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  Endless moments were passing while he held her life in his hands.

  His answer was actions, not words.

  What she offered was far beyond a holiday in the sun, and he knew it. Vilma Smith was his future. Only a few months before, when he was drowning in the depths of despair, he could never have imagined the kind of future she promised him.

  This was no time for hesitation.

  He folded her into his arms and gently pushed her back onto the pillows. His lips and his body would assure her of his commitment in ways his words alone could never achieve.

  * * *

  Snow was still falling, enveloping Harmony House in a soft blanket. They were cocooned in its silence and wrapped safely in its comforts.

  The house’s residents went on about their business while worlds collided in Vilma’s suite.

  The dogs happily made use of this unsupervised opportunity to tear open a bag of chews and feast on the contents in the knowledge that later there would be a run in the snow to look forward to.

  Life was good.

  Chapter 4

  Andy was her hero. He took the dogs out late at night and again in the early hours before he went to work, leaving her to sleep in the tumbled bedclothes in perfect peace and comfort.

  She loved Astrid and Oscar but it was glorious to be relieved of their relentless routine once in a while.

  She had gladly turned her face up for a kiss when Andy left for the day, then she had gone back to sleep with the dogs at her feet for extra warmth.

  An hour later, as she sleepily gazed toward the windows she became aware that the snow had finally ceased falling and a bright sun was beckoning.

  She felt rejuvenated in body and mind, and a host of urgent activities called to her. First, there would be an enormous breakfast to restore her energy.

  When she reached the kitchen she was surprised to see Eve loading the dishwasher.

  “Hello stranger! Haven’t seen much of you lately.”

  “I’ve been busy painting outdoor scenes around London for the Art Show and Sale at the Byron Memorial Library. It’s been a bit of a challenge painting in the winter but it’s made me realize I can do more than pretty flower paintings when I need to. There’s no way of knowing if the new ones will sell as well as the others. The group has been so supportive to me. I really enjoy their camaraderie.”

  “Well done, Eve! I love your work. When Andy and I build our house I will commission a series of paintings from you and I mean to advertise them to dog owners who come for training.”

  “Oh, I don’t think I could do animal portraits, Vilma. That’s a specialized skill.”

  “There’s time yet. Why don’t you practise on my two, and see what happens? After all, it’s about a keen eye for detail and you have that all right.”

  “Thanks for the suggestion, Vilma. I will give it some thought after the art sale.

  By the way, I fed Andy a good breakfast earlier this morning and he insisted on leaving some for you in the warming oven.

  Now don’t look at me like that! The money you gave me for groceries is nowhere near used up yet.

  You should probably know that Mavis is adding more to that fund as a thank you for all Andy does around here.

  Don’t worry! We all love seeing you two so happy together.”

  Vilma hid her blushes as she bent to retrieve plates from the oven. She believed she was hiding her feelings well, but living in close contact meant there were few secrets.

  As she began eating the crisp bacon with scrambled eggs kept moist in an ovenproof casserole, Eve lifted pancakes out of the toaster and heaped them on her plate.

  Vilma turned her private thoughts to one secret she was concealing from everyone, including Andy.

  She had promised to fund the Jamaica week without needing any of their cash, and that complex process had been occupying her time for some weeks now.

  As soon as she finished eating, she must review her findings for the final time and make a choice.

  * * *

  As Vilma reached her room, Faith arrived to take the dogs out. It was a professional development day at her school and she said she needed practise with dog supervision. This was all part of Vilma’s plan to escape for the week in February. So far, nothing untoward had happened when Faith was in charge.

  Oscar and Astrid seemed to enjoy her enthusiasm and the girl was progressing well with hand signals and commands. If she proved to be a good substitute handler, it would be another step along the path of persuading Andy to take the holiday, which she now thought of a honeymoon of sorts.

  The trio set off for the woods and Vilma immediately opened her computer and re-read her research.

  She discovered there were more versions of co-housing than she had realized. Large and small units were springing up here and there in Canada and they were becoming more specialized. She had not yet found a governing body with centralized information. What she wanted to know was if there existed a format where residents could exchange their accommodations on a temporary basis with others in a similar situation somewhere else in the country.

  The nearest she had found to this was co-living /co-working spaces for what was termed ‘digital nomads’. These modern-day nomads seemed to be young professionals who chose to work and travel in diverse locations all over the world. Some gave up their prior living conditions completely to fund a membership to the particular company they preferred. To her surprise, Vilma found these companies were proliferating to serve the needs of this coterie of young, footloose clients who simply moved in, plugged in their devices and began working and playing with their new friends on a one-month lease.

  Vilma sat back to consider the appeal of this new lifestyle.

  For people used to networking with others in the technology business, it was a given that the wider their contacts the more they would prosper. It was a Millennial lifestyle, perfectly suited to singles or couples not ready or willing to enter the housing market.

