by Toni Mozzie
After Adam had left, Maggie stuck around to drink the hot chocolate that Bella had brought in. The old man sensed her trepidation.
“Worried? You should be.”
“Why?” she asked with some alarm.
“Because it’s a bad storm.”
“Oh.” She thought he might have been referring to Adam. “Adam is a nice guy, right?”
“He’s fun,” Bella said.
“Sure, he’s a great guy, why?”
Maggie shrugged. She didn’t want to say anything about the sex proposal with Bella present, and realized at that moment that that was why Adam had asked the old woman to fetch hot chocolate. He left before Bella had returned with his cup.
“Just that his proposal was odd.”
“I told you he was weird. But he’s the least of your worries. If you do get stuck out there in the blizzard, I can’t think of a better person to be out there with. Adam is a natural wild woodsman. He loves the cold; he finds it invigorating. He has a condition or something.”
“He’s like Frosty the Snowman,” Bella said with a laugh.
“What condition?” Maggie asked, thinking he might have some mental disorder or rare skin disease, which would be a shame as his skin had that outdoor winter look without the sun damage. She had this odd craving to lick him
“He has a problem with heat. In the summer, he works at night and runs up an insane bill with all those air conditioners he has, and it isn’t even that hot here in the summer. Like I said he loves the winter. Not so happy in the summer though, but when the winter descends upon us, you can’t find a happier guy.”
“Winter’s fun,” Bella said, without looking up from the phone.
Maggie had no idea how it had made its way from the old man back to his wife.
“Well, he can have it,” Maggie said. She was not a winter person, like her parents and sisters were. She longed for summer, suntan lotion, peaches, and beaches. She’d taken last couple Christmas vacations to Australia. Just the feeling of being bundled up in layers of winter clothes, felt restricting and definitely not flattering.
Honestly, she didn’t have much winter clothing. She’d planned to stay in the car or in a motel or inside the cabin for as much of the visit as possible, but she also knew that she would be expected to go skating at the pond and roast marshmallows over the bonfire nearby, so she’d bought boots, long johns, lots of woolen socks and flannel pajamas and shirts. She still had her winter jacket, but either the world had gotten colder or she was getting older because the coat did not feel as warm as she’d remembered it to be.
“I better go back to the room and get ready. Can I leave what I can’t take in the room, or should I put everything into the car?”
“So I don’t have to charge you, better to put it in the car.”
“Just that the car is buried in the snow.”
“Oh, whatever, it’s not like anyone’s going to need your room when all the other rooms are vacant.”
“Thanks.”
Maggie returned to her room and she could swear the snow had risen a few inches. She redressed herself to wear as much as possible and still be able to move freely. The gifts stayed in the suitcase. She had just finished when there was a knock at the door.
She opened the door, a gust of wind and snow, whirling past her and into the room.
The old man, wrapped in a big comfy coat, said, “Adam’s here.”
“That was quick,” Maggie said, grabbing the suitcase. She took one last look around the room. Was it worth staying in for the holidays? Was what she was attempting insane?
“Well, aren’t you in a hurry?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“So you should thank him.”
“I will,” Maggie said, as she closed the door behind her and locked it. There wasn’t much left that belonged to her in the room, only her laptop. She’d debated taking it but feared it might be damaged.
She had her phone though, and it was fully charged. She wasn’t sure they’d have a signal where they were going, but there was no way she was going into the wild without her phone. There was no way she would go anywhere without her phone. Being without a phone was like being without the keys to the apartment, she felt homeless, as if set afloat in a chaotic societal tidal wave.
Adam was waiting outside with four beautiful dogs. The dogs glared at her.
“What kind are they?” Maggie asked.
“They’re Canadian Eskimo dogs,” Bella said, from the door. She was petting the dogs, one after the other. They were friendly around Bella, but didn’t look too excited to see Maggie. She suspected the dogs were as pleased to be out in this weather as Maggie was, and she began to feel guilty for making such a fuss.
After petting them, the old man wheeled his wife back inside.
“Look,” Maggie began, “if you think it’s too dangerous to be out there, just say so. I don’t mind spending the holidays here. I don’t want to seem like some psychotic bitch obsessed with getting things her way. I don’t really need to go.”
Adam stared at her sardonically. “Look, lady, let’s stop with the humming and hawing and get on with it. I don’t mind. This is great weather to be traveling in and so close to Christmas too. I think you might find it will be more pleasant than you could ever imagine.”
Maggie wondered if he was referring to his body and sex.
“Just as long as you think it’s safe.”
“Of course I do. Do you think I am the type of guy that thinks he needs to recklessly endanger his life to prove he is worth the lay? No. If I thought we were in any danger, I would not be standing here now. Here, give me that suitcase. There is just enough room. You can sit on the sled. We are traveling light and it should be okay, as long as we take a few breaks. If we go now, we should be half way by nightfall, meaning you should arrive around noon, tomorrow just as you planned.”
“So we will have to spend the night in this?” she asked, indicating the storm.
