Time was running out for Beth and she knew it, the snow had piled so high on the cabin she didn't know if she would be able to dig herself out. The snow fell hard and fast after the first reports on the ham radio said that a blizzard was heading straight for them.
She knew she had enough food and water to last for several weeks but God only knew how long in it would take for the snow in the upper elevations to melt enough to get out, Paul had warned her but she would not listen to him. She was determined to stay in the cabin despite the dangers that staying would cause.
She went to the highest window and looked out over the wintry scene that lay out before her; the barn was covered nearly to the roof so no chance of getting the horse out. She knew she would have to just sit tight, keep the fire going and ration what food and water she had.
On the night of the third day she heard a scratching noise coming from near the back door, she went to investigate. Looking through the frosty glass she could see a tall figure digging into the snow, she gasped in relief she knew it had to be Paul coming for her. The stupid fool what was he thinking coming clear up here to rescue her, but she loved him for it. She knocked on the window; the fur clad man looked up and for a moment she thought that it couldn't be Paul. But who else could it be then.
She opened the back door and using a small shovel she kept at the back door she helped Paul dig through the snow. Finally she cut through and Paul pushed his way forward through the small tunnel. She turned to greet Paul and was face to face with not Paul but someone else. She felt the first pang of fear when she realized it wasn't him, until he smiled.
"I'm Tom, Paul sent me to find you."
"Well, why didn't he come himself?"
"Well he found himself in a bit of a bind; you see his wife went into premature labor."
"Wife!" she screamed.
The man stood back and looked at her as if he were afraid of what her next actions might mean.
"You mean you didn't know he was married?"
"No, I didn't know that he was married."
"I'm sorry to have been the one to tell you then, but then I have more bad news for you. The path down the mountain is too treacherous at this time for us to get back down, so it is my opinion that we should just stay put for the time being."
"Well that's a real no brainer isn't it?"
"Mind if I ask how you got here?"
"I live northwest of here about 20 miles; Paul radioed me and asked if I could make it to you. I said that I would try. So here I am, and I am sorry to say we are stuck here for the duration. Before I left my cabin I called for a weather update. There is another system heading this way and looks to dump more snow on top of what we already have. We could be stuck here, but you'll be glad to know I brought plenty of food with me I killed a buck on the way here. I will go out and put it in the barn so we can get to it when and if we need it and feed your animals. Okay?"
"Thank you, I'm sorry if I came a little strong there I didn't mean anything against you for it. I will make some hot coffee for you while you do that then."
"Thanks, I'd appreciate that."
He left through the same tunnel he came in and headed to the barn. Beth turned back to the stove and put the coffee pot on the stove and went to the wood pile opened the door on the stove and put it inside. She felt better having someone there with her, but this stranger she wasn't sure what it was about him but something about him made her heart and body quiver with she didn't know. Was it fear or was it pleasure?
Tom tossed the meat into the covered pit in the barn, through some straw oats and wheat's into the trough for the horse. He made sure that the cow had the same, and then taking a pail from the end of the stall he placed it below the cow and milked her until the pail was full. Then he made his way back to the house. He thought to himself he'd have to thank Paul for sending him here Beth was everything he had said. The dark haired, green eyed beauty didn't look as helpless though as Paul had let on.
Beth turned as Tom walked back into the house; he took off his fur coat and hung it on the hook in the mud room. She poured coffee into the cup she had just picked up before he walked in. She then handed it to him.
He took the cup from her and together they walked into the cabin main room. He looked around the cabin; it was a modest cabin with a loft room, fireplace, the living area was not what you would call large but was a nice size, her bed filled the far corner of the room. Obviously she had done that for warmth and comfort near the fire.
"This is a nice place."
"Thank you, my great grandfather built it for my great grandmother back in the late 1800's. When I inherited it from my parents when they died I had some work done to it to modernize it just a little bit. But I love it here away from all things modern, no phones, television, or people."
"I know what you mean, my place isn't nearly as big as this but it meets my needs."
"How long have you lived here?"
