by Ronica Black
He wagged his tail and rested his chin. Maggie entered and walked quietly to the bed. Ellie was awake but lying on her side facing the fire.
“I thought you might like some tea.”
Ellie turned a little to look at her. She sat up.
“Thank you.”
Maggie crossed to her, handed over the mug, and then busied herself with the fire. Ellie sipped in silence behind her. Once again, the wind howled, and Maggie knew it was hinting at the trouble to come.
Chapter Six
“Damn it.” Ellie stood, but she still felt so weak. Maggie turned from the fire. The dog barked, and Ellie let out another curse.
“Whoa, whoa.” Maggie left her mug on the hearth. Gently, she placed her hands on her upper arms.
Ellie pulled away from her, shaking her head. “I’m fine, really.”
Maggie looked concerned. “When’s the last time you ate?”
Ellie laughed, thinking the question ridiculous. “Not that long ago.”
“How long?”
Ellie opened her mouth but stopped before speaking. How long had it been? She’d driven straight in from L.A. She never risked flying into Flagstaff because she could be found easily that way. Frank’s was her private hideaway.
“I can’t remember.” Truth be told, she hadn’t been eating much lately, and more than one person had noticed. She just didn’t feel like eating when she was stressed.
“I think you need to eat and get lots of rest,” Maggie said, holding her gaze.
Ellie glanced away, unable to look into the green depths. Maggie was captivating, and she wanted to stare but she couldn’t afford to. She knew she’d like it too much.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” she said, trying for distance. Maggie dropped her hands, obviously unnerved at the comment.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Ellie sank onto the bed.
She tugged at the sweater she had on and then struggled to pull it off. She tossed it aside and fingered the thermal underwear she had on. “These your clothes?”
“Yes.”
“Where are mine?”
“They’re in the washer. They aren’t warm enough for this weather.”
“They’ll do fine.”
“Sorry?”
“I prefer my clothes.”
Maggie took a step back, and Ellie could feel the tension she was causing. She knew she sounded like an ass, but she had to do it. For both of them.
“I will bring them to you when they are dry.”
Ellie didn’t answer. She just wished she could be in something familiar. Something that was hers.
“I know you’re very tired and weak—”
“I’m fine.” Ellie looked at her with fierce determination. She was putting on a brave face. Pretending like she was fine when she was anything but.
Maggie’s cheeks were flushed and she appeared to be chewing on her lower lip. Ellie swallowed with difficulty, noting again how her beauty stirred her.
Maggie spoke as she backed away to the foot of the bed. “I only put those on you to warm you up. You were suffering from hypothermia.”
“I’m fine now.”
“You still need to remain warm.”
“I’m okay.”
Maggie started to speak but seemed to change her mind. She turned to walk away, but just before she reached the door, Ellie called out, unable to hold back any longer.
“Wait.” God, she hated being so weak. Absolutely hated it.
Maggie stopped. “Yes?”
Ellie breathed out in frustration. “I need to pee.”
Maggie turned to face her.
“Okay.” She rounded the bed and held out her arm. Ellie was embarrassed. Too embarrassed to look at her. Without a word, she took her arm and slid off the bed. She shook and wavered, and Maggie caught her quickly, holding her upright in her arms.
Ellie felt her strength, and a rush of heat went through her. She hadn’t been held by a woman in over twenty years, and long ago sensations shot through her body and mind. She let out a small sound, one of pleasure, fear, she wasn’t sure.
“You okay?”
Ellie nodded quickly.
“We’re going to walk very slowly,” Maggie said. “Very carefully. Hold on tight.”
Maggie turned them to face the bathroom. With a hand around her waist, Maggie led them slowly. Ellie had trouble at first, placing most of her weight against Maggie, but the farther they went the stronger she seemed to grow.
It was as if her muscles were awakening, along with the rest of her, which seemed to have been asleep for years.
“I’ll be okay,” she said when they reached the doorframe.