  As she searched this subject, eight options popped up on her screen. She read through the basic costs and exotic locations and thought it was something incredible for those who wanted to try it and had the confidence to roam the world alone.

  Faith came to mind. She had few ties to keep her in one place. This type of experience would be an international education surpassing anything a university could provide.

  It was an interesting sideline; but not what she needed to find for her present situation.

  She had sent out enquiries across Canada seeking two people willing to rent a week in a luxury villa in Jamaica with the benefit of having the owner on site and able to provide advice about all the island’s best features.

  What she hoped to find was a couple who were compatible in the short run, but who might also be willing to take over Vilma’s ensuite bedroom at Harmony House.

  She was hedging her bets with this scheme. She was aware that the years of experience in two marriages had brought her a certain wisdom. Nothing in the state of marriage was guaranteed. If, God forbid, Andy found fresh pastures with a younger woman, she needed security and Harmony House was, undoubtedly, the most security she had ever known. Vilma Smith was not willing to relinquish that security until she was absolutely certain it was no longer required. In addition, she was not happy leaving a gap in the finances of the residents in Harmony House which might take a long time to fill.

  With all these provisos in mind, she began to look at the online responses to her original enquiry.

  The most likely candidates fell into two categories. Couples who were friends and who needed a holiday in a peaceful spot without huge costs involved, and other pairs who were interested in a fun time with amenable company.

  The latter group sounded like party people. Did she want to share her accommodation with party people who were there for a ‘good time’? She and Andy needed to concentrate on their own issues and not be distracted by keeping an eye on others who might not fit in with the casual vibe of the isol
ated beach.

  She looked again at the friends’ replies and decided to ask them for more details on their situation. She was expecting to charge them a reasonable sum of money for the week’s rental in the hopes it would cover most of the costs of her own cottage. As for plane fares, she had airline points she could use to defray those costs. If Andy were willing to drive to Toronto, the week would be almost free of expenses other than food, which in a hot climate was not a big deal.

  She sent off two similar email enquiries and sat back. She had done everything she could for now.

  * * *

  As Vilma poured hot coffee into a mug, she suddenly heard her name shouted out. It sounded like “Help! Vilma help!”

  Abandoning the drink she went to the upper balcony and looked over to find a frantic Faith standing in the front entrance calling to her.

  “It’s the dogs. They’re gone!”

  She did not waste a moment to ask for details. She ran down the stairs and pushed her feet into her boots and was out the door still fastening her winter coat and pulling out the gloves always kept ready in her pockets.

  Faith raced away toward the woods and Vilma had to keep up to hear her story.

  “Everything was going well. I kept the leashes on as you said. We were well into the woods. They were on the path as usual and we were getting to the stream. I called them to turn around for home and all of a sudden they just disappeared.”

  “What do you mean, Faith? How could two big dogs just disappear?”

  They reached the edge of the woods and pounded along the track where Faith’s footprints, and the dogs’, were clearly marked in the snow.

  “I don’t know Vilma! I don’t know! One minute they were at the stream and the next they were gone.

  I am so sorry!”

  “There must be a reason. Show me where you were standing.”

  Faith led the way to the edge of the stream and they both examined the ground.

  “The only explanation is that they crossed over. Look! You can see their prints going up the ridge on the other side.”

  “But the water’s almost completely frozen over. How did they do it?”

  “I guess that’s how. The ice is thicker. If they were running fast they could skip over before the ice broke. The question is, why?

  Did you see or hear anything unusual, Faith?”

  “I don’t think so. It’s so quiet in here. I was looking around for a moment and then they were gone.

  I called them right away, but nothing. I am so sorry.”

  Vilma’s heart was pounding. Faith was not to blame for this. She should not have been left alone with the responsibility of the dogs this soon.

  “Look, Faith, it’s not your fault. The dogs will come home when they are hungry and cold. I will wait here and think about what could have caused them to behave so badly. You are shivering. Go back home and get warmed up. I’ll find them, don’t worry. Go! Go!”

  Faith turned for home with tears in her eyes.

  As soon as the woods were quiet again, Vilma began to listen and to think.

  No sounds broke the silence to indicate where the dogs might now be.

  She pulled up her pant legs and stuffed them into her boots, then waded carefully across the stream to the opposite bank breaking ice as she went. She was looking for clues.

  She soon found the reason for the dogs’ escape. There were a few imprints of a different kind to their paw prints. They were smaller and deeper. A deer had stood on top of the ridge for a moment.

  Astrid and Oscar either saw or smelled it, and the chase was inevitable.

  Andy always declared that dogs were pack animals and their hunting instincts were predominant.

  The stream was the border of the Harmony House property and Vilma had not ventured beyond it. There were no other houses past the crescent’s four, as far as she knew. It was likely more trees and rocks ahead with no track or path to guide her.

  She knew enough to go carefully. Breaking a leg or twisting a foot at this point was not going to help find the dogs. She studied the snow for dog prints and soon found them. There were only a few deer prints and those were very far apart indicating the deer was bounding away from the dogs at top speed.

