Page 55 of Baby and the Beast

"Weather can turn.” Casimir glanced at the sky. "Clouds building to the west. We need to move faster."

Nash nodded and shouldered his pack. As they continued down the trail, Casimir found himself hyper-aware of Nash's breathing—slightly labored but steady. The fox shifter was pushing himself hard.

"We can rest again if—"

"I'm fine," Nash interrupted. "I've come too far to slow down now."

The determination in his voice silenced any further protests. Casimir adjusted Copper against his chest and lengthened his stride, navigating the path with practiced ease. When Nash slipped on a patch of ice, Casimir's arm shot out, steadying him with a firm grip.

"Thanks," Nash murmured, his face flushed from cold and exertion.

Casimir nodded and kept his hand at Nash's elbow until they reached more stable ground. The contact felt natural, necessary—and yet somehow more intimate than it should have been.

By mid-afternoon, the wind had picked up, carrying the scent of snow. Casimir's shoulders tensed. They were still three miles from Rayford's cabin, and daylight was waning faster than he'd anticipated.

"We need to hurry," he said, glancing at Nash. "Can you manage a quicker pace?"

Nash adjusted his pack. "Lead the way."

They pushed forward, the forest growing denser around them. Casimir followed markers only he could see—a bent branch here, a particular rock formation there. He'd traveled this route countless times, but never with so much at stake.

Copper began to fuss against his chest, her tiny sounds almost lost in the rising wind.

"She's hungry," Nash said, coming alongside him. "And probably needs changing."

Casimir scanned the area. "There's a sheltered spot just ahead. We can stop briefly."

The overhang provided minimal protection, but it was enough to block the worst of the wind. Casimir carefully extracted Copper from the carrier and handed her to Nash, then positioned himself as a windbreak while Nash tended to their daughter.

Their daughter.The thought came unbidden, and Casimir pushed it away immediately. She wasn't his. This wasn't his family. He was just helping them get where they needed to go.

"How much further?" Nash asked, his voice tight with concern as he settled Copper back into the carrier.

"Less than an hour if we push," Casimir answered, studying the darkening sky. "But the storm's coming faster than I expected."

Nash's eyes met his, understanding the unspoken concern. "Then we push."

They set off again, moving as quickly as the terrain allowed. The first snowflakes began to fall just as the outline of Rayford's cabin appeared through the trees—a low, dark structure nestled against the hillside. Casimir felt relief wash through him. They'd made it.

"There," he pointed, his voice nearly lost in the wind. "Rayford's cabin."

Nash's face brightened despite his obvious exhaustion. They trudged the final distance as the snowfall intensified, fat flakes swirling around them in the fading light.

The cabin was small and rustic—a single room with a stone fireplace, rough-hewn furniture, and shuttered windows. Casimir quickly worked the simple latch and ushered Nash inside, then stood while Nash unfastened Copper and the carrier. He turned and immediately brought in their supplies.

Casimir wasted no time. He secured the door, checked the chimney for blockages, and set about building a fire in the hearth while Nash settled Copper in a nest of blankets on the small bed in the corner. The baby's eyes were wide, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Is it always this cold in here?" Nash asked, rubbing his arms.

"Give it time," Casimir replied, coaxing the kindling to catch. "It'll warm up fast once the fire's going."

The flames flickered to life, casting dancing shadows across the cabin's rough walls. Casimir fed the fire carefully, adding larger pieces of wood only when the smaller ones were fully ablaze. Rayford had left a decent supply of split logs stacked along the back wall—another debt Casimir would never be able to repay.

Nash moved around the cabin, exploring their temporary shelter. "It's smaller than your place."

"Rayford was a solitary man," Casimir said, standing to dust off his hands. "Liked things simple."

"Sounds familiar," Nash murmured with a small smile.

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