Chapter 6 Nora
NORA
Nora walked beside River down the path toward the barn while the kids ran ahead of them, stopping every few feet to examine a tree or try to identify a mysterious shape covered by the snow.
It was cold but sunny, and the birds were singing. It was so different from her usual walk in the city that Nora felt as if she were in another world.
And her heart was light. Seeing River with the kids this morning had been so lovely, and she wasn’t sure why it hit her as hard as it did.
The egg.
Nora spent a lot of time these days reminding herself that it was better that Edward wasn’t in their lives, better that the kids grow up with just one adult, as long as she was patient and accepting. But she often wondered if she was just trying to make the best of a bad situation.
She tried now to imagine Edward’s reaction if Pixie had smashed an egg on the pristine marble counter of the condo.
Even if he managed not to yell or go silent with anger, it still would have been clear to the sensitive little girl that he was upset.
The man held himself to impossible standards, and he’d been the same with Nora, when they were still married.
It was inevitable that he would have had high expectations for the kids, and he’d always had a low tolerance for messes and nonsense.
Seeing River laugh his head off and good-naturedly clean up his sticky, eggy kitchen had felt almost healing to Nora.
“It’s pretty cold,” River said, glancing over at her with a hint of concern.
“Oh, we walk a lot in the city,” she reassured him. “It actually feels colder there because the buildings block out the sunlight. And the way the wind whips between them…well, this is just fine—better than fine. Look at them.”
The kids were crouched under a tree, looking at something in the snow, studying it and whispering to each other.
“Look,” Pixie said as the adults approached. “It’s tracks.”
“Ah,” River said. “Do you know what kind of animal made those tracks?”
The kids shook their heads.
“I’ll bet we can figure it out,” River told them. “How many feet do you think it had?”
The kids looked back at the snow and Nora floated closer, examining it herself.
“Four,” Pixie said triumphantly after a moment.
“Yes,” River agreed. “You’re right. And how does it move? Does it take a lot of little steps?”
“No,” Pixie said, frowning as she studied the prints again.
Each set of four prints was a foot or two apart from the last.
“So how does he move?” River asked.
“Jumping,” John-John cried out happily.
“Is it a rabbit?” Pixie asked.
“The jumps aren’t big enough,” River told her. “And look how tiny the paws are. Maybe we should look at where the tracks are coming from.”
The kids looked around, but the prints seemed to start where they were standing.
“Could the animal have come from this tree?” River asked, helping them out.
“Yes,” Pixie said, looking thunderstruck. “Yes, that’s exactly what it did.”
“And there are no other prints around the trunk,” River said. “So, it jumped down from the tree.”
“A squirrel,” Pixie exploded. “Those are squirrel prints.”
Both kids looked to River.
“Great job,” he told them with a big smile. “You’re exactly right.”
The two of them took off, hopping through the snow like a pair of squirrels themselves.
“Are they always like this?” River asked, turning to Nora.
“Pretty much, yes,” she told him with a smile. “They’re curious and they’ve got a ton of energy.”
“I know it’s a lot of work,” he allowed. “But they’re so much fun.”
“They really are,” she agreed. “Being with them puts everything into perspective. You don’t have time to worry about things that don’t matter.”
River nodded thoughtfully and they walked on in friendly silence. It was really refreshing to see the kids through River’s eyes.
On her own, Nora had a tendency to overthink every interaction, looking for signs that she was failing or that missing their mom was drawing them in on themselves.
Out here, she was seeing them in a fresh environment, with someone fun and caring to interact with.
This is good for all of us, she thought to herself. Even if it’s just for the weekend. I’m so glad I said yes.
Nora had always been a careful sort of person. It wasn’t like her to come out to the countryside at the drop of a hat, especially with River, given who he was.
As they walked, she could smell the spice of his aftershave, mixed with the stronger scent of a wood fire that hadn’t been there before.
The combination was intoxicating, and she found herself wanting to just lean close and breathe him in.
Even though she tried, it was impossible not to think about how much he had changed physically since the last time she’d been around him.
And he was more serious now, too. Though the kids seemed to bring out a bit of the twinkly-eyed young man she remembered.
“Here we go, guys,” he called out to the children, his deep voice penetrating the cold air.
When they turned to him, he pointed to the big red barn. It looked like something out of a watercolor painting with its faded red paint and pretty, snow-covered roofline.
“It needs paint,” he said. “Pretty much the whole place does.”
“It’s beautiful,” she told him honestly. “I was just thinking that this whole place looks like a piece of art.”
“It’s got good bones,” he said in a pleased way, nodding. “I’m going to enjoy bringing it back.”
“Are we keeping you from getting started by being here?” she asked him, suddenly realizing what a whole weekend of his time might mean.
“This is the planning season,” he told her. “A lot of guys would spend their time dealing with the taxes or broken-down equipment from the previous year. For me, I’m mostly just trying to put together a list of what I’ll need to do to get the new year started off right.”
“How do you know what goes on that list?” she asked him. “Is there info online?”
“Yes, but online research only takes you so far,” he said, nodding. “I’ve done a couple of classes and read a book or two. But mainly I’ve been hoping to talk to the other farmers around here. They know this climate and soil better than anyone.”
“That makes sense,” she said, nodding.
“I’m trying to get as many volunteer sessions in up at the center as I can,” he told her, looking excited about it. “That way when I need help myself, hopefully folks won’t feel like I’m taking too much advantage.”
Nora was pretty sure no one would feel like he was taking advantage either way. River was such a great guy and from what she remembered, the older farmers all seemed to love to sit around and chew the fat anyway.
But it was nice that River wanted to volunteer. And even nicer that he wanted to farm. As far as she understood it, farming wasn’t anyone’s idea of an easy job, or a highly profitable job, even though it was about the most important job there could be.
