Winter Cove

by Skye Knizley

  “It’s not good?”

  River smiled. “It’s delicious, I just can’t finish. I’ll get it to go and eat it later.”

  Rylee frowned. “Your tummy again?”

  River nodded. “Yeah, I feel a little sick.”

  “What’s wrong?” Dustin asked.

  River smiled at him. “Nothing, I’m fine.”

  “It’s not fine, Riv. What did the doc at the VA say?” Rylee asked.

  River sighed. “That he can’t find anything wrong and the wounds have healed. I should be able to eat anything I want with no issues.”

  “But you can’t, so why doesn’t he do anything?” Rylee asked.

  Richard set his chicken aside. “Does this have something to do with your injury? Dustin never really filled me in on what happened.”

  River shook her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

  Rylee picked up a fry and nibbled on the end. “One of the bullets passed through her stomach and almost killed her. She couldn’t eat normally for weeks and even when she could, she still felt sick. It lasted a long time, and still every couple weeks it comes back and the damn doctors won’t do anything.”

  “That sucks, Riv. Do you want me to set something up with a local doctor? I’ll snag the bill, call it a late wedding present,” Richard said.

  River scooted out of the booth and set her napkin aside. “No, thank you, Richie. I’m sure it will be fine. Excuse me.”

  Rylee caught up to her just outside the ladies room. “I’m sorry, baby, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  River smiled and hugged her. “It’s okay, it isn’t like I am keeping some big secret or anything. I’ll be back in a second, I just need to splash some cold water on my face.”

  Rylee kissed her cheek. “Hurry back, babes.”

  In the ladies room, River wet a paper towel and ran it across her forehead. The cold felt good and soon the butterflies were through dancing in her stomach. She tossed the towel into the trash, washed her hands and stepped back into the diner, which was now almost empty. Two men in black suits and tailored coats were just entering when she neared the door. Both wore an identification badge on their lapel, something white with a blue symbol she didn’t recognize. Something about the way they looked at her made her pause, but the taller of the two simply smiled and allowed her to pass. River returned the smile and continued to the back, where her friends were gathering their coats.

  Rylee held out a white foam box. “I wrapped up the rest of your dinner with an extra side of fries.”

  “And I have a fresh cup of coffee to go,” Dustin said, holding up a cardboard cup.

  River smiled. “Thanks, guys. Who has the check?”

  Richard waved it and the black credit card he carried. “I’ve got it, Dustin and I promised to pick up the big meals.”

  River reached for the wallet she carried in her jacket. “Are you sure? Rylee and I can pay our way.”

  Jody slipped out of the booth and patted her arm. “They’re sure. Believe me, these two can buy a few meals.”

  “Okay, let’s get back on the road, then. The way this snow is coming down we’ll be lucky to get where we’re going by morning,” River said.

  Dustin put his arm over her shoulders and walked with her. “You worry too much, Riv. Try to sit back and relax, this is supposed to be fun.”

  “I’ll relax when we’ve stopped and I can throw snowballs at your head. I don’t like driving in the snow, remember?” River asked.

  Dustin stopped and held the door for her and the rest of the group. “I know, that’s why you bought that monster truck of yours. Don’t sweat it, we’ll be fine.”

  “Just stick to our ruts,” Richard said on his way by.

  River shook her head and followed them out into the snow. If anything, it had gotten worse. Both trucks were dusted with almost a half inch of snow in just the time taken to eat. Rylee helped her clear the windows of the truck and they climbed back inside. River tossed her gloves into the back seat and started the engine. Outside, Dustin and Richard had finished clearing their own truck and were starting off into the snow.

  Rylee took River’s hand. “Honey, we really can get a room. You don’t have to do this.”

  River smiled at her and put the truck in gear. “It will be fine, I’m going to try and take everyone’s advice. This is our honeymoon, it should be fun.”

  She put the truck in gear, engaged the four-wheel drive and followed the trailer onto the twisty two lane that headed off into the darkness.

  The hours ticked by. She and Rylee amused themselves by singing classic 80s tunes at the top of their lungs and swapping bad puns, but as the storm raged and the night dragged on they lapsed into silence. By midnight, Rylee had fallen asleep with her head on River’s thigh while River kept her eyes on the road and sipped cold coffee. The storm had lessened and they were able to increase speed to something approaching the speed limit. Miles vanished beneath the Raptor’s oversized tires and soon they passed the Maine border and started the last leg of the trip.

  As the rosy fingers of dawn appeared to the east, the small convoy passed through the village of Roque Bluffs, a sleepy little town known for camping, fishing and not much else. On the far side they descended to the water and pulled onto a ferry that looked like it had been new during the first World’s Fair.

  An older man who walked hunched over with the aid of a cane stepped out of the wheelhouse and spoke to Dustin, who handed over a sheaf of bills. When the old man was gone, Dustin got out of his truck and approached the Raptor. River rolled down the window, which woke Rylee, who stretched and looked at the ferry with obvious distaste.

  “What fresh hell is this?”

  “This is the Winter Cove Ferry,” Dustin said through the window. “It’s the only way to get out to the island.”

