by Jan Springer
Quickly, he slammed the door shut and adjusted the flue in order to allow more air into the stove so the wood would burn faster. Within a minute, heat breezed against Rafe’s face and he rubbed his cold hands until they warmed.
Then he stood and grabbed a cast-iron frying pan from one of the cupboards, placed the pan on top of the stove, and headed back to his gear on the table. From the cooler, he grabbed the large Tupperware container with the words Rafe Sunday supper written on the masking tape. He liked JJ’s feminine writing. It was free and easygoing, just like her.
From the container he grabbed a foil-wrapped item and discovered it contained a slab of pre-cooked salted bear meat. He cut the meat into thin slices and placed them into the pan. The meat sizzled and the sound made his mouth water.
He also found some margarine along with three eggs. He dropped the margarine into the pan, and when it was melted, he cracked the eggs and added them. His mouth watered as he watched his meal bubble beneath the heat.
A few minutes later, he sat at the table amidst a couple of lit short, white candles and enjoyed his meal. When he was finished, he sipped on the ice-cold beer he had retrieved from his knapsack and allowed his mind to drift through what work was left for tomorrow.
Upon inspecting the perimeter of one of the meadows, he’d noticed part of the fence had been pulled down by a fallen tree. The tree needed to be cut and that fence needed to be repaired before he could move the cattle into the area. Afterward, he would get the cattle secured and then he would head for home.
He leaned back in his chair and gazed around the cabin. One wall was lined with bunkbeds that could house up to a dozen lumberjacks. The crude beds looked uncomfortable, tossed together with rough-hewn pine planks.
Rafe carried a small, portable air mattress with his gear. He liked to think of the mattress as his home away from home bed comfort. But the air mattress was nothing compared to the comfortable ones back at the ranch.
Thinking about the cozy ranch house they had carved into the forest, loneliness sifted through Rafe. He tried to concentrate on polishing off his beer, but the isolation of the bunkhouse had him standing.
It had gotten too hot inside, compliments of the woodstove. Time for some fresh air. He grabbed his bottle and headed outdoors. Where the cold had not been welcome a short time earlier, it relieved the heat now as he stepped outside.
A brisk, refreshing wind whipped against him making him catch his breath. In the sky, he spied mysterious ribbons of green light and he smiled. The northern lights would keep him company tonight.
Rafe leaned his elbows against the wood railing of the porch, and sipped his beer. The liquid washed a cold passage down his throat. Somewhere, not too far off, a wolf howled. The eerie sound sliced through the quiet and sent creepy ripples up and down his spine. A moment later, came an answering cry.
Not too long after, he spied two gray wolves saunter past the cabin. He toyed with the idea of going inside and grabbing his rifle. But decided against it. He was not about to shoot a couple of wolves unless he knew they were the ones that had taken down those cows.
When the animals disappeared into the darkness of the nearby forest, Rafe gazed back up at the northern lights again and felt lonelier than ever.
Man, he missed JJ like crazy.
“You what?” Dan shouted as he and Brady sat at the dining room table the next afternoon. Dan stared at JJ in disbelief after what she had just revealed to him.
Brady gave her an “I told you so” look that should have irritated her, but she was too tired to be mad, because Brady had kept her up most of the night making love to her. They had slept in until the roar of Dan’s vehicle had woken them this afternoon.
Brady had hopped into the shower and JJ had rushed off to make the two men a hearty lunch of fresh salad from the garden along with steamed potatoes and canned tuna.
“I’m learning to fly a plane. I’ve been taking lessons when you guys have been gone. Yesterday, I flew the plane for the very first time.”
Dan’s mouth dropped open. He stared at her with a surprised look.
Out of all three, Dan was the most humorous and laid back, yet when it came to her well-being, he was just as overprotective as the other two.
“Earth to Dan. Did you hear what JJ said?” Brady chuckled as he waved a hand in front of Dan’s face. Finally, he blinked. Confusion rocked his features.
