"Your ankle will be fine, kid— it's your head that's on backwards. Just be strong, you'll get there."
Grunting with effort, Logan pounded the punching bag with strategically placed hits. He appeared to be ignoring the reaction of his nearby companion. But the man knew how to land blows, and he was sure this barb had struck exactly where he meant it to.
Telling Anna Marie Raven to "be strong" (or, alternatively, to "calm down") was a game of roulette. You might simply win a glare, or you might come away with an almighty earful. She was strong already, she'd be happy to tell you. Had she been in her typical fighting shape, the young woman would have been in the ring, coming at Logan with a series of punches and kicks that tiptoed the line between professionally restrained and down 'n dirty.
As it was, she crossed her arms and scowled at the short man from the sidelines. "Don't you sass me with this talk about fibulas and Apollo's heels or whatever," she scolded. "You ain't no doctor. I just want to fight!"
Logan's lip curled as he took a final hit at the bag, his blow landing squarely on its target. Getting a rise out of his protégé meant she still had some fire in her. Good. "You've got to wait, kid, that ankle needs work. Have patience. And for the record, it's Achilles."
Throwing her hands in the air in frustration, Anna Marie rolled her eyes and favored her left leg all the way to the metal bleachers near the gym's entrance. She looked around at the worn and threadbare equipment that she presently wasn't allowed to touch. The weak fluorescent lighting didn't do it any favors, but the space still looked like home.
She had missed this place. Being out of practice for weeks had taken a toll on her mental state. It didn't help that she would have nothing to do but replay the moment of her injury in her mind for another fourteen days. Physical therapy was slow, and the memory of that fateful bad landing was firmly stuck in her head. Over and over again she lost her balance; over and over came the flash of pain.
Getting back in the groove of sparring would feel good, Anna Marie told herself, it would feel right. It should feel right. But somehow she had misgivings.
Getting hurt had shaken her confidence, and her impending return to the ring wasn't stirring up the excitement within herself that she had expected it to. She wasn't an expert fighter by any means, and with the slow reintroduction she wouldn't even be able to keep up like the star student she was. It grated sorely that something as seemingly simple as a severe sprain could weigh this heavily on her future.
"You gonna pout, or we gonna go get some dinner?" Logan breathed heavily as he lumbered towards the benches and wiped his neck with a towel.
Anna Marie walked up to her mentor and poked a small but mighty finger into his chest. "A real lady doesn't pout. This is just how my face naturally looks, thank you very much. And yes — my place. You can order the takeout."
This pronouncement was met with a feral grin. "Always here to please."
—
"How many more of those are you gonna power through, hon?"
"Mmmph".
"I'll put a call in for a second order."
How Logan could pack away as many takeout dishes at one time as he did was a mystery. Anna Marie always joked that when it came to food he was more animal than man, which rang true that night as the short, burly creature tore apart bits of chicken satay with his hands.
They sat eating at the rickety kitchen table in Anna Marie's tiny apartment. This was the most action it had seen in recent months — after a day of work and training, she typically tossed a microwave dinner onto her coffee table and ate in front of the tv.
The kitchen window was cracked a few inches and the sweet October air drifted over the table. Usually the city air was muggy and stifling, but today it felt fresh and clean. The breeze ruffled the napkins and gently blew the young woman's hair, and she sighed in contentment. Her lacy top with its long sleeves was almost too hot, but not for long. The season was turning, and soon the pair of friends would be sitting by a hissing radiator instead.
An audible swallow preempted Logan's delicately chosen next words. "So. You datin' anyone, or is the old maid act still not getting boring for you?"
His rice carton was yanked away in retaliation.
"Rude, Anna Marie."
"Nope! No more for you if you're gonna insult the hostess."
Logan snorted. "Not much of a hostess if you're not gonna even cook." He motioned with his head towards her pristine, untouched stove.
Scowling, his companion said, "You know damn well why I don't cook."
Hands up in a placating gesture, Logan made a tactical retreat. "Just wondering if you've made any changes."
Stabbing chopsticks violently and repeatedly into her drunken noodles, Anna Marie replied, "No changes anywhere, thanks very much. No cooking, no boyfriend, and until last month, no problems at the gym."
