A weak plea for help drifted through the dark forest outside the Renshaws’ quiet workshop. Upstairs in the small sleeping loft, Bella scrambled to her paws on the pinewood floor and roused Warner who lay sleeping in the full-sized wrought-iron bed. Drowsy-eyed and disoriented, he turned his head, trying to identify the sound that woke him. Kendra remained fast asleep between him and the cedar panel covering the outer wall.
“Help!” the distant cry came again.
Leaning over his wife, Warner peered out the small loft window into the night. A flickering speck of light bobbed down the county road and crept toward the entrance to the property. Checking the time—just after 11 p.m.—his mind wrestled up from a lingering dream-fog. He was surprised that forty-five minutes of sleep could feel like an entire night.
Who’s crazy enough to be walking through the wilderness this time of night?
“Hello!” The voice outside drew closer.
Warner watched the mysterious light reach the drive and a growing sense of unease brought him fully awake. He scooted out of bed. Throwing on his work jeans, he slipped his bare feet into his boots and pulled on his jacket. Grabbing a flashlight, he tiptoed downstairs. Coals were still glowing through the glass of the wood-burning stove when he stepped outside and left Bella to dance within. Keep Kendra safe, girl. Glancing down the long drive, he watched the light approach. Should’ve grabbed my hunting knife.
“Help me,” a male voice came more clearly.
Warner turned the flashlight on and shined it toward the shadowed hulk of a man shambling around the curve of the drive.
“Howdy,” Warner greeted, getting no reply.
Wearing nothing but a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and worn tennis shoes, the stranger brandished a small lighter in the calm night air. His other arm wrapped across his shivering chest with the hand tucked in his armpit for warmth against the spring chill. The stranger’s only concession to the cold was a Steelers’ black-and-silver stocking cap that trapped a mass of dark coppery red hair. This guy looks like an extra in a low budget zombie flick. What’s he up to, dressed like that with nothing but a lighter?
“I’m so cold,” the man whined. He approached with a wobbling gait, dragging his thick legs.
Stepping closer, Warner was surprised to find the ‘man’ was no more than a teenager. He watched the boy with caution, hesitated, and then admonished himself. Obviously something happened. An accident? And here I am going all zombie-fest on him instead of lending a hand.
“You okay, Son? Let’s get you inside where it’s warm,” Warner offered.
Removing his jacket, Warner stepped up and wrapped it around the boy’s broad shoulders. Whew, check out the cheap cologne—at least it’s not alcohol. Placing one arm around the disoriented boy, Warner took hold of his thick forearm to provide support, and his nervousness crept back. Why isn’t his arm cold? He must not have walked far.
“Where am I?”
“You’re at the end of Wa-Wilkin Road,” Warner answered. Did he hit his head or something?
“Where?”
“Near the Suiattle River,” Warner said as they reached the door to the workshop. “My wife’s asleep upstairs and I have a big dog inside. But they’re both friendly.” Chuckling, he cracked the door open, which was immediately pried out of his hand by Bella. With an excited whine, the dog bolted outside and mobbed the boy with her nosey wriggling.
“She’ll calm down in a minute.”
Steering the shivering boy inside, Warner maneuvered him over to the stove before shutting the door against the cold outside. “Let me get a fire going.”
“Where’d you say I am?”
“About twelve miles north of Darrington on the Suiattle River,” Warner answered, laying a small log on the fire. “Where did you come from?” he asked, looking at the boy with a raised eyebrow, “Son, have you been drinking?”
Not getting an immediate answer, Warner turned back to the fire, and then sprayed it with starter fluid that ignited in a satisfying whoosh. The boy pulled away.
“Me and my buddies was camping on the back side a Illabot Peaks. Got snockered and I decided to take a walk. Must a hiked clean over the mountain.”
Rising with doubt, Warner made room for his unintended guest to draw closer. Rubbing his large hands together over the growing warmth of the fire, the teenager’s unusual size dwarfed the cast-iron stove.
“What’s your name?” Warner asked, sliding a small stool toward the boy. Looks like a young Sasquatch.
“People ‘round here knows me, calls me Kolt,” he said, ignoring the seat.
“Where you from?”
“Darrington. Good thing I found the road. If I wasn’t eaten by a grizzly, I’d be frozen like a Popsicle.” Kolt stared at the fire.
“I didn’t think grizzly were in this area… and it’s not that cold out. You probably would’ve been alright.”
A moment passed in silence except for a crackle from the fire. What’s he thinking about? Or is he just exhausted?
“I’ll just go wake my wife and then give you a ride home once you’ve warmed up.”
The boy just huddled closer to the fire.
-- : --
“He’s downstairs?” Kendra asked, incredulous. She struggled to sit upright in the bed, Bella having jumped back onto it. “What are you thinking, letting a stranger inside in the middle of the night?”
“It’s just a boy who got lost,” Warner said. “What was I supposed to do, let him freeze? Would you want someone leaving him out in the cold if he was our boy?”
“Of course not, but—couldn’t you have put him in the truck or something?”
