Chapter 3 - The Cabin at the Edge of the World
The cabin was a fortress of cedar and stone, perched on a granite shelf overlooking a valley that seemed to touch the clouds. It was rugged, isolated, and desperately in need of a woman’s touch. When Silas kicked open the door, the inside was cold, dusty, and filled with the stale air of two years of loneliness.
"It’s not much," Silas admitted, shrugging off his heavy hide coat.
"It’s a foundation," Sadie replied. She immediately set to work. She scrubbed the soot from the hearth, shook out the moth-eaten blankets, and inventoried the larder. It was lean—mostly dried venison, bags of hard cornmeal, and some salted fish.
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The children were hesitant, hovering in the corners. Sadie didn't force affection on them. She simply occupied the space, making the fire crackle and the smell of hot, simple broth fill the drafty cabin. By the end of the first week, Mia’s cough had quieted, and the twins were no longer hiding behind Elias.
Sadie was the heart of the cabin now, the steady pulse that kept the wilderness at bay. But she knew that out here, the wilderness was not just a neighbor; it was a predator, and it was watching them.