Logan raised an eyebrow at the noodle massacre happening in front of him. What a waste. "Last date didn't go according to plan, then? I thought the two of you would hit it off."
Anna Marie shook her head. "Thanks for the introduction, but it went south by the end of the evening." She snorted. "Complete disaster."
Taking a break from gnashing his jaws together, Logan nodded. "I know you like to take it slow. But I'm sure that— "
"Nope! Out of the question. Even if I hadn't — never mind. That's done and over with, no going back. Next!" Anna Marie hopped up, rearranging food cartons on the table that were perfectly fine as they were, avoiding Logan's gaze.
"Whatever you say, kid."
"I am not a kid — I'm 24 next week."
Green curry was shoveled into Logan's face with alarming gusto. Around the mouthful he managed, "Like I said. It's all relative."
"Hmph. Well anyway, we're done discussing that date. A man in a tacky silk shirt buying me a glass of red and an overdone filet ain't worth enough to be talking about anyway." Anna Marie silently chased away traitorous thoughts of the deliciousness of the cherry cheesecake dessert. Still not worth the stress of dating.
She leaned her hip on the table and wrinkled her nose at Logan's table manners — but didn't chastise him. Her martial arts mentor had now become her friend, and she accepted his ins and outs the same way he did for her. Why couldn't romance be as easy as this?
It had been a while since the two had sat down to a good meal together. Anna Marie enjoyed catching up, and putting her typically solitary space to a more social use.
While waiting patiently for the additional delivery food to arrive, Logan did his hostess the honor of prowling said apartment to critique her decor.
Assessment? "Too many mirrors, way too many dead plants, not enough swords. Scrap the tv, hang a katana. I know a guy, custom, makes really nice stuff…"
He paused next to the front door. "The hell is this? How have I not seen this before?"
A hot pink photo frame with macaroni and glitter shimmered on her sideboard.
Anna Marie giggled. "Oh, I made that when I was a kid. Seemed appropriate to use it now for a family photo."
An image of her Moms took center stage in the frame, standing next to her brother and his wild blue Manic Panic hair. "That was Kurt's high school graduation. He looks so little!" Anna Marie clasped her hands wistfully at the memory of the day.
"Great pic, terrible frame." Logan shook his head. "Are you going home for your birthday?"
"No, they're all out of town so I figured I'd hang out here, catch up on….." she trailed off, looking around as though hobbies would magically present themselves, "…movies," she finished confidently.
Logan raised an eyebrow. "I'll be out of town too, got a tournament. Why don't you take yourself up north to my cabin for the weekend?" He eyeballed her sad little collection of old DVD's gathering dust as they spilled out from the bookshelf onto the worn carpet. "It might do you good to get away and unplug. Get refreshed, come back with a clear head again— stop thinking about that injury for a couple days before it drives you crazy."
Looking uncertain, Anna Marie said, "I wouldn't want to put you out any." Man though, a nature getaway in the mountains could be just perfect.
Logan shrugged. "It's all yours if you want it. No one is scheduled to use it til next month — all that space to yourself..."
It did sound pretty good.
"Ok Logan, you're on," Anna Marie nodded. "I'll come back better than ever, you just wait and see."
His smile stretched til his eyes crinkled. "Couldn't ask for anything else." He looked down. "Except maybe a matching frame for myself. Think you could paste some purple flowers on there too, princess?"
"Absolutely. And I'll add a little ribbon, just to make it special."
"You never disappoint."
Anna Marie grinned. "I know."
—-
"Vacation, all I ever wanted; vacation, had to get away; vacation, meant to be spent alone…"
Drumming her thumb absentmindedly on the steering wheel, Anna Marie hummed the rest of the chorus and then sighed in contentment. The road was open, the sun was shining, and the convertible top was down. Perfection.
Well, nearly. She had zipped out of her apartment that morning in a hurry to hit the road, forgetting her coffee travel mug in the process. She had a larger thermos packed, but it was empty and in her bag and doing no one any good.
Still, it was a beautiful day. Anna Marie had on her favorite chilly weather driving boots. Her feet may have been slightly sweating, but darn if that fake fur interior didn't feel like heaven. Likewise, her corduroys and blue fisherman's sweater were a touch warm in the city but would be perfect once she hit the wooded mountainside where Logan's cabin resided.
