Lupa

Chapter 3

They came up to the cabin just as the sun was getting lower in the sky. As they opened the door and went in, James looked around him in interest. It seemed very cosy; the room was narrow with two single beds either side of the fireplace and a small room off to one side with a basic toilet and basin. The main room had a bench with a gas stove in it. There was a big window next to one of the beds which offered a view of the field they had just walked through.

Dropping their packs on the floor Natalya went straight to the fireplace. "Damn it" she said, "there is only enough wood to get the fire started, not to keep it going through the night"

James was about to take his boots off but at her comment he stopped.

"All good, I saw plenty of firewood in the field below us. I'll go and get some. I'll be back in half an hour"

She looked him in surprise.

"Okay, if you are alright with that. I'll start something to eat. But try and keep it to half an hour, it's going to get dark here soon and cold"

He smiled at her.

"Oh, don't worry, I remember exactly where I saw it, I'll be back soon" he said as he went back out the door.

Natalya thought she'd use the short time available while he wasn't there to get dinner ready and have a quick wash. That was the plan anyway but by the time she had stripped to the waist and was running a warm cloth over her body, her movements slowed somewhat as she enjoyed the heat. She sat down on the bunk with her back to the window and pulled her hair to one side over her shoulder. With a deep sigh he rested her elbows on her knees and relaxed with her head dropping. It would be a short time till James got back and she didn't have long but she just enjoyed the heat of the fire on her body.

The light was very dim as James came up the hill, but that was what he saw. She was sitting on the bunk facing away from the window, bathed by the light of the fire. He could see the firelight flickering over her skin and he paused, frowning as he saw the marks on her skin. He had only gotten a glimpse a few nights ago but now he saw more. She had scars criss-crossing her whole back. Some of them appeared to be deep enough to go into her muscle. He had seen all sorts of different wounds before and he realised that these were the marks of a whip. She had mentioned that she had secrets but he was damned if he knew what sort of situation, she was in that she had been hurt like this. His outrage at the harm she had suffered grew the more he looked at her but he knew she wouldn't want him prying. He would just have to find another way of getting it out of her. He had to get her to trust him. Although there was proof right in front of him that she had no good reason for trusting anyone.

To give her warning of his approach he started whistling. In the cabin she heard him and quickly got dressed so when he walked in the door she was standing at the stove. He dropped a substantial load of firewood at the hearth and turned to her. He wasn't going to let her know he had seen her injuries like that. He would find some way to work out what was going on. It was his business to unravel secrets so he was well practiced.

"Dinner should be ready soon" she said, why don't you have a seat and relax?"

"I might just do that he said"

"There is hot water in the pan if you want to use it to freshen up" she said.

"Great! It's been a long day" he smiled and turning, stripped his top off.

Natalya swallowed as she saw the way the muscles in his back and shoulders moved. The night they had spent together had been largely in an unlighted room. Now she was able to get the benefit of seeing exactly what she had felt in the darkness.

Resolutely she turned back to her cooking. James smiled to himself; he had seen her looking at him in the reflection of the window glass. Small steps, he thought.