Maggie was hesitant; Ellie could see it in her.
“Really,” she said. “I’ll be fine.” She placed her palm on Maggie’s arm. “Thanks.”
“I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Chapter Seven
Ellie pushed off and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Maggie heard the lock engage, and she moved to the fireplace to play with the logs. She understood Ellie’s situation and how uneasy she must be feeling, but she wasn’t exactly an ogre or an unfriendly person. Ellie could’ve been found by worse. A lot worse.
Maggie finished with the fire and sat in the gliding rocker. She knew Ellie probably wanted to be left alone, but she couldn’t risk it. She’d sit and wait, make sure she made it back to bed, and then she’d give her some privacy.
At last, the lock disengaged and Ellie stood in the doorway. “I’m okay,” she said, but clearly she wasn’t. She took a step and Maggie ran to her. She caught her as she collapsed.
“I got you,” she said. Then, swiftly, she lifted her into her arms and moved to the bed. Ellie didn’t protest, didn’t speak. She simply curled into her and stared up into her face.
“Here we go,” Maggie said, setting her down.
She covered her and then straightened, unsure what to do with herself.
“I’m sorry,” Ellie said, eyes glossy. A small wall had crumbled, and Maggie wondered if anyone had ever seen her like this.
“There’s no need.” Maggie had an urge to touch her hand to reassure her, but she didn’t want to risk upsetting her.
“How long will I be so… weak?” A tear tried to slip down her cheek, but she wiped it away as if she were angry at its presence.
Maggie saw the raw vulnerability, and she suddenly understood. Ellie was afraid to be weak. To lose control. To need help.
She sat next to her. “You’ve been through a lot. It’s going to take a little while for you to feel like yourself again.”
“I hate feeling like this.”
“It won’t take long,” she said, smiling a bit. She considered Ellie’s condition and knew her current situation was caused by more than just the cold weather.
“Is there something else wrong? Are you in some sort of trouble?”
Ellie tensed, squeezing the bed covers. “No one knew I was leaving, and I don’t have my phone. I’m sure they will be looking for me.”
“Would you like to use my phone? I can go get it for you.”
Ellie turned to look away. “No.”
“Are you sure?” An anxious feeling rushed through Maggie. She didn’t understand why Ellie wouldn’t contact someone.
“Yes.” She kept looking away, and Maggie sensed that she’d treaded too far. She knew it was time to go finish breakfast. She left her in silence, tears once again filling her eyes.
Chapter Eight
Ellie sat for a while before she touched her meal. She was still so tired. So blessedly tired. This was not how she had envisioned her getaway. She was supposed to be tucked quietly away in Frank’s cabin, staring into a roaring fire, enjoying the silence. But instead she was here, in a stranger’s home, weak and confused, at the mercy of her host. Who was this woman? This Maggie?
Ellie shuffled, bringing the fork to her lips. Scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. They almost tas
ted as good as the fresh cinnamon roll. She took another bite and sighed. It all tasted good, damn good, and suddenly, her appetite was back with a vengeance.
An image came then. She was inside the SUV, the windows covered with snow. She was hungry, freezing, and fearing death. She could feel the angry wind trying to get at her. It yearned for her just as she’d yearned for food. She couldn’t remember how long she’d been stuck there. One night for sure. One dark, terrifying night.
Ellie pushed the thought away and took another bite. She had survived. She was out now. Warm. Fed. But was she safe? Maggie seemed harmless enough, but one could never tell about people.
No one else knew where she was. She’d made sure of that. But now it could be her undoing.
Even so, Maggie didn’t seem the type to cause harm. She had kind eyes. Dark and rich like the fields in Ireland. She smelled nice too, crisp and clean, like a fresh shower. Ellie recalled her gentle strength, the firmness of her muscles, the ease in which she’d picked her up. Ellie tried to push it away like the thought of the SUV, but she couldn’t.
