The Boy and His Ribbon (The Ribbon Duet, #1)(27)

Snow covered everything, muffling sound and sight and senses. We could’ve been in a world completely uninhabited. We could’ve been the only two creatures alive, and I wouldn’t have been happier because the boy who was my everything held me close and showed me the farm we’d borrowed.

He murmured how in spring he’d plant vegetables so we’d never have to risk getting caught stealing. He’d pointed out snow-softened bric-a-brac and said he’d transform rubbish into furniture and make us a home for as long as it took for me to grow strong enough so I was never sick again.

Like I said, that first winter was hard.

But the third winter at Polcart Farm was worse.

The fire never seemed to warm us, the mattress stayed damp from chill, the thrill of TV and learning—when we had electricity from meagre sunlight—was muted under the very real need to stay alive and not freeze to death.

One night, a blizzard blew so hard a window in one of the bedrooms shattered, spilling snow flurries all over the floor. I followed Ren upstairs, needing to be near him but trying to stay out of his way so he could fix it.

“I have to go to the barn to get wood and nails.” He brushed past me, stomping in the boots that’d become too small for him and shrugging into his jacket.

“I’m coming too.” I clattered down the stairs behind him, yanking on his beanie and wrapping his scarf around my tiny neck.

He grabbed me by the scruff as I went to dart past him into the swirling snow. “You’re staying here, Della Ribbon.”

“Nuh-uh. I’ll help.”

“You’ll help by staying out of the cold.”

“It’s cold in here.” I pouted. “No different.”

“Della.” He growled. “Don’t argue. You know you won’t win.” The familiar angry light in his eyes pleased me. I enjoyed annoying him because it made him focus more on me than the many tasks and chores around the house.

Nodding once, I backed over the threshold and watched him vanish outside amongst eerie silver shadows and crunchy snow. My plan was to wait until he was too far away to throw me back into the house, then chase after him.

That was before a loud bellow echoed across the pristine white. My heart kicked and my little legs charged down the porch steps after him, tripping in the snow. “Ren!”

I fell splat on my face, scrambling out of freezing flakes to come face to face with a black and white monster. “Ren! Ren! Ren!”

The beast bellowed and nudged me with a shiny black nose.

“Ren!”

My scream tore through the night, bringing my saviour leaping over snow drifts and skidding to a stop in front of me. He shoved me behind his back, facing the monster on his own.

He’d be hurt.

Eaten.

Killed.

“No!” I scrabbled at his back, desperate to help but his dark laughter filled my ears.

His hand came up to land on the shiny nose as his voice lowered to a soothing murmur. “Hey, girl. Where did you come from?”

I couldn’t stop shivering as Ren twisted to look at me over his shoulder. “It’s a cow, silly Ribbon. It won’t eat you.”

A pink tongue lashed from its mouth, licking around Ren’s palm.

“You hungry, girl?” Ren stood, reaching down to help me up while keeping his other hand extended to the cow. She didn’t run off as I climbed to my feet and brushed away cold slush.

The black and white animal shivered same as me, her ears quaking in the blizzard.

“She doesn’t have a brand,” Ren said, searching her flanks with experienced fingertips.

My eyes fell to his hip where, beneath his many clothes, his own brand was a permanent link to my father.

Pointing at the house, he commanded, “Go inside before you freeze, Della. I’ll be back soon.” Not waiting to see if I’d obey, he nudged the cow with a soft hand and guided her through the storm to the barn.

Now, I know what you’re thinking…I really should have obeyed and gone inside, but this was Ren—my idol. I couldn’t let him out of my sight, not for a moment.

So I followed with soaking socked feet that quickly became numb as I trailed in the snow, falling over again and again until I entered the dark hay-smelling barn and watched Ren guide the skinny cow into a stall.

There she bellowed and shoved her face into past seasons bales, shaking off snowflakes and accepting Polcart Farm as her new home.

Ren closed the gate over her stall and jolted when he spotted me.

“Goddamn you, Della Ribbon, what did I say?”

I didn’t care what he’d said because I was completely obsessed by the glossy-eyed black and white beast.

He scooped me from the shadows, tore off my ice-sodden socks, and kicked off his own boots to replace them. Once he’d jabbed my feet into his warm boots, he stood barefoot and glowered with the same black look he always gave me, and the look I always loved because it meant he cared for me fiercely even when I drove him mad.

“Do you want to die?” He waited for me to reply, and when I didn’t, he huffed. “If you get sick again, I’m leaving you behind when it’s time to leave. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I threw my arms around his neck and nuzzled him close.

He froze, permitting my hug but not returning it, his worry and anger keeping him stiff and unyielding.