Riley came through for us and fixed our car three days later bright and early. So after two days of doing nothing, but watching TV, relaxing and going for a walk, Ranger and I are on our way North again. We didn't talk much about anything during the last few days. Neither of us wants to dive into the deep stuff. Me, because I know it will make him upset and it will be an uncomfortable car ride and him, because he just doesn't want to talk about it. He told me so plenty of times in the past.
So I keep my mouth shut, enjoy his company and our showers together. Okay, especially our showers together. Every morning he helps me wash and then hugs me under the spray until the water runs cold. It is oddly relaxing and calming. My family has never been huggers, but if it was an option, I would request a hug from Ranger every time I see him. They satisfy my soul.
Ranger hasn't shown any further withdrawal symptoms, which I relayed to Bobby. Our good Doctor just told me to keep a watchful eye just in case. There also have not been any more nightmares, which I am thankful for.
"I am beat," Ranger announces, bringing me out of my trance. I realize with a startle that it's been nearly fourteen hours since we left Midale. All day I have been staring out the window, not thinking about anything in particular, just enjoying the rich scenery. "Wanna have a look at available hotels on our route?"
"Sure" I nod and in that same moment my stomach announces that it needs food with a loud grumble.
"Maybe look up places to eat as well," Ranger smirks.
I poke my tongue out at him, like the mature adult I am, and then grab my phone to do just that. "Watson Lake is coming up next and there are small Cabins to rent."
An hour later we pull up to the cabins, where a plumb woman in her sixties is already waiting out front. When I get out of the car, I suck in a breath in shock, which in turn hurts my ribs. It is way colder here than in Midale this morning. "Wow, temperatures have dropped." The flannel shirt and three quarter yoga pants are not going to cut it.
"It is the end of September, Babe" Ranger reminds me and grabs our bags from the trunk.
"Well...the only excuse I have for myself is that I didn't think any of this through." I pull a grimace. "Fake it till you make it and all that jazz." That earns me an eye roll from the man in black. Today his clothes consist of black jeans, a very well fitted, black, long sleeve shirt and a black baseball cap.
"We will get you some clothes in town tomorrow. Alaska will be even colder."
"Come on in, come on in" the woman waves us over from the front door. "The fire is lit in here." When we start walking in her direction, she disappears into the small, red painted cabin, which reads 'Reception' in big bold letters over the door.
The moment we walk in, a mug of hot chocolate is pushed into our hands and then we are ushered towards the fire. The Cabin isn't big, but it has a desk with a computer on top in the right corner and a couple of love seats in front of the open fireplace, which I suppose could be classed as a waiting area. An array of pictures of different couples and families hang on the walls and are surrounded by various mounted fish. Fishing equipment sits in the far left corner, along with numerous deflated water toys.
"Thank you" I smile gratefully at the woman. Her eyes narrow a tiny bit once she gets a good look at me and my bruises, but then her smile is right back.
"You are most welcome. Sit...sit." She motions to one loveseat, while she takes the other. Ranger drops the bags right next to it, before sitting down and pulling me onto his lap. I shoot him a confused look, but his eyes are fully trained on the elderly woman, while he casually sips at his hot chocolate. "I am Lea. My husband and I own this place. You were lucky to make the reservation when you did, I was just about to go home."
"Thank you for taking us in." Ranger says.
"I am always happy to have young couples here. You only booked a night, so I assume you are passing through?"
"Yes, we are on our way to Alaska." Ranger answers her and my eyes nearly bug out. Who is this guy? Making small talk and everything.
"Oh Dear, I hope you have better clothes in your bags or you will get blue balls up there." I snort, the hot chocolate I just drank goes down the wrong way, causing me to go into a coughing fit. One look at Ranger tells me that he is just as amused by Lea's choice of words as I am, but he is just hiding it a lot better. "Are you alright?"
"Yes…" cough, cough "It just went down" cough, cough "the wrong pipe."
"Sure it did" Ranger whispers, which earns him an elbow to the ribs and a wince from me, because the motion hurts me too.
"Well, I don't want to keep you any longer. It is quite late." She announces and sure enough, it's already half past nine. "Here is your key. Your cabin is the last one down the path behind this building. Breakfast will be served in the building next to this one from 7 till 10. Check out is at eleven."
"Thank you" I smile again, finally having gotten a hold of myself, and accept the keys. "Do you mind if I take my cup with me? I haven't finished it yet."
"Don't you worry, just take it with you."
"Well lucky we have your gun" I remark, as we walk up the steps to our Cabin. The outside light has been turned on, presuming by Lea to make it more welcoming, but it doesn't make it much better. The nearest cabin is further down an unlit path and not at all close. It is very quiet around here too, which makes it even creepier.
