Page 4 of Saved By the Soldier

As I get closer, I see the floor to ceiling windows.

"So beautiful."

I knock on the door after looking through the window and not seeing anyone. No answer. "Hello, is there anyone there?" Nothing. I walk around to the back and see that there is freshly cut wood under the snow. Someone must have been here earlier today. I wonder if I can just open the door. I need to get some warmth and take my trousers off. Surely, someone who lives here is used to travelers who are stuck coming to their cabin.

The door opens and I step inside. The heat hits me immediately.

"Oh god, this is heaven." I take my boots off, so I don't bring snow inside, and I close the door behind me.

"Hello, anyone here?" I know they can't be far if the fire is still hot.

But no one seems to answer. I giggle nervously.

"I feel like Goldilocks, all I need is some porridge on the stove." Looking into the kitchen, I don't see any, and I giggle again.

I want to sit down, but I know that with it being so warm, I'll probably fall asleep. It's a beautiful place, very manly with no feminine touches. I could stay here easily, away from the world. Although I'd need internet access for my job, I'm sure there could be a work-around for it. I must ask whoever owns it if he rents it out.

I stand by the fire for about twenty minutes, getting warm and I can feel my toes defrosting. I was worried about frostbite there for a while.

"Fuck it, I'm sitting down."

Of course, I feel myself drifting off to sleep. I'll just have a quick catnap and then I'll radio base and see if I can stay in this beautiful cabin until the snow calms down enough for me to leave and go back to base.

Suddenly, I'm woken by a gruff voice shouting. "Who the fuck are you? What are you doing in my cabin? And how the fuck did you get in?"

I'm a little bit hazy because I didn't sleep well last night, and this cabin is so warm. I rub my eyes as I jump up.

"Who? What?" Then I open my eyes, and I know I am dreaming. This guy looks like a mix between a Viking and a Greek God. Ooh, I am going to enjoy some sexy time in my dream with him. I walk over to him and put my hand on his chest.

"Are you going to punish me?" I don't know where I've gotten my sultry tone.

He reaches down and takes my hands off his chest. "What are you doing in my cabin?" It's only then I realize I’m not dreaming, and that he is in fact real and standing in front of me.

"I'm sorry. I got lost in the snowstorm and I saw your cabin. The door was left open, so I walked in. I didn't know if it was one of those survival shelters that I've heard they have in the mountains for hikers who get stuck in bad weather." I stop talking and look around. How did I ever think that this beautiful cabin is one of those survival shelters?

"Well, this is my cabin. I built it."

I nod my head. Yes, I can see you did. Images of him shirtless, cutting wood with an axe, come into my mind and Ihave to close my eyes to get rid of those thoughts. What the fuck is this man doing to me?

"I need to call base to let them know I'm okay. I know the old guy down there will be frantic wondering where I am." I look around the cabin for a radio. He turns around and then I see a radio sticking out of his back pocket. I reach for it and grab it, pulling it out of his pocket.

"Erm, what are you doing?" He's really grumpy. Who pissed in his cornflakes this morning?

"I saw the radio."

"You must be the missing hiker I've been out in the bad weather looking for." He unzips his jacket and takes it off before moving closer to the fire.

"Oh, you were looking for me? That's nice." I don't know why I am goading him, but it's fun.

"You should be more thankful. The weather is really bad out there." He looks around and out of the floor to ceiling windows, which I have to say are gorgeous.

"I know. Sorry and thank you for looking for me. Do you think it's too bad to leave and go back down to base?"

"Yeah, the weather is going to get worse. We need to bunker down for the next couple of days. I'm not sure how long it's going to last." He undoes the zipper on his trousers. They’re like ski salopettes and steps out of them. I can't stop staring at him, because I guess I hoped he didn't have anything on under his trousers, but he does. He has thermals on.

"Am I allowed to stay here, or should I move to a survival shelter nearby?"

He looks uncomfortable at the thought of sharing his cabin with me.