“Choose a room,” Thomas said, “and I’ll get a fire going in the fireplace.” He grinned at Eleanor, enjoying this small adventure far more than she was. Despite the damp chill, Eleanor was glad to see the old Thomas back.
“This room.” Eleanor selected the living room and helped Thomas scour the place for wood. Although Anton’s Walls was empty, Old Jock had used one of the outhouses as a wood store, and they transported armfuls of logs to the main house.
“They’re surprisingly dry,” Thomas said. “Whoever built this house did a good job.”
They used straw to start the fire and, within ten minutes, had some warmth spreading into the room. Brother and sister, they had no embarrassment in stripping to dry their wet clothes.
“Somebody needs to sweep the chimney,” Thomas said as the wind roared
