A Soldier Finds His Way

by Irene Onorato

  Edward went outside with a pot from the kitchen, and came back a few minutes later with a pot full of icicles he’d pulled off the eves of the cabin. He broke them into smaller pieces, put them into a Ziploc bag and wrapped the bag in a towel. “Here, put this on your arm for a while.”

  “Thank you. You’ve been good to us. I can’t even let myself think about how this day would have turned out without you.”

  A peaceful quiet fell on the room, accentuated only by the sound of logs crackling in the fireplace.

  Audra’s eyes closed, and her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Light from the fire quivered around the room and seemed to stop to investigate Audra’s beauty. Shoulder length hair, straight and dark blond, framed her delicately featured face. Smooth, feminine skin gave her a look of grace and gentility. The fingernails of her slender hands were painted a soft pink.

  A high-caliber babe like Audra probably had a man in her life and several more waiting in the wings to take his place.

  She stirred, and he turned away. It wouldn’t be right to be caught studying her.

  “I must have drifted off.” She sent him a small, tired smile.

  “Oh, I hadn’t noticed. I think that’s enough ice for now.” He lifted the bag from her arm. “You look tired. It’s been a rough day for you. Do you want me to help you get to the bed with Zoe?”

  “I think I need a trip to the bathroom first. Can you help me out of this chair, please?”

  He replaced the splint, making sure it wasn’t too loose or so tight as to cut off her circulation then took her hand and helped her stand.

  “Oww! I think my hip is bruised.” She rubbed the spot.

  “Yeah, it is. Your hip and backside were already turning purple when I saw them earlier.”

  “You saw a bruise on my behind? How could you have seen a bruise on my behind?”

  He squirmed. What could he say? Surely she didn’t think his clothes jumped on her by magic.

  Zoe piped in from the bedroom, “He saw you naked today, Aunt Audra. Remember?”

  Their eyes met. Her face reddened. No doubt, the revelation that he’d changed her clothes and seen, well, everything, had finally dawned on her.

  He helped her to the bathroom. “Are you going to need any help in here?”

  “I’m twenty-two years old.” She balled her fists and spoke through clenched teeth. “I think I can manage going to the bathroom by myself.”

  “Don’t bite my head off, lady. I only meant I’d help if you needed it because of your arm being in the splint and your ribs being bruised. But go ahead, take your purple behind and do your thing. Sorry I asked.” He left the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.

  Edward sat in the rocker and stared at the bathroom door. She’d been in there an awfully long time. He got up and knocked on the door. “You okay in there?”

  She opened the door. “Yes, I’m okay. I’m sorry I got cranky with you. I’m exhausted and I’d like to go to bed now.”

  He walked beside her, careful to steady her when she put weight on her bruised hip. With a gentle hand, he helped her into bed beside Zoe and pulled the covers over her.

  Her dainty hand touched his arm. “Where are you going to sleep?”

  “On the recliner.” He walked away.

  “Hey,” she called. “Good night. And thank you again.”

  Edward stood with the curtain pushed aside. “Remember, I’ll have to wake you up periodically during the night to make sure you’re okay.” He closed the curtain, went to the fireplace and threw more wood into the flames.

  Damp clothes still hung on the backs of the chairs. He flipped and rearranged them so they’d dry during the night. “Who’d have thought I’d have panties hanging in my cabin today?” He mumbled under his breath. “What a turn of events. So much for a nice quiet vacation.”

  He plopped into the recliner, pulled a sleeping bag over himself and sacked out.

  A sneeze from the other side of the curtain startled him awake. He had no idea how long he’d slept, and he hadn’t checked on Audra like he’d planned. He threw the sleeping bag on the floor and started toward the bedroom. He took a few steps, tumbled forward and found himself sprawled out on the floor. His knee throbbed immediately. It was all he could do not to let out a few expletives.

  “Are you all right?” Zoe asked in the darkness.

  “Yeah, I’m okay. I tripped over the dog, that’s all.” He sat on Audra’s side of the bed and gave her hip a shake. “Audra. Are you feeling all right? Are you having any headaches, or nausea?”

