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CHAPTER TWO
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Hours later, the movers were long gone, and Jenn spent the afternoon arranging her modest furniture and unpacking her few possessions. The sun was getting lower in the sky, and she reached over to turn on the lights so she could unpack the last few boxes of books and put them away on the large shelf in the living room.
A click as her fingers flipped the nearest switch, but nothing happened.
Okay, maybe the bulb is burnt out. She crossed the room, trying the switch for the kitchen.
A click followed by a distinct lack of light.
“For fuck's sake,” she groaned, hands balling into fists. She took several deep breaths, willing the anxiety down. This was not a big deal, right? Sometimes you had to flip switches in those breaker boxes to get the lights working. Fuses and stuff like that. Right?
She hadn't been 'in charge' of that kind of stuff when she was with-
“We aren't thinking about him.” She hissed to herself, eyes wild before she snapped them shut tight.
Several deep breaths later, she opened them again, and wet her lips.
There had to be a basement. She remembered reading that there was a cellar in the property information.
She headed to the small kitchen, opening one mysterious door and finding a small pantry, dusty and
bare. Another door next to the refrigerator was the next obvious choice, and when Jenn pulled it open, her nose was immediately assaulted with the odor of dirt and wet rot.
“Ughhh... that's gonna be a huge 'fuck no'...” she groaned, peering down the ancient wooden stairs of questionable integrity and into the darkness beyond as she felt her stomach drop. She closed the door again firmly, dusting her hands off on her pants with a scowl.
A sudden sharp knocking at the front door made her jump, nearly squealing in surprise, and she shook out her hands, swallowing hard and moving to the door quickly.
She opened it a small crack, peeking one wide bright blue eye out, and sagged with a small degree of relief.
It was just the intimidating staring guy. Better him than-
“Hi,” she said shyly, opening the door a bit more and peeking her top half out from behind it, unsure.
“Hey,” he returned, equally verbose, those intense, dark brown eyes still drilling into her.
“Your car sounds like shit. I could hear it all the way in my cabin,” he rumbled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to point towards the roof peak she'd seen earlier. “I live out here for peace and quiet, not to listen to your junker wheeze its last breaths outside my window.”
“Oh! Um, yeah, that started about halfway through my two-day drive to get here,” she said, rubbing her upper arm nervously and avoiding his gaze. “Sorry, I sort of just started to tune it out after about hour seven, and I um... didn't expect to have any neighbors, so... I didn't know it would be disturbing anyone. I'll definitely try not to be any more of a bother,” she offered, heart racing with anxiety.
She'd been right, he was enormous. He had to be what, six and a half feet tall at least? Seeing him so close to her, the way she had to crane her head back to look into his eyes...
The irritation was visible in his features, his stance, and she could feel her chest tightening, fear tickling the corners of her mind. Large angry men... she'd traveled a long way to escape some of them, and she didn't want to find any here.
The man's jaw clenched at the sound of apology in Jenn's voice, an unfamiliar surge of guilt sparking somewhere in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't really been angry about the noise, he supposed – more the fact that she was here at all. That anyone was here. This shit-hole cabin had been abandoned since before he'd arrived, why the fuck was some tiny little girl moving in, by all appearances, alone?
“I'm Karl,” he offered, not moving to shake her hand, still staring at her with a focused gaze. “Look, I just...” he sighed, reaching up to rub a hand on the back of his neck, cutting his sharp eyes from hers and looking out across the hopeless mess of her yard. “People come and go out here, living in the mountains like this. Rarely stick around long enough for it to matter. And when they do, it ends badly. You really shouldn't be here.”
He fell silent, lost for a moment in the ghosts of his past. He blinked rapidly, dispelling the images and focusing on Jenn with renewed intensity.
Better she leaves now, before she finds out. Before she's in danger.
“The mountains don't care about us, or our problems. They'll take us without mercy, and they're more effective than any enemy I've faced.”
