SWNOVELS Take Me To The River: Chapter 2
She’s so tiny.
Petite and perfect.
I’ve been living in my cabin in the woods for years, and I’ve been completely okay being alone.
Until today.
Until her.
What kind of asshole left her out here in the woods? Don’t they know there are bears and wolves that could tear her apart in just one bite? Let’s not mention the snakes and spiders that have enough venom to kill her in a single bite.
What kind of person leaves anyone out in the woods like that?
Glancing at the sky behind her, I can tell we are running out of daylight, and a cold front with some heavy rain is coming in. I need to get her back to my cabin, where she’ll be safe.
‘Come. My cabin is up this way.’ I hold my arm out for her to follow me.
I notice she hesitates and rightfully so. She doesn’t know me, and if I wanted to overpower her, I easily could. She’s right to be scared.
‘I promise, you will be safe with me. I have food and a fire to stay warm, and as soon as the storm passes, I’ll take you wherever you need to go.’
Though, the words are bitter in my mouth, because the thought of taking her back to the people that left her here, doesn’t sit right with me.
She looks over at the river and bites her bottom lip, which drives me crazy. I instantly wonder how it would feel, if I were the one biting that lip. My cock starts to get hard for the first time in a very long time. In order to get it down, I picture gutting the deer I caught last week. If she sees me hard, she’ll run the other way, I’m sure of it.
When she looks back at me, she straightens her back and at least acts confidant.
‘Not like I have much of a choice. So, thank you.’ She says, starting up the path I showed her.
I grab my pack of stuff and my shotgun from the nearby rock. Her eyes go big when she sees the gun.
‘There are bears and wolves in the woods, and the gun is only for protection,’ I tell her, and she relaxes slightly.
I follow behind her, as she takes the narrow path slower than I would, but I don’t mind. No, it doesn’t bother me one bit. The view of her ass is worth it. Her jeans are skintight, and I get an even better look, when she steps over a fallen tree.
Sending up a silent prayer of thanks, I’m thankful that I haven’t removed it from the path yet. As the path flattens out, her jacket covers my view, but I don’t mind. Somehow, just walking with her is enough.
Before we get in view of my cabin, the rain starts. I debate picking her up and running the rest of the way, but something tells me she wouldn’t like that, and I don’t want to upset her.
That’s a new feeling for me, and I’m not sure how to react, but I know I’ll try not to shock or worry her.
It’s another minute by the time we reach my cabin, and we are both soaked. Her blonde hair is matted and clinging to her clothes, and her cheeks are flushed. It makes me wonder, if she isn’t used to the brutal Montana weather, then she isn’t from around here.
Another pang to my heart at the thought of her leaving. I push it aside to deal with later. Right now, I need to get her warm and dry.
As we step into my cabin, I see it through her eyes and hope she likes what she sees. We came in the back door into the main living area, which is one open space with a kitchen in the corner, and a kitchen island, giving it a bit of separation.
There’s a small dining area, and the large living space has a stone fireplace that I built by hand. There’s also a hall leading to the three bedrooms.
The walls are all made from the logs I used to build the house, and the wood floors I laid myself. I’m proud of this home, and I never thought I’d have someone to share it with. Since I don’t even have friends over, then really, this woman is the first person I’ve ever had in my space.
‘Wait here,’ I tell her, as slip off my boots and hang my gun. I rush off to my room to find her some dry clothes.
All my stuff will swallow her up, but at least it’s dry. I grab a shirt, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and socks and lay them on my bed. Then, I head down the hall, turn on the hot water heater, and then hurry back out to find her exactly where I left her. She looks even smaller soaking wet.
Her teeth chattering, she says, ‘I’m sorry I’m dripping water all over your beautiful floors.’
My hearts races that she noticed my floors. Even though I can see the puddle of water where she’s standing, I could care less. Her lips have a blue tinge to them, and I know she must be freezing.
I walk to where she is standing, and she watches me but doesn’t move or back up, as I approach. Kneeling down, I slowly start to unlace and remove her hiking boots.
When she places one hand on my shoulder to steady herself, I almost topple over. She’s willingly touching me? Even though she could have reached for the counter on the other side, she chose to reach for me. When was the last time someone willingly touched me? I can’t remember.
She lifts her foot out of the boot. I remove the sock as well before I set her foot down and move to the other one.
‘I’m going to start a fire to warm this place up. I set clothes out on the bed for you. Take a warm shower and get in some dry clothes. First door on your right.’ I point to the hallway, and she nods and scampers away.
Turning to the fireplace, I easily get a fire started, and then place her boots where I keep mine by the door. Then, it hits me. I’m still in my wet jeans, and they aren’t too comfortable, especially when I’m fighting getting hard, which I seem to constantly be around her.
