by Misty Malone
Twenty minutes later he had her car pulled out of the snowdrift and back on the road. She went ten feet up the hill before she started spinning and slid into another drift. He tapped on her window again. “I think what we need to do is try to get your car into that parking lot over there. I’ll take you on up to your snowmobile.”
“You want me to just leave my car sitting in that lot? That building looks abandoned.”
She was appalled, which was kind of cute, but Todd knew she wouldn’t appreciate his smile, so he turned to hide it. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you say you planned on leaving your car parked in the snowmobile garage?”
“Well, yes, but that’s at the garage.”
“Which is also an abandoned building this time of year. The only difference I see is this abandoned building is off the main road and we could park it behind the building and people wouldn’t see it. If you park it at the garage it will be plainly visible from the main road. Everyone will be able to see it parked there day after day, without being moved.”
She huffed, clearly not happy. “And how would I get to it then when I’m ready to go back home?”
“I’ll give you my number and you can call me. I’ll take you back to your car.” It was obvious she didn’t like his idea, so he tried another approach. “Lucy, I’ll be honest with you. The reason I suggested we park your car here is because I don’t think we’ll be able to get your car that far up the hill with the tires you have on this.”
“What do you mean the tires I have on this?”
“Your tires are bald. There’s very little tread left. If you’re going to be driving around here in the winter you need good tires with lots of tread. That’s why your tires keep spinning, because there’s not enough tread to bite into the snow. It will just get worse the further up the hill you go, so if you can’t make it down here, you sure aren’t going to make it up further.”
Todd could tell she was annoyed, but before she could argue, he made a suggestion. “Why don’t we transfer everything you have in your car to my truck, and I’ll take it up there. Then, if you want, I’ll get my snowmobile out and follow you up. I have a sled for mine, so we should be able to get it all up to your cabin in one trip.”
She sighed, but agreed. “Thank you, Todd. I’d appreciate your help.”
Twenty minutes later they had her car parked in the lot, and everything transferred from her car to his pickup. They got to the garage, which housed a collection of snowmobiles, and she went to the one in Space 4. She flipped up the seat in preparation of loading it full, but Todd made a suggestion. “Has this been run lately?”
“Not that I know of since last winter.”
“You may want to try starting it first to make sure it’ll start, before you load it full.”
She looked annoyed at the suggestion. “It better start. He told me he used it several times last winter.”
“If it’s been sitting since then, though, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will start now.”
“It has to start. How am I supposed to get up to the cabin if it doesn’t?”
“Why don’t you start it? If it starts right up, that’s good. We’ll pack your stuff on. If it doesn’t, we’ll decide what to do then.” She sighed loudly, but got on and turned the key. Nothing happened. She had a look of panic on her face as she tried again, but still nothing happened.
“It looks like the battery may be dead. I have a charger for mine. We can put that on it and let it charge overnight and see if it starts tomorrow.”
“And what am I supposed to do in the meantime – twiddle my thumbs and wait patiently?”
Her impatience was beginning to grate on his nerves. So much for a nice quiet week. “I don’t know what good twiddling your thumbs would do, but a little patience would be appreciated.” She harrumphed, glared at him, and was about to let him have it, when he interrupted. “Look, arguing won’t help any. I can either take you up to your cabin in the truck, or if it’s one of the remote cabins I’ll see if my snowmobile starts and we’ll make two trips on it.”
She looked at him, and he was sure if looks could kill he’d have been dead. Without giving her a chance to say anything, he said one last thing. “Or I could unload this stuff here and go back to my cabin that’s got a warm fire and cold beer.” After a pause, he added, “And no woman with an attitude.”
She stared at him, obviously angry. He watched as she sighed, and took a deep breath. “Sorry. Thank you for your help. I’m not sure how far up the cabin is. I’ve never actually been there.”
Now it was his turn to stare at her. “You don’t know where it is?”
“Not exactly. Kenny said if there’s much snow on the ground to stop at the garage and take the snowmobile up. He told me to follow a path between the two big ash trees up the hill, heading east.”
Todd studied her several moments. Things were starting to fit together in his mind. “Okay, let me get the battery charger on your snowmobile, then we’ll load half of your stuff onto the sled and we’ll take my snowmobile.” She watched as he hooked up the battery charger, then got his snowmobile out and hooked a sled up to it. She followed him to his truck and helped transfer things from his truck to the sled.
When the sled was full he turned to her. “When we get on, be sure to hold on good. Some of these trails can be pretty rough. Which way do we go?”
Her eyes got rather large as she looked at him. “Head east, between the two big ash trees.”
“Which two trees is that?”
“Well,” she said hesitantly, “I suppose he must be talking about—”
Todd watched as she turned in a complete circle, looking carefully at the trees. He gave her plenty of time to look. “You have no idea, do you?” She continued looking around. “Let’s narrow it down. Which way is east?” She looked at him, and turned in the direction he was looking in. “Just as I thought,” he said. “You’re headed toward the west.”
She quickly turned. “Oh. Then it must be those two trees over there we should be going between.”
“Those are maple trees.”
“Oh.” She looked crestfallen.
