Finding Home

Chapter Three

 I heard the beeping of my alarm go off, letting me know that it was morning but when I looked over to the window it was still dark out.

Getting out of bed I started my routine, making sure the fire was going good before getting dressed and then going to the family room and getting that fire going as well.

Once the coffee was ready, I made myself a cup and went over to the window and looked out. The snow was already about three feet high. This was not going to be a fun day.

Luckily, last year I bought a tractor to plow everywhere. It is not a huge tractor, but it helps make paths where I need to be.

After an hour I finally made the path to the barn with the animals. Keeping the tractor going I went inside, and the temperature was not that bad. Between all the insulation I had put in plus the snow that piled up.

I had a couple heat pipes in the ground that would run over to the barn so a little bit of warmth would seep into the place and help keep the temperature. After they were fed and watered and their stalls cleaned, I spent a few more minutes with them.

Once I knew they were all content and taken care of, I locked the door and made another path back to the house, clearing a few areas around the sheds that I might need.

I made a few paths in front of the house so if needed I could get my snowmobile out of the garage without too much hassle. Finally done and everything put away, I go inside grabbing my extremely hot coffee and sit right by the fire.

After I was finally warmed up enough to move, I decided to take a nap since there was not much else to do now. I was not hungry yet so making sure the fireplaces were set with enough wood to last a few hours I climbed into bed.

Lying in bed I grabbed my portable DVD player that Luckily ran on batteries, I did not run it often as it would go through batteries left and right if I played it continues.

But sometimes I would treat myself to a movie or two if I just needed some noise and an escape from solitude.

Lying there watching a movie snuggled in bed under a few blankets and a big soft fluffy comforter I started to drift off. Shutting down the movie for now I fell asleep into a peaceful nap.

I woke up thinking I heard a knocking at my front door, but there could not be anyone out there, I was living in the middle of nowhere and nothing for miles around me.

But I heard it again, a loud frantic knocking, I got up and pulled out my gun that I kept in my nightstand. Going to the front door I looked out and saw a man standing there almost frozen.

I looked around and saw only one set of footprints, "What do you want?" I asked through the door; I was watching him. He looked to be in his thirties give or take.

"I need help, was out camping in the forest and got lost after the snowstorm hit" I knew from the locals that this does happen a lot around these parts. It was to be expected with living out this far that people would want to seek shelter if a storm hit suddenly.

I opened the door and let him in, he had all his gear on his back and by the looks of it he looked like he was living out there for a while. After I shut the door, I helped him take off his pack.

"Take off your stuff here, and come by the fire to warm up, I'll put on some coffee to help warm your insides" I said as I helped him get his coat and boots off. I walked him over to the chair by the fire and wrapped him up in a blanket.

"Thank you so much" he said between his chattering teeth, "you're welcome, now just stay there while I get us that coffee then you can tell me what in the hell you were doing out there this time of year" I said as I went for the coffee.

I brought him his cup and handed it to him, he nodded and gladly accepted it, I added a few more logs to the fire and sat with my coffee in my other chair. I had a feeling this guy was going to be my house guest for a while.

After a few minutes and two cups of coffee later, he was warmed up enough to tell me what was going on. "I was taking the summer backpacking around this area.

I knew winter was approaching but I thought I had a few more weeks to get back to town before it would hit" he said looking at the fire.

"This storm did come out of nowhere suddenly" I said knowing that it could happen but in the few years I have lived here it would lightly snow before any major storms would hit.

Giving everyone ample time to get things situated. "Are you hungry?" I asked knowing my stomach was starting to demand I feed it. "If it's not too much I would love something hot to eat, I haven't eaten anything hot in two weeks" he said.

I still had my gun under my shirt sitting against the small of my back, just in case. I stood up and went to the stove putting more wood in it so I could boil water for oatmeal.

On freezing days like these, oatmeal was filling, and it would stay with you for a while. "I have no problem with you staying here while the storm is going on, but I will need you to help me out around here while you are here" I said as I walked over to where he was sitting.

"Thank you and I will do whatever needs to be done, only way I can repay your kindness" he said as he stood up, I realized how tall and brood he was to me. I was an easy five foot five, he had to stand well over six foot four.

"I don't have much but hopefully this will do" I said as I showed him to the spare room, "you can set your pack and such in here and there is only one bathroom, so while I'm fixing us something to eat, freshen up and when you're ready come on out" I said, and turn to head to the kitchen.