I got a shot of adrenalin. I wanted to be snowed in with him. My tummy tingled, “I thought, “You are about to get very lucky, Captain Walker.” I said, “Let’s do it.”
Jim pulled his hood up and tightened the drawstring. He apparently forgot his mask and left it on the dashboard of my car. He got out of the car and fifteen minutes later, I was in the middle of the road. I had followed his instructions and everything happened just as he said it would. The car was still running and the needle on the gauge was hovering in the middle of the green arc. The heater was working like a champ and the car was already warm inside. I glanced at the outside temperature gauge. It was down to twelve degrees. I didn’t think it would get much colder, but there was a long night still ahead.
I saw Jim walk around the front of the car. He stopped long enough to brush snow off the headlights and then some from the grille and bumper. He opened the passenger door and sat down beside me. He closed the door and said, “I didn’t see any damage to the grill or radiator. Is the engine overheating?”
I answered, “No. The needle is right in the middle of the green and it hasn’t moved in several minutes.”
He said, “I don’t think the radiator is damaged. The ditch is full of snow from a previous storm. I think you probably stuffed enough of it into the grill that air couldn’t move through the radiator. Residual engine heat must have melted most of it out by now.” Then he smiled displaying a set of even white teeth. He was even more beautiful. He asked, “What now, pretty girl?”
My butterflies fluttered their wings. I smiled and asked, “Oh, do we know each other well enough to flirt a little bit now?”
He chuckled and answered, “I hope so because this might be our last chance.” He smiled and continued, “If you drive off up this road, I may never see you again.” Then he asked, “Where the hell are you trying to go on a night like this anyway? You must have heard this storm was coming.”
I answered, “My parents have a place about twenty miles farther up. I did know about the storm, but I thought I could be there before it got too bad. It hadn’t even started to snow when I left home. I would have made it if I hadn’t slid off the road and gotten stuck.” I asked, “Do you think I could make it there tonight, or should I find a place to hole up.?”
He asked, “Do your parents need these things you are hauling?”
I answered, “No. We keep the cabin overstocked in case they get snowed in.” I had to laugh at that. He laughed with me.
He looked at me, grinned, and replied, “I think you could probably make it if you were very careful. But then,” he said, “The storm is going to get worse and the tires on this car are not really up for weather like this. All things considered, it would probably be best if you followed me home.” He paused and said, “We only have to go about two miles and If you get stuck again, I can pull you out again.”
I said, “I am a little afraid to go on, but I would feel better if I could call and tell my mom and dad where I am. They expected me to be there by now. I know they are worried.” I said, “My cell phone can’t pick up a signal here.”
He answered, “It won’t where I’m going either, but we do have a landline if it is still working.”
I said, “That is our best bet. Let’s go to your house.” I had been looking for an excuse to say that.
He chuckled and said, “I was hoping you would want to do that. I would have worried had you decided to go on.” He hesitated and said, “There is more information that you need before you make a final decision.”
I said, “Well, tell me.” Then I asked, “Do you have a wife up there?”
He laughed and replied, “No, it’s nothing as bad as that.” He continued, “Where we are going is the “Elk Valley Hunting Lodge.” There is not really much hunting in this area, but several outfitters use the lodge as a staging area for high-dollar guided hunts pretty much all over the state. It’s a picturesque country setting and reasonably close to the Denver airport. Many of their rich-assed clients fly in from the east. They rest and acclimate here before being driven into their hunting camps.
My dad is the owner and he acts as caretaker over the winters. My mother is the camp cook during hunting season. They rent out cabins in the off-season and they stay through the winter just to watch the place.” He went on, “I am stationed down at Fort Carson, near Colorado Springs. I haven’t seen them since I was up here for Christmas. They will fawn all over me when we get there. They will treat you the same way when they hear your story.”
I said, “Okay, go on.” I smiled and asked, “What’s going to happen when we get there?” I slipped the slightest innuendo into the question with inflection. I wanted him to know that I had sex on my mind, just as I knew he did. I was flirting.
He grinned in an unbelievable boyish way. He said, “I’ve thought about that.” After a pause, he continued, “My parents have a cozy apartment in the main lodge. It is very nice, but it only has one bedroom and it is the only part of the building that’s heated after the hunters all go home. They know I’m coming so they will have opened up cabin number one for me. It will be warm, have hot water and fresh sheets on the bed.” He continued, “They will want to open cabin number two for you. That detail will fall to me because of the weather. The old folks won’t want to go out. I will accomplish that task while you warm up and become acquainted with them.” He paused and took a breath. He said, “They will feed us and make sure we are warm and comfortable. We could have a drink if we want.”