Chapter 14

"It's a shame about the weather

I know soon we'll be together
And I can't wait 'til then
I can't wait 'til then"

Nick helped Robert into the bunk on the right. The hare had gotten quite sore over the long day and was having trouble bending down and getting into a bed that had a

second story to squeeze around. He rummaged through a old trunk and grabbed a coupe of blankets. Giving one to Robert he tossed one over to his bed and headed

back towards the kitchen. He checked the oil in the lamps, seeing they were still over half full he figured they would last well into morning. He grabbed a second one

from a cabinet and lit it off, setting both of them on the window ledge at the front, hoping to make sure if anyone braved the weather tonight for their rescue they

would have a guiding light. He stared out the window, barely able to make out the blowing snow in the pure darkness that only a valley in the mountains could bring. He

thought back to how Judy would talk about being able to see every star in the sky back home. While Nick had only known the city he often wondered since he met Judy

what it would be like to live out in the country someplace. Where stores closed at ten at night, at the latest and the only thing twenty four hours were gas stations and

truck stops. Where there wasn't so much crime. Where maybe the people were not as forward thinking but typically still helpful and kind. And apparently even here in

Annex Falls they had a fox on the force. And Robert didn't really treat him any differently, in fact maybe even better, than most of the people he grew up around. He had

been raised to believe everyone out in fly over country was ignorant and should be pitied for "not knowing any better". But that hadn't really fleshed out. As he watched

the snow beat against the window he heard the hare start to snore and smiled. He seemed like a good old boy, probably the kind of guy Judy would have fallen for, or

maybe has fallen for...damn. He hadn't thought about that. Well, maybe a little but now that he was the only one awake it was at the front of his mind. Time for bed.

He walked over to Judy and made sure she was still warm. She looked as beautiful as ever. He thought back to the day they had went fishing. What the hell is wrong

with me? I KNOW she is into me. And I gave her some bullshit lies about not being interested in being more than friends. He walked over to his bunk and laid down. The

bunk, and blanket for that matter, smelled musty. He must speak with the manager in the morning. These accommodations are NOT what was promised in the

brochure. He laid there, listening to the snoring of a hare, and the faint breaths of a rabbit he is pretty damn sure he is in love with. And drifted to sleep.

Sleep came, rest did not. Nick was dreaming. A nightmare actually. He kept finding himself behind the wheel of the Blazer on a snow and ice covered road that had cliffs

that dropped off both sides. The road was slicker and slicker. He found himself struggling to keep the truck on the middle. Away from the edges that had no guard rails.

And as he continued along the road seem to get impossibly narrow. And then without fail he would see Judy in the distance. On her knees in the snow. Ears laid back.

Both hands covering her eyes, crying. And every time, just as he got to her the truck would slide off one side or the other. And he would fall for what seemed like for

ever before finding himself doing it all again. Slightly different, same result. Till the last time. The last time as he got close to her he felt the truck speeding up. He

couldn't stop it. He couldn't steer it. He was trying to fling it and himself off the cliff. Just as he got to Judy she stood up and looked dead at him. "Nick? Why do you

want to hurt me? Why do you want me to suffer? I'm sorry." He felt the thump.

And he was awake. He reached for his phone which was on it's last twenty percent of power and looked at the time. Just after four A.M. But his heart was beating fast.

He was still tired but completely awake. He stood up and walked to the window. He could see the snow on the ground. The trees hung heavy with a thick blanket of it.

Wait. I can see the trees? He looked up, the moon! The front must have passed, or at least there was a gap. YES! That means Bogo will be headed to them, if he wasn't

already. He grabbed a old pot from the sink and went to fill it, nothing. Shit. Really could use some coffee. Who cares? He thought about running over and waking up

Robert but decided to let the young buck sleep. He leaned back against the counter.

"Nick?" Came a weak feminine voice.