by AJ Adaire
She dropped to one knee.
“Thanks for letting me play with your dog. We had fun.”
“Thank you. You gave him a good work out.”
He leaned over and cupped his hand around his mouth, to shield his words, as he whispered into her ear.
A smile curled Paige’s lips and she whispered something back to him that caused him to grin, seconds before he placed a kiss on her cheek. Next, he ran over and hugged Murdoch. “Okay Mom. I’m ready.” The family gave a wave and headed down the trail.
Peri turned to Paige as soon as they were out of earshot. “What did he say to you?”
Paige smiled again, her eyes still following the little boy and his parents as they disappeared from sight. “Sorry, this girl doesn’t kiss and tell.” She rubbed her palms together. “Now, let’s go catch some fish for dinner.”
“We only have two poles.” Looking at Paige and Peri, Kim said, “You guys catch some fish. I’ll see what I can find to go with it. Maybe with the wet weather I can find some mushrooms, or some fiddleheads. I’ll see what I can collect.”
“Don’t go too far, please.” Peri admonished Kim. “Stay within earshot.”
“I hear you. Have fun.”
Parting ways, Paige and Peri hiked a few hundred feet up the stream. “There.” Paige pointed. The stream poured over a rock ledge, creating a deeper pool. She figured fish would be waiting to catch their dinner, exactly as they were planning on doing. “Keep back from casting a shadow on the water and keep your voice down.” She climbed gingerly down the bank and started to assemble the poles. Turning over several stones on the bank, she found some worms. She started by threading the worm onto the hook before handing the other rod and reel to Peri. “Here.” Paige held out a worm for Peri.
Peri stared at the dangling worm. Quickly she searched her pocket, pulling out a plastic bag. Before taking the worm from Paige, she inserted her hand into the bag. She grimaced as she threaded the poor wriggling creature onto the hook. “I’m so sorry.” Peri’s face showed her concern.
Paige looked on with interest, but didn’t say anything. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at Peri apologizing to the worm.
“Okay, here we go.” Crouched on a rock, Paige cast the worm into the water, allowing it to slide over the edge of a flat rock and into the pool of water beneath. Within thirty seconds she had a hit. She set the hook and reeled in the line, pulling the fish up to the edge of the water. Reaching down, she wet her hand before she grabbed the fish and checked the size and weight. It was a decent size, about nine or ten inches. “If we can catch four or five more of these babies, we’ll have a feast for dinner.”
The first fish proved to be the easiest. They took turns using the two different rods. Within a little more than an hour and a half, they’d caught and cleaned a sufficient number of fish for dinner. Paige cooked them over the fire on the grate she’d found. Kim watched over Paige’s shoulder, as she sautéed the wild mushrooms in a tiny bit of the oil Peri had in her pack.
Paige questioned Kim for a second time. “You’re sure about these things you found. They’re safe to eat?”
“Yes, I’m sure. They’re oyster mushrooms.” She popped one into her mouth. “See.”
Paige arched a brow. “Okay, proof enough for me.”
“Oh boy. Everything smells so good.” Peri peered into the sizzling pan that Paige was tending.
Paige stirred the veggies and lamented, “Wish we had a little garlic for the mushrooms.”
Kim smirked. “Listen, Julia Child. Be happy we’ve got these things to cook.”
Paige frowned. “Julia Child?”
“Forget it. Careful. Don’t burn those things.”
As they sat around the fire, consuming the wonderful meal, Peri said, “For almost a minute, it’s easy to forget why we’re here.”
Chapter Eleven
THREE AND A HALF days of hiking brought them to a thin strip of macadam snaking its way through the forest. They checked the map and figured the logging road they sought was probably not too far from their current position. Agreeing on which direction to go, Peri led off, followed by Paige and Murdoch. Kim brought up the rear. They hadn’t traveled far when Murdoch whined.
Peri stopped. “Do you hear that?”
“Take cover.” Paige urged the others to hurry. The sound of the engine preceded the vehicle, giving them time to seek shelter in the underbrush at the edge of the forest. A flatbed truck lumbered by. The women peered through the leaves. Six or seven armed men occupied the staked bed of the truck.
