by Amanda Rose
He helped me load my pillows and blankets, animals, my careful that’s breakable bourbon and brandy supply. We got everything out of my little car into a truck that seemed ten feet off the ground. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I could barely see my car, now covered with thick snow.
I couldn’t see in the dark with all of the snow fluff coming towards the windshield, and I didn’t see another vehicle at all.
I started to get nervous again.
“Here we are!” Lucas turned left and started to go down a dark tunnel. All I could see were the reflected lights on the snow feathered branches of trees. I started to hyperventilate. I was sure it was the end for me.
But as we came around the next bend, there were the cabins. There were four of them situated privately underneath the trees. Two had lights glowing in their snow covered windows. I could smell the smoke from the chimneys.
“Here we are: Cabin #1,” Lucas said.
“How did you know I was in Cabin #1?” I asked.
“Because I’m in #4 and the other two are taken. This is how I knew where to take you.”
I just looked at him.
“I didn’t think you would believe me.”
I still looked at him.
“Okay, let’s get you settled.”
I unlocked the dark green door of Cabin #1. The cabin was all honey colored wood, inside and out. It had a peaked roof with a river stone fireplace that climbed the wall. Brightly colored wool rugs were scattered around the wide plank floor and a plush red sofa was situated in front of the fireplace. There was a fire already laid, so I struck a match to the tinder. As the fire started crackling, I realized I had abandoned Lucas to unload the truck alone.
“FUCK ME!” came from the swirling tornado of flakes outside the cabin.
I hurried out and saw Lucas on the ground again.
“I really shouldn’t wear cowboy boots in winter,” he said with a small chuckle.
“Are you okay?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Just my ass. It may need some tender loving care.”
I felt a flush on my cheeks, remembering how said ass looked in those tight jeans.
“Just kidding, help me up?” he asked.
I stretched out my hands to Lucas to try to help him up. Big mistake, I fell flat out on him.
“Okay, this is getting ridiculous. We aren’t going to make any progress with all this slipping and sliding,” Lucas said.
“Sorry Lucas, let me put on some snow boots real quick.” I felt really embarrassed to have fallen on Lucas’s body. It was hard to ignore the musculature underneath. A little breathless, I retreated.
The animals were barking, meowing, or chirping in nervousness or fear; I knew how they felt.
We got the pets situated in the cozy cabin and started on the rest of my baggage. I had a load of pillows and blankets in my arms as I made my way to the bedroom.
The bedroom was right off the living room and kitchen. I flipped the switch to get some light. Wow! There was a hand carved wooden bed, four feet tall with little steps that you had to climb to reach it. A purple velvet down comforter covered the bed. Matching velvet curtains framed the huge windows that overlooked the McKenzie River. How stunning, that view of the water. I could just make it out from the reflected lights of the cabins. I opened a window a little and the sound of the river filled the room. I knew I was going to be very happy here.
“Cora, you in there?” Lucas was calling from the front room.
“Here I am!” Coming out of the bedroom, I quietly shut the door behind me.
“I don’t want to intrude on your privacy.”
“You aren’t, Lucas. I really appreciate your help. It was really stressful getting here. Can I offer you a drink?”
“I would absolutely love one!” Lucas was getting ready to sink down into the couch in front of the fire.
“Lucas, would you mind doing me one more favor?”
He looked resigned.
“Sure, what do you need?”
“If you could take Pandora out to go to the bathroom and bring in a few more pieces of wood … that would be great! I have a leash and some poop bags.”
“A dog, a leash, poop bags and a foot of snow. Can’t think of anything else I’d rather do,” he said with a raised brow of his own.
“I’ll have a reward waiting for you. Wine, beer, brandy or bourbon? What’s your pleasure?”
“Ah, a woman after my own liver. Bourbon, hands down, my first choice.”
“Done!” As Lucas went out, I went about putting away groceries and setting up house. The only 'glasses' I could find were old glass jelly jars, old-fashioned and quaint. Perfect.