  When she reached the highest point on the ridge, she stopped and gathered her breath for the whistle Andy had taught her. It would travel well in the cold air. It was a signal to the dogs to return to base. As long as they were still within hearing range they should respond.

  The sound of the whistle was massive. Snow dripped from the branches of the nearest tree as if in protest to this invasion of the accustomed silence.

  Vilma stood with ears on alert for seconds on end.

  She could hear nothing.

  A frozen branch cracked nearby in the cold air and she jumped in alarm.

  After what seemed like an age, she tensed. Was that a distant bark?

  She summoned the energy to whistle once more and was rewarded with a bark that must be nearer.

  Sure enough, a snow covered form emerged from a distant clump of trees and bounded through the snow to where she stood. At once, she knew there was trouble.

  Astrid was on her own.

  No Oscar in sight.

  And Astrid’s leash was gone.

  The female dog was agitated. She began to move away and then return to Vilma’s side. She wanted Vilma to follow.

  This was a more dangerous venture and Vilma was unsure if she should go back and get help first. Something about Astrid’s manner convinced her there was no time to waste.

  She tightened the tie under her chin to secure the hood of her coat. She was conscious of the cold seeping into her damp boots and knew she must turn back for home soon to save herself.

  She pulled her fur-lined gloves high up onto her wrists and bent down to hold Astrid’s face.

  “Find Oscar for me! Find Oscar!”

  Astrid was off at a fast rate but she turned to see if Vilma was following along and adjusted her speed accordingly. Soon Vilma lost all sense of direction. She was relying on the dog to get her where she should be and, hopefully, to get her home again. She cursed the lack of a cell phone in her pocket.

  She had left Harmony House too fast to think ahead.

  They finally crossed down from the ridge toward the stream again and now Vilma could hear a whining sound coming from a thicket of bushes.

  Astrid headed straight there and disappeared into the bushes. Vilma came up as soon as she could and saw the problem immediately. Oscar had managed to get himself caught by his trailing leash which was wrapped around the bush showing how hard he had tried to get loose again.

  On closer inspection, she saw how the leash had also twined around his neck leaving him helpless.

  Astrid must have lost her leash somewhere along the way, which had kept her safe from entanglement.

  Astrid lay down in the snow beside her brother and licked his face to comfort him.

  Vilma went down on her knees in the limited space that was left. She longed for a sharp knife or pair of scissors but without either, she knew the leash would have to be carefully unwound from Oscar’s neck. It was a difficult operation. To complicate matters further, the snow began to fall again.

  She removed her thick gloves and quickly found out the bush had long thorns.

  There was no time to waste. Making soothing noises she tracked the end of the leash to where it was lying under Oscar and pulled it out slowly. It was vital not to alarm him further. A struggle would tighten the stricture and could cut off his breathing completely.

  She studied the tangle that was holding him and slowly followed the pattern toward his neck. As soon as her fingers could safely reach the clip attached to his collar she unfastened it although her fingers were almost too cold to apply the needed pressure.

  Immediately he could breathe again and he attempted to stand.

  Holding him back with one hand she unwound the rest of the leash and put it into her pocket.

>   She saw no injuries on Oscar other than some spots of blood on his muzzle where thorns had pierced his tender skin. He was cold from lying immobile for so long but he stood and vigorously shook his fur into place.

  Astrid danced around him and Vilma took a moment to reassure them both.

  She looked around and about and knew she was lost in these woods. If the dogs could not find their way home, she would soon succumb to the cold.

  Their tails were wagging and they were clearly pleased to have found their lost owner. Vilma did not have the heart to chastise them. They were trying in doggy terms to tell her about the chase and all the excitement it caused.

  She clipped the leash back onto Oscar’s collar and led him toward the stream. Astrid followed along. Vilma was hoping the stream would eventually connect with the woods that she knew, although at some point they would need to cross back to their own side again.

  She hoped her strength would last that long. With the first flush of excitement now fading, she felt the beginning of numbness in her hands and feet and knew her brain was not as sharp as it should be.

  For a while, fear drove her on.

  Astrid took the front position and as long as she was following the stream, Vilma trudged on. Oscar did not pull away as he might have done. He, too, was cold and tired from his ordeal.

  The snow continued to fall and obliterated any landmarks she might have recognized.

  Her steps faltered more than once and she almost stumbled into the stream when stones beneath her boots caused her to trip.

  Oscar saved her then by pulling up strongly on the leash.

  It seemed to be getting darker in the woods. She thought it might have been better to walk on the ridge closer to light from the sky but that option was far behind them now.

  Lift a foot and place it down again became the only thing she could think about.

  Lift and place. Lift and place.

  Every now and then she looked up in hopes of seeing something familiar.

  How far had she gone with Astrid? How long had she been trudging along the stream. Had she already crossed over?