  “My hip aches when I move, but otherwise I’m okay.”

  “Are you guys warm enough?”

  “We’re fine. Thank you.” Audra’s small moan exuded comfort and satisfaction. And why wouldn’t it? She got to sleep in the big bed with clean sheets while he slept on the nasty old recliner.

  His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he was able to make out her curvaceous silhouette as she lay on her side. His hand lingered on her hip a little longer than it should have, and his pulse accelerated. He recognized his physical response to touching and jerked his hand away.

  Edward went back to the living room, shuffling his feet on the way. No way he wanted to trip over the dog again. He stoked the fire and added enough logs to last the night. The flames licked at the new wood and brightened the room once more. He crouched by the fire with his hands extended toward the flames. Okay, she was pretty. So what. From now on, he’d keep his hands to himself.

  Chapter 5

  Edward woke, surprised to find the morning light sneaking in through the tops of the windows. He got up, hit the bathroom and dressed. Cricket joined him at the door, stretching with her elbows on the floor and her backside in the air. She let out a big yawn and stood, ready to go out.

  The wind threw a handful of snow in his face as he opened the door. “Whoa, if I wasn’t awake before, I am now. Let’s go, girl. After this sorry excuse for a vacation, I guess I’ll be a certified, bona fide snow shoveler. Hey, where’d you go?

  Cricket’s head poked up through a snowbank, and Edward laughed. Several inches of snow sat on top of her head, making her look as if she was wearing a derby, and he swore she was grinning from ear to ear. He cleared the snow off the woodpile, grabbed an armful, and started back inside.

  When he opened the door, Zoe was standing by the fireplace dressed in her own clothes. The thermal shirt he’d loaned her lay folded on the rocking chair.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked.

  “Pretty well. Aunt Audra tossed and turned. I think she was uncomfortable with all her bruises. She’s still sleeping, but I checked on her to make sure she was still alive.”

  Edward shook his head. Checking for signs of life seemed a too-grown-up task for a kid. She had fortitude. He had to give her that.

  “I’ll fix us some breakfast. I’m sure by now you’re hungry.” He worked quietly. Last thing he wanted was to wake Audra.

  “Can I help?” Zoe’s voice came from behind.

  “Yeah, how about staying out from underfoot. That would help.”

  Zoe backed away, looking a little hurt by his comment.

  Audra came into the living room. She wobbled on her feet and took sluggish steps.

  “You okay?” Edward stepped toward her and extended a hand, ready to help if she needed it.

  “I feel like I was thrown off a cliff. There aren’t too many places where I don’t hurt, but I’ll be okay.” Audra took her dry clothes into the bedroom.

  “I’ll help you get dressed, Aunt Audra.” Zoe followed behind.

  Edward started a pot of coffee and placed three MREs into their specially made heaters. If the girls didn’t like the food, they could go mooch off someone else. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. Who invited them anyway?

  He took a few dusty plates from the shelf and washed them, along with a couple of forks, then arranged the food as best he could on the plates and brou
ght them to the table. “Chow time.”

  Zoe and Audra made their way to the table and sat down as Edward pulled up the wooden crate to use as a seat.

  Zoe leaned over her plate. “What is this stuff?”

  Edward reached into the trashcan and pulled out an empty plastic envelope. “The package says enchiladas.”

  Zoe took her fork and pushed the food around a little. “Which part is the enchilada?”

  “I suppose the whitish stuff that looks like wet cardboard. Eat it. It’s good for you. Mm-mmm.”

  “Don’t enchiladas have cheese on them?”

  “There’s cheese on them. See?” He pointed at a yellow blob on his plate.

  “That’s cheese? It looks yucky.”

  “Well then, eat your yucky cardboard enchilada, kid. It’ll put hair on your chest.”

  “Indeed, let’s eat.” Audra put on a cheerful face. “I can’t wait to dig into this delicious enchilada. Bon appetite.” She put a forkful into her mouth.

  Zoe watched Audra and Edward eat.

  “This isn’t bad at all,” Audra said.

