Chapter 7
7
ROSS
Ross approached Grizzle’s ramshackle cabin and immediately heard a dog start to bark. He was used to his friend’s demonic pug and had worn extra thick socks under his snow boots just in case it tried to nip him today. He’d had to have a tetanus booster last summer when he’d popped in at random to check on the older man and had been unexpectedly pounced on as he arrived – so was extra wary now.
‘It’s me,’ he called out, carefully pushing the door with one arm and shaking his head when it swung open, off kilter, suggesting one of the hinges had started to come loose. ‘Stay,’ he called back to Moose and Snowball, who were still standing beside his snowmobile, too wary of the pug to venture any closer. Cowards .
‘Is that you again?’ a voice with a strong Scottish lilt complained as the fawn four-legged fiend launched itself at Ross’s leg, trying to gain traction on the thick rubber of his boots, still yapping between nips. ‘I hope you’ve been to the post office?’
‘Of course. I picked up the package you asked for,’ Ross said, glaring at the dog. ‘Bowser. Seriously, you know who I am – I come here every day,’ he protested, trying to dislodge the dog’s tiny jaws. Ross arched an eyebrow when he heard Grizzle’s gravelly laugh. ‘I swear you trained him to bite me,’ he muttered.
‘When you’re my age you have to get your kicks somewhere, lad.’
The older man continued to chuckle as Ross glanced around, checking for stray balls, dog bones and sticks that may have been abandoned and that his friend might accidently trip over.
The cabin was compact, with two bedrooms and a bathroom accessible at the far end, and there was a large space that served as Grizzle’s sitting room, kitchen and dining area combined. Ross shivered, and then carefully lifted and closed the damaged door to stop the cold air blowing in.
He spotted the older man who was wrapped in a blanket and hunched in the rocking chair positioned beside the large red-brick fireplace to the right of an oak kitchen area. The logs and kindling Ross had laid out inside the grate last night hadn’t been lit.
‘Aren’t you cold?’ Ross asked, staying out of the older man’s eyeline and dodging the dog as it continued to playfully grab and nip at his boot. He made his way to the small fridge, opened it and unpacked the bag, placing a small Pyrex dish with a casserole he’d made onto one of the empty white shelves, along with a pack of butter and loaf of sliced bread.
‘Ach, getting cold is for Jessies,’ Grizzle sneered. ‘Did I just hear you open my fridge?’ He turned and squinted across the dimly lit room, the wrinkles on his face deepening. ‘You know there’s nowt wrong with my ears?’
‘I was just checking for milk because I fancy a hot drink. Looks like someone’s left you a casserole again and some bread.’
Ross shuffled towards the large table set dead centre of the room. It was piled high with the muddy and discoloured treasures Grizzle had bought online or gathered on his daily walks. Less than a year ago, the older man would have already cleaned and fixed them up ready to sell in his online antiques shop, but it had been a while since he’d done much more than collect and bring them home. Ross wriggled his leg again as Bowser renewed his attack, this time jumping higher and snapping around his knees, making Ross fear for his manhood. He might not have used it in a while, but that didn’t mean he was ready to lose it.
‘Down boy,’ he murmured.
‘Leave the lad be.’ Grizzle finally relented and Bowser whined before scampering across the room to his master. ‘It’ll be that harridan, Mairi Gibson, again. The woman’s always sneaking in and leaving food,’ he complained, his cheeks flushing. ‘Although…’ The old man’s forehead crinkled in confusion. ‘I don’t know how she gets in here without me knowing about it – my hearing’s as good as it was when I was twenty-three.’
Ross winced, feeling guilty – he knew Grizzle enjoyed his daily visits, but also knew the older man would be horrified if he realised Ross was cooking for him and leaving meals. They’d been friends for over five years now, but it had only been a few months since Ross had realised Grizzle had stopped using his beloved recipe books and was surviving on sandwiches instead of hot food. Ross had contemplated coming clean but knew his friend was proud. So he’d decided to remain silent when the hermit had speculated that the mystery cook was his nemesis from Christmas Village.
Mairi had a reputation as a busybody and when she’d been younger, she and Grizzle had been close, before they’d fallen out. Despite that, the older man complained to Ross about her relentlessly – accusing her of everything from stealing logs from his wood pile and overwatering his plants, to sewing buttons on his shirts. With any luck Grizzle would continue to believe his ex-sweetheart was the culinary culprit and never learn Ross was the mystery cook. Since his friend hadn’t ventured into the village for years, it was unlikely he’d bump into Mairi and learn the truth.
Grizzle suddenly tugged off his glasses and rubbed his fists into his eye sockets and squinted before fixing his attention back onto Ross. ‘Did you get my new specs from the post office?’ he demanded.
The hermit’s eyesight had been getting worse recently and Ross was concerned soon he might struggle to see at all. Instead of visiting the optician, the older man had been ordering spectacles on eBay in an attempt to fix his vision problems for himself. Ross had called him out on it, but Grizzle had always been too independent for his own good.
‘Aye,’ Ross said, handing him the parcel he’d picked up earlier. ‘Did you book an optician’s appointment?’ he shot back hopefully. ‘You know I’ll take you if you want?’