The confession slipped from his lips before he could catch it, baring a piece of his identity in a way he'd sworn he wouldn't allow. He straightened abruptly, retreating further into himself like a turtle pulling into its shell.
“If you decide to stay, make sure you know what you're getting into.”
She frowned, meeting his gaze for a moment before looking away, trying to get a read on his angle.
“I'm Jenn,” she murmured, opening the door further to reveal herself fully as she spoke.
She was fully aware of how ridiculous the two of them must look standing here together – this giant, flannel-clad man, dark and imposing, standing in front of this tiny woman in acid wash jeggings and an over-sized green fuzzy knit sweater, miss-matched neon blue and fluorescent pink socks on her feet.
Hell, her head barely came up to his chest.
“Is it... really so bad, living up here?” she asked, concerned despite herself. “I don't really have any choice in the matter. I don't have anywhere else to go,” she said simply.
Her words put a finality to her situation that she didn't much like at all. She really did have nothing other than this, nowhere else safe.
The subtle shift in Jenn's expression caught Karl's attention immediately. His enhanced senses picked up on her elevated pulse, the slight tremble in her lip. She was hiding something. Why was she here?
He leaned forward, his posture somehow threatening in its stillness. His gaze drilled into hers, dark and intense, searching for any sign of deceit or evasion. When he spoke, his voice was a low rumble that resonated in the depths of his chest.
“Why? What's chasing you?”
Jenn faltered, shocked by the question. She hadn't expected to interact with anyone when she came here, that was kind of the whole point. Even so, she really hadn't expected anyone to immediately land so close to her situation, especially after knowing them for all of ten minutes.
She remembered the agent's warning - this was only going to work if she kept everything quiet.
Introducing herself by her real name was bad enough, but she couldn't bring herself to go by the one they'd given her (honestly, she was not a Sarah). She figured this place was remote enough, as long as she didn't give too much away to this guy, she should stay safe. She couldn't answer him, not in any way that was going to satisfy, and the intensity in his gaze was overwhelming.
“I-” her eyes darted around, trying to figure out what to even say. “I can't-”
Great, the panic was coming back, her chest felt like it was being crushed and she sucked in a shuddering breath, body flushing and breaking out in a cold sweat.
“I can't say,” she finally said, eyes downcast, voice broken. “I'm here to start over. That's all.”
Her eyes met his, begging him to understand what she couldn't say out loud.
Karl searched Jenn's face intently, noting the telltale signs of fear and desperation. Her pulse raced like a hummingbird's wings, and her pupils dilated, betraying the fight-or-flight response raging inside her.
She was terrified. Of him? What did she know? What had she been told? He stepped closer, crowding into her space, using his height and bulk to assert dominance.
“You're not fooling anyone,” Karl growled, his words dripping with skepticism. “People don't just show up out of nowhere, claiming to start over. Not out here.”
He reached out and gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his piercing stare head-on. “No one in their right mind looking like you would choose to come to a place like this.”
Karl's eyes narrowed, probing deeper into her psyche. “So talk. Tell me what you're really doing here. Because trust me...” he leaned in until his lips nearly brushed her ear, voice dropping to a near-whisper.
“...if you think I'm scary, wait until you meet the other half of your new neighborhood. If you're hoping to hide, you might wanna rethink it.”
Eyes welling with reflexive tears, Jenn let out a trembling breath, his proximity terrifying her, his fingers on her chin just firm enough to keep her from pulling away easily, but not inescapable by any means. Still, she felt paralyzed by the depth of his eyes, losing herself in the intensity of his stare.
Memories fought to the surface - a different man, a bit smaller but still dwarfing her in size. His hand not on her chin but her throat, eyes just as intense, but tinged with a rage that simmered just under the surface.
Her knees started to buckle at the force of the flashback, heart thundering in her ears, and Jenn staggered for a moment, catching herself against his chest for a brief second as his hold on her face fell away. She quickly righted herself, and with his gaze broken, she screwed her eyes shut tightly, head turned to the side almost as if flinching away.
