She sat quietly watching the windshield wipers trying to keep the windshield cleared of snow. She had even taken her headphones off so she would not forget and start singing. She did not want to distract him at all from his driving.
They knew there was a snowstorm warning for the area but they felt as if there would be plenty of time to make the seven hour drive from Ottawa after the show. They had even gone to the early show to allow for their drive back home. The plan may have worked if she had not insisted to 'run into the Mall for a sec' that turned into a two hour spree.
He had the tickets to see Wynton Marselles for several months and rain, sleet, hail nor snow was going to stop them.
At two AM there was little traffic on Hwy. 7, just a two lane highway that was beginning to look pretty erie with vehicles sparsely sitting along the road side and in ditches. There was even semi's pulled over and engines running to keep the drivers warm.
He had turn the radio off that was repeating the message they knew so well, "Please stay in unless you just MUST get out. The roads are extremely hazardous and getting worse by the hour." They had at least two more hours ahead of them and the snow was already 24 to 30 inches on top of the ground and beginning to accumulate on the untraveled road.
Ahead of them small glows of red were coming into view. Her heart jumped thinking maybe there was an accident and how would 'emergency personnel' make it to the injured. He knew what they were coming up on so be began to talk to her about it. He did not want her to panic. The temperature was 10 below zero and would be dropping more.
"Baby..." he calmly said as he began to slow the car down to almost a standstill, "We are going to have to stop here."
Before he could tell her what was ahead of them she asked," Shuggar, how do they get help to those people? What if they are really hurt bad? They might need the blanket in the back! Take it to them!"
He put the car in park and turned and looked at her. This was her first winter in Canada and still so much to learn about the place. He was having so much fun with her. She was like a kid in a wonderland.
Placing his arm over the seat he told her, " Baby it's not an accident. You see where the headlights of the two cars are aiming. They are lighting up a snow embankment. Like a snow drift. It's on the highway. We are not going to be able to go any further right now,"
She looked at him with an innocence that always took his breath. "Well, then maybe the sanding trucks won't be long and we can make it in before too much longer," she sighed then turned and looked out the back window for signs of help coming.
Rick had lived Canada all his life and he knew the seriousness of the situation they had just came up on. He also knew that Shay could handle this one of two ways. She would be a trooper and make it a game or, she would get all panicky and that could make for a very bad time for both of them. He smiled and decided he had better get this over with.
"Shay, I want you listen to me," he began. " We are probably going to be here a while. We are going to have to wait it out. There will be some help come, but it will be awhile." He then turned the key in the ignition to off.
For about five minutes they sat quietly hearing the wind blowing and a car engine start up and then cut off. Then there would be another starting up and stop. He knew at any moment she was going to realize what he was referring to. To Shay 'awhile' was about ten minutes, fifteen max.
As he felt the chill inside the car to be noticeable, she sighed.
"Ah...Shuggar, we are in a fix here huh?" she asked in a very low voice.
Rick did not reply.
"OK..." she answered for him.
The rule was before winter hit that an 'emergency bag' be placed in the car. The contents of the bag was a warm blanket, assorted cheese crackers, different candies, 2 bottles of water, flashlight, batteries, tissues and Shay had placed a special thing in there as well. It was a 'heat cushion' that had warming beads in it. Hunters and sports fans used them to sit on for cold outdoor activities. Of course Rick laughed at her when she demanded that be part of the kit.
They both looked at each other and he asked, "You getting cold?"
She nodded. He told her that she would have to tell him when she could not stand it any longer, then he would turn the car on but they would have to save on the gas. He watched her face as he told her and the slow blink of her eyes caused a lump in his throat. He felt like he had just told a child they could not have ice cream.
"You let me know, OK?" he said. " We are going to be all right."
Shay unbuckled her seat belt and got on her knees in the seat. She reached into the back and pulled the 'emergency bag' to the front of the car. He assumed it was time for her comfort food. Candy. Rick pulled at his jacket and zipped it up and watched her.
She pulled the 'heat cushion' out and placed it on the dash. Open a peppermint and placed it in her mouth. Offered Rick one which he accepted, She then took the blanket and began unfolding it. She reached down and began unzipping her boots. That caused him to raise an eyebrow.
Just as he was about to tell her she should leave her boots on, she spoke, " Shuggar...lean your seat back."
Rick couldn't help but smile and asked, " Ready for me to turn the car on a second to warm up?"