The trip was long but the Go-Go's and books on tape whiled away the hours. As she travelled along, the dreary urban sprawl gave way to rural fields with cattle grazing. "None lying down, won't be rain today," the former country girl murmured to herself. The warmth and green grass soon turned to cooler air and brighter colors as the car began to climb upwards.
Autumn hit the higher elevations sooner, and the mountains were coming alive with the golden shimmers of foliage change. A few errant leaves found themselves blown into Anna Marie's curls as they were caught up in the draft of the car. She didn't mind. This was exactly what she needed.
Deep in the woods now, light flashed on Anna Marie's face as it filtered down through the canopy above. Deciduous trees now were intermixed with giant pines, partially blocking the warm rays.
Slowing as she approached her destination, the car hugged the mountain up a series of switchbacks seemingly designed to keep out anyone who didn't have a death wish. Anna Marie took up the gauntlet, and emerged shaken but victorious, and at the last turn in the road. She followed the directions down a solitary lane (no surprise there, Mr. Logan-the-Loner). There was a break in the trees as a dwelling came into view. It was a small cabin, encircled by a wide patch of small stones, with a fire pit and covered woodpile.
The crunch of her wheels on the gravel driveway made the traveler's stomach jump with excitement- it was the sound of the end of her journey and the start of an amazing weekend. Just a girl in nature, communing with the outdoors...
Well, sort of outdoors, except for the cabin with its attached bathroom. Necessities, naturally. But close enough to nature. Nature-adjacent, if you will. Anna Marie grinned. This was it.
She parked the car and threw her duffle bag over her shoulder. She'd come back for the cooler of food once she checked out the place.
Next to the driveway, the fire pit was surrounded by a stone ring and then rubber mulch. Flanked by a few dark green Adirondack chairs, it looked like the perfect spot to sit and roast marshmallows.
The cabin itself was a small wooden structure, its gable roof running into an overhang. She could imagine spending hours happily relaxing on the wide porch, backed by green shuttered windows.
It was everything Anna Marie had hoped for, and she hopped lightly up the porch stairs.
She creaked open the door, revealing nothing as the deep overhang cast the front door into shade. She fumbled for the light switch and stepped into the cabin.
The building could generously be called "cozy." In reality, it was downright tiny, but that wouldn't be enough to scare anyone off who had an eye for lodge-style decor on a miniature scale. The space boasted an open plan with the living area and small corner kitchen facing across from each other.
Logan clearly kept his place nice. The honey-golden wood beams and walls gleamed with polish and pride, and the light shone off of them. Plaid wool blankets lined the back of one of the simple but clean armchairs.
She was impressed. Looks like the grumpy guy's been holdin' out on me.
No wonder Logan's few friends all lined up to stay here— it was a slice of simple mountain paradise.
Wasting no time in getting settled, Anna Marie made herself at home and set up camp, as it were. She first took over the kitchen nook. Stepping up to the pegboard wall, she plucked an earthenware mug down from between a pitcher and a pair of tongs. Next to the rows of hanging utensils, wooden shelves housed a modest collection of dinnerware.
A microwave, stove, coffee maker, and fridge were the only signs of modern life in the cabin. Thanking whatever forces above gave Logan the same love for caffeine that she had, she unpacked her staple foods, poured some grounds, and got percolating on what should be a relaxing brew.
In no time Anna Marie was ready to kick back with a steaming cup o' joe and a good book. She eyeballed the rocking chairs with their well crafted matching end-tables, but ultimately settled down on a soft armchair. She toed off her boots and put her feet up on a pouf.
She had brought Jane Eyre with her, with no small amount of amusement at her solitary time on the windswept mountain mirroring the wide lonely moors of England. As long as there was no one hidden in the small attic above her, she would be solid.
The dramatic book kept her riveted and entertained for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn't until the setting sun threw the last of its fiery rays through the windows that she realized the lateness of the evening.
