I took the lighter with a disapproving look, but I was busted. She knew I took a hit occasionally so there was really nothing I could say. I got the fire started, and Natalie took a seat on the couch while we waited for the stove to heat the room. I went and turned off the oven, and used my daughter's lighter to get the pilot light lit on the water heater. Natalie cheered when she heard the device roar to life.
"Yay! Hot showers!"
I brought her still wet clothes out to the living room and hung them as best as I could from shelves, curtain rods, and whatever I could find near the woodstove. Then I went and stripped out of my clothes and wrapped up in a comforter like Natalie had done. I came out and hung my clothes too, trying to keep the comforter from hitting the floor as I did so. By t
