The wind had picked up and it whistled around the corner of the cabin. Then all was quiet. She settled back and took a deep breath. Suddenly another gust of wind blew against the outside door. It sounded as though it had partially blown open. Had he remembered to securely close and lock it when he came in? He’d had his hands full of split logs. Maybe he’d forgotten. Another few minutes of speculation and she threw the blanket off and stood up from the couch. Stepping over his legs, she walked to the door, pushed against it and locked it.
“What are you doing?”
“I was afraid you’d forgotten to lock the door.”
“And you’re concerned someone might stroll by and break in?”
“It could happen.”
To that he made no comment. Well, she would make sure they slept in safety, even if he was not concerned. She stepped back over his legs, then plopped down on the sofa bed and pulled the blanket over her. It took quite a few punches at the pillow before it finally formed a position she deemed comfortable. She wondered what time it was. Probably around midnight. She didn’t have her watch.
Sitting up, she glanced around the room. On the wall over the bar there appeared to be a clock, but she couldn’t make out the time. Throwing off the blanket, she stood up, again stepped over Clay’s feet and made her way around the counter. It was a clock. But it wasn’t light enough in the room to read the time. Feeling her way around the walls of the small area, she tried to find a light switch. No go. She didn’t know where he’d put his flashlight. Would he have a lighter? Or some matches? She turned and began to open the drawers, her hands searching inside for a box of matches.
“Sophie...?”
“I... I’m looking for some matches.”
“Why do you need matches?”
“To see the clock.”
“Why do you want to see the clock?”
“Well, duh. I’d like to know what time it is.”
She heard him mutter some foul things under his breath then there was a slight rustling of covers. “It’s one-fifteen. Now could we please try and get some sleep?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
She stepped over him and sat down on the sofa, wishing she were sleepy. “Are you in pain or are you always this grumpy?”
“Yes. I’m often grumpy. As you well know.”
She turned on her side, facing the fire, and closed her eyes. She wasn’t used to sleeping in strange surroundings. The sun came up around seven o’clock this time of year. A few more hours and she could get back to the ranch and on to her own cozy cottage.
Eventually she was able to ignore the unfamiliar sounds, stopped worrying about the door blowing open and found a position under the blanket that was neither too hot nor too cool. The tranquility of the night surrounded her and she slept.
Sophie didn’t know if it was a scream or a growl or something in between that yanked her out of a deep sleep. But it was loud. Whatever made the noise was right outside and it didn’t sound happy. She pulled the blanket up to her nose and hardly dared to breath. All was still. Had she imagined it?
Just about the time she began to relax, it happened again. This time the loud, long, screaming growl made the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up. Without giving a second thought to her actions, she sprang from the sofa. Her feet caught in the blanket, and before she could catch herself, she fell, landing squarely on top of Clay.
She heard him make an ugh sound. In less than a heartbeat, she was flat on her back, his massive body above her, holding her in place. One large hand roughly gripped her shoulder while the other hand held a gun, cocked and aimed directly at the door. For a long moment, they regarded each other through the darkness. She heard the click-click of a trigger being released. At least, she hoped that was what it was.
“What in the hell are you doing?” His voice was low and menacing, obviously angry, but he loosened his grip.
“I... It... The sound. Something right outside...screamed. You didn’t hear it?”
Taking in a deep breath, he seemed to be gathering his patience. “It was a cat. A cougar. I told you they roam this area. They can’t get inside, so you’re perfectly safe.”
“I’m glad I locked the door,” she mumbled.
“So am I. He could have pulled out his key and walked in.”
There was that tone again.
“I didn’t know...about the cougar,” she whispered, her gaze focused on the depths of his eyes through the fire’s glow. “I’ve never experienced anything like that.”
He didn’t move, didn’t say anything more. His thumb began to softly caress the side of her neck as his eyes held hers. It was as though in his mind he was making a decision.