She waited a beat, then two. She heard nothing but his breathing, standing still in such close proximity.
And she was sure that her heartbeat was audible way down in Redding.
Oh well, the agent's warnings be damned. Jenn knew she was going to have to trust that her new neighbor wasn't going to get her killed with a potential penchant for gossip. Somehow, she felt that the apparent hermit wasn't going to be an issue.
“Witness protection,” she finally let out. “My ex-” her voice broke on the word, body tensing slightly.
“I testified. It wasn't safe for me. The FBI... they found a place far away,” her voice nearly a whisper by the end, eyes still held tightly shut as if trying to hide from the memories.
Karl's eyes widened, the revelation hitting him like a gut punch. Witness protection? It explained the secrecy and paranoia radiating from her like heat waves. Suddenly, the pieces clicked together: Jenn was hiding from something dangerous, and the government had dumped her on his doorstep. His gut twisted in disgust. How convenient.
The thought of being unwillingly roped into a stranger's drama at the bidding of the very assholes that made him need to seclude himself in the first place sickened him. But then he saw the terror in her eyes, the raw emotion etched into her features, and Karl's control over his emotions, his humanity, snapped.
“Easy,” Karl muttered, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Breathe.”
His hands hovered above her shoulders, poised to provide support if she collapsed.
Karl's expression turned grim. “FBI thinks they're keeping you safe out here?”
He stared into the distance, calculating the risks involved, his mind racing with the implications.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Wrapping her arms around her body, Jenn nodded.
“Wasn't supposed to say anything to anyone, it's kind of the big... witness protection rule, you know.”
She winced, her attempt at levity feeling brittle even to herself.
She cautiously looked at her big neighbor again. If possible, he seemed even more suspicious and on edge than she was. Maybe he was hiding here, too.
His eyes glanced toward the towering mountains framing Jenn's vulnerable figure. For a split second,
Karl entertained the foolhardy notion of scooping her up, tossing her over his shoulder, and carrying her straight back to civilization and safety, everything else be damned. But then he remembered his mantra, the one that had kept him alive so far: mind your own damn business.
“Look...” He sighed heavily. “Jenn... living here isn't child's play. There's no turning back, no calling for help. You aren't going to get cell signal unless you stand in one of three spots in a five-mile radius.
You'll be alone most of the time.” His gaze returned to hers, serious and probing. “So ask yourself: Is this really what you want?”
Karl's warning sobered her, and she looked up at him cautiously.
“It's like I said. Nowhere else for me to go, so it's here or...” She shrugged. “At least here I have a chance.” she finished, voice soft.
She remembered the last time she saw him, her ex - in the courtroom. He'd told her, all she had to do was lie. If she just lied, then everything could go back to normal, and he'd try harder. He promised he would try so much harder, things would be better, and he'd take care of her.
And when she didn't lie...
That look on his face. In his eyes. She'd remember it for the rest of her life.
The look that said 'I'll kill you. I've said it before but I mean it this time. I'll kill you.'
Jenn took a long, deep breath, and when she exhaled she met his eyes with her own, holding his gaze.
“I'm tougher than I look,” she finally said, voice trembling despite herself. “Survived plenty of shit I shouldn't have.” She lifted a shoulder in a weak shrug.
Something in Jenn's words struck a chord with Karl, resonating deep within the scars littering his own soul. He'd faced his share of hell too, and come out the other side as battle-hardened steel.
As she stood, arms wrapped around herself, Karl noticed the fleeting shadow in her eyes, the ghostly echoes of nightmares haunting her. He recognized it, understood it. Hell was a familiar acquaintance to him as well.
“Tougher than you look, huh?” Karl repeated, his voice low and considering. “Not many people say that without proving it.” He took a step toward her, invading her space once more. “Most crack under the weight of their own survival stories.”