“He’s just warming up before I take him home.”
Kendra slid to the edge of the mattress and gathered her clothes.
“I take it you’re coming,” he said, watching her dress.
“You think you’re leaving me out here alone?”
“Not even if I left Bella with you?”
“No. Not after she abandoned you with that bear.”
“Okay, okay. Finish getting dressed and I’ll get the boy loaded up.” Warner grabbed his wallet and keys off the small bedside table.
“Fine, but leave Bella with me.”
“I thought—”
She raised her eyebrows in a familiar dismissive expression. “—that was your first mistake.”
He scoffed. Will I ever understand women?
“Probably not,” she replied as if reading his mind.
-- : --
Locked within the workshop, Bella’s muffled bark receded as Warner drove away from the property. The boy filled the seat beside him and Kendra fretted in the back, crowded in beside a roll of itchy insulation and grimy power tools.
When the Toyota began to climb the steep slope leading out of the lower river valley, the headlights reflected off a car on the dark road ahead. Warner slowed for the oncoming vehicle and in the same moment noticed the car’s headlights were dim. It’s not moving. Slowly approaching the crest of the hill, Warner saw skid marks leading to where the burgundy Ford Taurus tilted at a precarious angle dangerously close to the edge of the drop-off. He steered into the opposite lane to shine his headlights on the car, and saw that the car’s windows were fogged over. Someone’s still inside.
“Brilliant,” Kendra said with a yawn.
“This your car?” Warner asked, looking at Kolt. Camping on the other side of the mountains, huh?
“Naw, it’s my mama’s,” Kolt muttered.
When Warner pulled the truck closer and parked, the dome light within the Ford Taurus came on and a blurry form inside shifted from the back seat to the front.
“Who’s that?” Warner asked, narrowing his eyes and turning to face Kolt. “Maybe it’s time you tell me what really happened.”
“Aww,” Kolt sighed, looking down at his lap. “That’s just my date. I was fixing to pass first base when some truck hit us from behind—nearly done us in on that cliff. I saved us, but we was stuck for sure and she insisted I be the one go for help. Guess I got turned around.”
“You’re having all the luck tonight,” Warner said with a smirk. “Well, I’d give you a tow except I don’t have a chain.”
“No prob, I been taking care of my own since I was twelve. Shoot, even ‘fore that. Doing it since I’s big enough to bleed my own lizard.”
“Well, if you need help—”
“I’ll get Chad to haul me out,” Kolt said, slamming the door shut.
Warner and Kendra watched him walk to the car and open the driver’s side door. As the boy climbed in, they glimpsed a young girl sitting in the passenger seat with her arms tightly wrapped across her generous chest. Kolt kicked an empty bottle out of the way and squeezed into the front seat. After he slammed the door shut with a wrenching thud, the blurry outline of an energetic discussion ensued.
“Wish we had popcorn,” Warner said.
“Wish we had sound,” Kendra replied.
“He’s probably making up another story.”
“I don’t think she’s buying it.”
They continued to watch as the boy got out, leaving the car door gaping. The girl, frowning, reached into the back to retrieve a purse and sweater, and slid across the front seat to get out. She walked to the truck’s front passenger door and climbed inside. Glancing at Kendra with a brief smile, she was careful to avoid eye contact with Warner. Once Kolt locked the car, he got into the truck beside the girl, forcing her to scoot closer toward Warner and the center console. Sitting halfway on Kolt’s lap, she stared out the front windshield. Now I know why he’s wearing all that cologne. Bet this is one date she won’t let him forget.
“You okay?” Warner asked the girl, who ducked her head like a chicken pecking grain. “We’ll take you in to town. Just let me know where to drop you off.”
Warner pulled out and drove along the primitive gravel road. Within a few miles, they left the Suiattle River valley and were soon heading south on Sauk Valley Road toward town.
“Nice of you to give us a ride,” Kolt said.
“Wouldn’t need one if you was watching where you was going, ‘stead of playing with my….” The girl caught herself before saying more and Kolt blushed.
The young couple leaned their heads together in a whispered conversation punctuated by vigorous gestures. As the cab heated up, Warner shook his head at the youthful drama. I haven’t considered this part of fatherhood. Is it better to have a boy or a girl?
When the teenagers broke apart, Kolt snorted and released a loud fart. Everyone within the cab froze and the girl’s cheeks turned crimson.
“Someone sit on a croaker?” Kolt asked with an innocent look before breaking into a grin. The girl shook her head and frowned.
Glancing in the rear-view mirror, Warner’s own grin widened when he saw the pink in Kendra’s cheeks. Living in the wilderness is going to be more entertaining than I thought.
Then Kolt leaned forward and peered around the girl. “You want some gas money?”
Warner laughed. “Of course not,” he said. “The way I see it, this is just what neighbors do.”
“Well, I could a died out there,” Kolt said in a serious tone. “You’re a good man, ‘spite being from down-below. Good a you to take me in and haul us outta the boon-frickin-docks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Well, I won’t soon forget… I owe ya.”