As soon as they were gone, the women climbed back up to the road.
“Good job, Peri. That was close.” Kim placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder.
“Let’s hurry and get off this highway.” Paige encouraged the others to move along. The unpaved logging road branched off a short distance up the highway. They made good time, eventually coming to the entrance to a snowmobile path.
“What do you think?” Paige asked. “The logging road will be faster traveling. The path will be more difficult walking while, most likely, providing more safety.”
Kim sneezed. “You know me, I’m usually all for easy. In this case, though, I think safer needs to take priority, even if it’ll take us longer. We’re not really under deadline. They don’t know we’re coming. In fact, they might not even be there when we arrive.” She sneezed three times in quick succession. Running her sleeve across her nose, she grumbled something about missing tissues. “Sorry,” she said, adding a sheepish grin.
Peri’s eyes flashed quickly in the direction of her friend. “Let’s hope that’s not true. Anyway, we’ve made it this far, and we’ll be fine. I think we are all in agreement that between speed and safety, safety wins.”
Kim sneezed again.
“Bless you,” Paige and Peri chorused.
Turning onto the snowmobile trail, they looked down the six to eight-foot wide path carved through the forest. It appeared that no one had done any maintenance in some time. Still, compared to the safety of the forest trails they’d been hiking, they felt exposed. They huddled at the edge of the woods, debating the wisdom of taking the exposed track.
“What do you think?” Peri looked down the path and then back to wait for a reply from Paige.
“I don’t know. We’re pretty far out here. That truckload of men was on the road. It’s unlikely they’ll be on this path in a truck. It would have to be someone on foot or on an ATV. Maybe it would be wise to spread out. One of us ahead and the others behind, just barely in sight. If the lead sees something ahead, she can signal and the other two can get out of sight.”
“That sounds good.” Peri and Paige turned to Kim.
Kim sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t care. Whatever you two decide is fine. Think we can stop for the night? I’m feeling a bit punk.”
“Sure. Let’s hike back into the woods a bit and find a good spot for the night.”
They set up camp. With dinner consumed and cleaned up, Paige stood and picked up the gun Joe had given them. “I think we should take turns keeping watch tonight.”
Paige took the first shift, Peri the second, and Kim the third. Peri and Paige awoke at dawn and found Kim asleep sitting upright against the tree. Kim’s eyes snapped open as they climbed from their sleep sacks.
“Sorry guys.” Kim sniffed. “I’m not feeling too good.” Despite the warmth of the air, she shivered. “It’s chilly.”
Peri and Paige looked at each other.
“Come here, Kim.” Peri placed a hand on Kim’s forehead, her brows knitted with concern. “You’re getting sick.” Peri confirmed. “You’re burning up.”
“Do you think I’ve got it?” Nobody needed further clarification of what Kim meant by it.
Paige shook her head. “Not if your theory about blue eyes is correct. Chances are in our favor that it’s only a cold.” After a few seconds pause, she turned to face the sick woman. “Kim, if you feel up to walking
, let’s break camp and clean up our footprint here.”
Kim sighed before she nodded her head. “I don’t have much energy. I’ll go as long as I can. I know we need to get farther away from the main road.”
“Let’s go. We’ll grab some trail mix for breakfast and then pick up and go.” Paige began organizing their belongings.
Two and a half hours later, Kim staggered to a stop. Peri called to Paige to wait up. They found a rock a short way into the protection of the trees and wrapped Kim in a space blanket.
Paige exchanged a look with Peri. “Murdoch and I will go scout around and see if we can find a spot for a camp, off the path. Peri, can you try to get some water into her? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Peri sat down next to Kim and unhooked the canteen from Kim’s pack. Kim compliantly took a long pull. Peri wrapped an arm around her, and Kim laid her head on Peri’s shoulder. “Do you think I’ve got it?”
“No. I told you before I don’t. Like Paige said, I think you have a garden variety cold. I thought that kid we met, Mason, sounded a bit stuffy when we were with the family. Maybe he gave you a cold.”
