Outside the cabin, the wind howled through the trees, while inside, the old woman's fire was nearly out.
There was a knock at the door. Violet wrapped her blanket round herself. Her cat snaked between her legs.
‘Who are you?’
Marcia reached for Jamie’s hand.
‘I’m Marcia and this is Jamie. We’re looking for somewhere to stay. Can you give us some directions?’ Jamie squeezed her hand.
‘I can’t be doing with them fancy hotel things but if I send you into town someone might help I suppose.’
‘That sounds good.’ They answered together.
‘Its cold out here, you’ll catch your death, perhaps some soup might help if you can chop me some firewood’.
They rubbed each other’s arms, muttering.
‘Ok, no problem.’ Jamie found an axe, chopped some wood and carried it into the house.
***
Violet stood at the stove, her back to them.
Marcia sat stroking the cat.
‘Well get the fire blazing there’s a good lad’.
Marcia nodded to Jamie pulling her coat tighter and rubbing her arms.
‘You on vacation?’ Violet set soup and bread on the table.
‘Something like that.’ Jamie winked.
Marica bit her lip.
‘If we can have those directions we’ll be on our way.’
Marcia gave Violet a pen and paper.
Violet drew a map.
They thanked her and went back to the car.
Violet stroked her cat.
‘I wonder what’s going on there then Ace?’
Ace curled up on her lap and purred.