Karl's eyes bore into hers, searching, testing. “But you? Maybe you're stronger than you look. Maybe not. I guess we'll see.” He paused, gauging her reaction.
Jenn looked up at him, alarm bells ringing as he entered her space again. Her heart immediately began hammering in her chest, adrenaline surging as fight or flight began to kick in.
She clenched her jaw, fighting her body's instincts, meeting his gaze hesitantly as he spoke. This was her neighbor. This wasn't him. Sure, this guy was huge and unbelievably intimidating, but he hadn't hurt her. He wasn't going to hurt her. Probably.
“Tell me something, Jenn. Think you can handle the darkness out here?” Karl's tone was gruff, almost challenging.
His question caught her by surprise. All the potential dangers out here in the remote mountains - bears, mountain lions, the bitter cold, the lack of help in an emergency, hell wolverines were pretty nasty too - and he was asking her about the dark?
“That's um... the part I'm most excited for, actually,” she said quietly, lips quirking just a bit in a weak smile. “I bet I can see the stars better here than I've ever seen them before in my life.”
Karl studied her inscrutably, letting a heavy silence stretch between them. Then, abruptly, he shifted, his boots causing the board beneath him to creak ominously.
“Stars are something out here,” he remarked. “No city lights to wash them out.”
He gestured with a jerk of his head to her cabin. “Gonna need to fortify though. Get this place buttoned down tight. Won't be long till the freeze sets in.”
His gaze slid over her slender frame, lingering pointedly. “Better toughen up quick if you plan on sticking. I mean that in the nicest way possible.”
There was no mistaking his sincerity; his eyes held no malice despite their penetrating scrutiny.
She winced, knowing that she wasn't built for roughing it, his warning highlighting her own concerns.
“Anyway... welcome to the neighborhood, I guess.” The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, hinting at dry humor.
Jenn smiled shakily. “Thanks,” she replied, shifting her weight from foot to foot nervously. “Guess I better...” she looked over her shoulder at the interior of the cabin now noticeably dark in the rapidly fading daylight.
Karl arched an eyebrow as he followed her gaze, and when she looked back towards him he caught her eye. “Everything okay?”
She winced, face flushing slightly. “Yeah, um... the lights don't work,” she said flatly.
Karl frowned, staring at her for a moment or two in silence.
“Blown fuse most likely. Let me take a look.” He stepped into the house, not waiting for an invitation.
“Where's the panel?” he asked curtly, reaching the kitchen in a few short strides of his long legs. His movements were fluid and efficient, like water flowing downstream. He only knew how to tackle problems head-on, never wasting energy on unnecessary words.
Jenn rushed after him, scooting in front and opening the door to the cellar with a flourish.
Karl ignored her antics, much to her consternation, and pulled out the small flashlight on his key chain.
He cast her a brief look, eyes searching hers before he stepped heavily down the creaking wooden stairs and into the darkness below.
Jenn peered after him, the light from his flashlight casting enough of a glow that she could see a bit of the darkened cellar – a dirt floor, it appeared, which would explain the wet, musty smell wafting up the stairs, and she heard the sound of something being opened, and then a rattling noise.
Honestly, she'd half-expected to hear him crash right through the rickety stairs descending into what she was pretty sure was a gaping maw into either Hell or the stench-dimension. She watched with bated breath, as his flashlight bobbed around a little.
She heard a soft meow and looked down to see Kylie approaching, winding around her legs with a soft purr. Jenn picked her up, cuddling the cat to her chest, feeling the soft purring vibrating through her body and centering herself.
“Don't worry, Little Beans,” she said softly, lips against the top of the cat's head as she used one of her many nicknames. “I'm sure we'll have light soon.” The corners of her eyes crinkled a little in amusement.
In the cellar, Karl set his flashlight to stand upright, illuminating the cobweb-covered panel. The ancient wiring jutted out of the walls like gnarled fingers, each strand frayed and brittle to the touch. He clicked his tongue, a low, disapproving sound.