"I am more than qualified to protect you without a gun." Ranger points out and ushers me inside. The cabin is more spacious than the reception building and has two queen beds, a couple of nightstands, a TV and an attached bathroom. It is a pleasant surprise to see it is so modern. I anticipated it to be outdated.
"Cute" I comment and drop down on the bed closest to me.
"I am going to get dinner. You need my help undressing before I go?"
"Please." I nod and stand with a sigh. I don't understand how I am so exhausted. I have done nothing but sit on my ass all day.
"Your body is still healing, which takes the energy out of you" Ranger informs me, making me realise that I said that out loud. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore" I admit, while he strips my clothes of me. "But the pain has gotten better."
"A couple of more days and you probably won't need as many painkillers anymore."
"Hopefully." I nod.
"I will be back shortly. Slide the lock in place, I will take the key." And with that he walks right out.
The next morning I wake after an unsatisfactory sleep. I kept waking up, not just because of the noises the woods surrounding us made, but also because Ranger neither showered with me last night nor shared my bed. It's weird how you can get used to something like that in a short amount of time. I glance over at his bed and find him with his back towards me, still fast asleep. We didn't talk about it, but he just went and slept in the other bed much to my dismay.
I grab my phone from my night stand and look at the clock. Six AM. The fire in the cabin has gone out, leaving the large room cold and knowing I won't be able to get back to sleep, I slide out of bed and quickly grab the fluffy robe that I found in the bathroom last night. I quickly do my business in the bathroom, including brushing my teeth, before making myself a cup of coffee. I carried the electric kettle into the bathroom to plug it in there, all so not to wake Ranger. The instant Latte mix does the trick and wakes me up further. With it in hand, I, as quietly as I can, open the front door and step outside.
It is misty and you cannot see more than ten feet ahead. The creepy feeling I had last night, returns in full force. My family was never the going-out-camping or staying-at-a-cabin-in-the-woods type. I see the appeal though. It is quiet and the fresh air liberating, but it is also unsettling for someone like me, who is used to city pollution and noise.
Even just a couple of minutes outside turns my toes almost blue, so I quickly rush back inside, pull on Ranger's shorts, slide on my socks and trainers, before going back outside and closing the door behind me once more. I find a fluffy blanket already lying on one of the chairs, which are sitting on the deck attached to the cabin. So I wrap myself in it and sit down.
Not sure how long I sit here watching the mist and listening to the forest sounds, but suddenly I hear a big crack echoing through the forest, followed by another one. The noises come closer and I scramble up and out of the chair almost tripping over the blanket and face planting onto the deck. The cracking of branches is now very close and when I look behind me, I find a giant moose looking at me with a bored expression. We both just freeze where we stand and stare at each other. It is the weirdest stare down of my life and yet the most exhilarating encounter I have ever had with a wild animal.
Then the moose bends down a little and starts munching on the bush that grows barely a couple of feet away from me.
I slowly back up, while still keeping an eye on the animal. Once I find the door, I open it as silently as possible and shuffle inside, as quickly as the blanket will allow me. "Ranger" I whisper shout, again not wanting to startle the creature by being too loud. When he doesn't hear me, I touch his shoulder, wanting to shake him awake, but as soon as my hand comes down on his body, his eyes fly open and he sits up abruptly, making me take two steps back in reflex.
"What's going on? Is everything okay?" He queries, while his eyes are roaming all over my body.
"I need you to come outside with me. But be very quiet." I tell him excitedly, unable to keep the smile off my face. When he doesn't move instantly, I grab his blanket and pull it off him. "Come on, quick, before it is gone."
"Before what is gone?" He raises an eyebrow in question but I ignore him. I grab my phone off my nightstand and rush back to the door, almost face planting when I step on the blanket, before carefully and quietly stepping back outside. Luckily the moose is still chomping away on the bush. Making sure the flash and sound are off on my phone, I snap a couple of pictures.
"Babe...what is…" Ranger starts when he appears in the doorway. I motion for him to be quiet. "Woa" slips past his lips, when he sees the four legged giant.
"Right?" I smile at him, before turning back around. Next thing I know Ranger's arms wrap around my waist and pull me into his chest.
We stand there for quite a long time, before the Moose has had enough and wanders off. "Are you not cold?" I query when I turn around and see Ranger's naked chest and feet. His nipples stand at attention and his skin has turned slightly red.
"Not with you in my arms" He replies and then turns around, leaving me standing there gaping after him.