Adam grinned and placed his goggles over his eyes. “Nice, huh?”
“Well, if we do get there as planned, you, of course, are welcome to stay for Christmas dinner.”
He laughed. “How kind of you. And here I was, expecting to be kicked back out into the blizzard on Christmas Eve.”
Maggie blushed. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt Adam was angry with her.
“Should I tell them we’re leaving now?” Maggie asked.
“Who?”
“The motel.” She didn’t know the old man’s name.
“They know; stop messing around—jump on.”
Maggie did. The dogs, sensing they were on the move, grew excited. Adam stood on the runners.
“All right, ready? Then, on Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen!”
“You named your dogs after Santa’s reindeer?”
He laughed, “Nah, just trying to spread a little Christmas cheer, hon,” and with that he roared, “Hah.”
Bella watched from the window inside as the sled jerked to life.
Within seconds it had disappeared into the hazy whiteout.
Chapter Four
The snow blew across the road and for the most part did not build up. There were a few snow drifts in places but the woods on either side protected much of the road, and the dogs were able to maneuver easily around.
Maggie began to wonder if she shouldn’t have just driven, but take Adam along as insurance. She considered stopping to ask him if they should turn back and take the car when they came to a clearing and snow suddenly grew deep and the dogs struggled through it.
They managed to go about an hour before Adam decided to take a break. Maggie didn’t think the dogs looked tired, and wondered if he was stalling to get more time alone in the wilderness with her, until she was so cold she would be begging to crawl into his arms and curl up in a ball.
She needn’t have flattered herself. By the time they stopped for the night, she could see quite plainly that the dogs were exhausted.
&nb
sp; It was during the second break that he said, “I know a shortcut that will take hours off our journey. I just thought I’d tell you so you wouldn’t freak out when we went off the road.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” Now it was her turn not to trust his outdoor winter skills. “It’s woods in the middle of woods; what if we get lost?”
“Why would we get lost? I said I know a shortcut, which means I know the way.”
“I like the original schedule, so I don’t mind staying on the road.”
“Actually, the original schedule I quoted included the shortcut. If we stay on the road, you can add maybe four or five hours. Of course, we might come across some drivers in distress and be obliged to help, which could postpone any Christmas Eve grand entrance.”
“I don’t need to make a grand entrance.”
“Really? Sounds to me like that is exactly what you want to do. I’m assuming it’s because you are jealous of your sisters, which is the main reason I’m here. They are hot, aren’t they?”
“Well, now that there might be people in distress then I say we should stay on the road. We might be able to save a life.”
Adam chuckled and shook his head. “I was just kidding with you. No, there won’t be anyone out here. I’m the only person I know who’s crazy enough to be out here, and you’re the only person I know who’s stupid enough to be out here.”
“Ha-ha.”
“So, anyway, when I mentioned the shortcut, it wasn’t to ask your permission, but just to inform you that that is what is going to be happening. I have everything planned out perfectly, and if you don’t like that, then you are free to wait here for a taxi. This can be a fun little adventure if you don’t get in my way.”
Maggie opened her mouth to say something, but he had already turned his attention to his dogs to give them water that Maggie had been sitting on to it keep from freezing.
When they were ready to go on, he directed the dogs to turn to the left and they skidded off the road. Maggie relaxed immediately, the dogs seemed to know exactly where they were and were even excited, obviously they had taken this shortcut before and had happy memories and scents of this place.
The wind did not cut through the forest like it did on the road and Maggie was able to enjoy the ride more. It was still cold though, and the coat she was wearing still felt like it was made of tinfoil.
But the beauty of the snowfall through the trees distracted her, and she realized she’d forgotten the simple joys of winter. Off in the distance, every once in a while she could hear a heavy thump as snow that had built up in trees plummeted to the ground.
They stopped for the third and final time. Maggie jumped off the sled and started jumping up and down.
“What are you doing?” Adam asked. He was attending the dogs, giving them each a treat.
“I’m freezing my ass off.”
“Well, why don’t you dress warmer?”
He was wearing a heavy duty skidoo suit, but the jacket was unzipped.
“I didn’t pack enough. I didn’t know I would be in a dog sleigh in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a blizzard.”
“What do you mean? You are the one who asked me to come out here.”
“Huh?”
“I thought you were drunk or something and that’s why you are dressed like you’re in Minnesota. You do know it’s not a good idea to drink booze in the cold. It doesn’t actually make you warmer in the long run.”
“Jesus, Adam, I’m not an idiot. But how was I supposed to predict three days ago that I’d be in this situation?”
“I’m talking about my gear. I told you everything was included.”
He reached into a bag and yanked out a suit for her.
She glared back at him. Why hadn’t he mentioned this earlier? Was he playing with her? It made her tingle all over despite her wish to be angry with him. She loved being teased.
He grinned. “Told you I would take care of you. You know what your problem is? You don’t believe me.”
She snatched the suit and got herself into it. Within five minutes she was toasty warm.
