Chapter 11 - A Night at the Cabin

Still on the run for their lives, Luke and Laura had one sweet, blissful day at a deserted, rustic cabin in the woods somewhere between Beecher's Corners and Fair Oaks. Hutch had agreed to scout ahead, giving them all the privacy they needed as they made their way to their destination. Exhausted after hours of walking, watching over their shoulder every second and fearing for their lives, Luke and Laura were relieved to see the tiny cabin nestled in the trees.

"Can we go in and warm up?' Laura asked hopefully.

"I figure we'll stop here and stay the night," Luke answered. "But first, I need to set a trap... just in case Smith's henchman shows up."

Laura watched as Luke set a trap for the hitman. Laura was interested when he showed her how it worked. He demonstrated the rope and the concealed loop and how it would catch their foe.

"Step on this and the rope grabs the ankle and there you are- hanging upside down," Luke explained, quite proud of his handiwork.

"Not my best angle," Laura said with a tiny giggle.

Luke grinned seeing her little smile. "Ohhh, I don't know," he lightly teased.

"How did you learn to do something like this?" Laura asked. "It's very clever."

"I saw all those Tarzan movies. Tarzan used this method all the time. That's how he and Cheeta caught Jane. Bomba used it, too, but Tarzan did it better."

She laughed loudly as he beat his chest with his fists and gave a feeble cry in his own Tarzan immitation. Then her expression changed; it became far more serious. "Ohhh Luke, this is kind of like the garden of eden, isn't it? Just the two of us," she said, gazing deeply into his eyes.

A moment later, they were in each other's arms. For just a few seconds, she stared into his eyes with longing, then their lips met in a sweetest, most tender kiss. They were blissfully in love and so glad to be alive. Luke held her for a long time until she shivered in his embrace. "I need to get you inside where it is warm," he whispered. He hesitated, reluctant to let her go.

Protesting softly, Laura pulled out of the circle of his arms. That evening when they held each other in front of the firelight, Laura removed her engagement ring, slowly placing it in Luke's hand. For a moment, Luke forgot to breathe, realizing the significance of that simple gesture. Laura was closer to ending her ties with Scotty, but not quite ready. He was hopeful, but she did not remove her wedding ring. Luke wanted her to take it off and throw it into the fire. He wanted her to be his completely as she was in his heart, but Laura just wasn't ready to take that step.

"You're stubborn," Luke said as he stared at her ring as it gleamed on her finger.

"I am sorry, Luke. I know... I know I should, but... Scotty... he called me a whore..."

"Forget what he said. He's an idiot," Luke said in a growl. "And that's all the more reason you should take off his ring."

"I can't..." she said sadly. "Not yet."

"Okay, I won't push you... but you know how I feel," he said as his eyes spoke his love to her.

"I know," she said in a little whisper. "And I feel the same."

"And how's that?"

"Luke, I told you 'I love you,'" she reminded with tenderness.

"And when will you show me?"

"I- I don't know. Maybe... maybe soon."

Luke knew he couldn't get his hopes up. Once again, he reluctantly let Laura leave his arms.. He had been holding her before the fire.

It was time to set up their sleeping bags and get a little sleep. They had a lot of walking to do in the morning. They were both exhausted from their travels.

"Luke?" she said in whisper, seeing that he seemed quite upset and tense.

"We need sleep, Laura," he said, his voice gruff. She watched as he lay the two sleeping bags out before the fire. The cabin was drafty and the air was nippy. Laura was shivering as they were cuddling in their sleeping bags in front of the fire.

Despite the chill, sheer exhaustion overtook the both of them and they fell asleep with Laura's cheek pressed against Luke's shoulder. It was a couple of hours later when Laura awakened, her body quaking from the cold. She realized her toes had become frozen and numb. "Luke?" she softly murmured, but he didn't answer. He was fast asleep.

Looking at him with longing, Laura decided to join Luke in his cozy sleeping bag. Very carefully, she unzipped his bag and slipped in with him, trying not to wake him as she settled in against his warmth. She finally gave a little sigh, realizing that it was toasty warm in the sleeping bag with Luke and finally she could blissfully sleep.

Suddenly then, in the glow of the fire, Luke's eyes popped open. He was completely alert. Hearing Laura's sweet, peaceful sigh, an expression of dismay and chagrin came over his face. Every muscle in his body seemed to tense against Laura's softness.

"Laura?" asked Luke. "Does this mean what I hope it means?"

"No," Laura replied.

"Then WHAT are you doing in my bag?" he demanded.

"I'm cold."

"I RESENT being used as a heat object!" Luke complained.

"Well, I'm very, VERY comfortable," she stated. His eyes were wide as she stretched and came in even closer, wrapping herself around him.

"Go to sleep," Laura commanded.

"Laura, I CAN'T sleep like this. What do you think? You think you can just come in and snuggle down in my bag and I won't get turned on?!" he gasped. "Out! OUT!"

Laura was shocked when he suddenly pushed her out, dumping her unceremoniously from his bag. "When you're ready for the honeymoon bag, babe, gimme a ring," he added in a growl.

He turned over abruptly, his back to her as he wrapped up tight in his sleeping bag. She watched with longing as he drew his sleeping bag more snugly around him. "If only..." Laura was thinking.

"Luke, please..." she said in a soft whisper.

"Go to sleep, Laura," he insisted.

She shifted back into her bag, pressing herself up against Luke's backside, struggling to keep warm beside the dying fire. Luke groaned once again, his erection throbbing. It was going to be a long, hard night for both of them. Laura was longing for warmth and his comforting touch, and Luke was longing for ALL of her - but neither got what it was they truly wanted. Soon they were both fast asleep once again as the flames flickered within the fireplace.

It was just the beginning of their adventure. Their next stop was Fair Oaks, the site of The Left-Handed Boy.

Author's Note- Please stay tuned for the next chapter - Fair Oaks