by Lexi Post
“Why?” She’d never heard the term “hung up” but she guessed it meant the top of the tree started to fall but tangled in another’s branches.
The older man put his leg down and leaned both elbows on his knees. “Well, you see, when a tree is hung up, you have no idea what it will do and no control over it. It could kick out from the bottom, fall from the top, roll to the side, bounce off another tree and generally come crashing down at any moment.”
Timber’s voice rose with his story, adding a wonderful dramatic feel to it.
She widened her eyes in return, not wanting him to stop. Not only was he a good storyteller, but she was anxious to learn more about the man who cared for her so diligently.
“Of course, I knew all this, but it didn’t stop me from doing something stupid.” He paused.
She quickly responded. “Oh no, what did you do?”
“I grabbed up the rope I brought with me, which I sometimes use to give a tree a little nudge in the right direction, and I wrapped it around that knotty pine as far up as I could reach. Then I walked toward that stream and tugged on the rope. You know what happened?”
She shook her head, completely into the story now.
“Nothing. Not a damn thing, excuse my language. I walked on the other side of it and pushed, but that tree was as stubborn as me. Of course, that meant I had to show it who was more stubborn. I mean, if I’m going to be stubborn, I want to be the most stubborn. No half-ways about it.”
“Of course.”
He nodded. “I knew I liked you. Anyway, I walked back toward the stream and yanked on that rope again and that pine tree shimmied just a hair. Now I knew I had him. I got a good hold on that rope, jumped up and yanked with all my weight.”
Timber sat back and crossed his legs at the ankles in front of him.
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you what happened. That damn pine came off the spruce branch in a shower of needles and fell right on top of me.”
“Oh no!”
“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “I was in a bad way. You see, when that tree started falling towards me, I was off balance and as I tried to get my feet under me, they slipped and I fell onto my back. Next thing I know the top of that tree smacks me across the ribs and stays there. But I was lucky. You know why?”
“Because Sas was staying with you and he heard you yell?”
“Nope.” Timber shook his head. “Sas wasn’t staying with me. The reason I was lucky is the snow wasn’t so old that it had turned hard as a rock and as that tree hit me, I sank. If it had been old snow beneath me, I wouldn’t be talking to you today. But don’t think it didn’t hurt.”
She shook her head, anxious to find out what happened next.
“In fact, as I found out later, that tree done broke three of my ribs and bruised two.” He rubbed his side.
“Ow. That had to have hurt.”
“Damn straight it hurt, and here I was lying in the snow with a pine tree pinning me in. I couldn’t even see anything except the sky with the snow pack towering over me and the tree in front of me. I tried to move that old tree, but it was sunk in the snow too, and I had no leverage, never mind my broken ribs.”
She could picture the entire scene. “What did you do?”
Timber’s gaze moved toward the kitchen, and she looked over to find Sas shaking his head. “He screamed.”
“I didn’t scream.” Timber scowled then returned his gaze to her. “I yelled for help like any normal human being. Not that I thought anyone would hear me. Sas is my closest neighbor and it’s an all-day walk in the summer to travel to my place from here. I knew no one would hear me, but I had to try on the off chance someone was hunting in my neighborhood.”
She grinned. “And Sas was, right?”
“Nope. Not a soul for miles.”
“What happened?”
“I damn near died is what happened. I couldn’t get out from under the tree and though I yelled my fool head off, no one came. Once it grew dark, I knew I was in trouble.”
“Of course, hypothermia.”
“Wolves.”
“Wolves? Oh right, Sas told me wolves would have found me if he didn’t.” She shivered.
Timber nodded, sagely. “Yes. We have a number of packs in this area. As I lay there in the dark, I could hear them howling. I must have fallen asleep for a while because the next thing I knew I heard a howl right next to me.”
She caught her breath. “They found you?”
Sas spoke from the kitchen. “It wasn’t right next to him. It was at his cabin. They found his deer.”