The day had been perfection. A delicious break, and she hadn't thought about her ankle once. Maybe she could even sneakily stay just a day or two more past the weekend. Work was slow, and surely Logan wouldn't notice…
She bolted upright as the sound of crunching gravel floated in through the open window. The noise was unmistakable. Anna Marie's mind worked at double speed trying to figure out who could be in the driveway and why.
Did Logan decide to surprise her and join her for the weekend? Was it a local neighbor wondering who had showed up to the oft deserted cabin? Or a mysterious hiker, looking for a pleasant meal and a shower after burying their murdered companion in a remote location? Clearly her mind took a dark turn when all by her lonesome in a strange place.
Like a good city resident, Anna Marie already kept the door locked and was generally wary of visitors as a rule. She looked around but there was no rear exit for a tactical retreat if needed. Waiting for the knock, her heart thudded in her chest.
But there was no knock. Only the jingle of keys and faint humming.
The latch turned and the door opened to reveal a tall man in a sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. His face was turned away as he fiddled to remove his key from the keyhole. If Anna Marie had been the noticing type instead of the shocked and alarmed type, she might have noticed the suitcase in his other hand.
As it was, scenarios of how this would play out whirled in her head. All of them ended the same way: as a Lifetime movie with her body in a dumpster and her life remembered as a cautionary tale of what happens when you let your closest friend talk you into things like dates and vacations and other such terrible ideas.
Anna Marie stood and tightened her jaw. She was a fighter and not someone to be pushed around by a stranger breaking in. She was ready to stand her ground. She was ready to fight for herself. She was ready to say—
"Um, hi there." Dammit woman.
The man's head jerked up in surprise.
"Whaa- "
Freezing in place, Anna Marie shook partly in fear and partly at the frustration and complication of having someone interrupt what was supposed to be her weekend. Her weekend alone.
She willed herself to get her shit together.
"So. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Anna Marie demanded, hands on her hips and chin thrust forward.
The man remained in the shadow of the doorway, still facing away and focused on fussing with the key. "I could ask you the same thing, Cherie. This is where I'm meant to be. Not sure why anyone else is here. Why the hell is this thing stuck— "
Anna Marie started. That voice. That over-familiar endearment in a very Cajun accent…
"You!"
"Wait— you!"
Unbelieving, she shook her head to clear out the cobwebs. Apparently this universe was a contrarian place, and fate was a pain in the ass.
Mr. "A Glass of Wine and an Overdone Filet" stood squarely in front of her, looking puzzled and a bit frustrated. No silk shirts in sight, however, which was a blessing for Anna Marie's eyes.
"So. Wow. Really didn't think I'd see you again after our date," she said. "What in the heck are you doing here?" A few alarming thoughts crossed her mind. Anna Marie had wound herself up enough to get aggressive in her questioning. She leaned forward and stabbed a finger towards him for emphasis. "Did you follow me? Did Logan tell you I would be here?" Her eyes looked more than a little crazy.
Unperturbed by her outburst, Anna Marie's visitor dropped his luggage. "Logan didn't tell me nothing, just that his cabin is usually empty." He frowned. "Why would I follow you? How could I follow you? I don't even know where you live." He shook his head. "I don't need to go chasing after women who ain't interested."
Anna Marie swallowed. Remy LeBeau, in her space. The man certainly wasn't a serial killer, but he was still very much unwelcome. And from what she could gather, just as unhappy to see her here.
Arms crossed over her chest, Anna Marie breathed deeply and began to calm a little bit. He wasn't an unknown hiker, he didn't have a hacksaw, and maybe she wouldn't end up in a dumpster today.
"Our mutual friend gave me this cabin for the weekend, said it would be empty."
Remy tipped his head back and groaned. "I told him I needed to switch weeks, he must have forgotten."
"But I have the keys," Anna Marie argued.
Remy shook his head, shaggy auburn hair dropping into his face. "I may have had a copy made for my own convenience… figured ol' short and hairy wouldn't mind."
The audacity. Who does that? Someone with no compunction whatsoever. Anna Marie was shocked. Shocked and smug — she was the winner, the one who would get to stay. She wasn't the one claiming Logan had made a mistake. She wouldn't be the one who would be hightailing it down the mountain in the quickening furthermore, she didn't make presumptuous key copies for her own convenience. Anna Marie brushed away her previous thoughts about squatting in the cabin for the week as mere trifles.