Adam studied her with a smile she thought was a little too smug for her tastes.
Forty minutes later they stopped for the night.
Maggie asked how she could help. Adam told her to collect wood for a fire, the drier the better.
He said it would go faster if he did everything and he was fast. He unharnessed the dogs and once they’d been attended to, the tent was up in minutes after he’d cleared a spot of snow. When Maggie returned with some wood, he already had a fire going.
“Here are some beans. Chow down. They’ll keep you warm. My dad always told me that beans put hair on your chest.”
“No thanks.”
His mouth dropped. “You gotta eat.”
“I have some chocolate bars.
“Protein bars?”
“No.”
“You need protein.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?”
“Yeah, you need protein and not just empty calories. Look, I have some ravioli if you want.”
She accepted and they ate.
“Oh, and I shoveled out a little cubby hole over there so you can take care of business when nature comes calling.”
Maggie exhaled. She hadn’t thought about that when she signed up for this.
“So what’s wrong with you,” Maggie said at last.
“Nothing that I’m aware of.”
“The old man at the motel said you had some disease.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry—nothing sexual.”
“I don’t care what it is; I just wanted to know what was wrong with you.”
“I’m thermophobic. I don’t like the heat; I have panic attacks. The winters are better because I can control how hot I am, but the summers are hell. If it’s too cold, you bundle up but if it’s too hot not even stripping to nothing provides relief. Plus, the heat is full of germs. I wish there was global cooling, not global warming.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Yeah, but that’s how I think. So I live as far north as I can afford. What about you? Why do you have to risk my life and my dogs’ lives to get to your family?”
“Because it’s Christmas. Look, if we are in danger, say so.”
“Nah, I’m teasing.” He winked at her and grinned, snow sticking to his face.
Maggie didn’t want to sit out there, even though they were around a fire. She was tired. She knew it was the cold that was sapping her of her energy. It was dark now and she looked around, but the darkness swallowed up the storm.
“I thought you said your mother was sick and you hadn’t seen them, and now you want to surprise them with a grand entrance? It makes me think not all is well at home.”
“When my dad died, my mother and sisters and I kind of lost something that we didn’t realize kept us so tightly knit together.
“Then I had an argument with Mom about some guy I was dating. It turns out they were right and he was an asshole, but that’s not the point, and I don’t need my mom or my sisters droning on about it. It’s getting colder.”
“Yeah, it’s going to feel sub-arctic in a little while. Why don’t you help me get this garbage packed up, and I’ll put the fire out.”
“You’re putting the fire out?”
“We won’t need it in the tent.”
The dogs had already snuggled into their nests for the night.
“I need to change and wear something more comfortable to sleep in.”
“Sleep in what you’re wearing.”
“Okay, but still, I want to clean up before bed, and I’d like some privacy.”
“Isn’t happening,” he said, handing her a bag to put their garbage in.
He stomped on the fire and dropped a chunk of snow on it, which smothered it.
“Okay,” he said, taking the bag she had filled with their canned dinner, “let’s get in the tent. You can remove some of the clothing; the slee
ping bags are unsurpassed. But if you do get cold, let me know, and we can join the sleeping bags together and use each other’s heat.”
“I think I’ll be fine,” she said, getting into the tent after they brushed the snow off each other.
“Probably, but it would be a favor to me, too.”
“I’m sure it would.”
“I mean, if you are cold, I can take your cold and give you my heat. I like sleeping with cold bodies.”
Maggie nodded. She couldn’t tell if this whole thermophobia business was a ploy to get him between her legs.
Once both were inside the tent, she gapped as he stripped down to his boxers. His body was firm and muscular and he looked like a pro athlete. He caught her looking and grinned. “Like the eye candy, huh?”
“I’m a little surprised you’re changing in front of me. It’s kind of rude to presume.”
“Presume what? What? You want me to change in a snow bank? Just get into your sleeping bag and close your eyes.”
“You are eye candy though,” she murmured as she tried to get comfortable.
“Yeah? Well wait until you get a taste,” he said with a chuckle.
She smiled. He was flirting.
“Anyway, I’m nothing special,” he said. “If a man embraces the arctic weather, and makes it his lifestyle, his body adapts. You’d be surprised how many northern men are built like I am. Not like those scrawny herbal tea urban social warriors or those overweight urban ticking time bombs.”
Maggie wondered if she was playing too hard to get. He didn’t need to play a game to get her into bed; she just wasn’t sure this tent was the place for a romantic encounter. The good news was that with Adam, she wasn’t sure they needed to be in a romantic spot to become intimate.
She was eager to see if he would try anything tonight in this blizzard. It would make a great story she could tell her sisters if he did.
Chapter Five
Maggie lay on her back, listening quietly as the tent whipped about in the wind. Soon she could swear she heard moaning in the distance, followed by a whistle and a hiss.
She strained her ears for more sounds but the sound of the tent being pulled first one way and then another by the wind, distracted her.