“Hey, Mr. Silent, are you telling this story, or am I?”
When Sas moved the pan to the wood stove, Timber continued. “The wolves were at my cabin. Luckily for me, I had strung up a deer I had shot that morning and field dressed it. I’d planned to finish cutting it up after felling a few trees, but that didn’t happen. The wolves must have caught the scent and they enjoyed a midnight snack and didn’t come looking for me.”
Timber frowned. “I lost a lot of meat that night, but at least I’m still here to regret that. Anyway, I was now wide awake and afraid to go to sleep since I had no idea that the wolves had enjoyed dinner at my place without me. There I lay, looking up at the stars, the wet from the snow now causing me to shiver. I figured I would die right there.” Timber paused as if deciding what to tell her next.
A heavy sigh from the stove filled in the silence, and she bit down on her lip to keep from smiling as Timber sent Sas an irritated look.
The older man returned his attention to her. “I figured it was getting on into the early morning hours, though I wasn’t sure, when I hear a rhythmic thumping.”
“Thumping?”
Timber nodded. “Yeah, that was what I wondered, too. I had no idea what it could be, but if it was rhythmic, it had to be human. Even a woodpecker has stops and starts and doesn’t peck the same number of times over and over again.”
Not something she’d known and interesting in relation to the story.
“I started to yell again, but I only got about three words out before my raw throat gave up. That’s when I tried to find something I could knock on the tree trunk with. I was desperate and unbuckled my belt, hoping I could get it loosened enough to tap the tree with it when the thumping came closer. I tried to yell, afraid the thumping would pass right by me, but all that came out was a squeak. That gave me the idea to whistle.”
The smell of meat caught Timber’s attention and he looked at Sas. “What are you cooking?”
Ugh. Beyond frustrated, she snapped. “What happened?”
Timber looked at her and grinned, his ploy having worked too well. “Out of the darkness, this large figure emerged.” He motioned with his hand toward Sas. “I was never so glad to see a Sasquatch in my life.” Timbered winked at her. “He picked up that old pine tree like it was a toothpick, threw it aside then lifted me up and brought me to my cabin.”
She gazed at Sas who had returned to the counter and was dishing out the meal. He was a real hero.
“And that’s where Sas stayed for the next two weeks until I could fend for myself. He even ran into Savik for me to find painkillers for my ribs. When I was able to move about more, he stopped by every couple of days until I was healed.”
“Wow. I guess we’re lucky he’s our friend.” She couldn’t help feeling a bit in awe over the story.
Timber chuckled. “Oh, Sas doesn’t have friends. I’m just too stubborn to accept that, so I bother him every once in a while. It’s not good to stay out here too long without some social interaction. And as you’ve seen, he’s not much of a talker, but he makes a great listener.”
“Come eat, old man.” At Sas’ grumpy announcement, Timber laughed.
Sas set what looked like a small cookie sheet on his table and pulled the chair over from the bedside for Timber. Then he disappeared into the pantry and came out with a barrel that looked like it may have been used fo
r aging whiskey. He set it next to the bed before returning to the counter to retrieve the plate. He sat on the barrel and fed her.
She wanted to ask him a dozen questions about Timber’s story, but true to form, the second she opened her mouth, he filled it with more delicious food, so she enjoyed that first, but she was determined to ask once they were alone again.
When they had all eaten, even Sas, who cleaned the plate he used for her before eating his own meal, he turned to Timber. “You can wash the dishes. I will go now.”
Go? Her stomach tensed. “Where are you going?”
He looked at her but not at her face. “I’m going to Timber’s cabin to retrieve the pain medicine he has for you. It will take me less time than if he goes.”
Timber pushed back his chair. “See, he thinks I’m old and decrepit.”
Sas ignored him.
There wasn’t much she could do about him leaving in the condition she was in. “How long will you be gone?”
“I will be back tomorrow.” He pulled his bear coat down from its hook.
