Late winter afternoon sun warmed Giff’s face as he took a break. Sitting on the top step outside the back porch, he noticed more bare patches in the garden. Snow was melting fast. A sassy jay called from the top branches of the apple tree. Ruby, the calico, sauntered around the corner of the house, rubbed against his legs, and continued her search for mice trails under the snow. Water dripped from the roof onto a plastic bag of kindling twigs. The staccato beat set up a cadence in Giff’s mind and he found himself drifting away.

Jess, picked his way through ice on the walk and said, “Giff? I thought I’d find you back here. Nice day, isn’t it?”

Giff jerked his chin off his chest. Ruby ceased her hunting and crawled onto Giff’s lap. She settled in the warm soft spot, and licked her paws to wash behind her ears. A soft rumble formed in her chest.

Scooting over for Jess to sit on the step, Giff asked “How’s the book commin’?”

“Oh, it’s coming along, I think. Workin’ on revisions isn’t much fun. I’ll get through them. It will take time. I got a problem, though. Do you know anyone with a place to rent around here? My aunt and uncle are coming back in a few weeks. When I first came, I thought I’d just go back down to town and rent a place. With the way things are, now, I can’t find anything available, let alone affordable. Besides that, I don’t want to leave the mountain!”

Giff nodded in sympathy and scratched stubble on his chin. He said, “Well, off hand, I can’t think of anything. You got a lot of stuff to move?”

Jess said all he owned was here. He wouldn’t need a lot of space but he needed a quiet place for him to work.

The two sat watching birds at the feeders and listening to the beat of melting snow on the bag of sticks.

“I have an idea or two but I’d need to check with people before I get your hopes up.” Giff said, as he stood and stretched. Ruby jumped from her nest- in- motion, and ran to the door. She needed a snack and it was inside on her dish. Hunting had not been good.

Jess nodded and told Giff he would appreciate any ideas. “Have a good one!” he called as he started back around the house to the road. Giff opened the kitchen door for Ruby. He lifted his hand and waved, “You do the same” he called.

With Ruby fed, Giff wandered into the living room. He pushed the pile of newspapers to the end of the well worn couch, and sat. Leaning back on the soft familiar cushions, he put his feet up on the scared wooden foot stool, and promptly fell asleep. Ruby wandered into the room, saw Giff, and jumped up along side him. She snuggled against his warm body, and closed her eyes.

Two days later, Giff stood watching big wet snowflakes filling the air outside his kitchen window. Burning logs popped in the kitchen stove. Ruby slept, curled in her favorite kitchen chair. He wondered if Jess had found a new place. He thought about who might have something he could rent. Giff could move his stuff out of the spare bedroom and let the “kid” move in with him, but the problem was, he didn’t want anyone living with him. He liked life the way it had become. he wouldn’t be quiet enough to allow Jess to write. It just wouldn’t be good for either of them.

Giff turned to the stove where his breakfast was cooking.

The phone rang. “yeh” He answered. “It wasn’t forecast, but it IS spring, Ralph. You and Marilu okay?”

“We’re okay, but I just heard that there’s a big pickup off the road down below. They’re trying to get it out of the ditch but it’s too slippery for what they got.It could be awhile before they can send a bigger tow truck. Boyce Turner is over here now, he couldn’t make it down. He stopped to warn us and thought we should you know in case you planned to go to town this morning. If you’re interested, Marilu just pulled some cinnamon rolls out of the oven and there’s fresh coffee in the pot. Come on over.”

“Sounds mighty invitin’!” Giff said. “I’ll call Jess and let him know the road is closed. Better call Patty and Millie, sure don’t want those two getting stuck down there.”

“Marilu just called them. They hadn’t planned to get out this morning. Patty’s taking the day off. It’s her “snow day”, she said.” Ralph replied.

“It is that!” Giff said, watching the snow pile up on the steps outside.

When he called Jess’s cell phone, it went to voicemail.

‘Must be busy writing.’ Giff thought as he closed up embers in the woodstove.

“I won’t be gone long, Ruby.” He said, giving her a soft hug.

