Page 3 of Such a Naughty Girl

A whistle stole through my cabin, the wind sneaking through one of the many tiny gaps around the window frames.

‘Well, boy, I’m gonna chop some kindling, pile a bunch in here so we don’t freeze our asses off. If you need a piss, c’mon.’Chunk rose from his spot in front of the burner with a lazy yawn and a stretch.

Shucking on my thick padded coat, I grabbed my axe from it’s spot by the door and ventured out into the biting storm. I grumbled to myself as Chunk went sniffing into the woods, barely visible amongst the thick white swirling snow.

My axe tore into the log, balanced upright on a large stump, with a terrible thwack. The wood split with ease. Unlike my first few tries after moving from the city. Now the axe felt like an oldfriend, smooth beneath my fingers from years of use. Perhaps it had smoothed out with the growing hardness of my calloused fingers.

The chill bit at my exposed hands as I filled the basket with inch-wide kindling sticks, a light sheen of sweat covering my back at the mild exertion.

I hoisted the basket in one hand and my axe in the other and headed for the front door, calling out for Chunk.

Normally, his paws would be skittering along behind me on the wooden veranda, but silence greeted me as I shouldered open the door and placed the basket inside.

‘Chunk,’I called, my voice carried away on the wild wind.

Where had the damned dog gone?

I didn’t much fear the wolves that frequented the thick forest, but didn’t trust Chunk not to rile them up.

‘C’mon, boy. Get your ass back in here.’

Narrowing my eyes, I scanned the dark trees, trying to pick him out amongst the static-like snowfall.

There.

Movement ahead. After a few moments, Chunk's snow-covered snout came into focus, but rather than run toward me, he kept looking over his shoulder, his tail going ten to the dozen.

What lurched behind him?

‘Fucking hell, Chunk. Who have you brought?’I sighed, already sensing trouble ahead.

A young woman followed Chunk, half stumbling, her legs looking stiff with cold.

‘Mister,’she called as she approached the cabin.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me, making me glance down at myself. I wasn’t that hard on the eyes, was I? Who was I kidding, she looked half my age and I stood clutching an axe.

Well, good. I wanted nothing to do with whatever she wanted. Women only ever took from me.No more.

‘C’mon Chunk, inside.’Turning my back on the girl, I headed inside, resting my axe against the wall.

‘Mister,’she called, reaching the steps up to the veranda as Chunk walked in the door.

‘I don’t want whatever you’re selling,’I said.

‘Please,’she cried, ‘I need to use your phone to call my father. My car’s stuck in a snowdrift and there's no service.’

My fingers tensed on the door handle, very much wanting to shut her outside. The cabin wasmysafe space. My haven from the wider world. Why did she think she could barge into it?

‘Phone lines are out.’I responded, closing the door with a loud click.

Angry fists pounded on my window, making them clatter louder.

‘You can’t shut me out here. Are you insane? It’s freezing. Please let me in.’Her voice rose several octaves into a whine which made my teeth grate.

Chunk whined right along with her.

‘You keep out of it,’I warned him. ‘I can’t help you. Go back to your car and wait it out.’

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