Page 19 of SEAL by Fate

The entire plan had gone topsy-turvy when he’d almost hit her on the road. He’d been prepared to catch Phantom—single handedly. He might be stuck here, in a tiny cabin, but beyond the walls was a criminal that preyed upon the innocent.

Turning on the radio, he fiddled with the tuner until he managed to find a station that had reasonable reception. It was an oldies station and he listened to a favorite and when the song ended, a set a of chimes announced a weather alert.

“Cuddle up and stay put, listeners. We’re in line for another downfall of three to four inches with icy road conditions. All of Whispering Mountain and the outer perimeter is still a Level 3 which means no vehicles are allowed on the roads unless it’s an emergency vehicle. Stay tuned for updates right here on your favorite station.”

He blew out a long breath. So, there it was. He and Stormy would be stuck here for who knows how long.

Stepping into the living room, he stoked the fire. Paced the floor. Stared through the fogged window. Needing to keep busy, he found himself looking through the drawers on the small desk. Stationary. Pens. Stapler. He searched through the kitchen cabinets, all three of them. He even resituated the cans and utensils. Still full of restless energy, he decided they needed more firewood.

Pulling on his shirt, jacket, and boots, he stepped out onto the porch, lifting his collar to help keep some of the wind off his neck. He could only hope there was a pile of chopped wood somewhere outside, close enough that he didn’t have to tread through snow up to his knees. He normally didn’t mind the snow, or the cold, but after his walk yesterday, much of it on incline, he’d had enough to last for a long time. Luckily, someone was anticipating the bad weather. He found a stack of wood behind the shed and carried an armful back into the cabin, pounding his boots on the rug, then toeing them off.

He didn’t see her at first. She was sitting on the couch, tucked in the corner and she looked so tiny. Gray felt a quake all the way into his toes. Her hair hung in damp waves surrounding her flushed cheeks. She had traded in the blanket for a towel. She could have been wearing a potato sack and he’d still think she was most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes upon. “You must think I’m the biggest asshole.” He dropped the wood into the fireside basket.

“I haven’t made my mind up yet.”

Gray looked back at her and there wasn’t a sliver of humor in her expression. “You don’t know me and you only have my word, but I truly did think you’d passed out. You can trust me.”

“I hope that’s so because as of right now you and I are stuck together on this mountain. And I have a little problem.”

“Problem?”

“I don’t have my medicine.”

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