“It'll be easier to fix if we replace the whole system,” he muttered, mostly to himself, but his words carried up to Jenn. “That'll take some doing, though.”
His gloved hands probed the interior of the box, gingerly inspecting the ancient fuses. The occasional spark lit up his features briefly, painting them in stark relief against the shadowy backdrop.
Above, he heard Kylie's plaintive cry and Jenn's soothing murmur. A twinge of something foreign stirred within his chest, a sensation he didn't recognize. It reminded him uncomfortably of a feeling long since buried beneath layers of indifference and apathy.
Karl steeled himself against it. He had a job to do. Fixing this panel was merely a means to an end: ensuring Jenn's safety, something he felt strangely responsible for, despite his annoyance at her appearance here, in his sanctuary among the mountains. Regardless of why she was there – regardless of who sent her – she clearly wasn't going to make it through the winter without a little help. Just here and there.
He found a dusty box of replacement fuses near the box, half-gone, and set about his repair quickly.
Another click and a whir. Then, the telltale hum of electricity coursing through the wires.
“There,” Karl announced triumphantly as he emerged from the depths. “Fuses replaced, panel reset. You should have power now.”
Jenn reached over to the switch on the wall that controlled the sparse kitchen lighting, and she hesitated for a moment before flipping it, giving a soft cheer when the single overhead bulb flickered on, casting the room in an artificial glow.
Karl straightened, dusting off his hands. “Piece of cake.”
But the relief on Jenn's face told another story entirely. This had meant a great deal to the tiny woman before him. He found himself drawn to her, like a moth to flame. And therein lay the danger, he reflected, with bitter disappointment.
He was no innocent creature, and his flame was tinged with poison. Best to remember that. Best to stay away.
He pulled a weathered notebook from his jacket pocket, flipping through pages filled with hurried scribbles and indecipherable diagrams. At last, he landed on a blank page, scratching out a list with deliberate strokes.
“Wiring, insulation, maybe new appliances if you've got the budget.” He paused, pen hovering uncertainly. “Window locks. Security cameras.”
Karl glanced up at Jenn, gauging her reaction.
Jenn's elation at the light illuminating the house was short-lived - Karl's growing list causing a knot to form in her stomach.
All of that sounded expensive already, and while the agents had promised financial support while she got back on her feet in her new place, it wasn't as if she was going to have an easy time working all the way out here, and that support wouldn't last forever. No internet, her phone appeared if anything to get a negative number of bars in this wilderness, and her car was... yeah, not in any state to be commuting long distances to and from work, if Karl's reaction to the horrible noises coming from beneath the hood were any indication.
She'd had to quit her job, and she'd filed for a hardship disbursement from her 401k that had been approved, thankfully. The money would be released sometime next week, but until then things would be pretty tight.
“Right, in a week or so I should be able to get a start,” she said softly. “I'm sure the appliances work well enough for now.” She cast her eyes over the ancient stove and refrigerator, she'd been assured they still functioned. As a bonus, she recognized the model of the stove as the same one her grandmother had when she was a girl. At least she was familiar with it, even if it was from the 70's. And that retro aesthetic was pretty in style these days, too. She didn't mind the nearly mint-green color, it was kind of cute.
At least the cabin was small. She wouldn't need as many supplies to improve and repair the areas that desperately needed work before the coming winter set in.
There was just one bedroom, the living room and dining room were combined, the tiny kitchen and a small bathroom. Plenty of room for her and Kylie to be comfortable, and small enough that the wood-burning stove that provided the only heat should keep the whole place warm enough.
Of course, that meant she'd need firewood and a lot of it. She'd seen a small supply around back, protected from the elements in a run-down covered rack, but she knew that was only going to be a drop in the bucket. She'd been assured there were tools in the small dilapidated shed that were in decent shape, and there was an ancient log splitter set up too. As she'd never cut a tree down in her life, she figured what she would actually do was head into the nearby small town and see about paying someone to do it for her. Next week, when she could afford it. Maybe see about an auto shop for the car, too...
