Frigid Affair(5)

It took about five minutes to put on my heavy snow gear and locate the keys for the snow mobile. Once outside, I rushed to the shed to get it out, so I could make my way down the mountain. Ava followed behind, not that I was surprised. She never left my side.

I pushed the pedal as far as I could and made my way closer to the blaze. As we approached the scene, I realized it was the attached garage to my neighbor’s house. Frantically, I searched the yard for some way to extinguish the blaze. With no other neighbors for miles, I ran inside the house to locate the landline phone they always kept on. Since they were lower on the mountain, they’d been able to get electricity and running water. The kitchen was located too close to the fire, so I went for the back door leading to their bedroom, locating the key in the electric panel for emergencies such as this.

The house was filled with smoke. I began choking the moment I stepped inside, using my scarf to mask it from going into my lungs. Desperately, I prayed the line was still working.

Calling for help wasn’t like back in Pennsylvania. I knew crews wouldn’t be pulling up with a truck to put out the blaze.

Once I’d reached the operator, and gave her the location, I hung up and awaited a plane that would drop water on the property, mostly to keep it from spreading. I knew it wouldn’t reach the woods behind it. Everything was wet or frozen. It was still snowing, but not as heavily as earlier.

During the cold months my neighbors winterized their property, meaning the pipes had been treated to prevent lines from freezing. It meant I couldn’t grab a hose and start putting out the blaze. The water shut-off valve was located in the garage, so I’d be unable to get to it. Panic swept through me. I didn’t know what to do. Quickly, before I couldn’t stand to be inside any longer, I rang my friends to let them know there was an emergency, just in case I didn’t have cell service from the snowstorm.

Sadly, all I could do was stand outside the house and watch the fire spread to the main quarters. My heart broke for all the love and time the nice couple had put into making it beautiful.

The crackling sound echoed off the quiet surrounding forest. I ran my hands through my ratty hair, struggling to figure out what else I could do. Tears filled my eyes as I considered how devastating this was going to be for my friends. They would have to wait until the weather warmed to rebuild, if it was even an option. I recalled a cabinet located in the master bedroom. It contained a bunch of family heirlooms, including photo albums of their ancestors. I remembered them showing me one night after dinner, each going on and on about how much time it took them to research where their families originally came from.

Without much consideration for my own safety, I hurried back inside to see if I could save at least one of their precious items. The thick smoke made it impossible to see. I closed my eyes, covering my face with the fabric of my scarf as I blindly felt around for the furniture. Luckily, they hadn’t rearranged anything. I located the items, gathering them and placing each under my arm for protection. I was just about to exit again when I heard Ava barking outside. That’s the last thing I remember.



My eyes were closed, but it was obvious a light was on. I heard a male voice, and for a second I thought I’d died. I assumed the ceiling had caved in and crushed me, killing me instantly. Maybe a group of Chippendales were there to whisk me away to a better place, naked of course.

I wasn’t experiencing pain, per se, but found it hard to catch my breath. As I attempted to sit up and open my eyes, I heard the voice again. “Can you hear me?”

The first thing I saw was a man, crouched down over my body, which was lying on the cold snow-covered ground. The sound of a motor and more voices told me others were around, helping to get the fire out. My eyes finally focused in on the person trying to get my attention. “There you are. Can you tell me your name, miss?”

“Amantha. I’m Amantha Stone.”

“Good. How many fingers am I holding up?” I could tell right away it was five, but when I glanced up and saw his light colored baby-blues staring back at me, I almost forgot how to speak. His lashes were long, and a small amount of stubble covered half his face. He seemed so focused on me, waiting for me to respond while I became captivated. It had been a while since I’d seen such a handsome specimen, especially one who may or may not have saved me from a burning building.

“Five fingers.” I licked my lips, noticing how dry they were. My throat felt scratchy, and each time I struggled to take a deep breath I was reminded how trying it was. “Thirsty. Water?” I struggled to request.

He stood and rushed over to what looked like an ATV with a trailer attached. He opened the side hatch and started going through a large box, coming back with a bottle. “Here you go. Do you need help?”

I took it from his hands, opened the lid and poured it down my throat without answering. Before I could control it, I coughed loudly, spitting out most of what I’d consumed. It was gross and embarrassing, but the guy put his hands on my shoulder for support nonetheless. “Thanks,” I managed to whisper. “What happened?” It was hard to remember how I’d gotten out of the house.

“I arrived and saw your dog coming around from the back. At that particular time I assumed the house was empty, but she led me right to you. You’re lucky she did. The structure won’t be safe for much longer.”

“They can’t put the fire out?”