Wilderness Challenge - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

         Sandra opened the door to Logan a week later, to check out her stitches and bandages.  “Well now this is looking very good.  The stitches can come out.”

         Candi looked up from her work at the table.  “You mean I’ll be free of you at last?”

         “Here and I thought we were starting to get along famously.”

         “We’ll get along just fine once you leave me alone.”

         He pulled a small scissors from his bag.  “Is that any way to talk to your doctor, a doctor by the way who happened  to save your life?”

         She was quiet while she hunted for a remark.

         He began taking the stitches from her shoulder and torso.  “What does your Bible say about being grateful?”

         “What?”

         “I know you read it, and you listen to the music from what Sandra has told me, all the time.”

         She looked between Sandra and Logan.  “It tells me I need to love my enemies, and be thankful at all times.”

         “So I’m your enemy?”

         “You’re not my friend.”

         “Everybody needs friends, and from what I’ve gleaned, you could use a friend.”

         “You don’t know anything about me.  Ouch!”

         “Sorry, that stitch seemed to be imbedded in the skin.”  He pulled it free.  “I know quite a bit about you.”

         She looked at him skeptically.  “For instance?”

         “For instance though you never mention them, you don’t have a good relationship with your parents.”

         “How?”

         “You never say a word about them.  When I told you your pilot would be here with some supplies and mail, you showed no emotion whatsoever, not even about a letter from home.”

         “He’s not bringing supplies.  He’s just picking up my work and bringing me more.”

         “No mail?”

         “I’m not expecting any.”

         “A person who has friends must show themselves friendly.  You are not friendly.”

         “I am so!  I just prefer to be alone, that’s all.”

         Logan finished with the stitches and turned to Sandra.  “Is she friendly?”

         “We get along just fine, though I do know she’s just waiting for me to leave so she can get back to work as usual.”

         “See.  I told you I was friendly.”

         “Hm.”  He looked at her.  “It looks good.  You can go back to your solitary life, but not before I show you how to smoke that bear meat if you want to that is.  It gives the meat a great taste, as well as any other you hunt in the future.”

         The radio transmitter crackled.  “CM Alpha One, this is RS Tango Five, come in, over.”

         Sandra went over to the transmitter.  “This is CM Alpha One.  Stan it’s Sandra.  Come in, over.”

         “Sandra is Logan available?”

         “One moment.”  Sandra handed the hand set to Logan, as he came toward her at the sound of Stan’s voice.

         “This is Logan.  What’s up Stan?”

         “We have a storm coming our way.  Strong winds, with lightning and hail possible.”

         “Did the weather bureau say how long before it will arrive?”

         “By nightfall.”

         “Roger.  We’ll be back long before then.  I’m going to help Miss Martin take care of the meat, and show her how to keep it away from the other predators.”

         “What time do you think?”

         “No more than a couple hours.  ”

         “So the patient has been released to active duty?”

         “If by active duty you mean business as usual, her lonely solitary life with no visitors, yes.  Sandra will be returning with me.”

         “I’m glad to hear she’s all right.  I’ll be looking for you.  Stan signing off.”

         “There could be a fire,” Candi said.

         He turned his attention to where she still sat tense on the edge of her chair.  “There could, but it’s early in the season.  It’s unlikely with the amount of snowfall we had this year.  I had better get everything ready before the storm hits.”

         Candi relaxed with the fact that they weren’t going to be faced with a fire.  “When do fires occur?”

         “Usually not until mid July and later, but it all depends on how much rain we get too,” Sandra said.

         “Do you get a lot of rainfall in the summer?”

         “Not a lot, but that is also the deciding factor where fires are concerned,” Sandra said.

         “If there’s going to be bad weather, we’d better hurry and get the meat taken care of.  I’m going to need to build a smoke hut.  How about looking around for some wood for it while I look for a good place to build it?  Do you have nails?”

         “I have all the tools and nails you need.”  Candi showed him the tools she brought with her.

         “Good.”  He picked up the toolbox and headed outside.  “You let Sandra carry any wood you find.  You can watch this time.  You’re still going to be tender.  Your muscles need to regain their strength.”