“Thank you,” she said softly, looking up at the large man beside her, embarrassed and grateful in equal measure. She knew he must think she was completely useless and she blushed. “My ex never let-” she cut off, body tensing. “He took care of that stuff,” she finally said. No need to make Karl uncomfortable hearing about her problems.
The mood shifted subtly as Karl registered the catch in Jenn's voice, and picked up the slight hitch in her posture. Old habits kicked in, and his vigilance heightened as his ears picked up on even the smallest nuances in Jenn's speech patterns. He knew all about past demons, though he'd never grace Jenn with a glimpse of his own. Best to shut her down, and redirect the conversation before she could delve deeper into dangerous territory. Dangerous for both of them.
His gaze remained steady on her, giving away none of his internal alarm bells ringing at full volume.
“Everyone's got to learn sometime.” His tone betrayed none of his rising concerns, remaining as stoic and impassive as ever. He handed her the list he'd been scribbling on, his calloused fingers brushing against the paper surface but avoiding any physical contact with her.
“Here,” he said gruffly. “For the hardware store next time you make a run into town.”
He watched Jenn mull over the enormity of the tasks ahead - securing windows, checking locks, fixing wiring - things she wouldn't need to worry about in the world she was used to. This harsh reality check presented by mountain living was just another hurdle she'd have to clear to survive here. Yet, there was a spark there, buried beneath the layers of trepidation and uncertainty; a resilience Karl couldn't help but acknowledge silently, even grudgingly respect.
A moment of silence stretched between them, punctured only by the ticking of the wall clock and the soft, contended purrs of the cat in her arms. The creature seemed unperturbed by Karl's intimidating presence, opting instead to regard him with wide eyes, leaning out as if trying to reach him. Karl frowned, not wanting Jenn to read too much into the gesture. His focus needed to remain sharp.
“Keep that list handy.” He folded his arms across his chest, edging towards the door. “And keep me informed. I spend a lot of time in these woods. Know them better than anyone. If I sense trouble...”
Karl trailed off, leaving Jenn with the ominous implication hanging in the air.
Jenn nodded, caught by surprise at his offer – she'd thought him terribly annoyed by her. She looked down at Kylie, lips quirking in amusement.
“If you pet her, she'll stop trying to escape my grip to get to you,” she said, voice lightly teasing as she stepped closer to Karl and looked up at him shyly through her lashes. “Or are you not a cat person?” She grinned.
Karl eyed Jenn warily as she drew closer, the cat peeking out from her arms with a glint in its curious gaze. The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly at her comment, the movement so subtle it almost seemed imagined. Almost.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second before extending a hand, his palm facing Kylie. The cat nuzzled into it expectantly, purring contentedly. Karl's large hand engulfed her tiny head as he began to stroke her gently, his touch surprisingly deft for someone so rugged and rough.
“You're alright, I guess,” he murmured, more to the cat than to Jenn. But there was an edge of approval to his voice that wasn't lost on her.
Karl's gaze flickered briefly to Jenn, assessing. The overhead light painted them both in a warm glow, momentarily bridging the gap between them. Then his expression shuttered again, as impenetrable as ever.
“Just be careful,” he advised, his tone softening ever so slightly. “Animals are quick to trust. Sometimes too much.”
He turned, heading for the door. The cool night breeze carried the earthy scent of fallen leaves as it caressed the cabin. “Keep your wits about you, Jenn. This place...” Karl gestured vaguely at the surrounding woods. “...has a way of lulling you in.”
He paused, looking over his shoulder. For an instant, Jenn glimpsed something in his eyes - a flicker of recognition, perhaps, or shared understanding. It pulled at her, deep inside, so suddenly it nearly made her gasp out loud.
