Page 31 of Tucker
“I’dlike to see you stop me. Now, do you want peaches or cinnamon in your oatmeal?”
Somebodyhelp me before I tie this stubborn girl to my bed.
Anhour later, our stomachs full of warm food, we venture outside.
“Holyshit,” Leah breathes, gazing around the property. I couldn’t have said it anybetter.
There’sa thin layer of snow covering the ice, turning the world a pure white. A heavymist hangs over everything, making it hard to see more than a few yards ahead.Branches are scattered around us, and we can hear the creak and split of woodas the wind blows the weakened trees. There are two trees that could hit thehouse if they fall, one that could strike the kitchen, and a massive one whichcould take out my bedroom as well as Leah’s. I’ll have to keep an eye on that,especially if the ice doesn’t stop soon.
“Doyou see the power lines?” I ask, pointing to the driveway.
“Yeah,they’re dead though, right?” she asks nervously.
“Yes,and hopefully the power won’t come back on until they’re fixed, but steer clearjust in case.”
Myfoot slides and I almost go down. Leah grabs my arm, and I chuckle. “Yourealize I’d just take you down with me right? Your tiny ass isn’t going to saveme.”
Sheslips, and I grab her, making us both laugh. “I don’t think either of is goingto make it,” she giggles.
Ittakes us almost ten minutes of careful footsteps, sliding, and laughing, to getto the barn. The animals are fine, but we add more straw to their pens beforeheading to the chicken coop.
AsI expected, the water dish is frozen. If I don’t want to have to come out hereevery few hours to dump and refill it, I need to figure something out. Leahfollows me to my workshop where I grab a cinderblock and a drill. I should tellher to go inside and get warm since there’s nothing else she can do, but I kindof like having her with me. Plus, she’s a stubborn little shit who probablywouldn’t listen anyway.
Shewatches as I drill a hole in the side of the block, attach a bracket to theinner surface, and install a lightbulb. Running the cord through the drilledhole, I plug it into the cord which stretches out to the generator. I place astepping stone over the block and put the water container on top. The warmth ofthe light should keep the water from freezing.
Ihaven’t done anything a Jr. High shop student couldn’t manage, but her eyesshine with awe. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that women love men whoare good with their hands, and apparently Leah is no exception.
Bythe time I get the second generator moved near the house and run a cord inside,my hands are numb even through my leather gloves and Leah’s nose is bright red.“Good enough for now,” I mumble and head inside.
Weonly have two available outlets from the generator, and I glance around tryingto judge what is the most vital to keep running. The fridge is a no brainer,plus one space heater. We’ll just have to stay in the living room. Between thesmall heater and the fireplace, it’ll be warm enough.
“Doyou have anything you want to charge?” I ask her. “Do it now, before we need torun the heater.” It’s still warm inside, but as the day goes on, I know it’llget harder to keep that way.
Leahpauses and her lips purse as she considers it. Finally, she retrieves herlaptop and plugs it in. “We should charge our phones, too. The landline isdown,” she points out.
Nodding,I sit on the couch to remove my boots. I’m suddenly aware of the position I’min. Stuck inside with Leah for who knows how long. I’m assuming two days or soby the last weather report. There’s not much I can do in my workshop withoutpower and it’s freezing in there as well. What the hell are we supposed to doall day?
Iceticks off the large plate glass window in the living room while Leah curls upon the couch with a throw blanket and her notebook. Breathing a sigh of relief,I head upstairs to my room. The house isn’t too cold yet, and I plan to stayupstairs while I can.
Theproblem is there’s nothing to do and I’m not an idle type of guy. That was oneof the things that bothered me the most when I was living on the street. Havingnothing to do, nowhere to go. But the lack of responsibility is what kept mefrom losing my shit. After everything that happened in Afghanistan and the way Ifailed the main person I was supposed to protect—my wife—I never wanted anyoneto depend on me again. I like it out here, alone, where I can’t form bonds withanyone and nobody can get attached to me.
NowI’m hiding in my room like a scared child during a thunderstorm because of alittle girl. Okay, maybe she’s not a little girl, but she’s too young for me.Not to mention she’s my complete opposite. She’s all enthusiasm and sunshine tomy apathy and gloom. I know that’s what draws me to her, but I can’t act on it.I can’t do that to Kathi.
Imanage to kill about four hours before returning to the living room where Leahis curled up on the couch, asleep, her tablet and notebook lying on the floorbeside her. The fire has dwindled and the room is freezing. Before I build itback up, I grab a blanket from the closet and toss it over her. A soft smileblooms on her face as she snuggles into it, releasing a satisfied sigh.
God,she looks beautiful and innocent and like everything good in the world thatI’ve been missing out on. I don’t know how it happened. How she crawled undermy skin so quickly, but I have to find a way to get her out. The room stillstruggles to heat up after I stoke the fire so I connect the little spaceheater and hang a thick blanket in the doorway leading to the hall. That shouldtrap most of the heat in here. I guess we’re camping out in the living roomuntil this is over.
Theanimals are fine when I go out to check on them, but I barely make it backinside without busting my ass. The ice is still falling and the woods have astrange quality, sort of gauzy and dim in the late evening gloom. Ice hangsthick from everything and I can hear the cracking and splitting of branchesthat tells me some of the trees aren’t going to survive the night.
Ieye the trees that could potentially strike the house as if warning them tostay right where they are. The one over Leah’s room worries me the most. It’s amassive old tree that could do a whole lot of damage. She’s not going back inthat room until this shit is over.
Accordingto the weather radio, we still have most of the night to go. I’m not aware thatLeah is awake and listening behind me until she asks, “Did they say the wholestate is blacked out?”
Anxietyrings in her voice. “Most of the state and some of Illinois and Kentucky aswell.” From the way they were talking, I don’t think the forecasters have everseen anything like it. Nearly three entire states without power from thestrongest ice storm ever recorded in this area. This isn’t going to be easilyresolved by the power crews. I have a feeling we’d better get used to the lackof power. I’m so glad I was prepared.
Leahgoes to the window and gasps at the sight of the power lines weighed down soheavily they nearly touch the ground. The ones that fell earlier are buried inice and not visible anymore. For the first time, I see a flash of fear in hereyes. “This isn’t a normal ice storm, is it?”
Shelooks up at me with wide eyes.