Bourbon Recipe:
1 orange wedge
1 sugar cube
Dash of Bitters
Crushed ice
¼ cup Bourbon per glass
Club Soda
Orange twist
My special touch: pomegranate seeds (a special holiday addition)
I noticed there was an old stereo system in the corner of the living room. There were perfectly preserved LPs in a stack next to it—jazz and Christmas tunes. I couldn’t believe it when I pulled out Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I put the LP on the turntable and gently laid the needle against the album; sweet holiday music floated through the air.
At that moment, Lucas came in with Pandora shaking wet snow everywhere! Wood crashed onto the hearth. “I hope my reward is ready? I earned it!”
“Pandora, stop!” She was still shaking melting snow everywhere. I ran to grab a towel from the hall closet. When I opened the door, cinnamon pinecones tumbled from the closet, rolling around the hall in a sweep of scent. Pandora leaped towards the pinecones, thinking we were playing a new game.
Lucas was right there.
“Let me help with the dog. I stoked the fire and I could use that drink.” He took Pandora to the fire and sat with her on the rug. He toweled Pandora’s fur thoroughly. She was ecstatically licking his face like he was her best new boyfriend.
Heading back into the kitchen, I mixed our cocktails and added the pomegranate seeds.
“Lucas are you ready for your reward?” My voice sounded almost sultry and I hadn’t even had a drink. Maybe I was hypnotized?
“Let’s sit by the fire. I need to dry off—especially my ass.” Lucas took his first sip of my special holiday cocktail. His eyes closed. “This is bliss, Cora, thank you.”
Why does he always mention his ass? He must want me to look!
Settling by the fire with the scent of the cinnamon pinecones and Christmas music in the air, I took my first sip and chaos erupted. I could hear the chorus of three angry cats coming from the bathroom.
“Shit! I forgot my damn cats!” The cats were sitting in their cat carriers in the bathroom; I was a bad parent. “Sorry Lucas, I need to set up their litter boxes and feed them. You just relax and enjoy yourself.” At that moment, small chirping sounds came from underneath the covers of the bird cages. “Lucas?”
Heavy sigh.
“I’ll check the parakeets.”
“The bird food is in the box on the counter.” I pointed.
Thirty minutes later, after dealing with neurotic cats, I came back into the living room. Lucas’s cocktail was finished. Mine untouched. “Um, would you like another?”
“No thanks, Cora, I have to be going, but I’m not too far away. See you around.”
“Thank You, Lucas, I really appreciated your help. Goodnight.”
Damn! I thought to myself as I watched his ass walk away through the newly fallen snow.
CHAPTER TWO
As I shut the door on Lucas’s retreating figure, I looked around the room and sighed. I reminded myself I was on a winter retreat with my animals; I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone. What was wrong with me?
The music was still playing as I looked at my watered-down cocktail and decided to start fresh. I let my cats out of the bathroom to explore. There was Vin, the black a
nd white with a tiny mustache. He looked suspiciously around, expecting sabotage. Then came Eden, the queen of the group, with medium length, tortoiseshell hair. She glanced disdainfully at her subjects and immediately found the best spot on the back of the couch. Next came the black bowling ball with big golden eyes. Really, that was the only way to describe Kikwi. She was the last to come out and went to the fire, basking in its heat. She didn't like the other cats, but didn't seem to mind Pandora; they were the best of friends.
Small chirping sounds were coming from the parakeets, Mama Bird and Baby, and I was starting to feel cozy. Not knowing what time it was and not caring, I decided to shower and put on new flannel Christmas pajamas.
The bathroom had one of those amazing showerheads that made the water look like it was falling from the sky. I had been warned in advance that the hot shower would only last about thirty minutes, but it was the best damn thirty minutes of my life.
Cranberry scented soap and crimson towels were provided, nice and fluffy and fresh. I put on my pj's and brushed out my hair then it was time for that cocktail and some food—cocktail first, of course. I mixed another drink and made my way to the bookshelf. I hadn’t really noticed it unpacking, but it had some good selections, plenty to keep me entertained during a long winters rest.
