The cabin was dark when she finally arrived. The moon only occasionally peeked through the clouds to illuminate the snow-covered mountainside.
I waited...
The rope felt good in my hands as I pulled it taut, waiting in the shadows. Even through the gloves, I could feel its texture, its roughness. Just as I pulled the rope taut again, I heard her car door close and smiled to myself, feeling a stirring in my jeans as I anticipated what was to come.
I practically stopped breathing so I could hear better. Soon I heard the crunch of the snow beneath her feet as she approached the cabin, and a few seconds later I could hear her mounting the four steps up to the front porch. I took that opportunity to breathe again, as quietly as possible, listening intently as she crossed the old wooden porch and set something down before the front door.
As the key slid into the lock, I held my breath again, pulling the rope taut one final time before giving it some slack. I heard the key turn in the lock, heard the lock disengage, and readied myself.
When at last the door opened a crack, every nerve in my body seemed to course with electricity. I heard her grunt softly with effort, then she pushed the door open a bit further before stepping forward...