Don't be so hard on yourself, the Voice soothed. You tried and that's enough. You can't expect...

"Can't expect what?"

But then she heard a familiar sound.

Skish skish skish

"Grandfather..." Kelty muttered, in an anxious trance.

Quickly she smoothed out the quilt on her bed ran to the great room stoked the fire put the kettle on for tea and no idling if you please.

Grandfather opened the door, skis and poles in hand. He surveyed the room and his granddaughter as a factory foreman appraises his crew when work waits.

"The tea is cold."

Kelty felt her cheeks flush.