After the first cocktail, I decided a second was in order. I needed a snack first though and decided on potato chips and French onion dip. Settling before the fire, I opened a historical romance I'd found on the shelves and got lost in time—as I was wont to do when reading.
At some point, I must've fallen asleep because when I awoke, it'd stopped snowing outside. And I didn't know what time it was when I heard a knock on the door. I was hesitant to open it. I didn't like to open my door when I didn't know who might be waiting outside.
“Hello?” I said nervously.
“Hi Cora, it’s Lucas. I thought you might want to go for a walk with Pandora and look for Christmas trees? I know a place in the woods not too far from here. We have plenty of time before the sun goes down. Snow's stopped for now.”
A Christmas tree.
Looking at my small one on the kitchen counter, I made a rash decision
“I would absolutely love to do that! Come on in Lucas; I need a minute to change.” Pandora was already circling Lucas’s legs in anticipation.
I quickly put on jeans, snow boots and a black down parka with a faux fur hood. Waterproof gloves got stuck in the pockets. I grabbed the leash and harness for Pandora and Lucas led me out to a winter wonderland.
I wasn't kidding.
The sun was starting to slant low over the treetops, all of the feathery pines coated with snow. It looked like a million diamonds all glittering at once.
“Where are we headed?” I was a little breathless.
“Not too far down this trail. There are a lot of young trees that need thinning. They make good Christmas trees.” He looked back at me and smiled. “You look really nice in this light.”
“Oh, thanks. I guess I think you do, too.” Pandora was running, floundering ahead and helping to break trail. Lucas smiled back at me again; I felt heat rising through my body and felt suddenly overdressed. “Kind of hot today?” I ventured.
Lucas looked at me and actually grinned.
“It’s thirty degrees right now. Maybe you have a fever?” I could tell he was teasing me and wasn’t sure how to respond. I felt embarrassed and out of my comfort zone. “Here we are: Christmas tree heaven!”
I looked around at all the different sizes and shapes of the trees. The glade smelled like something you would bottle—probably someone had.
I laughed delightedly, “This is so great! I've never cut my own Christmas Tree before!” Pandora was running all over and under the trees; she was having the time of her life, and so was I.
“Well, let’s get started. It’s very important to pick the right tree. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it must speak to you. It's almost spiritual,” Lucas murmured.
I started through the glade, looking at my own personal selection of trees. Some seemed to be so perfect in the snowy setting, I couldn't bare to cut them down. The setting sun was reflecting off all the snow and everything was so bright. I wished I'd brought my sunglasses. The shadows shifted for a moment and that’s when I saw it. It was a little crooked, the branches weren’t perfect, and it still had some baby pinecones attached to it.
“There it is Lucas!” I ran over to the tree and gave it a good shake. The snow drifted off and it was fragrant like I thought it would be. “Now what do we do?” I said in excitement.
“Now you get to saw it down,” Lucas said mischievously.
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“I'll teach you. You want to crouch down near the base of the trunk. Hold the saw at an angle, like this. Keep a steady grip and keep the movement slow and steady.” Lucas demonstrated for a moment. His demonstration seemed almost sexual. How I could even think that was ridiculous. For God’s sake, he was just helping me get a Christmas tree.
I tried to focus on what I needed to do.
“Okay, let me try.” I crouched down, gripped the saw two-handed and gave it a go. The saw moved a quarter of an inch. “Christ Jesus!” I exclaimed. This was way harder than I thought it would be, and I was already sweating through my parka. “I think I'm going to pass out!” I kept on doggedly and thirty minutes later, a small thin trunked tree fell into the snow. I fell over at the same time. “I think I’m dying!” I gasped.
Lucas leaned down and took my hand. “I’m going to help you carry this tree home. I'll run you a bath and make dinner, if you'll let me? Cocktails are included.” I grasped his hand and he pulled me up out of the snow.
