Unlikely Meetings

CHAPTER 3 - COFFEE AND GUNPOWDER

CHAPTER 3 - COFFEE AND GUNPOWDER

Max sat in the waiting room of the small clinic of Jackson Wyoming at just after seven AM, waiting on Eli to be discharged with the subsequent slap on the wrist both expected. The doctors were nice enough even with her being berated behind closed doors that Max could faintly pickup from where he sat. Explanations of temperature regulation, onset hypothermia and hibernation were words he could pick out from the numerous others. "Be careful, have a back up plan, and..." The words faded out as Max's mind drifted to other topics of getting her car unstuck and what to cook for dinner.

"Venison steaks sound good, Probably add a veggie mix as the side for that." The brown jacket that rested on his frame scratched his neck in a slightly pleasant way. The bag of Eli's items sat next to him in its own plastic chair to include a few items he had added to its contents. The door behind him opened with a noticeable clack and he turned to face the new arrivals besides him and the deer nurse that had replaced the mouse from last night.

"Ah, Mister Weniger! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule. Again we're so sorry for asking you to do this." The human doctor shook his hand as she greeted and apologized to the taller man. "If there was anyone else we could have called we would but there just wasn't and we can't really spare anyone to help her dig out her car."

Eli's head was facing away from the pair in clear embarrassment and shame. Max decided to alleviate the pressure from her shoulders by drawing attention away from her and onto his shortcomings. "If you didn't ask, I would have volunteered. I've gotten my car stuck more times than I can count and it's the least I can do for a new friend. Besides, she's better than me seeing how this is the only time she's gotten stuck."

"You've gotten stuck?" A raised eyebrow questioningly sat on her normally pouty face as the question hung in the air between the two before she continued. "Out of everyone I've met I would think that you would have never gotten stuck like that."

A half smile broke across Max's face as he let out a short huff of laughter. "Not just stuck but stranded. Way worse than what you were caught in. Part of the reason I've got plans and gear stashed all over the place." With a snap of his right hand he turns back to the doctor. "Which reminds me, would I be allowed to store some things on the property?"

"No."

"Understood." With that he turned back to Eli with a warm smile. "Got all your important items here minus one. Fully charged phone, car keys, purse...thing and a few other items I thought you might like." The plastic bag was handed over to the slightly taller woman and she let a small smile past her lips.

"Thank you again. Really I don't know what to say." Her tongue flicked out of her mouth in a sign of slight comfort before looking back up to the man in question expectantly.

Max turned to the doctor next to them. "Is there anything that needs to be signed or is she free to go?"

"She's free to be on her way but please make sure she stays warm. Been a while since we've had such a harsh winter and I still suggest that she travel south." Her face turns towards Eli before speaking again. "Just as your parents did but as we spoke last night and this morning you won't be doing that. All I can ask for is stay safe."

With a final firm nod Max addresses the taller woman. "I'll pull the car around so you won't have to be in the cold for as long. Then you can just hop in and we can start working on popping your car out of that ditch."

-

"Might not be my place to ask but what happened?" The red tracker rolled through the new levels of snow in the early morning sun. The temperature wasn't supposed to reach over zero fahrenheit in the monotonous terrain. The leafless trees appeared like skeletons of long dead beasts passing by as the two enjoyed the short drive back to her stranded car. Eli's eyes stayed focused on the moving landscape outside as her lips stayed still. An occasional tongue flick to taste the warm air around her. "Getting stuck I mean."