Love me till the end

Chapter 2

Charlie didn't know how long they'd walked only that she was certain she couldn't go on much longer. It was snowing hard. She could barely make out Luke's bright red jacket in front of her. If he was worried about her keeping up he didn't show it.

Her stomach growled loudly. The last thing she'd eaten was a bagel and cup of coffee the morning before. The persistent hunger pangs cut through the silence, making her that much more aware of their stark surroundings. When Luke finally stopped, she was so preoccupied with thoughts of food that she plowed right into him.

"Sorry."

We're almost there." He pointed straight ahead. "Are you going to make it on your own steam?"

Charlie wondered if he was having second thoughts about carrying her if she needed it. She nodded, and almost fell to her knees. Thank God. A few minutes later his small cabin finally came into view. At least she hoped it was his cabin. By the time it took them to finish their journey and walk up the steps to the porch they were cloaked in the most frightening darkness she'd ever known.

The ghostly howls and hoots of the forest creatures as they came out to forage for food under the protection of darkness didn't help calm her fears. She almost let out a hysterical laugh when the thought of the abominable snowman popped into her head. How many times had her brothers frightened her with those made up stories when they'd been growing up? She stumbled as they entered the cabin, but Luke's quick reflexes stopped her from falling.

His deep voice cut through the darkness. "Wait here until I turn on a light."

Charlie found herself released as soon as she found sure footing. She closed the door behind them, and turned back to get her first look at Luke's home. Primitive. That was the only word she could think of to describe the unfinished log walls and the jagged stone fireplace which dominated one whole wall. She glanced down at the rough stone floor and decided she liked his home. It was basic, getting back to nature. A life that suited a rugged mountain man. Him.

She was mildly surprised that he'd turned on a small brass wall lamp over the mantle of the fireplace. She'd half expected to see him standing there with a kerosene lantern. "You have electricity but no phone lines?" Her gaze followed him as he moved to turn on a matching lamp on the other side. It wasn't a bright light, but cast a dim, almost romantic glow in the room.

He ignored the skepticism in her tone and bent to start a fire in the hearth. "I have a generator."

Charlie glanced around the interior of the one-room structure. There were no doors that indicated there were other rooms with the exception of one that she guessed led to the bathroom. A wooden ladder led up to a tiny loft. From her angle Charlie could see a bed and a chest of drawers. Nothing else.

Just the necessities decorated Luke's home. There were no pictures, no pretty curtains in the windows, nothing to show that it was more than just a hunter's cabin out in the middle of nowhere. The main room was sparsely furnished with a camel-colored sofa and matching recliner that looked like leather. A large chest sat on a braided rug as a coffee table in front of the couch.

The kitchen area was furnished with a small drop leaf table and two chairs. There was a stove, a refrigerator, and a sink all against one wall. A small counter was the only thing that separated the kitchen from the rest of the downstairs.

Yes, he appeared to have all the necessities with a few exceptions. Charlie glanced at him. He was quiet, watching her. Does he regret my being here? Invading his privacy, his space? It was hard to tell by his granite expression.

"Come thaw out by the fire."

He didn't have to ask twice. Charlie moved as close as she dared and held her hands out toward the dancing flames. She closed her eyes as they licked at her frozen body, warming her from the outside in. She didn't question Luke when he began to slip the rain poncho over her head.