“Are you trying to get to Kenny Summerfield’s cabin?”
Her hopeful eyes turned to him. “Do you know Kenny, and where his cabin is?”
“I do. Hop on, and hold on tight.”
“How did you know?”
“I was pretty sure that was Kenny’s snowmobile. I figured if you know his name and have the key you must have his permission to be here. Are you a friend?”
“He’s my cousin.”
Todd nodded. “Get on and we’ll go.”
It took fifteen minutes, but they pulled up in front of a cabin and stopped. “This looks like the pictures I’ve seen,” Lucy said.
“Give me the key and I’ll go in and check it out.”
“What do you mean check it out?”
“Make sure no animals have taken up residence in it.”
“Oooh,” she squealed. “That’s ridiculous.” She pushed past him and had the key in the lock.
“Okay, if you want,” he said calmly. “This past spring when Kenny opened it up, he had a family of skunks living in the storeroom. He was glad they hadn’t gotten into the rest of the house. The McKinleys, on up the hill just a little ways, actually had a bear in their cabin. It left before they got there, but what a mess. So it happens occasionally, but not too often. You’re probably right; there’s probably nothing in here now, though, so go ahead and get it open.”
He had to work hard to contain the smile wanting to explode on his face as he watched her. She still had the key in the door, but her movements became very slow and hesitant. Finally, she moved out of the way. “Okay, fine,” she mumbled. “Go ahead and open it.”
Todd, who had about had it with her attitude, and never was one to let a learning opportunity slide, shook his head slowly. “If you want me to open it up and check it out for you, I will, but you’ll have to ask nicely.�
�
“What? Who do you think you are?” She turned back to the door and started fumbling with the key. He stepped over to the side, out of the way of the door, leaning flat against the house, and took a stance as if he was ready for whatever may be inside the house. She watched his movements out of the corner of her eye, and stopped. After a moment she sighed. “Fine. Would you please go in the house first and check it out?”
He rewarded her with a big smile. “Sure, since you asked nicely. Stand over to the side, just in case. If something has found a way to get inside, it will more than likely run out the front door if it can.” He unlocked the door and opened it a little ways and paused. “I don’t hear anything,” he said, and opened it and went in. He checked the entire cabin before coming back to the porch. “Everything looks fine. Come on in.”
She had a suspicious look on her face as she considered him. “Was that for real or were you just trying to scare me?”
“A little of both,” he readily admitted. “Kenny really did have skunks in his storeroom last spring, but your attitude played a part in it, too. You have a funny way of saying thank you.” He didn’t say any more, and didn’t appear to be angry, but simply walked down to his snowmobile and started unloading it, as she stood there staring at him, trying to figure him out. When he came back to the porch, arms full, he pulled her out of the daze she seemed to be in. “I can bring this stuff in. Why don’t you put it up? Then I’ll light a fire so the cabin can start warming up while we go back and get the rest of your stuff.”
She followed him into the kitchen, where he put the boxes down. “Thanks,” she mumbled.
He smiled as he nodded, and went back to the sled. After four trips he had it unloaded, and turned his attention to the fireplace. Luckily, Kenny also had a fire ready to light, so it didn’t take long. Once he was sure it was going well he went outside and brought in a few loads of wood for her, filling the woodbin.
He stopped in the kitchen, where she was still putting groceries away. “While you finish this I’ll go get the rest of your stuff. I’ll be right back.” He left before she could argue, or grab her coat. She found herself staring at the door.
Chapter Two
Lucy spent most of the forty minutes Todd was gone standing in front of the warm fire he’d started, thinking about him. She hadn’t been in a good mood when she’d gotten stuck in the snow, so she hadn’t really paid much attention to him when she first met him. Looking back now, she realized that she’d probably been pretty rude, and she owed him an apology for that.
Once that had been decided, she considered Todd. He really was a rather good looking man. He was tall and muscular, but not huge like a weight lifter. He had dark brown hair, and brown eyes to match. He’d been very patient with her, and the fact that he was helping her at all said a lot. She didn’t think people lived in these cabins year around, so he was probably here for a vacation of sorts, as well. She found herself wondering if he was here alone, or if he had a wife or girlfriend waiting for him back at their cabin.
She was trying to come up with a tactful way of finding that out, when Todd walked back in, carrying a suitcase and a duffel bag. He headed for the bedroom. “I take it these go in here?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said absent-mindedly. She put her coat back on and followed him out to help.
When the sled was unloaded, he stoked the fire and added more wood. He stood in front of it, warming his hands. “Are you familiar with this cabin, know where everything is, or do you have any questions before I leave?”
“I should be fine now. Thanks for your help.” He nodded and turned toward the door, but she reached out and stopped him.
He turned toward her. “Think of a question?”
“No, but I need to tell you something before you go,” she said tentatively. “I’d like to apologize for the way I’ve acted. I wasn’t in a good mood when I came out here, and getting stuck didn’t help any. But I appreciate all you’ve done to help me, and I feel bad for how I treated you.”
Todd had a big smile on his face when she finished her apology. “Thank you, Lucy. I don’t have a problem forgiving people when I know they’re sincere, and that was a very sincere apology. I hope your stay out here takes care of whatever has you in a bad mood.”