Kim nuzzled into Peri’s neck. “That’s good. At least I got you to cuddle with me.”
“Oh stop. You know I love you.” Peri gave Kim a squeeze.
“I know…but not in that way. You told me.” Peri didn’t respond. “I thought, with time, you might grow to love me as more than a friend. We’re all we have left. We’ve known each other for years. We’re comfortable together. We could be good.” Kim started to shiver.
“I feel alone too, Kim. Maybe that’s what you’re feeling and interpreting it as love.” Peri placed her lips against Kim’s forehead to test her temperature. “I thought you were maybe having a moment with Jennifer, back at the farm.”
“She’s pretty, for sure, and good company. We had some fun together. She was interested. She kissed me.”
“Really? It seems so soon. I still miss Trish so much.”
Kim sat up and looked at her friend. “Tell me that if that gorgeous length of leg we’re traveling with crooked her finger, you wouldn’t jump her bones. I’d be there in three seconds and wouldn’t even think twice about it. Becky and Trish aren’t coming back, Peri. I don’t want to be alone. It’s a lonely world without a partner.”
“I know it is. I miss Trish every day. I don’t want to settle though, Kim. I want someone I can talk with, laugh and play with. I had that with Trish, along with the fact I never fell out of lust with her. I want that again. All of it. I won’t settle.”
“Look around us. Where do you think you’re going to find it? It’s not like there are hundreds of lesbians out here.” Kim turned her head and sneezed three times in rapid succession. She pulled a well-used red and white handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her nose. “I feel like shit. I’m so cold. How can I be so cold when you’re so warm?”
“You have a fever. You’re sweating and the breeze is picking up. I think it’s going to rain again.” As if on cue, huge drops of rain began to fall, portending the promise of a downpour.
Murdoch trotted up to them, a few steps ahead of Paige. “I found a lean-to up the path a ways.” She chuckled. “You can practically climb through the holes in the roof. I think we can make do, and it’ll keep us drier than open camping. How’s Kim?”
“She’s getting worse. Fever’s up, I think. She’s got chills.”
“Let’s get her under cover before the sky lets loose.”
They hiked the short distance to the shelter. Paige had not been kidding about the condition of the shed. They settled Kim inside with her sleeping bag zipped up.
“I’m so c-c-c-cold,” she stuttered through chattering teeth.
“Murdoch, here boy.” Paige directed him to settle down against the shivering woman. “Peri, let’s get the tarp over the roof. It should help a bit. Just hope the wind doesn’t blow the rain in this direction.” She grimaced and pointed to the two-inch gap in the boards on the back wall of the three-sided structure. “I think they may have used this for storage of some piece of equipment. I can’t figure out what else it might have been for. It’s not much of a shelter, but it’s better than nothing.”
As the rain started in earnest and the wind picked up, the temperature dropped. The cool, damp air didn’t help Kim’s condition. Peri unzipped her sleeping bag and wrapped it around Kim, while Paige placed a space blanket on the ground. Without discussion, she and Peri sat next to each other and covered up with the remaining sleeping bag.
A frown darkened Peri’s expression as she looked over at Kim. She fussed with the edge of the sleeping bag, tugging it tighter around her friend. The slow drops of rain were replaced by a steady drumbeat on the tarp above them.
Paige studied Peri as she watched Kim. She reached over and squeezed Peri’s hand. “She’ll be okay. I think it’s only a cold.”
“I think so too. She was worried it was the illness. At least we have her warm and dry. She’s sleeping. That’ll help.”
“Sneezing wasn’t a symptom as far as I know. It’s a good sign that she’s been sneezing all day.” Paige cleared her throat before speaking. “Do you love her?”
Surprised by the personal question, Peri turned to see what prompted it. Paige’s face showed nothing other than concern. “Why do you ask that?”
Paige raised one shoulder, dipping her head in its direction, her lips pursed. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you when you’re unaware. She seems to have feelings for you. It’s obvious you two are good friends. I was curious if you felt more than friendship for her.”
