by Dee Palmer
“Together, babe, we do this together,” she insists with a determined grit to her tone and posture.
“Right, okay, here goes.” I swing the shutter back and am deafened by an ear-piercing screech that would wake the neighbours if we had any.
“Ahhh!”
“For fuck sake, Hope, you gave me a fucking heart attack!” I hold the pounding in my chest and stare at the ground where Hope launched the small mound of twigs and feathers.
“Sorry, that was a nest wasn’t it?” Her nervous laugh is accompanied by an apologetic grimace.
“Yes, it was an empty birds nest and it looked nothing like a spider. Keep it together, girl, or we’re both gonna need CPR.”
WE FINISH OPENING ALL THE shutters without further drama, and I send Hope off to bring the rest of the supplies from the Jeep while I check the cabin for other wildlife. We’ve had raccoons in the past, and although Hope is an animal lover, I doubt she would enjoy an up close and personal encounter with a trash-can bandit.
The boys built this place a few years back using actual logs from the surrounding wood. They hired in machinery to help so they didn’t actually hand chop each log used in the build. Still, as projects go, building a home from scratch is pretty impressive. It has an open plan living area with a small functional kitchen, a dining table, two sofas set around a wood stove and a pair of bunk beds in the corner. There is one bedroom with two single beds. It’s rustic, charming and very basic.
“There’s no shower?” Hope has poked her head around all of the doors, and with a puzzled look, she returns to the kitchen where I’m stocking the fridge.
“But there is a toilet now,” I boast.
“Now? You mean there wasn’t?” She sounds horrified, and I have to laugh.
“We’re hardly on the main sewage system out here, Hope. The toilet is a very new addition and was installed only because I wouldn’t let them come with me to the woods when I needed to ‘go’. The safety aspect of a midnight dash into the depths of the woods did not concern me as much as the mortification potential of taking one of them with me.”
“It’s only poop, Finn. What happens when you do anal? Tell me there’s never an occasion when a little bit of poop hasn’t made an appearance?”
“We are not having this conversation.”
“Oh, go on, I love it when you blush.” She blurts out her dirty laugh.
“Don’t I know it. Anyway, moving on.” I ignore her and point to the ladder set against the far wall. “They also put that mezzanine up there with the double bed.”
“Which is where I would make a comment about group sex, but I’m not doing that anymore.” She gives a knowing wink and taps the side of her nose conspiratorially.
“Thank you for not mentioning it.” I mirror her nose tap and continue with the tour. “That’s where we’ll be sleeping.”
“You’re sleeping with me tonight?”
“Or you can have one of the bunks. I just thought it would work better.”
“I’m easy. Or is it you don’t trust me with your men?”
“I trust you with my life, Hope. My men, however, that’s a whole different ball game,” I tease.
“Your men are safe.”
“I know, babe, it’s marriage or nothing for these guys, so you’re safe, too.” I slip my arm across her shoulder.
“Riiight, you know me.” She draws in a long slow breath and tips a salute, stepping out of my hug. Her jovial tone feels a little staged, strange even. I wish she’d just tell me what’s wrong.
“Is there any water?” She walks over to the sink and turns the taps, answering her own question. I clarify the situation in light of the ‘no shower’ revelation.
“We use the lake to bathe and there is fresh water from a natural spring that Tug hooked up to the kitchen. It’s okay to use to cook and wash up, but I brought bottled for drinking. Tell me you love it?” I crack open a bottle of beer for us both and hand her one. We clink the bottoms and both drink down the refreshing icy bubbles.
“I do,” She wipes her lips with the back of her hand. Her smile couldn’t be wider or more genuine. She follows me out on to the veranda, and we both lean on the rail, looking out over the lake. “I know I’m a city girl, but there’s something really special here. I love the simplicity, the back-to-basics nature of the place and the solitude. It kind of makes you appreciate what’s important.”
“What’s important, Hope?”
“Oh, good friends, family, and love.”
