Chapter 2

Due to a nor’easter that started just about the time Edwin hopped into the SUV, the normal three-and-a-half-hour drive took almost five hours to reach the cabin in the hills on the edge of the Wachusett Mountain Reservation that belonged to Tim’s uncle. Edwin was thankful that Tim was a professional stunt driver and, therefore, fully capable of maneuvering the SUV over slick, snow and ice laden roads.

Having monitored the weather, they’d deliberately taken Tim’s vehicle; with Tim manning the wheel. They’d also stopped and stocked up on provisions to bring with them, rather than pick some up in town after they’d arrived and settled in. Even so, they were surprised and taken aback by the conditions of the road.

“We spend too much time in the city,” Mark grumbled as he wiped away the foggy film that accumulated on his window from the heat of his breath and looked out onto the winter wonderland. “I’d forgotten what real roads looked like during a storm.”

“The city can get pretty bogged down,” Edwin reminded him.

“Yea, but for how long? The plows are out at the first sign of a snowflake in the city. There’s not a plow in sight here. No cars either, for that matter. Looks like we’re the only idiots out in this shit. It’s a wonder you can find the road, Tim.”

A boyish grin consumed Tim’s face as he assured his pals that he’d driven in far worse than this on more than one occasion for some movie stunt or another. His calm demeaner relaxed his buddies into light conversation to help pass the time away. Before long, they were discussing their hunting strategy, as well as the size rack they desired on the deer they hoped to get.

The long drive leading to the cabin was barely discernable. Had the sign at the end of it, declaring the property to be private, not still displayed a few letters of the warning message, they might have missed it altogether. Even with four-wheel-drive, they fishtailed their way up the tree-lined, dirt drive until they reached the proud looking log cabin in the middle of a clearing.

“Home sweet home,” Tim said as he shut down the engine.

“For a whole week,” Mark yawned as he opened the passenger’s door and slid out into the darkness. “Shit it’s cold!”

“I don’t care,” Tim said as he eagerly followed suit. “My legs have been folded up for so long, they no longer feel like my own.”

“How were you able to drive, then?” Edwin asked with concern as he slipped out from the back seat.

“It wasn’t easy,” Tim replied as he tested his legs for stability.

“You should have let one of us take over,” Edwin admonished.

“You’d wreck a bike on a summer’s day, and you know it,” Tim teased.

“You have a point,” Edwin said with a grin.

“Can you two girls quit yapping and help me empty the back of this thing, so we can go inside?” Mark barked.

“The ever-impatient lawyer,” Edwin chuckled as he patted Tim on the back and moved to help Mark with the luggage and supplies.

“I’ll bet it’s just as cold inside as it is outside,” Mark complained.

“Geez,” Edwin said with a grin, “So cranky. I hope you brought some tampons with you.”

“Cute, doc. What now? Will you lay me on the couch to analyze me?” Mark growled, not admitting that Edwin’s joke alerted him to the foul mood he’d promised himself he wouldn’t bring along. “Trust me. All I need is time away from the wife. I’m starting to complain like her.”

“Don’t worry, buddy,” Tim said assuredly. “We’ll have you back to your old self in no time.”

“If I don’t freeze to death first,” Mark said with a tone that displayed mild humor mixed with seriousness.

“It shouldn’t be too cold inside,” Tim said. “My uncle leaves the heat between forty and fifty degrees to keep the pipes from freezing.”

“That works for me,” Edwin said as he climbed the steps. He was almost to the top step when he lost his footing and tumbled backward, landing on his back at Tim’s feet.

After a moment of stunned silence on all three friends’ part, Tim bent down to help him up. “Are you alright, buddy?”

“There’s ice on the steps beneath the snow,” Edwin replied.

“Am I mistaken?” Mark asked while he did his best to collect the goods that fell from the bags when Edwin tumbled. “Doesn’t your uncle have a caretaker for this place?”

“He was supposed to have the place set up for us,” Tim said apologetically.

“I get the unexpected dumping of snow, but lights would have been nice,” Mark said as he pulled his cell phone out and used the flashlight to inspect the stairs. “These things are treacherous.”

“I have some salt in the back of the SUV,” Tim said as he hurried to retrieve it.

“Your uncle needs to fire that lazy, son-of-a-bitch caretaker,” Mark called after him. He turned to Edwin. “Are you okay, really?”

“I’m not made of china,” Edwin said with a forced smile. “It’s more my pride than my ass.”

“You landed pretty hard on your back,” Mark pointed out.

“My neck and shoulder blades hurt a bit, but I’ve no doubt I’ll be fine in the morning,” Edwin assured him. “Let’s just get inside and warmed up. It’s frigid out here.”

They managed to get themselves unloaded and set up in the cabin with no more incidents. Within an hour there was a toasty fire in the fireplace and the three of them were warming themselves from the inside out; each with a whiskey in hand.

They were pleased to discover the place had been dusted and aired out. The beds were also freshly made and ready to sink into. Exhausted from the stress of the drive through the storm and the cold that awaited them, they agreed to call it a night and start fresh in the morning.

The cabin was large enough to provide a private bedroom for each of them. Edwin was the first to retire. Happy to discover fresh towels and toiletries in the ensuite bathroom, he hopped into the shower and allowed the hot water to warm his bones and soothe his wounded muscles. When he stepped out of the shower and stood before the mirror, he saw signs of serious bruising. He could only imagine the color it would be in the morning.