and he 'd be damned if he 'd put the business at risk . even as i stand here , the axe is being laid to the root of the tree . he 'd seen her , outside that house-had n't he ? i continued on , stamping a single set of tracks into the snow , not wondering why there wasnt a second smaller set of tracks leading to her . he looks down at me as if he 's not sure he wants me to stay , either . 