Tylee wakes up and gazes out the window at the dim light morning sky. Small snowflakes fall making a thin white covering on the ground. After getting dresses she starts coffee and sticks a casserole in the oven. As she feeds Daisy her phone buzzes, signaling a text.

Morning sweet Tylee! Looks like a beautiful white day for a beautiful girl. If I don't see you before it is over: have a blesses morning.

She smiles as she reads the text.

You aren't joining me for breakfast? It is Friday.

The two had a breakfast schedule. Monday, Wednesday, Friday they eat at her house, taking turns who cooks. Tuesday and Thursday they by themselves, just so they have some time to themselves. The weekends vary.

It is isn't it? I was thinking it was Thursday for some reason. I'm cooking! She starts to laugh when she reads his text. They usually fight over who cooks and cleans up, all in good nature.

Too late! Already got it in the oven!

Dang it! Lol be over in a second.

When Daisy scrambles to the door with joyful bark Tylee knows that Dan has arrived. With a smile she walks to the door on her boot clad feet.

"Good morning Tylee." He greets as she opens the door before he can.

"You can call me Ty or something."

"Are you sure?" His voice soft and caring with happiness and love mixed in.

"I'm sure." She tells him with a bright smile.

"Boss?" He chuckles while smirking. She glares at him and slaps his arm.

"You know what I think about that.... Terd!" She declares with her own smirk.

"I know, I'm just kidding."

"How many are on the ground?" She asks while giggling.

"What?"

"You said you were kidding..." With a smirk she turns around and walk toward the kitchen.

"Oh! You are such a smart alack!" Dan declares after a few seconds.

"It took you long enough."

"Yeah yeah." They both laugh as she takes the casserole out of the oven.

"So what's on today's agenda?" Dan asks after they have prayed and began eating.

"Feed the cattle and check heifers. Regular chores." Tylee tells him.

"Light load." He comments before stuffing food in his mouth.

"Seems that way, but you know how things go."

"True. You want feeding or heifers?"

"I'll take the heifers." She tells him.

"Right, because you enjoy hogging all the cuteness." He retorts making her laugh.

"That's not even a valid point. You get to see all kinds of cute bundles of joy when you feed." She points out with a grin.

"But- I don't get to feed with you."

"You say that as if you usually do. Twice. Two times, we have only fed together twice." She shakes her head as he gives her the puppy dog face.

"I want to feed with you." He pouts.

"If I had the extra time floating around I would gladly go and feed with you, but you know as well as I do free time isn't heard of around here." She tells him with a sad smile.

"I know you would."

***

Tylee rides to the heifer field her bright yellow slicker protecting her from the small snowflakes that melt as soon as they fall. The first snow of the year was late, in the middle of January, winter was likely to be longer than usual. Snow on the Texas Oklahoma panhandle border always brings a thrill and excitement, no matter the time of year. Snow meant that ranches brought out there sled, sleighs and the more modern ones snow mobiles.

Dan had taken the feed trailer and was making the rounds also breaking ice on the water troughs. Daisy trots along beside Jasper, the blue roan gelding Tylee was riding. As she closes the gate into the pasture her phone rings, Dan. She smiles as she answers the call.

Tylee~ Hello

Dan~ Hey Tylee, the pump over here in the George field is frozen and the heat lamp is out. Do you have another one on hand?

Tylee~ I should have one in the supply barn at the house.

Dan~ Okay I'll go get it and fix this.

Tylee~ Thank you.

Dan~ Happy to do my job.

Tylee~ Guess I'm not used to having help around here.

Dan~ You'll get the hang of it.

Tylee~ I guess.

Dan~ I'll let you know when I get it done.

Tylee~ Okay, talk to you later.

Dan~ Bye.

With her calf pulling supplies slung over her saddle horn Tylee rides through the pasture finding a calf that was just born, still covered in afterbirth. She smiles as she watches the mother lick her baby clean. After observing, the bond that God placed between mother and child, a few minutes she continues on around to check the others. Finding all well with the heifers Tylee rides back to her house where she makes lunch. Dan comes in warming up with a cup of coffee beside the fire place.

"I need to get fire wood." Tylee thinks aloud still adjusting to having someone around.

"I can get it for you. All the cattle, on todays feeding schedule, are fed." Dan tells her as he watches her buzz around the kitchen.

"I can get it." He chuckles at her usual protest.

"Then I'm going with you." He states determined not to let her do all the work.

"Okay." Her reply catches him slightly off guard. He smiles as wide as he could as she hands him a plate. In the two weeks they have been dating they have supper and a movie a couple times. Although they haven't held hands or kisses they have learned a lot about each other. Likes, dislikes, expectations and family history.

They eat together in a comfortable silence before dawning their coats and heading out to gather wood with Daisy following behind.

"I have some in the barn, but its not going to be enough. If this snow keeps up it really won't be." Tylee tells him as they walk to the barn. Dan nods in agreement.

Dan's jaw drops as Tylee pulls back a tarp revealing a blue, two-seater sled with cargo space. Two shiny black harnesses sat waiting to be hooked up.

"Papaw made it not long after he and Granna moved here. This is what Perk and Glory are for; they earn their keep during the winter." Tylee explains her smile lighting up the dim light barn.

"This is too cool!" Dan exclaims his voice holding the 'kid in the candy store' thrill. Tylee chuckles and grabs the two draft halters hanging on the wall. She catches the two bay Clydesdales and leads them back to the barn. She and Dan each take a brush and sweep the snow off the massive bodies.

Dan watches in awe as she harnesses them. With the harnesses in place she hooks them up to the sled with a satisfied smile. He follows the team as she leads them, and the sled, out of the barn and into the snow that had begun to pile. With smiles big enough to overtake Alaska both Tylee and Dan climb into the sled's seats. She takes the reins in her hands and urges the team on. Them cut through the pastures to the back side where she pulls the team up.

"You are going to have to teach me to drive them." Dan tells her as they oil the chain saws.

"It's pretty easy. I'm sure you'll learn quickly." She answers.

After the cargo space is half full they load the chain saws. Tylee checks the harnesses before sitting down on the passenger bench. Instead of taking the reins in her own hands she places them in Dan's. He takes them with a frightened look, he didn't mean he had to learn now.

"Are- are you sure about this?" He stutters. She chuckles with a grin.

"You'll be fine." She shows him how to hold the reins and explains the basics.

With a shaky breath Dan urges the team on as he had witnessed Tylee do. Perk and Glory step up on command and start out on the trail back home. Half way back to the barn Dan directs the team in the opposite direction of the house. He chuckles and smirks at Tylee's questioning look.

"Don't worry I have an idea of where I'm going." His smirk never leaving.

"That doesn't plant confidence." She states with a shake of her head.

"I'm not going to get us stranded and I'm pretty sure that you know how to get back to the house if I don't." He tells her.

"Carry on then." Her smile is all he needs to urge the team on towards his destination.