“Love?”
“Yeah, I love you.” She faces me and holds her arms wide. I welcome the embrace even if I’m not remotely convinced that’s what she was talking about.
“Right back at ya, babe. Fancy that swim?” I ask since I’m not going to push for answers, which only makes her withholding worse. I want her to want to tell me.
“Skinny dipping?” She wiggles her brow playfully.
“Not without the boys.”
“You want me to skinny dip in front of your men?”
“Not exactly what I meant, but I guess I need to get used to the idea. I actually meant that I know my luck, and this would be the only time we get hikers this far into our land.”
“Or the neighbours decided to visit.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, well, I’m not changing. It’s bra and pants for me.” She pulls her top over her head and steps out of her skirt, leaving a pool of clothes on the wooden floor. She skips off down to the lake and runs splashing and laughing into the water. She’s right; that does look good.
“Oh, god, this water feels divine.” Hope is swimming backwards with languid strokes, beckoning me. I hold up my finger while wriggling my toes in the hot sand, itching to join her but just checking in with Charge so he doesn’t send out the emergency services.
“I’ve unpacked and set up the fire pit for later and I’m just about to have a swim, what time are you heading out?”
“We’re already on our way, baby,”
“Oh, cool, we’ll see you later, then. The beers are in the fridge.”
“And that’s why I love you.”
“My ability to stock a fridge?”
“Amongst many other things. Gotta go; the horses feel like they need to let off some steam.”
“Yeah, right, the horses want to race. Be safe, not stupid.”
“Always am, safe I mean.”
“Bye,” I end the call and put the phone under my towel in the shade. Slipping off my shorts, top, and boots, I walk into the lake and dive under the crystal clear, icy waters and swim out to where Hope is floating on her back.
“So what’s new, pussycat?” Hope treads water, and I do the same, wishing I’d kept my baseball cap on like Hope. I can already feel the sun prickle hot against my scalp.
“Right back at ya, sister.”
“I’ll tell mine, Finn, I promise, but it feels like a burden you don’t need right now.”
“You’re never a burden. You’ve always helped me so much, it would be nice to reciprocate.”
“Maybe burden was the wrong word, change I think is better.”
“I’m not a fan of change.”
“Says the girl that ups sticks and emigrated to marry four guys.” She splashes a large wave that falls just shy of soaking me.
“It’s the additional change I’m not so sure I like.”
“But you were stoked that the guys all chose Charge, and you wanted him, right? Has that changed?”
“God no, I want him. I love him, but I can’t just turn off my feelings for the others.”
“That’s understandable, is that what they’re asking you to do?”
“No, yes… sort of.” I know I sound confused, but there’s a very good reason for that. I try to explain in the hope that it will clear the turmoil of emotions that is my current state of mind. “They want me to help them find someone else, and in the meantime, we ‘carry on’.”
“And Charge is okay with that? I thought he was all me
-Tarzan-you-Jane kind of possessive?”
“He is. That hasn’t changed, but Charge didn’t know the others had stopped being intimate, so I know he really hasn’t changed where he’s coming from regarding the others. It’s difficult to explain, but it’s different with him. He’s never shared me when it’s our time to be together. There has never been any crossover. When I’m with him, it’s just me and him, and when I’m with the others, he still knows what we have is different.”
“I’m not going to pretend to understand, Finn. It’s weird on so many levels, but it’s clear they all love you and want you to be happy. So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take it one day at a time.”
“And the sex? I’m not asking to make a joke or lewd comment; I want to know how you feel about having sex with any one of the others when you’re with Charge now.”
“I honestly don’t know. I mean, it was awkward when they stopped. It felt like something was wrong, but now it’s out in the open. Maybe if anything happens, it will be so natural, it will just feel like the right thing to do. The moment something feels off, then I’ll stop. The only rule in this is that we are all open, no lies, and in that respect, very little has changed.”
“And what if you never find that someone for them. It doesn’t happen for everyone, Finn.”
