Into the Cold

Caleb chuckled at her embarrassment, he’d already seen her naked, more than once. He’d realized after years in isolation how silly people in the world were about their nakedness. He often ran around buck naked during the summer until the mosquitoes made it unbearable.

Amelia tried in vain to dress herself, but with her shoulder pinned to her chest, and the aching of her head and body, it was impossible to even get her pants on. Making things more difficult was that every time she bent over the room began to spin.

“Uh,” she said, realizing how helpless she was. “I think I could use a hand if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” he said, turning to face her, a smile playing at his lips.

Squatting down Caleb slipped Amelia’s cold feet in into her socks, admiring her pedicured toenails, then rose and unpinned the fabric that was holding the arm in place. Once it was free, and doing his best to keep his physical contact with her to a minimum, he helped her slip into the undershirt and sweater trying not to stare too long at her breasts.

Amelia moaned in pain as he slipped the fabric over her arm, then over her head. She knew he was trying to be gentle, but her shoulder screamed every time it was moved making her gasp. Finally it was over, and Caleb repinned her arm.

“Thank you,” she breathed, panting slightly at the exertion. Her whole body, from her toes to her scalp, ached.

“No problem,” Caleb said. “Let’s get these pants on shall we?”

Holding onto Caleb’s shoulder for balance, Amelia stood as he threaded one leg, then the other and pulled them up to her waist. Seeing how loosely they hung on her waist Caleb grabbed a piece of rope and pulled it through the belt loops.

“There,” he said, helping her sit on the edge of the bed. “You sit and take a break. I’m not going to worry about shoes until you’re ready to go outside.”

By the time she was fully dressed, Amelia was ready to curl up and go back to sleep.

“Caleb,” she panted, “do you have anything for pain?”

“Not much,” he admitted. “I’ll boil willow bark and make you some tea.”

“Willow bark?” Amelia asked. “What will that do?”

“It’s what was used centuries before aspirin,” he explained. ”It has salicine in it. That should help reduce the swelling. It’s what main ingredient in aspirin is based on.”

“Oh,” she breathed, “I didn’t know that.”

“Most people don’t,” he said over his shoulder as he worked at the stove. “Nowadays everyone runs to the corner pharmacy and grab the nearest bottle of painkillers. I don’t have that luxury.”

While Caleb made her tea, Amelia slowly scooted back on the bed until her back was pressed against the wall. Leaning gratefully against its solidness, she closed her eyes and let her tired mind wander.

Her first thoughts were of Dale, and how he would take the news that her plane had disappeared in the Alaskan mountains. Would he even care? Amelia had known for a while that their relationship was over, she’d just been hoping that maybe, just maybe there was a chance for them to fix things instead of throwing the last two years away.

Soon her tired mind wandered to the moment just before impact. There had been a high pitched alarm from the control panel and the plane started shaking. Over the sound she heard the pilot calling an S.O.S on the radio. Then the bone jarring jerk as the plane slammed into the hillside.

She was jolted back to wakefulness by Caleb saying her name. The sudden movement caused her to cry out in pain, tears welling in her eyes.

“Oh God,” she sobbed, pulling her arm closer, “it hurts so much.”

“I know,” Caleb soothed. “I know it hurts. Drink this, then I’ll help you lay back down.”

Nodding, Amelia took the cup and sipped the bitter liquid, coughing at the unexpected alcohol that burned it’s way down her throat.

“Sorry,” Caleb smiled ruefully. “I should have warned you.”

“What is in this?” Amanda asked, gasping for air.

“I added a little of my own secret ingredient,” he replied showing her the bottle. “Whiskey.”

“Wow,” she breathed, cringing as she took another sip. “Next time, just give me a heads up.”

“Okay,” he smiled as he put the bottle away on a shelf.

When it was gone, Caleb helped ease her down to a prone position and pulled the blankets back up around her.

“Thank you Caleb,” Amelia said softly as sleep claimed her once more.