“Lock that thing behind you.” He gestured over his shoulder at the door, eyes serious. “Don't unlock it unless you're certain who's on the other side.”
His gaze pierced hers, holding her captive in its intense stare. “And if anyone comes looking for you...”
Karl left the rest unsaid, letting the implication hang in the air between them like an invisible threat.
Then, without waiting for a response, he turned abruptly and headed back towards his own dwelling, leaving Jenn staring after him with wide eyes and a hammering pulse.
Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, Jenn ducked inside and obediently locked the door behind her, then turned to face her new home with a long sigh.
“What do you think, hmm?” Jenn murmured as she carried Kylie to the kitchen to set out her dinner.
“He's nice enough, right? You seemed to like him well enough.”
She deposited the cat on the counter, leaning in to let the little feline rub her face across her lips as Jenn gave a few exaggerated, noisy smooches against her furry cheek in their signature show of affection.
As she poured food into Kylie's dish and put it in place on the floor near the stove, she continued chattering away to the cat, truly her only and best friend.
“Then again, you have a real thing for cute guys, so I'm not surprised. You're such a terrible flirt, Beans,” she teased the cat as she hopped down from the counter and began to munch her dinner, ignoring Jenn completely in favor of her meal.
“Brat,” she grumbled, and walked to the cupboard, looking at her meager groceries and selecting a can of soup. She heated it in the microwave and sat down at the table heavily, exhausted.
They ate in companionable silence, and when the meal was done, Jenn retreated to the bathroom for a much-needed wash.
The hot water was more like trying-really-hard-to-be-hot water, and the lukewarm bath was less relaxing than she would have liked. Still, after two days of driving, just getting clean was a huge relief, and when she was toweled off and changed into some comfy clothes she did feel better.
She went to the wood stove, the chill of the house definitely more pronounced now that her hair was wet, and she looked it over carefully. This, at least, was something she had some experience with. As a child, she'd spent time with her aunt and uncle at their cabin in the summertime, and in Wisconsin, even a summer evening could be chilly. They'd taught her to use the wood stove, explaining the flue and how to arrange the wood so it burned optimally.
Within a few minutes, she had a little fire going in the box, and she closed the door and opened the vents to allow the heat to escape into the house, pulling the nearby worn armchair over to sit near the warmth and tucking her legs up underneath herself as she settled onto the threadbare piece of furniture.
Kylie meowed a request to crawl into her lap, and Jenn grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch
and draped it over them as the cat hopped into her waiting embrace, happily nesting inside her warm little tent and purring away.
Jenn watched the flickering light against the walls, eyelids growing heavy as the long day began to catch up. Before long, she'd fallen fast asleep.
=+=
The darkness clung thickly to Karl as he traversed the narrow dirt drive that led to his own cabin. The crisp chill of the night air stung his nostrils, carrying with it the earthy aroma of loamy soil and fallen leaves, moisture in the air hinting to coming weather.
An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, its mournful cry echoing through the skeletal branches overhead. Karl barely registered the sound; his mind was elsewhere, locked in a mental debate over
Jenn and the complications she represented.
He reached his modest abode, a cabin slightly larger than Jenn's, made of solid stone and shrouded in shadows save for the thin sliver of light escaping from beneath his closed door. With a gentle push, he entered, greeted by the comforting warmth that enveloped him like a welcoming embrace.
He shed his outer layers and stoked the embers in the fireplace, adding some wood before he sank into his favorite chair by the window - a vantage point offering a clear view of Jenn's cabin tucked among the foliage - his thoughts turned unbidden to their interaction earlier. Her attempt at levity, though awkward, had struck a chord within him. Not because it was particularly funny, but because it felt genuine - an effort to connect despite everything standing between them.
Karl sighed heavily, scrubbing a hand across his stubbled jawline and sinking into his chair with a groan. “In deep this time...” he murmured absentmindedly. “Deep and getting deeper.”