfast person.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    He removed his coat and then sat down at the table with his coffee, his gaze focused on the cup as if he were reading tea leaves.
    Carrie sat down across from him and decided to make an effort at conversation. “About last night …”
    His head shot up, and his gaze narrowed significantly. “What about it?”
    “I want to apologize for the things I said about you and your mother.”
    He bobbed his head as though to assure her all was forgiven. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “Okay. But I still think you have issues with women.”
    “Drop it, would you?” he said between clenched teeth.
    Carrie held up her hand. “You’re right, sorry.”
    He relaxed and sipped his coffee.
    “I need to do something, and I don’t want to make you mad, so I’m telling you in advance.”
    “Now what?” he asked, as if he’d already grown tired of the conversation.
    Carrie slipped the tips of her fingers into her jeans pocket. “Your mother asked me to give you this. I feel honor bound to follow through with my promise to her.”
    “Give me what?”
    “Your father’s wedding band.”
    His face tightened. “Keep it.”
    “I can’t do that; a promise is a promise.”
    He stared across the short space between them and then smiled. “That’s how you convinced Sawyer to fly you in, isn’t it? You told him you had something for me, but he didn’t say what and I didn’t ask.”
    Carrie didn’t feel she could or should lie. “I’m grateful Sawyer was willing to help me, but he didn’t do it for me. He did it because he felt he was doing what was best for you. He’s a friend, and from what I can see, a good one.”
    Finn snorted and rubbed his hand down his beard. “I knew it had to be something like that.”
    She placed the gold band in the center of the table.
    “Satisfied now?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    His chair made a grating noise as he stood and reached for the gold band, which he carried to the front door. He opened it, letting snow and wind into the cabin before he tossed the ring with all his might into the storm.

Chapter Five

    Carrie bolted to her feet and raced through the open door, and practically dove face-first into the whirling snow. The wind blinded her but she caught a