But she’s in my room, where my clothes are, so I can’t get any. Taking her socks, I place them in the washer and checking the drier, I find a pair of sweatpants. Then, I duck into one of the other bedrooms, slip them on, and place my wet jeans in the washer.
I may have moved out here to live on my own, but there are a few things I didn’t want to give up. So, I installed some solar panels to power things like my washer and drier, fridge and freezer, a TV, some lights, and fans. It also allows me to change things as needed and to keep a small water heater to heat water when I can’t make it to the river to bathe.
I’ve never been so happy to have made the decision to have hot water at the house, as I am now.
Once the fire is going well, I grab a towel and clean up the water on the floor, and then toss it in the washer as well.
The main road and nearest campsites are almost ten miles away, as the crow flies. She must have been walking for hours and probably hadn’t eaten. I’ll ask her when she comes back out.
The weather radio said this storm was a cold front that will be passing through over the next few days. It’s not uncommon for a storm to flood the one road in and out of here. I’m used to it and only go into town once a month if that, but it will make it tricky getting her back to town any time soon.
Camping wouldn’t have been a good idea unless they were leaving and heading home when they had their fight. Maybe, the boyfriend took everything to the car, thinking she’d meet him there?
Ex-boyfriend. I remind myself. No one has a claim to her anymore.
I have to think of something else because I don’t like the idea of her being with someone else. Though, I don’t know what’s come over me, making me feel like this. It’s all new, and I’m not sure how to handle it.
When she steps out of the bedroom in my clothes, my breath hitches. Even though they are extremely baggy on her, she still looks as beautiful as when I first saw her on the riverbank.
The blue tinge is gone from her lips, and her long, blonde hair isn’t plastered to her face. Now, her cheeks are nice and rosy, her caramel brown eyes are on me, and she looks breathtaking.
I clear my throat.
‘It’s supposed to storm for a few days, and the weather station has been talking about this cold front for a few days now.’ I nod to my weather radio, which I keep on hand for this very reason.
She doesn’t say anything, so I keep talking.
‘I’ll wash your clothes, so you can wear them tomorrow,’ I say, walking to the bedroom. Then, I stop in the hallway and tell her, ‘Sit by the fire and warm up. I’ll be right back.’
As I open the door, her scent fills my room. It’s honeysuckle and sunshine, a scent that you can’t not smile at. I take a look around my room, and nothing looks out of place. She cleaned up any water she dripped on the floor on her way in.
I like that she’s considerate, but I miss the chance to care for her in this small way. When I walk into the bathroom, I find she has hung her clothes over the side of the clawfoot tub. This bathroom is the one real luxury I put in here. A tub large enough for me to soak in, a glassed-in shower with a shower head to massage my sore muscles, a beautiful countertop, and expensive tile on the floor.
Working up here is hard work, and the muscles get sore, even on winter days. So, I wanted to be able to soak in hot water but also wanted a bathroom that was easy to clean.
After I gather her clothes and the towel she used, I put them in the washer and start it. Then, I can put everything in the dryer before bed.
As I head back to the living room, I watch her. She’s standing by the fire and is soaking up its heat. While she doesn’t realize I’m there, I watch her every move. She’s looking around at the photos above the fireplace, which are mostly of the different stages of the cabin being built.
Her eyes wander around the space, and I want to ask her what she thinks, but I don’t want to break the comfortable spell between us either.
‘Are you warm enough?’ I ask, stepping into the living room.
‘I’m getting there. Thank you.’ She smiles at me, and I feel like I won the lottery.
‘Let me give you a quick tour. Out here it’s important to know where everything is.’
I have her slip into a pair of my dry boots and wrap a blanket around her, as we step out onto my front porch. It’s covered, but it still gets wet in a rainstorm.
‘That path there will lead down to my gate, where I keep my truck. If you follow it in the truck, it will take you to a country road. Going left will take you into the town of Whiskey River. Unfortunately, the road isn’t drivable in storms like this.’
She nods and looks around. I point out where the shed and the woodpile are if she needs them for any reason.
Back inside, I tell her the basics in the kitchen.
‘You can help yourself to anything you like. Anytime.’ I tell her.
Then, I show her where I store the guns and ammo.
‘You mentioned bears and wolves?’ She asks curiously.
‘They don’t tend to come to close to the house anymore, but they have in the past. Best to be safe.’ I lead her down the hall and show her the two guest bedrooms on the left, the guest bath, the washer and dryer, and the water heater. She’s already seen my room, so I don’t think we need to be in there together.
Then, I notice she’s crossing her arms over her chest, like she’s cold. Her nipples are straining against my shirt and goosebumps cover her arms.
‘Come on, Little One. Back to the fire to warm up.’
‘I’m not cold,’ she says. I look down at her crossed arms, and when she realizes what I see, her cheeks flush.
If she isn’t cold, she’s…
Oh.
Oh!
She’s as turned on as I am.