“Tomorrow?” Oh shoot, this would be awkward. “Can you do something for me first?”
He immediately hung his coat back up. “Yes. What do you need?”
She glanced at Timber then back at Sas. “Um, can you come here?”
Sas strode toward her, but Timber turned away. “I’m going out for a minute.” Within seconds, he’d grabbed his coat and exited.
The older man had a sixth sense. “I need to use the chair you made me. I don’t think Timber is strong enough to lift me.”
“Of course.”
Was it her or did Sas seem to stand a little straighter? If she didn’t know better, she’d say he was proud she preferred him over Timber. Did he have doubts?
She had a lot of doubts, but not about Sas.
When he brought the chair out, she licked her lips. “Sas, I like Timber, but is he, um, I mean, I’m pretty helpless here and….” Shoot.
He set the chair down. “Are you afraid of Timber?”
“Not exactly. It’s just that I don’t really know him and I’m pretty helpless here.”
Sas looked toward the door as if he could see Timber waiting outside before returning his gaze to the bed. “I wouldn’t trust him with you if I had any doubts at all about the man.”
She trusted Sas, so if he trusted Timber, she’d have to, too. “Okay.”
“If you want. I will stay here. Timber can retrieve the medicine. It will only take him an extra day.”
At his offer, she relaxed a bit more. “No. If you trust Timber then I do, too.”
“Are you sure?”
That he would stay if she asked, made her feel so much better. For some reason, he was very protective of her and she doubted that he would let anyone or anything, even Mother Nature, harm her. “I’m sure.” She grinned, thankful that her lips were feeling better.
Sas nodded before he pulled the quilt off her and lifted her into the chair. He moved the toilet paper next to her. “I will be outside and I won’t let Timber back in until you agree he can enter.”
“Thank you.” Though she gave him a hesitant smile, he had already turned away and left, completely forgetting his coat.
She grinned at that. The big man seemed so ready to please her. She really needed to think of something to do for him after she returned home.
When she was finished, her hands burned so badly, despite their bandages, that she had to take a moment before she could speak. She called Sas by his nickname, hoping he wouldn’t stubbornly refuse to answer. Her wait was less than a second before she heard his footsteps on the stairs.
He strode in, lifted her carefully and gently laid her back in bed. He returned the toilet paper to the end table and spoke as he tucked the quilt in around her. “I’ve given Timber instructions to bring in more wood, so he can keep it warm in here while I’m gone.” He stepped back when he’d finished. “Is there anything else you need?”
Her hands still throbbed from using them, causing her to be emotional. She was so grateful to him. “Yes, can you bend over so I can whisper to you?”
He didn’t ask why, just leaned in close.
“Thank you for being so good to me.” She lifted her head and kissed him on the cheek.
He moved away slowly as if stupefied.
“Be careful of the wolves.”
He nodded absently before turning to go. He opened the door, about to step outside without his coat again.
“Don’t forget your bear skin!”
He stopped, reached his hand in to unhook it, then disappeared from sight.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Angela sniffed as her tears slowly dried up. Hopefully, Sas wouldn’t forget to send Timber inside.
A few minutes later there was a knock and the door opened partially. “Can I come in? It’s colder than a witch’s—ahem, ice rink out here.”
“Oh shoot, yes. I can’t believe Sas didn’t tell you to come in.”
Timber walked inside and closed the door. Rubbing his bare hands together, he moved through the cabin. “Sas looked a little distracted. I think he was anxious to get you those painkillers.”
When Timber reached the stove, he held his hands over it. “Now that feels good. The cold is fine if you’re dressed for it.” He looked at her. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I just wish I’d worn the right gloves. I had bought a great pair, but I left them on the boat because I thought I’d only be gone a few hours, not a few days.”
Timber shrugged out of his coat. “Don’t worry. If anyone can get your hands back to normal, it’s Sas. For a man who prefers to be alone, he’s always the first one to come to the rescue of a stranger.” He hung his coat on the spare hook and pulled out the chair at the table.