“I’m sorry, but did I hear you just say you’re going for a pilot’s license?”
JJ nodded. She came around and poured more coffee into his mug.
“Kaley is keeping her eyes open for a used plane similar to the one she has. One that we can interchange to use in the winter with skis so we can land on the frozen lake, as well as pontoons for spring, summer and autumn landing on water and also with wheels to land at airports.”
Dan gazed over at Brady and frowned.
“She is kidding, right? I mean panic attacks, anxiety issues, plus claustrophobia and planes don’t mix.”
“Exposure therapy. Baby steps. Cognitive therapy.” JJ said.
Dan’s frowned deepened.
“Cognitive therapy. I’ve heard of that. They say it can work.”
“Yes it can. It takes time. I’m learning how to think and react a different way to certain situations. Kaley, over at North Country Air, is teaching me cognitive therapy. She’s a licensed flight instructor. Kelly and Blue introduced me to her. Kaley studied at one time to be a psychologist, so she knows some stuff about anxiety. She’s been helping me with my anxiety and teaching me how to fly. She has thousands of hours of flying experience. They say she’s one of the best flight instructors in Northern Ontario.”
Confusion continued to mar Dan’s features.
“JJ has been going behind our backs all summer,” Brady growled. The angry bark in his voice was back. Suddenly a light flared in Dan’s eyes.
“So that’s why you have been so happy lately. Freedom,” Dan said.
Brady crossed his arms over his chest and nodded.
“Yeah, Rafe is the one who first mentioned she seemed happier,” Brady replied.
“And here I thought it was because JJ liked living here.” Dan continued to frown.
Oh shoot. Were they afraid she would leave them? Were they that insecure about her?
“If I bought a plane, it would do the business good,” JJ said softly as ideas she’d been playing with tumbled out of her.
Both Dan and Brady straightened in their chairs, seemingly interested at what she had to say. Aha, an interesting reaction.
“Kaley told me that North Country Air has a new owner. Transportation and delivery prices are going to be doubled.”
Dan and Brady swore.
“That’s going to cut a good chunk into our profit,” Dan pointed out.
“I realize that you can write transportation and delivery expenses off for taxes. With our own plane we can control those costs for one. But there are other benefits,” JJ said.
“Such as?” Brady pushed. His eyes flashed with excitement.
“On a lot of occasions, it takes you guys half a day just to travel to your destination. With a float plane I can get you in and out with supplies and ATV within an hour or two. There are plenty of lakes scattered throughout your property where I can land. In winter, we interchange with skis. Of course, during times when the lakes are not frozen over you can still use the skidoos. What? Why are you both smiling?”
“Keep going. Let’s hear what else you have to say,” Dan urged.
JJ tried to read Brady’s facial expression, but he said nothing as he continued to smile.
“Aside from the plane being beneficial with taxes, owning a plane can be more cost-effective. I can run errands to pick up and transport supplies from the city. Thunder Bay and other cities and towns have municipal airports. Rental cars and trucks at the airports are easily accessible. You use them anyway when you go to the city. We’d just need a little landing strip somewhere around here so I can u
se the wheels on the plane for those occasions.”
“Are you saying that you would go into the city to pick up the supplies instead of relying on North Country Air? What if you have a panic attack or your anxiety kicks in and we need an order fast?” Brady asked.
JJ noticed his voice had taken on a businesslike edge. It meant he was taking her seriously.
“We could use North Country Air for emergency purposes only,” Dan suggested.
Brady shook his head and JJ his hopes plummeted.
“She makes a hell of a good case,” Brady said.
“But?” Dan asked.
“Flying is just too damned dangerous,” Brady replied.
“There is that,” Dan acknowledged with a nod.
“And I am not willing to put her life on the line just to save a few bucks,” Brady muttered.
He stood and glared at JJ. She could tell he was expecting her to argue. She didn’t. She would simply wait him out. Brady would cool off and then she could broach the subject again another day.
