Chapter 7
Dean
I opened the shutters and looked out. Snow piled up on the ledge.
I moved to the kitchen and tried opening the door.
It barely budged, iced solid. The window was just large enough for Hayley to push her shoulders through and scramble out, or I could take the hinges off the door and shovel a path through the snow that reached up to my thighs.
I would have to dig the logs out and dry them.
Wading down to the car would take hours.
It would be safer to stay here until we are rescued.
I'd brought a mini gas heater and cooker with me, but I wanted to use the logs first. It was brass monkey weather, so I cleared the ash from the stove and set the fire going again.
It had gone out in the early hours of the morning.
Cuddling up to my unwanted bed partner had been warm, thank God.
I just had to keep my hands off her, damn her.
When the stove grew hot, we boiled a jug of water, but we still shivered in the parlor.
'I'll turn my back so you can wash.' I noted her blush, unusual for a woman of her age. Perhaps, she'd not dated much in the past. I was used to more worldly women whom I enjoyed during my one-night stands.
'Thanks,' she said, and after I turned my back, she dressed in whirlwind speed. Afterwards, I did the same, and the uncomfortable situation was forgotten.
I cooked scrambled eggs out of powdered egg and toasted bread, a feast when washed down with hot chocolate. Hayley came in shyly, appearing embarrassed. I wanted to know what had scared her but wouldn’t push the issue. I'm a private person and respected her desire for privacy.
'We're stuck here. I heard a helicopter, and I'll send up flares when it is dark.'
'Will the helicopter see the smoke from our stove?'
' I'm not taking any chances. I can't be more desperate to get home than you, I suppose.'
'No, I want out of here as soon as possible.'
'I think we should keep the stove going and stay here. It could be dangerous trying to get to the car. If the snow has reached the car doors, it will take ages to dig it out.'
'Perhaps we could work on our project.'
'Yeah, and play cards. I also found backgammon and chess sets in the cupboard. Can you play those games?'
'Yes, but not well. I played a few games with my dad.'
'We'll try later. I'm going to see if I can get the radio working.'
'I'll wash the dishes. You are a mean cook. Those eggs were great.'
'You can make the dinner.'
'I'm not a brilliant cook. Jake said I could burn eggs,' she blurted out and then stopped talking, nervously biting her lip.
'Jake, who is Jake?'
'Oh, no one important, just a friend,' she said, but her face clouded, and she turned her head away.
'I cooked in the military if we were on maneuvers. Anything fresh we hunted and added to our rations made army meals more palatable.'
'I hate hunting, 'she said, stiffening. 'It's unnecessary and cruel.'
'It's no worse than factory farming and animals living in cages. At least the animals have freedom to roam and a quick death. Anyway, not everyone can afford to shop at supermarkets or have any near them. They rely on hunting for their meals.'
'I'll try to make dinner tonight if your stomach will take the risk.
' It was the first time she'd made a joke. She’s usually too serious and defensive.
I preferred the vulnerable woman I'd faced in the bedroom to the fierce, defensive woman I work with.
Was the righteous anger a defense and shield?
Had someone destroyed her confidence? What had turned her into this introspective creature who showed no interest in men and perceived them as a threat.
Dean
‘Would you like to play chess?’ I asked. ‘We've hours to waste, and we can scrutinize the project tomorrow if we are forced to stay here.' I preferred to play chess to engaging in difficult conversations.
'Yes, my pa taught me to play.' I found the board games in the cupboard and we played chess happily until Hayley asked me,' Dean, did you hear something? Outside, I mean?'
'Nope. I was too busy trying to stop you from winning this game. Your pa showed you some dirty tricks.'
'Strategies, I prefer to call them.'
'Sneaky is a better word. I'd hate to play poker against you with that deadpan face of yours.'
'I've had plenty of practice hiding my emotions.' I waited for her to explain, but a shutter came down over her face and she changed the subject.
'I'm sure I heard someone outside.'
'I'd better look then.' I always trust a woman's intuition. Once, a female officer saved my life relying on her intuition when everything else indicated we were safe.
I heaved myself up and stretched. 'Sitting down too much makes me ache. It's bad enough in the office. In my leisure time, I'm very active.' I pulled on my coat, boots, and snow pants.'
'You engage in outdoor sports?'
'Yes, wild water swimming, hiking, skiing, and jogging when the weather is appropriate, and I have a gym in my condo which I use every day to relieve my aches and stress from the office.
' I checked her over. Her figure was slim to the point of skinniness, but her complexion was healthy.
She was not anorexic. Her healthy appetite proved that.
'And you?' I asked her as I reached the door.
'Swimming in the sea, jogging, yoga, and Pilates, and I intend to join a gym.'
'I'm not a joiner. I prefer my own company.'
I pulled the door, but it wouldn't budge. More snow, I thought, and went to the window. The snow was high, but not enough to block the door. Strange. Who or what had blocked it?
'What's wrong?' Said Hayley.
'The door's blocked.'
'Is the snow very deep?'
'Not too bad, but enough to block it,' I lied.
I didn't want her to worry, but my hair stood on end.
I opened it. Peering through, I saw a long, heavy lump blocking the door.
My blood chilled. We were trapped unless we escaped through the window.
