Into the Cold

“Hey,” Amelia said, waking up one morning two months later.

“What?” Caleb said, sitting bolt upright next to her.

“The sun,” Amelia cried, climbing over him, and bounding out of bed moving to the window.

“Oh,” Caleb sighed, yawning and lying back down.

“Come on, Caleb,” Amelia chided, “get up and look at this! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“Amelia, we’ve had the sunlight for weeks now,” Caleb said tiredly.

“I know,” Amelia said, her voice singing, “but I can actually see the edge of the sun over the mountain!!”

“Yay,” Caleb said, putting his pillow over his head.

Amelia turned to look at him, and paused. Of course he would not rejoice in the return of the sun. It’s coming meant that she was that much closer to leaving him alone.

In the last four months, they had spent almost every hour of every day together. Caleb had taught her how to trap, and while she had originally thought the process barbaric, she’d grown to enjoy the challenge of it.

Setting the trap, and the anticipation of success were intoxicating in a way she had never expected. So far she had added nine foxes, twelve hares, three muskrat and what Caleb claimed was the largest marten he had ever seen.

In addition to trapping, Caleb had introduced her to animal tracking, showing her the different paw prints, scat and where elk, moose and bear rubbed up against the trees. Amelia found this fascinating, and using a small pad of paper she found in her bag, she took pieces of charcoal from the stove and began drawing everything around her, the mountains, the cabin interior, even Caleb himself.

It was a hobby she’d enjoyed as a teen, but since college she hadn’t had much time to indulge in it. Being alone with Caleb, she found she had all the time in the world. Too soon she had used every inch of the pad, and with a sigh set the hobby aside.

Though she’d begun carving antlers with him, and her work was stunning, he knew she missed drawing.

One morning Caleb woke earlier than usual and began a long hike to a grove of birch trees five miles away. He’d watch for hours on end while Amelia drew, fascinated by her skill and eye for detail, he’d even thought about asking her if he could hang her drawings around the cabin, but held back the request.

In just a month or more she would be going, and he didn’t think he could take having her pictures hanging around him when she was gone. He watched her as she sat for hours on end drawing while he processed the meat and furs they had collected.

He’d seen how sad she was when her little notepad was too full to draw in anymore and decided he would surprise her with the bark.

“I’m gonna go check the trap line,” he said, pulling on his boots while she was still in bed.

“Can I go with you?” Amelia asked, tiredly rubbing her eyes, delighted at the idea of going on a trek through the woods.

“Not this trip,” Caleb said, reaching for his gun. “It’s faster if I go alone.”

“Okay,” Amelia replied, confused by why he didn’t want her to go with him.

As he reached for his pack, Amelia reached out her hand to him.

“Be careful,” she said, holding on to his hand.

Caleb gently squeezed her fingers and nodded his assurance.

Quickly, she reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Hurry back,” she said, blushing at her impulsive act.

~~~~~~~~

That night when Caleb returned he brought with him not only two foxes, but also a large stack of birch wood tightly bound with rope.

“What is this?” Amelia asked, turning from the stove, accepting the bundle he offered.

“I noticed you’d used the last of your notepad,” he explained, “and while you’re carvings are wonderful, I went to a birch grove near our trap line and got you some bark to draw on.”

“Thank you,” Amelia cried, dropping the bundle on the table and embracing him.

Caleb’s arms encircled her, enjoying the feel of her body against his. As they stood there, he breathed in her smell, trying to lock it in his memory.

“Thank you,” she repeated, turning to the table and untying the twine.

Taking each piece out and laying them according to their size, she hummed to herself in joy. Some of the pieces were small scraps, while others were the size of legal paper. It was wonderful, with these she could draw for her heart’s content. Caleb was so wonderful.

He smiled to himself as he unlaced his boots, seeing how happy such a simple gift could make her. While he’d originally thought of Amelia as nothing more than a burden he’d have to shoulder, he now thought of her as a nice distraction to come home to.