JJ was grateful when Dan remained silent, but she had a feeling she had already won him over. One down. Two more to go.
* * * * *
“Supper was fantastic as always, JJ,” Brady said as he patted his belly and smiled at JJ. Warmth coursed through her at his compliment. Since the conversation between the three of them earlier in the day, Brady and Dan had gone on with their chores as usual. Neither had brought up the subject that she had actually flown a plane.
She had actually flown a damned plane!
For a brief time it had been one of the happiest feelings of accomplishment she had ever experienced, until the guys had brought her crashing back to reality. Maybe she was not going to be reliable? Especially because of her anxiety issues, which unfortunately were starting to kick in.
Rafe was overdue, and she was getting the feeling something was wrong. The area of the property where Rafe had been working was the farthest from the ranch. But careful time estimates had him returning at the latest by 3:00, even if he’d gotten a late start. It was now 6:30, dark outside, cold and windy with rain in the forecast by morning.
“Earth to JJ,” Brady whispered. She hadn’t even seen Brady stand and stop in front of her, she’d been so deep in her worry.
“Hey, baby, Rafe will be back. It’s not the first time he’s been late. He could have run into a mechanical issue. Or maybe found out that more work was needed to be done with the cattle.”
“Or maybe he got sick. Or hurt. Have you been able to reach him on the sat phone?” she asked.
Earlier this spring, after Dan had been injured, the guys had invested in a satellite phone system. But there were dead zones on the property, especially in the meadows surrounded by large hills. Calls got dropped continuously too. But it was better than nothing.
“No answer, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Dan quickly reassured.
“If he was going to stay out for another night, he would have found an area where his phone worked and sent us a message. He wouldn’t keep us worrying. I know he wouldn’t. Not unless something bad happened,” JJ stated firmly.
She noticed the “she has a point” look that passed between both men.
Her anxiety increased. Oh why wasn’t there a magic potion or some sort of exposure therapy to help her react differently when it came to worrying about her guys?
“It’s quite a big area to search by ATV,” Dan said.
“He could be anywhere in that quarter.” Brady didn’t sound hopeful.
“A search plane up in the air at first light would give us a good view,” JJ burst in. She was not going to allow herself to lose hope. She just knew Rafe had run into some sort of trouble and the sooner they found him, the better.
Brady suddenly stood.
“Call North Country Air and ask them for a plane and also call the emergency people over at the Ministry,” he ordered to Dan.
“I’m on it. While I’m doing that, I’ll get the maps out too. We’ll head out on the machines tonight before the rain starts and check if he’s been at any of the shelters in the area. I think there are three of them.”
Brady nodded.
“I’ll get the food together,” he said.
“Okay,” Dan replied and he headed down the hall to the ranch office.
“I’m coming with you,” JJ said as she grabbed a jar of peanut butter from a cupboard.
“No, someone needs to stay here and coordinate the rescue. You’re not familiar with nighttime ATVing on the trails. Dan and I can cover more area if we split up. If I take you instead of him, it will just take longer, ’cause I’ll be worrying about you.” Brady said.
“I’ve handled the machines pretty good in daylight the few times I went out with you guys, Brady. I can do all right at night,” she insisted as she began spreading peanut butter on the homemade buns she’d made this afternoon. Deep at the back of her mind, she knew he was right though.
“We’re wasting time arguing,” Brady grumbled. He reached into the fridge and brought out the jar of strawberry jam for her. Within seconds, he was brewing up coffee and grabbing several Thermos bottles.
JJ had a bad feeling it was going to be a long night fraught with worry.
* * * * *
Rafe shivered as chills raged through him. He lay on the floor just inside the front door of the quickly cooling cabin. Black dots danced in front of his eyes, and as the day had gone on, Rafe had grown weaker. Early this morning he’d gone out to grab firewood from the lean to and noticed the emergency firewood running low. He’d grabbed the ax from inside the cabin and come back outside to chop some of the logs. He’d almost chopped enough wood for whomever would be using the cabin next, when in mid-swing, a loud howl from close by had startled him. In turn he’d hit the edge of the log. The ax had ricocheted, the blade bounced downward and cut deep into his shin.