“Like for you, you mean. You aren’t interested, remember?”
“Never say never, but I’m not talking about me.”
“Um, then I guess we carry on as we are.” I’m hesitant with my answer but not because the question has stumped me. I’m more stunned by her unprecedented comment on finding ‘the one’.
“Indefinitely?”
“You have seen them, right? What girl in her right mind wouldn’t want to marry one of them? My problem is that, in my eyes, no-one is ever going to be good enough. It’s a shame you’re off limits.” My turn to splash, she ducks to the side, and a series of water slaps and flicks ensues.
“Off limits?”
“Well, I love you, Hope, but you’re a heartbreak waiting to happen. Only ever one-night stands, yes?”
“Isn’t it a woman’s prerogative to change her mind?” She pushes herself through the water and swims toward the shore.
“Hope?” I’m a little taken aback, and calling after her, she only turns when she’s fully out of the water. She wipes the water from her eyes, but even from this distance, I can see something’s wrong.
“Hope, I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“It’s fine, I get it. Hope doesn’t do ‘love’. I’m just saying this leopard has the right to change her spots.”
I swim, and once on shore, I run to catch up and tug on her hand to make her stop. “Hey, hey, I’m sorry. So, are you? Is that what you’ve been trying to tell me? You’re in love, aren’t you?”
“No…I’m hungry, and I love food, so half right, babe. I’m fine, Finn, just hungry and still a little jet lagged.”
“You sure?” Her dismissive shake of her head and rapid change of subject aren’t wholly out of character from when we’ve talked about this topic in the past. It’s just her delivery is a little off, and I’m just going to have to wait until she’s ready to tell me why.
“Feed me, Seymour.” She gives a deep throaty impression from Little Shop of Horrors Audrey 2 and rubs her pale, bare tummy.
“There’s sandwiches in the fridge. Why don’t you grab those and some fresh beers, and I’ll get the hammock hooked up. We can catch some sun before the boys get here.”
“Sure, what time are you expecting them?”
“Not for hours, it’s a long ride. Hopefully, before sunset, but if they have fencing to fix or something else crops up, it might be dark before they get here.”
“So I have time for a little topless sunbathing? I hate strap marks.”
“Should be safe, fill your boots.” Hope disappears into the cabin, and I go to get the hammock and blankets from the storage box under the veranda.
Laying a blanket on the ground, I decide to let Hope have the first turn in the hammock.
“I’m going to make a salad to go with this. Is that okay?” she calls from the cabin, and I do a double-take.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”
“You’re so funny!” Even from this distance, I can see the carb queen roll her eyes before she disappears back inside.
I lay the thick blanket near the hammock and fold my towel to make a pillow. I can feel myself succumb to the seductive warmth of the sun’s rays, and my whole body melts to the floor. I wriggle a little to get comfortable, and barely close my eyes, when I feel the shadow of Hope looming above me.
“That was quick.” I shield my eyes with my hand only the voice I don’t recognise startles me before I see that this large shadowy shape isn’t my friend
“Oh, darlin, with a sweet little thing like you, I ain’t gonna be quick. Ain’t that right, Charlie?” His gruff voice belts out a filthy laugh. I scuttle back, jumping to my feet as I pull the blanket to cover my near naked body.
“Hell, yeah, Gus. My brother and me, we’d take our fine time with a little bit like you.” The heavy southern accent is thicker than anything I’ve heard living in this area, and I don’t recognise either of them. They’re hunters, if the guns they have strung across their backs weren’t blatant enough clues, the hi-vis vests and stupid deerstalker hats would be the dead giveaway. Charlie is possibly a little younger, although the unkempt, straggly beard makes it difficult to put an accurate age on either of them. Maybe in their late thirties. The man directly in front of me has tiny beady eyes, which are squinting with the bright sunlight in his face, so it’s impossible to see the colour.
