The Overnight Guest(35)

Wylie pressed her fingers to her throat as if she could pry away its cold grip. Night had finally found her unprepared, and Wylie felt she might suffocate.

Until now, she had learned to control light and dark. She couldn’t outrun it any longer. She squeezed her eyes shut.

A stream of coughing, sharp and harsh like seals barking, scattered the buzzing bees in her head and Wylie opened her eyes. “Hey?” she called out. “Are you alright?” Wylie asked, trying to keep her voice steady, even.

A beam of light bounced against the walls, filling the stairwell with an eerie glimmer. The dizziness subsided and the world righted itself. There was light. Everything was going to be okay.

“I’m coming,” Wylie managed to say, waiting until her breath steadied before getting to her feet. Feeling came back into her limbs and she felt the smooth wooden banister beneath her fingers. Her legs felt heavy, but with the gleam from the boy’s light, she was able to move slowly downward.

Seeing the worry on the boy’s face, Wylie murmured, “I’m fine, I just don’t like the dark very much.”

The boy reached over and flipped the switch on the lantern in Wylie’s hands, and the room was flooded with a soft light. Tas, unconcerned, was stretched out in front of the fireplace. The black knot in Wylie’s throat slid away.

Wylie set the lantern on the cedar chest. “It could take a few days for crews to get the power back on, but we’ll be okay. We’ve got light and food and wood,” she said with weak conviction.

Wylie glanced at the dwindling pile of kindling next to the fireplace and her heart dropped. Wood. They needed more wood for the fire, but there was none in the house. She would need to go out to the barn. This was the last thing she wanted to do, but what choice did she have? They needed logs for the fire. “We need more wood. Do you want to help me?”

The boy looked down at his shoes.

“My arms are going to be filled with wood, so maybe you can open and shut the back door for me. But first, we need to make sure you’re warm enough. It’s going to get cold in here fast, especially when the door opens. How about it?” Wylie asked.

Finally, the boy nodded, and Wylie gave him a grateful smile.

Wylie was tempted to turn on every single flashlight she had gathered but knew that would be a waste of batteries. She would have to make do with her lantern. Together, each holding a light, Wylie and the boy made their way to the mudroom. First, Wylie tested the outdoor lights hoping the back yard would suddenly become illuminated. Nothing happened.

Wylie found an old sweatshirt and pulled it over the boy’s head. It fell below his knees, and Wylie had to roll up the sleeves several times, but it would do the trick. She rifled through a basket filled with outdoor gear, found a stocking cap, and pulled it down over his ears.

“There,” Wylie said, stepping back to survey her work. “Keep your hands tucked inside your sleeves and you’ll be ready for business.”

Wylie pulled on her own gear and stepped outside to retrieve the sled that she had dropped off on the front step. She’d use it to help transport the wood back to the house.

“Hey, you okay down there?” a man called from the top of the lane. “I saw the fire from the house and got on my snowmobile to see what was going on.”

He stopped halfway down the drive and removed his helmet. Through the falling snow Wylie recognized him as one of the neighbors to the east, Randy Cutter. From her research for the book, Wylie knew that Randy and Deb Cutter divorced and he moved to another residence not far away.

“Came upon the wreck,” he said breathlessly. Randy’s salt-and-pepper hair peeked out from beneath his stocking cap and snowflakes clung to his eyelashes. “Anyone injured? It’s a bad one.”

“Yeah,” Wylie called back. “It was crazy. I found a boy. He’s shaken up but fine. It’s the woman who was in the truck with him I’m worried about. She disappeared.”

“What do you mean, disappeared?” Randy asked.

“After I found the boy I went to see if I could figure out where he came from,” Wylie explained. “Found the truck and a woman. She was caught up in some barbwire and I couldn’t get her out. I went to get some tools and when I came back she was gone.”

“Gone?” Randy repeated. “Damn. Where would she have gone to?”

“Good question,” Wylie said. “It makes no sense. She looked like she was banged up really good. I can’t imagine she went far, I just couldn’t find her. This is a hell of a storm.”

“Yeah, it is,” Randy agreed. “I’d offer you and the kid a ride on my snowmobile back to my house to wait out the storm, but it’s getting worse by the minute. You might be better off staying put.”

“I think you’re right. We’re doing okay here,” she assured him. “We have wood, water, and food. We’ll be fine—I’m more worried about the woman. Any way you can go look for her?”

“I can do that,” Randy said. “I can’t stand the thought of someone stranded out in this weather. I’ll ride around and see what I can find. How about I stop back tomorrow and check on things, let you know what I find. Hopefully, the snow will be done by then.”

“That would be great. Thanks,” Wylie said, hesitant to send him on his way. “Be safe,” she said, as Randy turned and trudged to the top of the lane.