Maggie was down the hall, close by. Ellie was in her home and they’d have to interact. She would have to keep her distance and be careful to not get too friendly. But the thought of her… she’d keep that for herself. She quite liked it. And there was no harm in thinking. It was how she’d made it this far without falling for another woman.
She eyed her clean clothes at the foot of the bed. She’d layered herself as best she could while in the SUV. She recalled the cold she’d felt. Inescapable. Penetrating. How she would’ve given anything for warmth. Now here she was saturated in it, and she was being stubborn, like some insolent child, insisting on wearing her own clothes.
She finished her breakfast and placed the tray on the night table. She touched the soft clothes she had on. They were warm and comfortable, and a powerful sense of relief washed over her, and she cried. The sobs came unexpectedly and completely involuntary. She was safe. She was warm. She was alive. She could feel her hands and her feet. She could feel the warm tears streaming down her face.
And she owed it all to this woman. This Maggie. This person she didn’t know.
But she didn’t want to owe her life to anyone. She didn’t want to let anyone in. Not anyone. People only wanted. They wanted, wanted, wanted. She couldn’t handle it. Not anymore.
So how was she supposed to handle Maggie? She was in her home, in her clothes, eating her food. She would have to interact with her. Thank her. Be grateful. And she was grateful. But she just couldn’t deal with it. She just wanted to be alone.
She straightened and wiped her eyes. Maggie couldn’t see her like this. She never let anyone see her like this. She had to be Ellie. Ellie Falcon. She had everything in control. She was good, glamorous, perfect. If she showed sorrow, people freaked out. They swarmed her like crazy bees. What’s wrong? Oh my God. How awful, I’m so sorry. Oh, let me fix it. Damn it, someone fix it. Call someone and fix this; she has an appointment in fifteen. The driver is waiting. God damn it, someone fix it.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. A knock from the doorway startled her.
“Everything okay?” Maggie was holding a steaming mug.
“Yes, I was just—” She stopped, unsure what to say. She could lie, put on a perfect face just like she always did. But something in Maggie’s eyes stopped her. “I-I think I’m just overwhelmed.” She offered a small smile, feeling a little better at having told the truth.
Maggie held out the mug. “Coffee is finally ready.”
Ellie nodded.
Maggie entered, placing the mug on the night table. “It’s nothing fancy.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
She stood before her, looking a little uneasy. Ellie noticed her jeans, her thick sweater, and her wavy hair. She wore it short but thick on top. The kind of hair you could run your fingers through. The thought took Ellie back. It thrilled her, but it also brought fear and rejection. She again wiped her cheeks.
“Thank you for finding me. And thank you for letting me stay.”
“There’s no need to thank me, really.”
“There is.”
Maggie seemed to blush a little. “You’re welcome.”
Ellie braced herself, waiting for the reaction she was used to. The questions, the admiration, the attempt to get close. But Maggie merely smiled.
“Did you get enough to eat?”
It was such a simple question, yet Ellie had a hard time finding words. “Yes, thank you.”
“Do you need anything? I’ll bring you more water.”
Ellie glanced around. “I’m okay.”
Maggie lifted the tray. “I’ll let you rest then. Call out if you need anything.”
“Actually, I was wondering if I could read that book up there.” She nodded toward the mantle. “I haven’t read the latest, and I’m addicted to that series. Did you know they’re making a movie?”
Maggie just stared at her as if she couldn’t speak. “You like those books?”
Ellie smiled. “Yes.”
Maggie blinked. “Uh, yes, you’re welcome to read them. Any of them. I have more upstairs. Books that is. A whole library in the loft.”
Ellie felt herself brighten.
“You can take a look when you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that.”
Their eyes met and lingered for a long moment. And then Maggie excused herself, leaving Ellie alone.