They are both tall, maybe six foot, and big, although not much muscle, and I doubt either one of them has heard of personal hygiene. Long greasy hair hangs from their hats in lank strands. Their faces are marked with streaks of dust and sunburn, and their hands are callused with layers and layers of ground-in dirt. I get a waft of their collective, pungent odour since I’m downwind. I almost gag on the acrid smell, sharp, sour, and stale, all rolled into one noxious aroma that could kill a camel. I hold the blanket across my face and swallow down the retch and vomit that threatens. Looking over to the cabin, I confidently try stepping back to walk away. If I can get inside, I can lock the door. Although the satellite phone is still under the towel, I have my regular one inside.
“Hey, darlin’, where do you think you’re going?” The one called Charlie grabs my arm just as the other one tears the blanket from me and throws it out of reach.
“Get your hands off me. Look, this is private property, and you need to leave.” I try to keep my voice level, hiding the genuine panic rising inside. This is not good. I struggle to get one arm free from Charlie but the other man has a vise-like grip on my wrist that is cutting off the circulation.
“Or what?” His tone mocks me. His eyes rake slowly up my body, making my skin crawl.
“My husbands are—”
“Husbands? Well, well, you must be the Navy boys’ slutty new wife.” Gus sucks in a whistle sound through his teeth and tuts, shaking his head at his brother who is chuckling. “So where are your husbands then, missy? Because we’ve been watching you for a little while, and as far as we can see, it’s just you and that firecracker redhead inside the cabin.”
Shit.
“OH, FUCK!” I CAN SEE the two men leering at Finn as she jumps to her feet. Her arms cross her breasts, but in wet underwear, she may as well be standing there naked, for how vulnerable she must feel. She grabs the blanket and does a good job of covering herself. The men are built, rough, and both have shotguns strapped to their backs. My mind races, because, as much as I want to rush out and rescue my friend, I’ve seen this movie, and I am no more equipped to tackle the hillbilly cast of Deliverance than she is. I drop to my knees when one of them points over to the cabin. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I could see the colou
r drain from Finn’s face. Twice in a month! What the fuck is wrong with the world?
Scrabbling across the floor, I find my overnight bag, which I dumped by the back door. I tear it open and search for something to cover myself, a baggy t-shirt and shorts will do. I slip my converse trainers on and grab the spray can of deodorant. Not sure why I think spraying someone’s face would be better than taking one of the kitchen knives, but there it is. I’m panicking, and when I hear Finn scream, it doesn’t matter, because I drop everything and race out the back door. Before rounding the corner, I freeze. Now that is better than a knife.
My hands tremble as I unclip the case in the back of the Jeep, the one holding Charge’s shotgun. Lifting it free, I feel my stomach churn, and the taste of bile fills my mouth. I suck in a steady breath that makes me see dark spots.
Dizzy, sick and lightheaded. Great, Hope, just great.
The gun is heavy and slips in my hand with the sweat now coating my skin. I’ve never so much as held a potato gun, let alone shot anything. Standing straight, I lift the gun to my shoulder like I’ve seen people do on TV, and pointing it ahead of me, I walk around the cabin and aim the barrel from one man to the next.
“Okay, gentlemen, and I use the term in its lowest form, get your grubby hands off my friend and put them in the air.” I’m shocked with how confident I sound. Standing tall, without a single shake in my legs or hands, I level my most serious and deadly stare at the two men. I even wink at a stunned-looking Finn.
“Whoa, there, missy, me and my brother, we’re just having a little fun is all.” The one not hanging on to my friend holds up both his hands, and I stare the other one down until he does the same.
“Fun? Like assault is fun, yes, I can see that.” I keep the gun alternating between the two men. “Finn, are you okay?”
“Yes, thanks.” She picks up the blanket and wraps it once more around her body.
“Now, why don’t you put that down, it really don’t suit you.” The bigger of the two men starts to walk toward me, and I drop my head so my face is flush to the side of the gun, and my line of sight is fixed on a new target down the long barrel.