‘I’m not an invalid.’ Grizzle bristled. ‘And I’ve nae got time for any of that claptrap. I’m nae gonna have some wee boy or lass who’s barely out of nappies telling me I need glasses when I’m perfectly capable of figuring that out for myself. It doesn’t take a genius to know I’ll hit on the right pair in the end.’ Ross watched as Grizzle ripped open the bag and pulled out his latest pair of spectacles, looking triumphant. Then he whipped off his old pair and slid the new ones on. Ross kept his face straight as Grizzle adjusted the enormous pink frames and squinted down at his dog.
‘Do they work?’ Ross asked, trying not to chuckle.
‘Maybe, lad,’ Grizzle said, screwing up his nose. ‘I’m sure once my eyes adjust, I’ll be able to see.’ He blinked a couple of times as he peered across the room, then stood abruptly and almost knocked over the coffee table. ‘They’re not perfect so I might order another pair later – which means you’ll have to go to the post office again for me this week,’ he said, trying to focus on Ross.
‘That’s okay,’ Ross said. It would give him the perfect excuse to visit again.
‘You might as well make yourself useful and look for the TV remote before you get out from under my feet,’ Grizzle continued, still squinting. ‘I know it was beside me on the sofa when I went to bed last night, but I can’t find it anywhere now.’ He sniffed. ‘It was probably that Mairi tidying up when she dropped off the casserole,’ he confided. ‘She’s always clearing up something. I’m constantly losing things.’
‘I know,’ Ross said, his voice dry.
Grizzle grunted and sat down again before placing a blanket on his knees, sliding the huge glasses back up his nose as they slid downwards and almost fell off.
Ross glanced around and immediately saw the remote where he’d left it the night before, stacked on the coffee table to the left of Grizzle’s chair. He wandered across the room, and knelt to pick it up before pressing it into the older man’s hands. ‘I’m sorry, I think I might have tidied it when I was here yesterday,’ he said, earning himself a growl.
‘I knew it wasn’t me,’ Grizzle griped, switching on the TV. ‘And before you say anything, I know the front door’s halfway off its hinges. It wouldn’t budge last night when Bowser needed to pop out to do his business and I had to shove at it. I might be older than Moses but I can still break down an eejit door.’ He puffed up his skinny chest and flexed one of his arms proudly. ‘Don’t you go trying to fix it.’ Grizzle wagged a knobbly finger in Ross’s direction. ‘I don’t need your help – I’ve told you that a thousand times.’
‘Fine, I’m not staying long enough for that anyway,’ Ross shot back. He’d have to return later on some other pretext and mend the door while Grizzle was otherwise occupied. He didn’t want to blame that on Mairi too, so perhaps his friend Logan could take the fall? ‘I’ve got someone booked in for a wildlife spotting adventure this afternoon,’ Ross explained. According to Connell, who’d called on the walkie-talkie late the evening before, the client had reserved a place last minute and wasn’t going to be in the area for long enough to wait for more people to join. They’d paid a premium for a one-to-one excursion, so Ross really had no choice.
His mind drifted to the woman called Ivy as he thought about today’s adventure and he shook his head. It was unlikely to be her – if it was, Connell surely would have mentioned something about him taking the journalist out. Besides, if she was here to scope out the resort, she’d be more likely to be quizzing someone at the lodge or taking photos of the maze, cabins or the rest of the grounds.
‘Can I make myself a coffee before I leave?’ Ross asked suddenly, tramping to the butler sink which he’d scrubbed the evening before until it gleamed. It was already stained again and there were dirty cups and dishes piled in the bottom along with a saucepan he’d left in the fridge filled with his speciality beef stew. Grizzle might complain about the mystery meals, but he always ate every last bite.
Ross ran the tap and ignored the older man when he started to mutter. ‘Coming here, using all my stuff. If you’re going to make yourself a hot drink, you might as well do the same for me.’
‘No problem. I’ve got milk in the snowmobile – I’ll just go and get it.’ Ross glanced back at the door. ‘Bonnibell made some cinnamon buns for my breakfast. That woman always packs enough for four. You’ll be doing me a favour if you agree to share some with me.’
Grizzle slowly rocked in his chair as if considering, then he shrugged his bony shoulders, catching the pink glasses as they slid down his nose. ‘Fine, I’ll do you a favour. I haven’t had a chance to eat this morning yet. Besides, that woman’s got a magic touch when it comes to food.’ He quivered. ‘Unlike Mairi. I swear that woman could sour carrots if she got the chance – which is odd because she used to be an excellent cook. But that stew last night…’ He shuddered.
Ross blew out a breath, his temper simmering as he left the kettle to boil and stomped out of the front door towards his snowmobile so he could collect the milk and cinnamon buns.
‘Sour carrots,’ he echoed darkly. ‘I’m an excellent cook . ’ He looked at Moose and Snowball who were still waiting beside the vehicle as he approached, clearly listening to every word. The dog cocked his head, his brown eyes filled with sympathy, and beside him the wild boar let out a low disbelieving grunt. ‘What do you know?’ Ross snapped, grabbing the food before turning and stomping away.