  Rylee made a face. “Winter Cove is an island? Nobody told me there was an island.”

  Dustin shrugged. “It wasn’t, until about fifty years ago. After a big storm my dad woke up to find that the causeway and everything attached had been washed out to sea. Luckily there weren’t many people in town at the time. There are fewer still living there, now. Maybe we’ll get to visit some of the old ruins.”

  Outside, the small crew had untied the ferry. The old man started the engines and the tired old ship surged forward on diesels that were still powerful enough to carry passengers and vehicles to the island twice a day, rain, sleet or snow.

  River climbed out of the truck and looked back at Roque Bluffs, which was just now beginning to come to life. In the dim light she thought she saw a black Ford sedan park near the dock, but it was difficult to tell through the snow. In a moment it was gone, lost in the swirling snow and wake.

  Once land was out of sight, River and Rylee moved to the ship’s small cabin where an older woman with silver hair and eyes as blue as the summer sky was serving coffee and pastries warmed in a small microwave. River got two of each and sat with Rylee by a window that looked out on the North Atlantic. They held hands, sipped coffee and watched the sun rise.

  In the distance they could see the Boone Island, named after the storm that had cut the small cove off from the rest of Maine. An old railroad line vanished to the northeast, the only evidence that the island had once been part of the mainland. From here, the island just looked forbidding, with dark patches of forest and mountains that even the toughest goat would hesitate to climb.

  Once the island was in view, it grew until it filled the windows, then the ferry began a slow turn and River was able to see the dock they were approaching. It was nowhere near town.

  “Hey Dusty, what gives?” she asked.

  Dustin looked out the window. “We’re not going into town. My family pays for a second landing closer to the cabins and since we’re the only ones aboard, the captain was happy to drop us on this side.”

&nb
sp; Rylee smiled. “Anything that gets us in bed sooner works for me.”

  River kissed Rylee’s fingers. “Slut.”

  Rylee leaned across the table, so close River could almost taste her. Rylee’s grin softened and became more seductive. “Takes one to know one, lover.”

  Richard walked past with his pack over his shoulder. “Break it up, you two. This is Maine, public kissing is forbidden.”

  Rylee leaned away from River and stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re just jealous cause you’re flying solo this weekend.”

  Richard turned and continued walking backwards. “Ah, my dear, one is never alone with sweet Rosie.”

  He grinned, wiggled the fingers on one hand and vanished through the doors.

  “That’s gross, dude!” Rylee yelled after him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The sun was full up yet barely visible behind approaching storm clouds when the two trucks pulled into the docks and headed up a steep mountain road. Ahead was the mountain that was central to the “secret” of Winter Cove. Cold-water run off from the mountain ensured that the cove itself was in almost constant motion, which prevented freezing in even the coldest months. The pirates who established the original village that had evolved into Winter Cove had found the frozen harbor and secluded location made the perfect hideout away from prying authorities. The fishermen that kept the small town alive were able to use their boats even during bitter winter storms that never seemed to touch the island or its surrounding waters.

  The road was rough and narrow, causing both trucks to rattle and bang across rocks and frozen puddles. After almost an hour of slow going, Rylee rinsed her mouth out with a swig of cold coffee and picked up the radio mic. Short-wave reception had been poor since they reached the Maine border, it was almost nonexistent here, but good enough for vehicle to vehicle communication.

  “Hey Dusty! What the hell are we doing in the woods? Are we there yet?”

  Dustin’s voice was distorted by the radio and sounded tinny. “Keep your panties on, Rylee. The cabins are just ahead.”

  Rylee winked at River. “Dusty, I stopped wearing panties in the eighth grade.”

  “And there was information we didn’t need at seven in the morning,” Richard said. “You know Dusty has a vivid imagination and a short attention span.”

  Rylee giggled and tossed the microphone aside.

  “You’re incorrigible,” River said.

  Rylee scooted over and put her head on River’s shoulder. “Yeah, but you love me.”

  River put her arm around Rylee and held her. She did love her, with all her heart. She’d been there when no one else had been, seen her through rehab after her injury and held her hand through the inquiry that resulted in a Silver Star instead of a court-martial.

  They continued the drive in silence, just enjoying one another’s company. Soon, the trail descended into a narrow valley. The turn at the top provided them with a view of the two cabins nestled below and the village of Winter Cove in the distance. From here, the village looked tiny, with only a handful of buildings that blocked the view of the ocean beyond. Less than three thousand people lived in the town, except during tourist season. Even then, it only bulged to twice that. Though the area was beautiful, it was also harsh, with steep cliffs and forbidding wilderness that claimed a handful of lives every year. Casual tourists preferred to vacation in the safe environs of Bar Harbor and Portland to the south rather than risk death in an untamed wilderness reachable only by ferry.

  Dustin parked his truck beside the larger of the two cabins and River nudged hers beside the smaller of the two. Beyond them was a shed that, River had been told, held half a dozen snowmobiles and everything they would need to enjoy the winter weather.

  She climbed out of the truck and raised the lid over the bed. Their gear still rested inside, neatly arranged and tied down. She slung her backpack over one shoulder and grabbed Rylee’s. Where hers was an old military issue affair tinted the color of sand, Rylee’s was red and covered in black skulls. Rylee had bought it especially for this trip, which said a lot about both her sense of style and how little time she spent out of doors.