“She asked me the same question, less than an hour ago.” Peri exhaled a long breath and lowered her voice to keep from waking Kim. “I do love her, although not in the way she wants me to. We’ve been friends a long time. I’m not yet ready for anything else. I loved my wife…still do, even though she’s gone.”
“Do I hear a but?”
Peri smiled. “I guess so. I don’t give up my heart easily. When I do, I go all in.” She tilted her head to look at the ceiling of the shelter, while considering how to put her next thought. “Kim and I are buddies. Watch a game, throw back a beer buddies. We’ve rarely, if ever, had any sort of deep or meaningful conversations.”
“And that’s important to you in a partner…deep conversation?”
“I think so. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my wife. We were good together in other ways too. Know what I mean?”
Paige nodded. “I do. In my experience, the physical or sexual attraction is what gets a relationship started. Alone, it’s not sufficient to keep it going. Physical intimacy is important, there’s no doubt about that. It’s the sharing of thoughts and feelings that can sustain a relationship and keep it interesting over the long haul. Maria and I were always able to talk.”
“That’s what I miss most about Trish, too. We would lie in bed at night and sometimes have to force ourselves to stop talking so we could get up in the morning. She was the most interesting woman I ever met. Her mother was Chinese and her dad was Italian. Her name was Patricia Lijuan Genovese. Lijuan means beautiful and graceful. She was both. She was quite exotic looking, with dark hair and dark eyes. She had a creamy, olive complexion and turned a golden color in the sun.” Peri pulled the locket she wore from beneath her shirt. She reverently opened the clasp and showed Paige the photo.
Paige closed the locket. “It’s so warm.”
“My heart keeps it warm.”
“And you’re right, she was beautiful.”
“Inside and out.” Peri tucked the locket back under her shirt. “She used to tell me stories of the arguments her parents had about how to raise her. They came from such different backgrounds. Neither set of her grandparents was happy about the match of her parents, both of whom still had firm roots in their traditions. Family get-togethers made their different cultural backgrounds especially obvious. Chow fun noodles competed with linguini, at the dinner table.” She smiled as she recalled the times
she’d spent with the two families. “It was funny, though. Most of the time, the Italian side ate the Chinese food and the Chinese half ate the pasta.” Her eyes filled. “Their biggest commonality was the importance of family in their lives. I miss them all so much.” She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “I lost my family when I was younger. Her family became mine. I lost Trish’s family, and Trish…all of them in less than a month. I was so afraid. I don’t know what I’d have done if Kim hadn’t shown up.”
Paige adjusted her position, and pulled the sleeping bag back up over her shoulder. “I feel the same way about you and Kim.” She glanced over at Murdoch. “Thank God for him. If not for my dog, I’d probably have lost my mind. After I buried my family, I took him and sought solace in nature. I didn’t stay more than a day or two at the most in any one place…kept moving, day after day. I ate because I had to feed Murdoch.” Murdoch’s big brown eyes rotated toward Paige and his tail swished when she mentioned his name. She looked at him with soft eyes. “Nothing had any taste. I forced it down. I drank water because I knew I had to, or I’d dehydrate and die, and he’d be left to fend for himself. I didn’t want him to meet the fate of so many other animals.”
Kim moaned, drawing their eyes to her. Even Murdoch seemed concerned. “She’s okay, boy.” He looked at Paige for reassurance before settling his head on his paws and closing his eyes.
“The day I met the two of you, it made me feel useful again. Getting to travel with you, Kim, and the twins, and meeting their family helped me realize that there are still good people alive. It gave me some hope that things will get back to normal again, given time. Well, at least back to a new normal. Things will never be the same, will they?”
“No, they never will.”
“I’ve not been able to bring myself to even think about what will become of me, of all of us.”
Peri reached for Paige’s hand, taking it into her own. She pulled it into her lap and cradled it between hers. “I don’t know what tomorrow will bring either. I’m still hanging onto the past. I’m sure that, at some point, we’ll all be able to leave our sadness behind and move forward into whatever our futures hold for us.”