Ellie was relieved at the lack of intrusion, but she was also growing more than a little curious about the woman who had saved her. She rose carefully, retrieved the book, and crawled back into bed. She pulled the goose down comforter over her and settled in to read. Could she get to know Maggie while keeping her distance?
*
Ellie awoke to darkness and the sound of the wind howling. She could hear wind trying to penetrate, trying to get to her to eat away at her bones. She bolted upright and clung to the soft material in her hands. She searched the SUV but couldn’t get her bearings. The windows weren’t visible, the pile of clothes gone. Her heart pounded as her breathing quickened with panic. She grasped for anything near but only found the soft material.
Something moved at her feet. A creature. She let out a scream. Her head hit something solid and she flinched with pain. The creature was moving. It walked across her feet and legs. She screamed again.
Light pierced her eyes, and another scream caught in her throat. She pulled the material so tightly to herself that her arms burned. She turned away from the light and waited for the attack.
“Ellie?”
Ellie flinched. The voice was soft, as if drifting in on a dream.
“Ellie, are you okay?”
Something licked her hands and she opened her eyes. A Welsh corgi sat looking up at her.
“Ellie?”
Ellie turned and located the voice.
“Maggie.” The name fell from her mouth.
“Yes.” She sat on the bed next to her, her face full of concern.
Ellie flushed with embarrassment. “I—I didn’t know where I was.”
“That happens to me sometimes.”
“I thought I was still out there. In the SUV.”
Maggie touched her hand. “You’re safe now.”
The gesture was so kind and so quiet in presence, Ellie’s heart fluttered. To cover, she gave a small laugh and moved her hand to scratch her face. “I guess I’m going crazy.” Her memory flooded her, and she remembered the cabin, the dog, and how she’d spent the day reading and resting. Maggie had been so kind, making her meals and checking on her.
“Confused, yes. Crazy, no.”
Ellie took in her deep eyes and rustled hair. Maggie had been asleep. Asleep in her flannel pajamas.
“I’m sorry I woke you.” She tried not to stare, but she very much liked the way Maggie looked. All cozy and warm like an inviting bed. Ellie wanted to crawl right in and curl up.
“I wasn’t sleeping well anyhow. I’m a little worried about this storm.” Her gaze moved beyond Ellie to the windows. The black pane seemed ominous, as if it held something sinister just beyond.
“Are we going to be okay?”
Maggie glanced at her quickly, but she avoided holding eye contact. “We’ll be fine.” She rose as if she were upset with herself for saying something. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Ellie searched her face for answers, for what it was she wasn’t saying. But she found none.
Maggie massaged her dog. “He’s taken to you.”
“He’s cute.”
“I hope you like him because it doesn’t seem like he’s going to leave your side anytime soon.” She smiled then, and Ellie nearly lost her breath at how it lit up her face. It reached her eyes and caused them to sparkle.
“He’s fine.” She offered a smile back, and for a moment, they took each other in. Ellie looked away first, and Maggie stepped away.
“Right, I will leave you to sleep then.”
“Good night.”
Maggie walked toward the door. “Night.” She left her with the light on. Left her sitting there alone with a smile. Ellie loved on the dog. He made a small grunting noise as he turned his neck toward her for further affection. “Looks like it’s you and me, kid.”
She reached for the light but changed her mind. Instead, she pushed away her covers and carefully stood. Certain she had the strength, she walked quietly to the dresser. A black-and-white photo of a young woman stood in a wood carved frame. Ellie examined the young woman and thought she could see a resemblance. She turned the frame over and lifted the back panel. She found a name written in ink on the back. Abigail, written in cursive. Ellie returned the back panel and placed the photo where she found it. Slowly, she opened a drawer. A stack of letters sat tied with a red ribbon. Ellie stared at them for a long moment, debating. She wanted to read them, to know more about Maggie, but she thought of herself and how important privacy was. She closed the drawer and left the dresser. She crossed to the fireplace which was slowly burning with glowing coals. She could feel its heat from three feet away.