“It won’t solve the problem, but I’m hoping I can accept it and move on at least.”
“That sounds ominous. Anything I can help you with?”
“No, it’s my problem. I lost another job.”
“Another job? Did the company downsize?”
“No, just me. I got fired again.”
His eyebrows drew together. “Again?”
“I have a temper, I guess.”
“Sounds to me like you need to get a handle on that.”
“I do,” she admitted, “but it’s hard.”
Todd felt she had an attitude problem, as well, which usually went along with a temper, but he had his own way of dealing with both of them. He was confident his method would work, too, but he didn’t know her, and probably wouldn’t see her past tomorrow, so he wasn’t about to mention anything about his method. He sure felt she would benefit from it, however. Instead, he just smiled. “Well, I hope you find a way to get it under control. I’ll come up tomorrow morning and take you down to get your snowmobile.”
“Okay. Thank you again for your help.”
“Let me give you my cell phone number. If you need anything, call me.”
“Thanks.” He programmed his number into her phone, and put her number into his before leaving.
Todd took his snowmobile back to his cabin, knowing he’d need it again in the morning. His mind was on the little lady he’d just left. She had him feeling something he hadn’t felt in quite some time. He had a protective streak in him, but it only came alive with people he cared about. He was surprised, but had to admit that he did care about Lucy. Sure, she had a temper, and definitely an attitude he could do without, but he also saw glimpses of a wonderful lady. She was very pretty, and built how he liked his women, with womanly curves. As far as he was concerned, you could keep the skinny stick figures all ladies seemed to strive for. He’d rather have a lady with curves, and Lucy definitely had them. He wasn’t generally a big fan of red hair, but her red curls somehow fit her, and together with her green eyes, she was very pretty.
He got home, stoked his fire, and sat down in front of the television set. The football games grabbed his attention, and the pretty little redhead was moved to the back of his mind until the next morning.
Once again, he slept in the next morning, got the fire opened up, and had breakfast. After bringing in enough wood for the day, he put his warm coat on. It had snowed a little more overnight, and the temperature dropped. With his warm clothes, sweatshirt, coat, heavy socks and boots, gloves and scarf on, he started his snowmobile and headed back to pick up Lucy.
He saw her walking across the porch as he approached. She saw him coming up the hill and waved. He waved back, but was surprised to see her taking wood in the cabin without a coat on. “Good morning, Todd,” she yelled as he shut the snowmobile off. “Come on in.” She disappeared into the cabin, and he followed her in. She dumped the wood by the fireplace and turned to get more. “Make yourself comfortable. I want to get another load or two and I’ll be ready to go.”
She headed for the door, but he gently grabbed her arm, stopping her. “You shouldn’t be out there like that. I’ll get you some wood while you get your coat on.” He turned and went out the door. He brought three armfuls of wood in, which he knew would be plenty for her for the day.
He was adding wood to the fire and getting ready to leave when she came out from the bedroom. “Okay, I’m ready.”
He looked up quickly, and went back to tending the fire. “No, you’re not. It got cold out there last night, Lucy. Don’t you have a heavier coat? And where’s your scarf? How about gloves, and boots?”
“I don’t need all that stuff just to slip down there and come back. I
won’t be out all that long.”
“You’re not planning on being out all that long, but things can happen. What if your snowmobile quits before you get back here? Or what if you have an accident?”
She looked upset. “What if you’re making a mountain out of a molehill?”
“What if I’m not?” Not wanting a confrontation, he softened. “What I worry about most are the fingers and toes. Let’s compromise. Put some boots on and get some gloves. If you tell me you’re sure that coat will be enough, we’ll go.”
“Why do you care? I mean, it’s me that will have cold feet. Let’s just go.”
He hesitated a moment before answering. “That’s a good question, Lucy. I’m not really sure, either, why I care, but I do. I don’t want to see you get frostbite.”
After another elongated sigh, she stomped back into her bedroom. She returned a minute later with boots on. “Take it or leave it. Let’s go.”
She flounced past him and out the door. He debated with himself about addressing her attitude now or when they got back. He saw her gloves on the table, and decided their talk could wait a little while. He put her gloves in his pocket and followed her out the door.
They got to the snowmobile garage, and Todd was concerned. It was cold, and without a hat or gloves, he knew her fingers and ears were cold. “Are you okay?”
She’d tried to put the collar of her coat up around her ears, and was breathing on her hands and rubbing them, but she stopped when he asked the question. “Of course I am,” she insisted. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because it’s cold out here and you didn’t have gloves or a hat.”
“I don’t normally use them. I’m fine.”
He had to concentrate on not laughing. She was obviously cold, but wasn’t about to admit it to him. Stubborn woman. He let her wander over to the other side of the garage while he took the battery charger off her snowmobile. He glanced over a couple times and saw her frantically trying to warm her hands and ears, but didn’t say a word; just had a bit of a chuckle. He was pretty sure the snowmobile would start now, but he wanted to give her a few more minutes to warm up, so he lifted the hood and pretended to check the wires.