Giff carefully made his way down the drive and across the unplowed road to Ralph’s.

Meanwhile, not knowing of the problem down the mountain, Jess cleared off the windshield of his truck while the cab was warming.

Making his way slowly downhill he was surprised there was no traffic. The road looked untouched. He thought that odd, but continued toward town. Coming upon flashing lights, his heart felt a thump. He slowly came to a stop behind a short line of cars that sat idling. Vapor poured from their exhaust pipes and windshield wipers worked furiously clearing small patches of the glass.

Jess carefully slid out of his truck and made his way down the hill. He pulled his hood up sending snow cascading down the neck of his shirt.

Seeing a few familiar faces, he talked with some of the firemen and learned they were called out early, before dawn. They stood stomping their feet trying to keep circulation going and to control their shivering.

Jess offered to take their place while they warmed up in the waiting firetruck. They joked about that. The heater had never made much heat. They would have to build a warming fire. Jess dug into his pocket and pulled out his truck keys. “Here, my truck is up beyond that red car. You can get warm in there. I’ll stay until the State Patrol and tow truck come. Traffic is hardly heavy this morning.”

They agreed to take turns thawing out while one of them stood with Jess. As the two trudged up the hill to Jess’s truck, Jess and Tom stood holding heavy signs and talked about the weather, how long they had lived on the mountain, and looking forward to summer fishing. In the small talk between the two Jess mentioned he was looking for a place to rent. He explained his situation and the fireman nodded but said nothing.

Motion caught the corner of Jess’s and he yelled, “Watch OUT” as a huge boulder broke loose from the overhanging cliff above. He pushed his companion away. The two landed in a snowy heap just as the rock landed where they had been standing.

“What the Fu…?”,Tom said. “That was close! How did you happen to see it?” They staggered up and brushed snow off their pants. Jess shrugged and said, “Just lucky, I guess.”

Clouds swirled around, then started to lift. Snowflakes stopped falling. The two warmed firemen hurried down the hill, past the string of waiting vehicles.

“Are you guys okay?” They asked in unison. “We saw that bitch comin’ down and all we could do is hold our breath! That was one lucky break!” They joked and laughed about the possibility of being a pothole filler but none thought it funny.

“You’re sure you are okay?” Mike, a fireman asked. They both said they were and conversation turned to what the rest of the day would be like. A car door slammed and a man in a business suit approached them. “How much longer do we have to wait?” he impatiently yelled.

They shrugged their shoulders and one said, “We don’t know. We’re waiting for the State Patrol and tow truck, and now we have to clear this big rock off the road before anyone can get through. It may take awhile.”

The man stomped back to his car through the slick snow, started turning the car around, hit the gas too hard and slid into the car below him. The horn blared as his fist hit the steering wheel.

“Guess it’s going to be a little longer for that fella.” Tom said.

As the grey and black SUV of the State Patrol came into view, Jess said, “Well, I guess I’ll try to go back home. Nice talking with you. You guys do a whale of a job and I appreciate it.” They shook hands and Jess started back up the slippery road to his truck when Tom yelled, “Hey Jess! Hold up minute.”

Jess turned and waited as Tom puffed up behind him. He stood, caught his breath and said,“I might know a place you could live. It’s a bit out of the way, but for a writer, I’d think that would be good. My Dad has a cabin up here he can no longer use. We’ve been thinking of selling but really don’t want to, yet. If you want to take a look at it this weekend, give me a call.”

Jess smiled and said, “ You bet! I’d love to see it. Where should I meet you and what time?”

Warm late winter sun crept over the treetops. Jess climbed back in his truck and carefully turned around.

Driving past his house, he drove through the softening snow on the unplowed road. Giff was starting up his drive when Jess arrived. He lowered the window and said, “Giff! I think I got lucky!” He then told Giff about his morning and the suggestion Tom made. Giff nodded his head and smiled. “ I was just talking to a fella who lives up there. He said he thought that cabin might be available.” He held up a brown paper bag and said, “Come on in and let’s have some of Marilu’s cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee. You look like you could use some. I want to hear about what’s goin’ on down the mountain.”