Up ahead, the kids had reached the barn and were waiting, their eyes trained on River.
“Are the horses in there?” Pixie asked excitedly as they approached.
“Not now. I already took them out to the pasture this morning,” he told her. “We’re just going to stop and grab a saddle.”
“Okay,” Pixie said, watching him open the door.
He stepped into the dim interior of the barn and the kids followed.
“One second,” he told them.
Nora inhaled the sweet scent of hay that she always associated with horses. When her family had lived out this way, she had taken advantage of every chance to ride.
“Okay,” River said, jogging back to join them, a well-used saddle in his arms. “Let’s head out.”
They all followed him out of the barn and down a path through the trees that ultimately opened up to a snowy pasture.
The horses came cantering over as soon as they heard their visitors coming.
Just as River had said, there was a larger horse who was a reddish brown with a little white diamond on his face, and a smaller black and white piebald pony.
Their manes lifted in the breeze as they came closer, and Nora felt her heart grow light just at the sight of them.
Her professional eye couldn’t help noticing that they looked sound and healthy, with bright eyes and thick, glossy coats.
“Am I going to ride the big one?” Pixie asked, sounding exuberant.
Nora was impressed with her. She was such a tiny girl and the horse seemed so enormous.
“If you feel ready to give him a try,” River told her. “His name is Peter.”
“What’s the little one called?” Pixie asked.
“Tinkerbell,” River said with a smile.
“Like me,” Pixie laughed. “I have a fairy nickname.”
“You sure do,” River said.
The horses reached the split-rail fence and River reached over to scratch Peter behind the ears. The big horse snuffled and rubbed his head against River’s chest.
“Wow,” John-John breathed, looking up reverently.
“Would you like to give him a pat?” River asked.
John-John looked like he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t say no.
“If you want,” River told him, “I can hold you up so you can see him better.”
Nora held her breath, wondering what the boy would decide.
After a second, John-John lifted his arms up to River, his eyes solemn.
“Okay,” River said. “Here we go.”
Pixie stepped back a bit to watch the two of them, and Nora came forward to take her hand.
“He’s being really brave,” Pixie whispered.
“I’m so proud of him,” Nora whispered back.
With John-John on his hip, River reached out to give Peter another scratch.
This time the horse held perfectly still, as if he knew that the little boy might be feeling shy.
A moment later, John-John extended his little hand.
Nora felt a burst of pride when he stroked the big horse right on his diamond forehead.
“He’s warm,” John-John said in delighted surprise.
“Yes,” River said. “He has his nice, thick winter coat to keep him toasty warm even when he’s outside.”
“I’m going to give him a snack,” John-John decided.
“Great,” River told him, moving away from the fence to pull something out of his pocket.
Nora saw that it was two halved apples in a plastic baggie.
“You can give him a piece and Pixie can give him the other one,” River said. “Then Nora and I can give Tinkerbell her snacks.”
“Okay,” John-John said breathlessly.
“You’re going to hold your palm out flat and nice and still,” River told him. “Keep your hand flat so it’s easy for him to find the apple. He would never hurt you, but you don’t want your fingers to be in the way.”
“Okay,” John-John said, putting his hand out.
River placed an apple half on it, and they all watched as the little boy kept his hand perfectly still and allowed the horse to snuffle it up from his palm.
Peter chewed and swallowed, and John-John’s delighted laughter rang out.
“He chewed it one time,” John-John squeaked. “He just chewed it one time and swallowed it.”
Pixie laughed too and River turned to smile at her, the kindness in his brown eyes making Nora’s heart ache.
Once both horses had their snacks, River saddled up Peter and talked with Pixie about how to hold herself while she was riding.
In no time, he was leading the big horse around by his halter, with Pixie riding on his back, an expression of pride and awe on her sweet face.
“She’s doing it,” John-John breathed, clinging to the fence with his mittened hands. “She’s riding a horse.”
When Pixie’s ride was done, River offered John-John a turn. But he just wanted to watch, so River took the saddle off the big horse and gave him another nice scratch before patting him on the rump and watching him canter away.
“I’m a horse, Pixie,” John-John yelled suddenly. “You have to catch me.”
“Get back here, horsey,” Pixie called to him, taking off after her brother.
The two of them scampered happily through the snow, chasing each other in big circles.
“That was wonderful,” Nora told River. “Thank you.”
“Whoa,” Pixie yelled, stopping in her tracks. “Look at that.”
She pointed near one of the big trees, where a little red bird was hopping along the top rail of the fence.
“It’s a cardinal,” Pixie said. “Just like in Farmer Bear’s Christmas.”
“Wow,” Nora said. “You’re right. He’s a really pretty one.”
“If you look around, you might be able to find Mrs. Cardinal,” River told the kids. “They always stay close together. She’ll be a pretty brown bird.”
Pixie started spinning around and gasped when she caught sight of the other bird.
“Right there,” she whispered, pointing up into the tree.
Sure enough, there was a female cardinal on the lowest branch.
“Why is she brown?” John-John asked.
“Male cardinals are red,” River told him.
“They look bright and pretty to attract female cardinals. But the females are always brown. It helps them blend in with their environment when they’re sitting on their eggs in a nest. That way predators have a harder time finding them, and it’s easier for them to stay safe. ”
“Oh,” Pixie said, looking a little disappointed. “I guess that’s a good reason.”
“I want to feed them,” John-John said suddenly. “I want to put seeds in the feeder, like Farmer Bear.”
“I think we could do that,” River said thoughtfully. “Maybe we could go to the hardware store and get some things to build a bird feeder.”
He turned to Nora, and she sensed a deeper question in his eyes. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but the intensity of his dark gaze made her heart skip a beat.