"Can I come in at least? We need to work this out." Remy stood in the doorway, waiting patiently for her signal.
Anna Marie hesitated, then turned, waving an arm in a gracious invitation. It was the least she could do before she sent the man scurrying back to the city.
Remy meandered towards the living area and casually draped himself over one of the rocking chairs. He propped his faded sneakers on the coffee table and reached out to play with the chain of the antique lamp next to him. He was long and lean and looked perfectly at home. Anna Marie perched stiffly on the arm of the easy chair and waited for him to speak.
He pulled the lamp chain: Click—Light on. Pink and green stained glass gleamed vividly, playing on the sharp planes of his face. Click— Light off. Darkness and shadow on his stubbled jaw. "So what do you need to get packed up to leave?"
"Yourself. Grab that bag and head off into the sunset, Bucko."
Click— Light on. It shone on his auburn hair. A short bark of a laugh and a shake of the head. "Naw Anna Marie, I don't think so. You may have Logan wrapped around your finger but I ain't him. Told you when we first met that I'm not interested in anyone who pulls a princess act." Click— Light off.
"And that's not me. In fact, I could whup your ass any day of the week."
Click— Light on. Remy finally dropped his arm and stopped pestering the lamp."And I liked that about you. However," he nodded his head towards her chair, "right now you're looking mighty entitled on your throne over there."
Anna Marie stared at him, willing the man to back down.
Remylooked her dead in the eyes andsighed somewhat dramatically. "Look, I don't want to fight with you. I just want to take my shoes off and take a break. If you don't want me here, and you want to risk your life on that devil's road, then you go ahead and drive the whole way home. There's your solution, chere."
"Ha! No way. I'm not driving back down that switchback trail in the dark and I sure as heck am not gonna find a motel in the middle of nowheresville. How would that be safe?"
"I barely got here in time before dark. I'm not spending another four hours risking breaking my neck to get to civilization when I have every right to be here."
Picking at a thread on the couch, she thought through her options. She could kick him out- literally. Bet my ankle could handle that. But the darkness had fallennow, and the road was treacherous at the best of times. And, Remy looked exhausted. She wondered what he was trying to get away from this weekend.
Don't be a sucker. Just because the man needed a nap didn't mean she would be the one to just drive out into the night. There had to be a solution.
"Is that coffee?" Remy perked up hopefully at the aroma drifting from the kitchen counter. Anna Marie nodded. "Go ahead. It'll keep you awake on the road."
Remy chuckled and sprang up towards the kitchen. "Very kind. I do remember you having impeccable manners, I'll give you that."
He stood with his broad back to Anna Marie at the counter — don't check him out, don't do it girl — poured himself a cup of coffee and helped himself to a look in the fridge. Her fridge. "What, no creamer? Got any sugar?"
"No. Sugar is for princesses."
A real laugh this time. "Ok ok, fair enough." He sobered up a bit. "Look… if you're really not comfortable with me staying here till tomorrow morning…"
But she had used the time he spent preparing his brew to think. The man clearly didn't want to go anywhere. And she certainly wouldn't be going anywhere. The road was too perilous. And if that meant she had to have a guest for the night, so be it.
A thought struck her as she realized that sleeping location options were limited. With no sofa, the chairs were the only additional options, and none of them reclined.
On the other hand, if they shared the bed, he would technically be getting further with her from an accidental meeting than he did on an actual date. A date which she had run away from like a coward, Anna Marie reminded herself. She crossed her arms and rubbed them absently, biting her lip. She typically was never one to back down from a challenge, and this situation was her chance to get her confidence back.
Mind made up, she cleared her throat. "I will make you this offer. You can stay here tonight. But tomorrow I expect to have this place to myself. And no promises about letting Logan know about your contraband keys."
Slurrrrrrp.
"I raise you one better. Tell him about the keys if you want, I don't care. Then I will deign to allow you to make me dinner before I sleep in my bed. D'accord?"
"How is that better? You know what, never mind. I offer you one half of the bed and one frozen meal of mac & cheese. No more, no less. And you can make it yourself."
"Deal."