The searing pain had been instant, brutal and disabling. He’d fallen over, hit the ground so hard and so carelessly that his head head snapped against the edge of the cabin. Stars and pain had burst behind his eyes.
He’d been barely able to keep himself conscious to assess he was losing too much blood from his leg wound. His strength waned quickly. With shaking hands, he’d managed to undo his belt and used it as a tourniquet, securing it right above the ugly-looking gash. Then everything had gone black.
Rafe had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. Long enough, because when he’d awoken the sun was high in the sky and two gray wolves were standing a few feet away. Their gleaming white fangs were bared as they growled at him. They stood between him and the ATV where he had stupidly left his satellite phone.
He’d expected the wolves to tear into him as he crawled around to the front of the cabin. They hadn’t. But they’d sniffed the air with their black noses and followed close behind him. He knew they smelled his blood. Knew if he stayed out here much longer, he would become their dinner.
With a surge of adrenaline, he managed to drag himself up the cabin stairs. Getting the door open had been a challenge. He’d grown lightheaded and passed out several times just trying to reach the doorknob. Every time he awoke, he was greeted to a pounding headache, pain searing his right leg, and surprised the wolves had not already ripped him apart.
As twilight descended, he’d been able to open the door. The effort to pull himself inside and shut the door had been too much for him. With no energy left, he lay on the cold pine-planked floor and stared up at the ceiling.
Oh man, he was so screwed.
His thoughts quickly turned to JJ. She was going to be so worried when he didn’t show. Hell, he didn’t want her to worry. She’d already had so much shit to deal with in her life. She didn’t need to deal with his death too.
The pain in his head pounded harder as his thoughts turned dark. Was he going to die out here? Would they find him? Maybe days from now?
He knew they would start looking for him at first light. They would figure he’d run into trouble beca
use he hadn’t sent a message. Would they guess that time was not on their side? They knew he would have sent a message if he was delayed. Knew he didn’t want to worry JJ. They must know by now he was in big trouble. Oh, JJ was going to be so pissed if he died.
Sweet JJ. His beautiful woman. He loved her so much that he couldn’t remember how he’d even managed to live without her in his life.
“Hold on, Rafe. Help is coming. Don’t leave me, Rafe,” JJ’s strong whisper curled out of the darkness, startling Rafe awake. Ribbons of pain assaulted him. Shivers racked his body.
“JJ?” he called out, hopeful that maybe she was calling him from outside the cabin. But his voice was a mere crackle. Thirst parched his throat.
No answer came. The silence descended over him like a suffocating blanket.
Shit. This was a hell of a bad way to die.
Chapter Four
“While we’re standing here arguing with you, JJ, we’re wasting precious time,” Dan growled.
Surprise and irritation snapped through JJ as she watched Dan and Brady pile their gear into the trailers they’d hitched to their machines.
“Well, shit, guys. Had we are our own plane, we’d already be on the nearest lake to wherever the hell Rafe is working.”
In the tense way they glared at her, she knew her jab had hurt.
JJ wished she’d remained quiet and just accepted that Brady and Dan wanted her to stay here to wait for help to arrive. But staying here made her feel helpless. Dan had been informed that no rescue was coming tomorrow. Resources had been pulled tight due to a perfect storm of emergencies.
A rescue chopper was searching for a group of interior campers who had gone missing in a provincial park north of Thunder Bay. There was a serious pileup due to fog on the main Trans-Canada highway and the rescue choppers were there, lifting out the injured. And a forest fire was being fought at the Manitoba-Ontario border where the rest of the rescue choppers had flown firefighters. But Dan had been assured the first available rescue chopper would be sent. Just not until probably the day after tomorrow as the pilots would all be too weary.