Hayley could climb out, but who was out there waiting for us?
Was this connected with the car following us?
'What is it?' asked Hayley, trying to peer out.
'Don't know,' I replied. 'Probably agricultural machinery. But, how the heck did it get there?' It was no use lying to her. She needed her wits about her if we were to escape.'
'Can you move it?' She seemed perplexed, then turning something over in her mind, she gasped, 'He's here.
He followed us in that car and blocked the door.
' She ran to the door and panicked, trying to pull the door open.
Nothing happened. She hammered on it, yelling, 'Open the door, you bastard! Let us out.'
Silence.
I pulled her back. 'It's no use. If someone is out there, they'll have heard us by now.
They may have played a sick joke on us and have gone.
' I didn't believe the last sentence. Someone was sick, but I thought he was out there.
Why drag a heavy block to keep us in? We had to escape this place, but I wanted a question answered, who was this person?
'Answer me. Who is here?'
She hesitated but muttered, 'My ex. He follows me from town to town. He won't let go of me. He wants me to go back with him.'
'Did he abuse you? Did you leave him?'
'Yes, I gave my job up and left one night. I've changed my address five times and moved town three times. I've even taken a different name, but he keeps finding me.'
'Have you used a restraining order?'
'No, I wanted to, but the police didn't believe me when I said he’d hurt me. I escaped before he killed me.'
I thought this over. I didn't know what to believe. If she were not a hysterical female imagining he’d stalked her, we could be in real danger. I felt only contempt for a man who abused a woman. My dad was such a man, and men like him belong behind bars.
'Write down his latest address, his name, and occupation.
When we get back, I'll get a friend to trace him.
He has resources that enable him to find anyone.
Military men have often worked for or owned security companies and have connections who can dig out the most confidential information for their clients. My friend is such a man.
'His name is Jake Norman, and he’s a personal trainer to very wealthy clients, celebrities. The police chief in my home county used to train with him. They were tight.'
'We can ask for a restraining order in our town. I know the police chief and can have a word with him. He won't ignore me.'
'Thank you.'
'But first we must leave here.' I went into the bedroom. There was no window but a wide skylight. That offered a greater promise of an escape.
'You may be able to distract your ex, and I can climb through and hide and then find him.'
'He's a hunter and brags he can hunt a man anywhere.'
'Curses! Then I need arms to protect us.' I opened my bag and took out my rifle, a pistol, and knives, which I always take to the mountains.
'Can you use one of these?' I asked Hayley.
'No, but I'll try. How do I use it?' I moved behind her and held her hands in front of her.
'Hold the gun tight and shoot at the body.
It is an easier target than the head.' I held her tighter, enjoying her warm and slender body pressed against mine.
She aimed and pulled the trigger, hearing the mechanism click.
She sighed in relief, then stiffened; I was too close to her.
'See, it is easier than you thought,' I said, reluctantly moving away from her. 'Now we'll load it with bullets. She smiled and loaded it clumsily herself.
'Hayley, you must aim to kill if the bastard threatens you.
You can always claim self-defense.' I went to the door and listened at the keyhole.
I beckoned to Hayley and whispered, 'Talk to him and see if he moves or answers.
Find out what he wants and what he intends to do with us.
I'll assess if I can climb out and disable him. '
She went to the door to do as I'd asked.
Hayley
I looked out the window and saw the big lump. A shadow now crouched near it. I hammered on the door.
''Jake, are you there. I want to speak with you.'
A loud, rough voice penetrated the walls. 'Yes, it's me, my darling. I've been trying to trace you and bring you back.'
'I'll come with you if you take that block away. I can't talk properly through this door.'
'What about your fancy man? Will he allow you to come back with me?'
'He's not my fancy man. He works with me, and we were going to a team building exercise at Hawk End Lodge.'
'He looked pretty close to you when you came up the track.'
'I leaned on him when I stumbled in the deep snow, and he helped me.'
'You slept with him in the bedroom. I looked in the window and you were not in the parlor.'
'It was freezing, and we had to sleep together to stay warm. We were fully clothed.'
'It matters not. I can't let him go. He may try to take you away from me.'
'I don't belong to you, so he can't take me away from you.'
'Oh, Hayley, you will belong to me again. You'll be mine forever. But I must deal with your lover first.'
I felt sick. My heart jumped in my throat. Dean didn't deserve to die. He'd behaved like a perfect gentleman in the hut and was protecting me from Jake.
'When are you going to let us out?'
'After you've promised to come back and stay with me. Hm, I don't think I can release him. He must stay here forever.'
I gasped. He meant dead. I had to change his mind.
'If you kill him, I won't ever come back with you. I'd rather die here with him. Please let him go, and I'll walk out with you and promise to stay with you. You know I don't break promises.'
'I don't trust you, Hayley. You must love him, or you wouldn't offer to stay with him.'
'I hate collaborating with him and have detested him from the moment I was introduced to him. He’s a chauvinist and belittles my work.'
Dean was listening and frowned. I don't care. If we get back to town unscathed, he should know how his attitude had affected my work and my morale.
He whispered. 'Keep him talking. I'm going to try to get through the skylight.'
I nodded and started talking to Jake again.