  Rylee joined her behind the truck, a black and white stocking cap perched on her head and mittens over her slender fingers. River handed her the backpack and closed the truck’s bed.

  “What about the rest of our shit?” Rylee asked.

  “It can wait until we’ve had some food and some sleep,” River said. “One of us didn’t take a nap and drool on someone’s thigh.”

  Rylee made a face. “Your thigh is comfy. And I don’t drool!”

  Dustin appeared beside her holding a key in his hand. “Drooling again, Rye?”

  River laughed and Rylee gave him the evil eye. “I don’t drool, sometimes stuff just leaks.”

  Dustin offered the key to River. “This is the cabin key. Richie already unlocked the door and is starting a fire for you. I had the caretaker come up and change all the bedding and stock the pantry. If there is anything else you need, we can go into town and get it later.”

  River pocketed the key. “Thanks, Dusty. I’m going to grab a few hours’ rest then we can hit the slopes or something.”

  “Yeah, us too. Jody got a couple hours of sleep, but not much. Richie and I didn’t get a wink. There’s a CB inside, we’ll call you later and see what you’re up for,” Dustin said.

  “Does the radio work?” River asked. “I noticed reception was getting poor.”

  Dustin shrugged. “It should, normally we even get stations from Portland out here. The storm must have knocked out a tower or something.”

  He turned and started toward the cabins. “Will you stop worrying and have some fun? We’re in the middle of nowhere, no one to bother us and nothing to do but play.”

  River frowned. Shortwave radio didn’t need booster stations, the masts on the trucks should reach a reasonable distance by themselves and FM stations had their own antennas. Surely they hadn’t all failed during the night?

  “What’s wrong? You look like you just swallowed a bug or something,” Rylee said.

  River sighed. “Nothing, just worrying again. Come on, let’s check out this cabin Dusty is so excited about.”

  The cabins could only be called that because they were made of logs, placed nowhere near civilization and ‘palace’ was already taken. The smaller of the two was a single story structure with a wide front porch that, in warmer seasons, would have been home to several rocking chairs. The front door led into a large great-room with a fireplace, a chocolate-colored sofa of leather so soft it felt like butter and two recliners big enough for two. A faux bearskin covered the center of the room and a stuffed swordfish that belonged nowhere near the cabin hung over the mantle. A fire was already crackling in the fireplace, chasing away the last vestiges of cold.

  Beyond the great-room was a small eat-in kitchen with a gas stove and refrigerator, a large bathroom with a whirlpool tub and a master bedroom with a king-sized bed, hand-made furniture, a wide picture window looking out on the snow-covered forest and a television bigger than some theater screens. A vase of roses sat on the dresser beside an ice bucket with champagne and a selection of chocolate. River picked up the card beside the chocolate and read the note.

  Congratulations on your marriage, enjoy with our love – Dusty and Jody.

  “The guys really went all out, huh?” Rylee said.

  River set the card back on the dresser. “They did. I’ll have to remember to be nice to them one day.”

  She hung her jacket on a hook by the door and began undressing. Rylee joined her and soon they were beneath the satin sheets, twined in each other’s arms. Rylee dozed off almost immediately, but as tired as she was, River found sleep elusive. The radio distortion bothered her. Some atmospheric anomalies could cause distortion, but for it to be so widespread was unusual. She didn’t think the
mountains could be effecting all the bands and it didn’t make sense that radios only a few meters apart would be effected. So what was it?

  Possibilities ran through her head, from a jamming device more powerful than anything she’d ever heard of to a nuclear event, but none of them made any sense. She drifted to sleep still pondering the possibilities. Her dreams were filled with faceless monsters chasing her in the dark.

  CHAPTER THREE

  River choked back a scream and sat up, awake before she even realized it had happened. Her skin was covered in a light sheen of sweat and she felt dizzy. She rubbed her eyes then took deep breaths until she felt better. When she did, she slid out of bed and looked out the window, not surprised to find it was still snowing. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a Semper Fi tee shirt then left the room. She found Rylee in the great-room with Jody, who had changed into leggings and a sweater. Her snow boots sat on a mat beside the door. Rylee wore nothing but River’s Marine Corps tee shirt and a pair of thick socks. She was holding a mug of coffee so big it required two hands to hold it. When she saw River she grinned and raised the mug.

  “I found Dunkin’ in the cupboards. Want some?”

  River shook her head. “No, thank you, honey. I could use some food though, my stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”

  “The boys are making a snack as we speak,” Jody said. “Some kind of chicken, I think.”

  Rylee scooted sideways in her chair and River joined her, careful not to spill the coffee she was holding.

  “Good lord, you’re letting them cook?” Rylee asked.

  The cabin door opened and Richard entered holding an aluminum covered tray. “Not letting, my dear Rylee. I’ll have you know my brother and I are excellent chefs.”

  Jody set her coffee aside. “Yeah, when you’re making something with all canned and frozen ingredients. Otherwise its waffles and chicken soup.”