  Edward scooped a mound onto his fork. “Everything coming out of an MRE package looks like mush. They’re marginally edible, but I wouldn’t call them enjoyable. Some are better than others.”

  “I don’t think I can eat this.” Zoe scrunched her nose and pushed her plate away.

  Edward dropped his fork and scowled at Zoe. “Maybe we can call the manager of this bed and breakfast-slash-shelter for crash victims and tell him the food isn’t acceptable. Oh wait. We don’t have a phone. Maybe we can send him a smoke signal and tell him to bring us something from McDonald’s. Or maybe you can just shut up and eat.” He turned to Audra. “What do you think about that, lady?”

  “What do I think?” Audra slapped the table with her palm. “I think my name is Audra, not lady. Her name is Zoe, not kid. And I think you could lighten up on the sarcasm. She’s a child for goodness sake. Can’t you be just a little nicer to her? Furthermore, telling someone to shut up is extremely rude.” Audra looked at Zoe. “There will be no more complaining. Be sweet. Mr. Giordano is going out of his way to take care of us. He didn’t ask to have guests. Eat.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Giordano. Thank you for breakfast.” Zoe pulled her plate back and tasted the enchiladas. “Hey, they’re not as disgusting as they look.”

  “Zoe,” Audra said, “MREs, or meals ready to eat, were designed for people in the military, or hikers, and other people who don’t have access to cooking facilities or supermarkets. Think of them as portable packets of nutrition.”

  Edward cracked up. “Portable packets of nutrition. PPNs. I like it. You sound like a teacher. I’ll never look at an MRE the same way again.”

  She cleared her throat. “I am a teacher.” Then chortled.

  The atmosphere around the table changed. Zoe’s infectious laugh teetered between a chuckle and a wheeze. Audra covered her mouth when she laughed her girly-giggly laugh.

  The tension faded, and Edward couldn’t believe he enjoyed the moment. He looked at his guests in a different light. These girls were in a difficult situation and dependent upon him for their survival. The cheerfulness was almost medicinal, and even he felt better.

  Major Greco was right. He needed a lot of work on being the man he should be. He’d work on treating Audra and Zoe with more respect. One way or another, he’d rise to the occasion. “I promise not to call you lady and kid if you drop the Mr. Giordano thing. Truce?”

  “Truce.” Audra smiled.

  * * * *

  Audra stacked dishes and forks in a pile in front of her. She pushed herself up from her chair with a moan and started toward the sink, carrying everything with one hand.

  “I’ll get that.” Edward jumped up and took the dishes from her. “You need to take it easy.”

  “Thanks.” She hobbled into the living area. At the window she pulled the dirty curtain aside and took a look at the conditions outside the cabin. “The snow is still coming down hard, but the wind doesn’t seem quite as bad as yesterday. What do you think?” She stepped to the side and invited him to the window.

  Edward joined her. “I think you’re right. That’s a good sign.”

  Audra shifted her weight off of her bum hip and went to step away from the window. As she turned, she lost her balance and started to topple. Edward stepped in and steadied her with an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She made no attempt to pull away once she found her footing, but instead hung onto him with her good arm.

  “I feel utterly helpless, Edward. What a mess I’ve gotten myself into.”

  “I’ll get you out of this mess. I promise.” Edward rubbed her back. His touch warmed, comforted and assured her. “Let’s get you back in the recliner where you can put your feet up.”

  She took his arm and accepted his help. Soon, she was in the chair with Edward trying to make her comfortable.

  He raised the footrest and felt her feet with his hands. His brows furrowed. “Your feet are ice cold. Where are your socks?”

  Before she could answer, Edward called for Zoe. “Go find her socks, would you.”

  Zoe obeyed and came back quickly. “Here, I found them in the bed, under the covers. They must have slipped off during the night.”

  Edward put the socks on Audra’s feet and rubbed them until they were warm before spreading a blanket and tucking her legs in. He moved to her side, loosened the splint and checked her arm. “The swelling is down.” He put the splint back on.

  Edward returned to kitchen.

  Zoe tagged along. “What were you going to do up here in this cabin all by yourself?”