“I wonder why that is? Do you think he gets lonely sometimes and by helping someone who’s hurt, he can limit the conversation?”
Timber raised an eyebrow. “I think he limits conversation pretty well whether a person is hurt or not.”
She smiled. Now that the pain in her hands was subsiding a bit, it was easier to concentrate. “Yes, he does that quite well. Then why do you think he’s so willing to help?”
The older man looked at his thumb as if it was the most fascinating part of his body before digging beneath the nail. “I have a theory on that.”
She wanted to laugh, already knowing Timber could keep her entertained for hours, but his unwillingness to look at her made her squelch it. “What’s your theory?”
“I’m thinking Sas has something in his past that he feels the need to atone for. I’m not saying I know anything. It’s just a hunch combined with a few things he’s said that makes me think he wants to be absolved of past wrongdoings.”
“I can’t believe that.” He was the kindest, sweetest, shyest man she’d ever met.
Timber looked her straight in the eye. “You need to understand there is a percentage of men who escape to Alaska to get away from serious misdeeds. Maybe it’s something they did when they were young. Maybe it’s something they regret, or even feel justified in doing, but they are here for a reason beyond the struggle for existence with Mother Nature.”
She swallowed hard as Timber went back to cleaning his nails. “You think maybe Sas wants forgiveness?”
“I’m not sure about forgiveness. I think he wants to make fate happy.”
She squinched her nose. “Fate? You think he believes in fate?”
He nodded. “I know he does. He believes it was fate that caused him to take a midnight stroll the night he found me. It’s hard to argue with him. No one takes a stroll after midnight in the winter.”
She’d like to say it was coincidence, but that pressed the boundaries of believability. But fate? Like some mystic force?
“I know he thinks fate made him decide to go fishing the day he found you and to head out at exactly the time of day when he would see the reflection off your phone. He also believes that yo
u were meant to drop it right there, so he could find you. He firmly believes that you were meant to be here.”
That was a lot of believing. She didn’t agree. She’d been stupid and lucky. That was easier to accept than that she was meant to almost die and possibly lose her hands.
“Hey, you look like you’re going to cry. It’s just one man’s belief.” Timber grinned. “That’s the great thing about living out here. We aren’t on top of each other so we can more easily accept our differences and get along.”
She nodded, though she couldn’t quite manage to smile. “I need to keep looking at the bright side of what’s happened, and Sas finding me was definitely a positive. What about you? How did you two meet?”
Timber had laid his hands on the table, but with her question, he leaned back in the chair, tipping it onto its back legs as he linked his hands behind his head. “I shot him.”
“What?” Her heart rate actually sped up at his pronouncement. “You shot him? Why?”
He chuckled. “Not on purpose…and not exactly.” His gaze moved off as if recalling the events and he lost his smile. “I swore I shot him. Looked down my sight through the underbrush as I leaned against a spruce tree, aimed and pulled the trigger on what I thought was a grizzly.”
“Wait. Did you or didn’t you shoot him?”
He moved his gaze back to her. “He said I didn’t. When I looked to see if the bear went down, Sas moved out of the thicket. I stood for a moment with my jaw flapping, but no sound came out. I ran down to him asking if he was okay. He said he was, but there was a hole in his coat. He claimed the hole had been there. I wouldn’t believe him, so he took it off and there was a hole in his flannel shirt as well, but the man was standing there talking to me. I insisted he take off his shirt.”
“And was he bleeding? Was it a flesh wound? Did you just graze him?” She could picture the encounter, which made her anxious to learn if Sas was okay.
Timber gave her his full attention. “You watch a lot of those crime shows on television, don’t you?”
She looked away. “Not a lot.”
“Well, it was none of those things, and he wouldn’t take off his shirt completely, but he did let me look at the left side of his chest. There was a slight red mark there, but no hole.”