“You are slightly presumptuous,” I managed.
“Yes ma'am, I am. Grab the top of the tree and I’ll get the base.”
And we set off through the new fallen snow.
CHAPTER THREE
We made it back to the cabin in no time, just as the sun was about to set. I opened the door to the cabin and we dragged the tree in. Pandora ran ahead and the cats scattered, hiding under the furniture. Parakeets chirped in the background, welcoming us back.
“Okay, do you have a tree stand?” asked Lucas.
I stared at him.
“Well, I didn’t think about that. I don’t know if there is one around here. I could look around, see if I see something?” I didn't know where I would look; I was trying to appear knowledgeable.
“I think I have an extra in my shed; I’ll take a look after I get you settled in your bath.”
I did, at least, have one of those—I was so happy.
“I have some bath salts with lavender I want to try.”
“Sure, let me start the bath and then I'll make you a cocktail.” He was smiling in a way I had forgotten, as if he truly liked me.
“How can I say no? I am your prisoner.” Was I flirting? I didn't remember how to do this.
Lucas went into the bathroom, moved the litter boxes to the laundry room—yes, I had a laundry room also—dand started the bath. I could hear jets of hard coursing water filling the tub, the scent of lavender in the air. A warm glow was coming from the bathroom, and I realized Lucas had discovered my beeswax candles.
After a moment, he walked into the kitchen and started his own version of a bourbon cocktail. He then went into the living room, threw more wood on the fire and stoked it up.
It was nice to have another capable person around—a gorgeous man, at that—to help with these sorts of things. It'd been just me for so long, I wasn't sure I even knew how to adjust to having a helping hand in my life, even if only briefly.
“It’s going to get really cold tonight, so we should try to keep the fire going and stay warm. Try this.” He handed me my cocktail with a lemon wedge floating in it. My first sip closed my eyes in ecstasy. What does he mean we should stay warm?
I was past caring.
Lucas went into the bathroom and shut off the faucet
.
“Bath ready when you are,” he called as I finished my drink, already feeling nice and liquid and relaxed.
“Okay, I’m going in now.”
“Take your time. I'm going to make dinner as I promised. It'll be a surprise, so don’t ask.”
I didn’t.
I headed into a steamy bliss, almost spa like. Soaking in the tub, my muscles melted; I was like a limp linguine noodle.
At least thirty minutes had gone by, and I could hear Lucas calling from the kitchen. “Don’t drown, countdown to dinner, ten minutes!”
I literally had to pull myself out of the bath, my muscles were so sore from the tree cutting. I was definitely out of shape.
I put on a fluffy white robe I had brought with me—super soft—then piled my hair in a loose knot on my head and staggered out of the bathroom. Steam followed me to the kitchen, and as I walked into the living room, I was stunned. Near the window that faced the river, Lucas had set the tree up in a stand. Somehow, he had put white twinkle lights on the tree also. It was so beautiful in its pure simplicity. I was intoxicated, possibly from a combination of hard work, liquor, a hot bath and … I was somewhat overwhelmed. I was naked in a robe in my cabin with a stranger.
“Let’s eat!” Lucas said. I think he could sense I might be overwhelmed. “I rummaged through your pantry and found the perfect combination of ingredients.” He winked at me. “Angel-hair pasta with olive oil, capers, tomato, basil and a little parmesan cheese. I also made a baby kale salad with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper and just a bit of Mediterranean feta. Where do you get all these ingredients in the winter, if I might be so bold to ask?”
“I have a credit card and shopped at a gourmet store for this trip. It’s not my normal shopping trip.” I felt somehow embarrassed, like I was being too indulgent. Lucas could see I felt uncomfortable.
“You sit down on the couch and I'll serve you. Let’s start with another cocktail. Let me put some Christmas music on for us.” Lucas put on some soft acoustic music then brought me another beverage. I could've sworn it was stronger than the first; I was becoming more liquid by the moment.