Page 40 of Craving Chaos
I never knew something so simple could be so satisfying. Technically, I don’t know it yet, but I’m about to find out because I’m going to build the best damn in-ground freezer known to man.
CHAPTER 20
SHAE
Renzo spends the rest of the afternoon outside working on his storage contraption. I probably should have joined him at some point to help at least look for suitable wood, but I need a little space. If I’m not going to help, then I ought to at least consider what’s happening between us and how I feel about it. Him touching me. Our bet. But no, I lean full-tilt into avoidance and play no less than one hundred rounds of solitaire.
At the end of the day, Renzo returns to the cabin with a wet head. He actually dunked his head in the creek like he said he would and washed his hair. Once he towels his hair somewhat dry, he shows me the creative in-ground container he’s constructed. We store our spare rabbit inside but have to eat it the next day when every single trap is empty come morning. The disappointment does nothing to lighten our equally pensive moods. Neither of us seems interested in conversation.
We spend our afternoon post-rabbit energy on building another bonfire. The quiet continues. At least our silence is companionable while we work. Once the fire gets going, he disappears to the creek to fish. I stick around the cabin and watch the fire. The wind is unusually calm, making it pleasantly warm if I sit at the right distance. Smoke billows into the overcast sky. Birds caw and flit about in nearby trees. I sit and try not to think about how no one is coming.
I do my best to avoid thinking, but there’s so much damn time. I find myself reflecting on him washing my hair and wonder why he refused to let me wash his. He made it clear he wants me physically. Why avoid an opportunity that might lead to something more? In fact, I’ve been surprised he hasn’t tried anything since making our bet. No accidental groping in the morning or innocently misplaced hand at night.
Renzo isn’t the type to let chance determine his fate.
When I consider how contemplative I’ve been, however, it seems silly to think he wouldn’t be going through the same. To keep myself from overthinking it all, I busy myself playing botanist. I discover one of the handful of books stored at the bottom of the bookshelf is an encyclopedia of edible plants. The information could be highly useful, and I have nothing better to do, so I dive in.
I learn what I can, but most plants are dormant for the winter. I’d love to go around and see what I could identify from the book. Hopefully, we’ll be long gone by the time the local vegetation resurfaces.
On the eighth day after being captured, we find a record three catches on our snares. The discovery gives us both an enormous boost in spirits. We grin from ear to ear, and I realize that’s what’s been missing. Yes, we’ve been quiet, but it’s been more than that. We’ve been a bit somber. It feels great to smile again.
“The animals were busy last night,” I say cheerily as I watch Renzo free another dead grouse from a snare.
“Sure looks that way. If only we could make it a nightly occurrence.”
“No kidding. I wish we had some feed we could throw out to lure them or find a way to predict where they’ll be. Were the traps set any differently last night than the night before?”
Before he can answer, a flash of lightning strobes across the sky, followed by the most ominous rumble of thunder I’ve ever heard.
My gaze locks with Renzo’s. “You think it’s coming here?”
We’ve enjoyed relatively nice weather since arriving. I’d like to think the disturbance will pass us by, but something tells me our luck has ended, at least where the weather is concerned.
Renzo looks down at the three dead animals on the ground between us. “I think that’s exactly what’s happening, and these guys knew it.”
“They were preparing,” I continue his thought, my heart thudding higher and higher into my throat. “I’ll gather the traps; you get us water. You can carry more than me.”
He nods. “And once we’ve done that, I think we should move our wood pile to the side of the cabin.”
We break apart into our tasks, no arguing today for either of us.
We could be totally overreacting. We simply don’t know, which is why we have to prepare for the worst. As the clouds darken and the lightning intensifies, certainty sets in.
A storm is coming.
The arrival of winter’s wrath blots out the early afternoon sun to a preternatural twilight. I work as long as I can moving our wood supply closer. I’d felt like we had so much firewood stockpiled, but with the threat of being snowed in, I’m now questioning if we shouldn’t have gathered more. Renzo continues to work a bit longer after a bone-breaking chill forces me inside.
The thick walls of the cabin generally hold in the heat well, but the wind whipping with such unrelenting fury challenges our stove’s heating capacity. I don’t know where the cold is seeping in—it’s not an obvious draft—but it’s finding a way somewhere.
When Renzo finally joins me inside, I’m wrapped in the bed quilt and sitting on the floor by the stove.
“I hung our catches on the eave outside the door. Nothing will be out in this weather to steal them. That way, we don’t have to unearth the freezer to get to the food.” He dusts the snow off his jacket and rubs his hands together. “Guess an in-ground freezer has its drawbacks.”
“Hey, you got it sorted. That’s what counts.” My jaw chatters when I speak. It’s not overly cold in the cabin, but I’m having trouble getting my core temperature up after being outside in that deadly windchill. My condition doesn’t escape Renzo’s notice. Without asking, he takes the blanket from me, then sits me between his legs so his chest can press close to my back. Once he’s situated, he wraps the blanket around us both.
“You don’t have to do this. I’ll warm up eventually.” I don’t know why I say it. I should let the man warm me if he wants to, but denying weakness is too ingrained in my being. It’s second nature to put on a strong front.
Renzo must know this because he ignores me. “You ever gone camping?”