  “I was going to be by myself. That’s the main thing. I was going to do whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it. Sometimes a man has to get away to think, to plan, and figure out what’s important in life.”

  “Are you sorry we’re here?”

  “Cricket seems to think you’re okay, and I trust her judgment.” He looked past Zoe and focused on Audra. “So, no, I’m not sorry you’re here. But I’m going to get you home as soon as I can.”

  * * * *

  Dust covered the shelves and everything on them, giving evidence that the cabin had been closed up for quite some time. Audra adjusted her blanket and got more comfortable as Edward cleaned the kitchen area.

  An olive drab T-shirt flexed over well-defined muscles as Edward reached for things on upper shelves and wiped the surfaces down. Camouflaged pants hugged his waist and hung nicely on his all-male frame.

  He rinsed a plastic bottle and poured a scoop of orange powder into it, then filled the bottle with water and shook it vigorously. As he drank a cup, he turned, and their eyes met. He poured a second cup and brought it to her. “Here you go. It’s some kind of orange drink mix full of vitamins and minerals.”

  Edward’s ring finger was bare. No indentation, no tan line, no evidence that he’d taken one off recently either. Her cheeks heated. A lot of guys didn’t wear wedding bands. Why was she thinking about this anyway? She didn’t even know this guy.

  He sat in the rocker next to her. At their feet, Zoe played with a set of dominoes she’d found on a lower shelf.

  “Does this cabin belong to you?” Audra asked, hoping to start a conversation.

  “No, it belongs to my buddy, Hank.”

  “Is he the guy who loaned you the snowmobile?”

  “Yup. The dog’s his too. I got suckered into taking care of Cricket in exchange for borrowing the snowmobile. Anyway, Hank’s got a lot of acres of more or less useless land up here that he inherited from his grandfather. There’s barely a flat spot to build anything on anywhere besides where the cabin sits. I don’t know how the old man got anything into this place. Take the recliner for instance, or the tub and the mattress. How in the world did he get them in here?”

  “Maybe he put the plug in the tub and paddled it down the river.” Her silly answer garnered the smil
e she’d hoped for.

  “Throw in some outriggers to keep the tub from capsizing, and I’ll buy that story.” Edward laughed. “I’ve heard there used to be old logging roads somewhere around here, but I’ve been on almost every square inch of this property, and I haven’t seen evidence of any roads.”

  “How did you get to know it so well?”

  “When Hank and I were teenagers, we used to come out here and disappear from civilization for a while. When we got bored, we’d go back and get yelled at by everyone. Once, we cut school for an entire week. We got in trouble a lot.”

  “It sounds like you guys have been friends for a long time.” She shifted off her throbbing hip. “Tell me more about you and your brother.”

  “When I was twelve, I moved in with Hank and his foster parents, Marlene and Benjamin Shultz. We’re foster brothers. After high school we joined the Army. For a while, we went in different directions, but then we both made it into Special Forces. In the end we served together in the same unit.”

  “In the end?”

  “Hank was severely injured when our convoy was attacked and his vehicle was hit with an RPG. That’s rocket-propelled grenade, in case you didn’t know. He ended up full of holes, leaking all over the place.”

  “How terrible. I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t even begin to imagine what he went through.”

  “Yeah, it was tough. We’ve got a good medic, though.” He paused and smiled at Audra. “You’d like him. We call him Reverend Marcus, or Rev for short. He’s the unit’s Holy Roller.”

  Her heart warmed with Edward’s teasing smile. “In that case, I like him already.”

  “He can be annoying, but I have to hand it to him. He saved Hank’s life. Hank lost an eye and his hearing in one ear and was medically discharged. Now he works for the Army as a civilian trainer in demolitions.”

  Edward got up. “How’re you feeling, besides the hip and arm? You feel lightheaded or sick to your stomach?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Edward went to the kitchen and pulled a small wooden box off the shelf. He dug through it, pulled out a chain that held a whistle, and called Zoe to him. “I’m going out for a while to scope out the conditions. While I’m gone, you’re in charge.” He placed the chain around her neck. “If you have an emergency, I want you to step outside and whistle your brains out. I won’t go too far.”