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Authors: D Jordan Redhawk
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itself as she glanced wildly about the cabin. She stumbled a few steps further from the door, relieved to see a small wooden building nearby. Thank God! She hastened toward it, the door of the outhouse slamming loud in the pre-dawn stillness as she proceeded to do her business.
If it was warmer, Lainey might have drifted off again. Her body returned to its lethargic state, her eyelids becoming heavy despite the chill invading her body. A gentle ache in her side reminded her of where she was, and she finished her task. She trudged back to the cabin, pausing on the porch to look back. Despite the vague pain in her ribs, it was kind of nice out here. She hugged herself, her fingers finding the familiar thick scar tissue beneath the thin cotton of her t-shirt, and returned to the cabin.
It was definitely warmer in here. Lainey shivered violently at the welcome heat, standing uncertain on the landing. She heard movement, saw a shadow as Scotch moved about the kitchen. The smell of coffee was wonderful.
She followed her nose. Scotch leaned against a counter, cradling a cup, eyes closed as she inhaled the steam rising from its contents. Her tawny curls were fringed in dampness, and she smelled heavily of the soap that had roused Lainey. She wore flannel shorts and a baggy sleeveless t-shirt, her feet covered by unlaced boots. Lainey did not know which made her mouth water more, the coffee cup's contents or the sleep tousled look of her roommate. She swallowed. "Good morning?”
Scotch smiled at the sound of her voice. "Good morning.” She opened her eyes. "Coffee cups are in that cabinet. Cream and sugar containers are over there.”
“thanks.” Lainey busied herself with attaining caffeine, trying to ignore the fact that the armholes of Scotch's t-shirt hung down almost to her elbow. If she moved her arms, Lainey would have a wonderful view of some compelling anatomy.
“Sleep well?”
Lainey basked in the heat from the stove, using a dish towel as a pot holder. "Like a rock.” She poured coffee, and inhaled deeply of its aroma. This was one thing she never took for granted. Not every culture had coffee, and Lainey sorely missed it when she was out of country. She sipped, pleased to note Scotch brewed it strong. Turning, she blinked. Was Scotch just checking out her legs?
Scotch said, “That's good. Sometimes newcomers have trouble sleeping with the constant sunlight.”
Deciding she must have imagined it, Lainey moved to copy Scotch's stance, leaning against the counter beside her to worship her coffee. ‘so, what are we doing up so late?”
Scotch chuckled. “This ain't late.”
Lainey liked the sound of her laugh, smiling. "What time is it?” she asked.
"About five thirty.”
"Ugh.” She stuck her tongue out, earning another warm laugh.
"We meet up with Rye and Irish in the dog kitchen at six. The dogs have to be fed.”
"And then we nap?” This time she got a nudge with a shoulder. Lainey could not help but grin like an idiot. God, she had it bad! Surely Scotch had some horribly bad habit Lainey could exploit to thwart this attraction - nose picking, uncontrollable urges to spit, foul tempers. Something!
"No. Then we clean the dog kitchen and barn, do pooper scooper duty, transfer the kennel dogs, let the Big Dog out, clean up, and eat breakfast.”
Lainey feigned horror. "All that before breakfast?” she demanded. Her voice became faint, her accent thickening into that of a Southern belle. "I think I have a case of the vapors.” She batted her eyes at Scotch.
She received a smirk. “That's all right. I hear dog crap can make wonderful smelling salts.”
"Hey!" She bumped her hip against Scotch's.
Scotch laughed, and drained her cup, distracting Lainey with the expected revelation of skin under her arms. “There's hot water on the stove, if you want to clean up some. I put out a towel and washcloth for you.” She moved away to set the cup in the sink. "I'll go up and change, give you some
If it was warmer, Lainey might have drifted off again. Her body returned to its lethargic state, her eyelids becoming heavy despite the chill invading her body. A gentle ache in her side reminded her of where she was, and she finished her task. She trudged back to the cabin, pausing on the porch to look back. Despite the vague pain in her ribs, it was kind of nice out here. She hugged herself, her fingers finding the familiar thick scar tissue beneath the thin cotton of her t-shirt, and returned to the cabin.
It was definitely warmer in here. Lainey shivered violently at the welcome heat, standing uncertain on the landing. She heard movement, saw a shadow as Scotch moved about the kitchen. The smell of coffee was wonderful.
She followed her nose. Scotch leaned against a counter, cradling a cup, eyes closed as she inhaled the steam rising from its contents. Her tawny curls were fringed in dampness, and she smelled heavily of the soap that had roused Lainey. She wore flannel shorts and a baggy sleeveless t-shirt, her feet covered by unlaced boots. Lainey did not know which made her mouth water more, the coffee cup's contents or the sleep tousled look of her roommate. She swallowed. "Good morning?”
Scotch smiled at the sound of her voice. "Good morning.” She opened her eyes. "Coffee cups are in that cabinet. Cream and sugar containers are over there.”
“thanks.” Lainey busied herself with attaining caffeine, trying to ignore the fact that the armholes of Scotch's t-shirt hung down almost to her elbow. If she moved her arms, Lainey would have a wonderful view of some compelling anatomy.
“Sleep well?”
Lainey basked in the heat from the stove, using a dish towel as a pot holder. "Like a rock.” She poured coffee, and inhaled deeply of its aroma. This was one thing she never took for granted. Not every culture had coffee, and Lainey sorely missed it when she was out of country. She sipped, pleased to note Scotch brewed it strong. Turning, she blinked. Was Scotch just checking out her legs?
Scotch said, “That's good. Sometimes newcomers have trouble sleeping with the constant sunlight.”
Deciding she must have imagined it, Lainey moved to copy Scotch's stance, leaning against the counter beside her to worship her coffee. ‘so, what are we doing up so late?”
Scotch chuckled. “This ain't late.”
Lainey liked the sound of her laugh, smiling. "What time is it?” she asked.
"About five thirty.”
"Ugh.” She stuck her tongue out, earning another warm laugh.
"We meet up with Rye and Irish in the dog kitchen at six. The dogs have to be fed.”
"And then we nap?” This time she got a nudge with a shoulder. Lainey could not help but grin like an idiot. God, she had it bad! Surely Scotch had some horribly bad habit Lainey could exploit to thwart this attraction - nose picking, uncontrollable urges to spit, foul tempers. Something!
"No. Then we clean the dog kitchen and barn, do pooper scooper duty, transfer the kennel dogs, let the Big Dog out, clean up, and eat breakfast.”
Lainey feigned horror. "All that before breakfast?” she demanded. Her voice became faint, her accent thickening into that of a Southern belle. "I think I have a case of the vapors.” She batted her eyes at Scotch.
She received a smirk. “That's all right. I hear dog crap can make wonderful smelling salts.”
"Hey!" She bumped her hip against Scotch's.
Scotch laughed, and drained her cup, distracting Lainey with the expected revelation of skin under her arms. “There's hot water on the stove, if you want to clean up some. I put out a towel and washcloth for you.” She moved away to set the cup in the sink. "I'll go up and change, give you some
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