Frigid Affair(7)

I started taking off my boots, and then my jacket. I was beginning to hurt – like someone had beat me up. He must have sensed me struggling and helped remove my coat. “You’re going to need to take it easy. It’s best if you go lie down. Do you have a phone or someone I can call for you?”

“No, but I’m fine,” I insisted. “Did you want something to drink for the ride?”

“Sorry, I thought you understood,” he corrected. “For your condition you should be kept in the hospital where someone can monitor your breathing. I’m not leaving you here to have complications, not on my watch. I’m staying in this cabin with you.” When he said it he kept looking out the window, as if someone was coming for him. I wondered if I was about to be attacked by two men who could easily control me with their combined strength.

“You’re not staying here. I don’t know you.” Since I’d spoken so abruptly, my throat cracked. It felt dry inside, sticking together with each word. I held onto it, making my way toward the small kitchen in hopes of grabbing a bottle of water.

The fireman stepped in front of me, bending over to pick it up before I could. “You need to lie down. Please, it’s not a big deal. I’ve been drinking with the guys. I already took a nap. I’ll leave as soon as day breaks. I’ve seen people messed up from smoke inhalation. It’s a serious matter if it’s not cared for. I don’t have oxygen on hand, or any means to alleviate what I know you’re experiencing. Trust me, I know firsthand how awful it feels. I’ve had it several times in my career.”

“I’m not you. I’ll be fine. Don’t you have to get back to the other guys?”

“No, actually I don’t. Trust me, I need to be here with you.”

I don’t know what made me agree to it. Perhaps I was so desperate I assumed a stranger in my home was a good idea, or maybe I was delusional from inhaling the harmful fumes, or it was possible that I didn’t care whether I lived or died anymore. “Fine. I’m not a charity case. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve done a pretty good job taking care of myself. If you think it’s imperative to babysit me, so be it.”

He was already taking off his snow gear. “I won’t argue with that. It takes a brave woman to live out here on her own. I don’t even know if I’d have the balls to do something so adventurous. I’m sure you’ll be fine by morning, but I’d kick myself in the ass if I left you alone in your condition.”

“I get it,” I said with sarcasm.

He placed his hands in his pockets. “So you said your name is Amanda?”

“Amantha,” I corrected.

“Oh gotcha. You have one of those weird names you can’t find on coffee cups.”

I snickered. “Pretty much.”

“It’s nice. I’ve never heard it before.”

I managed to smile. “Yeah, it is different.”

“I’m Easton. Easton Pratt.”

I pointed to the couch. “Well, Easton Pratt, there’s the couch. I don’t have television, but there are plenty of books. Make yourself comfortable. Pee outside, if you’ve got to go.”

He let out a chuckle. “You don’t have many visitors do you?”

“Nope. Aside from my neighbors and the mailman during the warm months, you’re the first.”

“Doesn’t it get lonely?” He asked as I began to cough again. “I can’t imagine being cut off from civilization. I mean, things happen. Take tonight for instance. You could have died. God only knows if anyone would find you. They might assume the house was empty. By the time they were able to get up here to check it out an animal would have taken away your remains. Sorry, I guess I’m a little protective. I have sisters that make piss-poor decisions, and I find myself having to save them more than I’d like to admit. The way you live is your choice. It’s none of my business.”

Suddenly I felt overwhelmingly guilty and fearful. This handsome man was either trying to do a good deed or find out if anyone would be coming to interrupt him from slaughtering me. I’d been injured, and as much as I wanted to think I was fine, a part of me knew I’d done more harm than good by going inside the burning home. “No. I should be the one apologizing,” I managed to say, though still very unsure. “You saved my life. I owe you a thanks, not rudeness. You’ll have to excuse my manners. I’m not used to socializing anymore.”

“Interesting.” He kept giving me a once-over. “I never would have pegged someone who looked like you to live out here all by herself. Am I overstepping if I ask why?”

“Who looks like me?”

“Well, you’re pretty beautiful. I live in a city with millions of women, but they’re all done up. It’s disturbing how they can’t feel comfortable being natural.”

I was blushing. Thank God it was dark, or else I’d be completely ashamed of myself. This man was like a walking sex god in front of me, not just because of his looks, but because he was the first one I’d seen in months.

“Some people would say I’ve let myself go.” I shrugged and looked away nervously, as if it was embarrassing to stand before him. Then I threw caution to the wind and let the details fly. “I lost my family in a train wreck. We lived in a small town in Pennsylvania, and I felt like no matter where I turned there were reminders. In order for me to be able to move on I knew I had to get out of there. I spent a lot of my childhood hunting with my father, learning how to be a survivalist, and to be able to live off the land. I appreciate nature, and the beauty Alaska has to offer. It’s peaceful here, and I can be happy without having to look over my shoulder. I’m out of the spotlight. No one knows who I am, and I want it to stay that way. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. It’s hard to live when society won’t let you forget how much you’ve lost.” I realized afterwards how much information I’d given him. It was pretty obvious I sucked at communicating. It didn’t help how I still kept thinking about him implying I was too good looking to live in a cabin on a mountaintop – all alone.