Into the Cold

Amelia’s heart soared and her stomach plunged as the plane crested the last mountain ridge and she saw Caleb’s valley below.

The summer was ebbing now, covering the entire valley with lush green foliage. It looked so much more beautiful than she remembered. With her stomach twisting in knots, the plane cruised to a soft landing on the glistening surface of the lake.

It had take weeks to make sure her company could taken care of in her absence and to arrange for the specialty supplies she’d ordered for Caleb to be held until she got back to Anchorage.

Trying to get out of the supply plan, she had to ask the pilot for help, her legs cramping from being on a plane off and on for two days straight.

“Thank you,” she said, grateful to have the extra hand.

“Should we start unloading?” the pilot asked, making sure Amelia was steady on her feet before letting her go.

“Yes,” she replied with a bright smile, “I’m gonna run up to the cabin and let Caleb know I’m back.”

“Caleb!” Amelia called running up to the cabin door, bursting inside. “Caleb, I’m back!”

Looking around, she saw that the cabin was closed up tight, it’s windows shuttered against animals, and all the supplies she and Dale had sent up before heading back to Houston were sill stacked and crated between the cabin and one of the outbuildings. Looking in once more, she saw dust on every surface, as if Caleb hadn’t been there in weeks.

Turning back to the lake, she cast about hoping to spot Caleb somewhere across the water or in the trees nearby. When she didn’t see anything, she shrugged.

‘He must be out on a long hunt,’ she thought, though finding the door unbarred but the windows shuttered made her uneasy. Caleb had always been strict about animal proofing the cabin when they were going to be gone for more than a few hours making sure everything was locked up tight. Why had he left the door unbarred?.

“Hey fellas,” she called to the pilot and the crew she’d hired to help unload all the supplies she’d purchased. “Just unload the plane over there and you guys can take off.”

“Ma’am, are you sure you want us to leave you here?” the pilot asked, looking around at the expanse of wilderness surrounding them.

“Yes,” Amelia said, nodding vigorously. “I’ll be fine. Caleb should be back any time. I’ll see you in two weeks.”

After reassuring the crew at least three more times that she was going to be safe, Amelia waved happily as the plane took off, disappearing into the Alaskan sky. Once they were gone, she returned to the cabin and unshuttered the windows, letting the sunlight shine in. Rolling up her sleeves, she set to work turning Caleb’s cabin into their home.

She pulled boxes into the cabin, opened them, and set to work replacing broken, dented and chipped items.

By the time she was done, there were new pots, dishes and cups on the shelves, a fresh set of skinning blades on Caleb’s table and brand new sheets on the bed.

Everything that she’d taken down, she repacked in the empty boxes and pulled back outside for the plane to take away when they came back.

With a satisfied sigh, she lit the fire in the stove and began unpacking the fresh cans of food and filled the shelves.

Looking around, she was happy with her progress and decided to tackle more chores in the morning, for now she decided it was time to take advantage of the solar shower she’d assembled earlier that day.

Amelia reveled in the warm water as it sprinkled over her sore, sweaty body, rinsing the dust and grime of a good day’s work off, smiling as she pictured Caleb under the water with her, his hands exploring her body with soapy fingers.

When the warm water ran out, she wrapped herself in a thick fleece robe and settle comfortably into one of the new adirondack chairs she’d brought up in the plane. Running a brush through her hair she hummed happily to herself.

Never in her life had she felt so at peace, the only thing that was missing was Caleb.