Page 16 of The Mountain Man's Virgin
“When are we leaving?” she asked.
“As soon as this wind dies down we should be able to get out of here,” I replied, looking out the window. The storm hadn’t let up, and even in the light of the early dawn, the snow continued to accumulate, and the wind actually seemed to be increasing in strength.
“When do you think that will be?” she asked, her eyes wide.
I can only imagine what it must have felt like for her – to be trapped in a cabin with a surly stranger.
“Let me tune into the National Weather Service on the radio. Yesterday, they had predicted that the front was going to pass within twenty-four hours, so it should clear around noon.” I opened the fridge and pulled out some eggs. “Are you hungry for some breakfast? I don’t have much, but we could do some eggs and toast, and there are some venison sausages I can pull out of the freezer.”
“Just toast is good for me,” she said. She sat down on the couch and pulled a quilt around her shoulders. She seemed sad.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
“I’d like to call Lawrence,” she said.
“Lawrence?”
“My fiancé,” she said, holding up her hand, the giant diamond ring a sparkling reminder of her attachment.
She was pissed at me. I could tell. Oh well, the sooner I got her out of here, the better it would be for both of us.
“As far as I know, your fiancé has been notified. There’s no cell service here, but I can radio the hotel where your friends are staying and see if they can get him to a radio.”
She sighed. “I hate to be a pain, but I’d really like to talk to him.”
“Ok. I’ll call them now,” I sliced up some sourdough bread and dropped it in the toaster.
She was going to see the guy in a couple of hours. Why was she so adamant about talking to him? I called out to the Crystalid Hotel concierge and they were able to get one of Lucy’s friend on the other end.
“Here,” I said, passing the radio to her.
“Tania?” she spoke into the hand-held device.
“Lucy!” the voice screeched through the static. “Oh, my God. It’s so good to hear your voice!”
“Can I talk to Lawrence?” she asked.
“He’s not here.”
“When is he going to get there?” she asked.
The girls had no radio etiquette, but I let it slide – they seemed to be getting by just fine.
“Um. Like, I’m not sure if he’s coming.”
“What do you mean? I was just lost in a blizzard.”
“Listen, Lucy. I can’t get in touch with Lawrence. No one can.”
Lucy pulled the radio back and stared at it as if it would suddenly explain what was happening with her fiancé.
There was silence – a very uncomfortably long silence.
The screechy voice came back through the radio, “When are you coming out of the woods?”
“As soon as the storm is over,” Lucy said quietly.
There was no response.
