Bitter Harvest by Sheila Connolly

herself. She didn’t need to go anywhere, and Seth’s car was back at his place anyway. He’d have to hike back overland to get it, if that was even possible.
    She pulled off the blankets and stood up, once again dislodging Lolly. The sun rose on the other side of the meadow, but all she could see was blazing blue sky and an endless expanse of white. She couldn’t even tell where the fence around the goat pen was, the snow was so high. It was beautiful—and it was going to be a pain to get rid of. Couldn’t they all just wait until it melted? Not likely: Meg remembered mounds of snow in the middle of Northampton early in the year that had lasted weeks.
    “Hey, you’re awake.” Seth came into the room, looking ridiculously energetic.
    “Brilliant deduction, since I’m standing up. What time is it?”
    “Just past eight. I had to check in with the snowplow guys. They’ve got to dig themselves out before they can tackle the roads. It may be a while.”
    “Do you need to be somewhere?”
    “Not yet. Don’t you wish you’d gotten a plow blade for that tractor of yours?”
    “No! Then someone like you would expect me to use it. You want breakfast?”
    “Sure. I’ll build up the fire again—let’s hope this is the last time.”
    “Still no power?”
    “Not yet, but the guys I talked to said the electric company’s working on it. Maybe by the end of the day.”
    “Have you checked in with Rachel and your mother?”
    “Yup. All’s good there, and the kids are thrilled to get to stay home another day. Look, I’ve got to take Max out, and I’d better dig a path out to the barn and make sure the goats have enough food.”
    “Shall we do the traditional thing again? You make the fire, I’ll make breakfast. Unless you see a handy varmint out there and want to shoot it for breakfast instead.”
    “If I brought back a rabbit, would you be prepared to skin it?” he asked.
    “In your dreams. Go!”
    In the kitchen Meg assembled eggs, bacon, bread. She swabbed out the skillet they had used the day before, still unwashed since there was no hot water. Cold water and grease were not a pleasant combination. She could hear the rhythmic sound of Seth’s shovel out back. Given that the snow was three feet deep, it might take him a while to reach the barn. Good thing they didn’t have cows to milk.
    After a few more minutes Meg heard Seth outside the door now, clearing a broader path in front of the back door. Then he came tramping in, scattering snow, with Max adding his own. “Still cold out there! The goats are fine, if bored—much longer and they may chew their way out of the stall.”
    “I’ve got breakfast ready to go, if you think the fire’s ready,” Meg said.
    “Let me feed Max and mop up the melted snow first.”
    Meg carried all the fixings into the front room. Before she could set the pan on the fire, she decided to check her messages and powered on her cell phone. Bree had called not half an hour earlier, so Meg returned the call. “Bree? How are things in Amherst?”
    “Hi, Meg. Not too bad—the plows have been out already. How about at your end?”
    “Seth says he’s called them out, but I haven’t seen them. I can’t even see the road.”
    “So I shouldn’t try to get back there?”
    “Not yet. We still don’t have power, and who knows when we’ll have heat? Enjoy your free time—you’ve earned it.”
    “Yeah, I guess I’ll just have to make do.”
    Meg could hear Michael laughing in the background. “I’ll let you know when the roads are clear, but there’s no rush.”
    “Well, at least you’ve got Seth to keep you company. Bye!”
    Bree hung up before Meg could respond. When Seth came in, she told him, “It looks like Amherst has the plowing under control. I told Bree she didn’t need to rush back, even if she could. Maybe she should stay there until I get this furnace problem worked out. You have any idea how long that will take?” She set the skillet on the fire to