         “This is my home.  I can’t let you do all my work.”

         “You’re not.  I want you to pay close attention to how I construct the hut to smoke the meat.”

         Candi followed him out the door.  She could feel the change in the temperature, and grabbed a light jacket.  She watched as he readied a place for the hut, and located several large stones, which he placed in what would become the center of the hut.

         Sandra soon returned with enough wood she found in the nearby woods.  She helped Logan build the hut and when that was completed, went to their horses and helped him bring the cured meat into the newly constructed hut.

         Candi felt useless as she watched them take care of the meat, though she had done as he had said and watched, so she could do the same when she had to.

         “It’ll have to smoke overnight, perhaps longer.  The hut has to get up to 145˚.  That’s done in three stages starting at 125˚.  Watch this thermometer I’ve attached to the outside of the hut.  In the meantime, it’ll be easy prey for any predator that could sense it on the wind, and we’ll have a strong wind tonight.  You’ll have to make sure you don’t have any unwanted visitors,” Logan said.

         “I’ll do that.  Thank you for your help.”  Candi watched as they climbed into their saddles ready to leave.

         “My pleasure.  If there’s anything else I can do for you, don’t hesitate to use the radio to get a hold of the station.”

         “I’ll remember that.”  She watched as they turned and rode away.  It had been a good day.  He had been very patient as he taught her how to smoke the meat for future use.  She would have to find a way to cure it as soon as she brought home other game.  She had wondered how she would be able to keep the meat during the winter months.

         It was just midday, and almost dark.  She could see the blue-black clouds, very low and menacing on the horizon.  It would be an intense storm.  She went into the cabin, and made sure it was secure.  She got the fireplace ready, grateful when a warm blaze came from within.

         The bearskin lay in front of the fireplace.  It was a fine specimen, and the more she gazed at it, the more proud she was that she had been able to kill it.  She had never been more frightened in her whole life.  Though it instilled a confidence she would need in order to catch other game for the long winter months ahead.  It was early June.  She had her work cut out for her in order to be ready before the first snow.

         The force of the wind brought her out of her reverie.  It howled around the cabin.  Tree branches whipped against the sides.  She kept a watchful eye on the hut, as she went about her work.

         The rain started soon after dark, pummeling the cabin with the harshness of its strength.  She grabbed her jacket and went out to the hut, and found it in good condition.  Rain struck her from every direction.  She was soon thoroughly soaked.  Satisfied as she went back into the cabin, and changed before she took down her Bible, and began to read, and pray her way through the night.  She kept her ears open for any foreign sounds, which would herald unwelcome visitors to her home, and the meat she smoked for the months ahead.

         She had dozed off when she heard another keening howl above the wail above the storm.  The sound sent chills through her.  She went to the window to look out at the hut, but didn’t see anything but the storm, and decided to step out onto the porch for a better view.  The wind and rain whipped at her, as she pulled her jacket closer about her.

         Candi heard the howl again, and looked towards it.  She saw a pack of coyotes barely discernible in the darkness.

         She went back in the cabin, retrieved her rifle, checked the loading, and went back out to the porch.  Heedless of the wind and rain, she took aim at the pack.

         She had left the door to the cabin open.  Rascal raced down the steps and charged into the pack, heedless of her issues to stay back.

         “Rascal!”  The dog charged full bore into the pack.  Snarls could be heard above the wind as Candi watched, horrified at the coyotes attack on Rascal, and his attack on them.  She didn’t want to accidentally hit him, so she fired into the air.  After about three shots, the pack began to disburse, reluctantly.  Rascal looked around at her, and limped away from the pack, who had disappeared into the forest, and lay down at her side.

         Candi set her rifle by her side and surveyed the gash on his neck and right shoulder, then picked him up and carried him into the cabin.  She laid him on the bearskin rug and went to grab her first-aid kit.  She took out the peroxide and began to clean his wounds.  When she had him bandaged she left him in front of the fireplace and went back out to retrieve her rifle.

         She looked around to make sure the pack had not returned.  She couldn’t see any sign of them, but she was certain that if they did return she would hear them.  With a last look around her site, she went back into the cabin and returned the rifle to its place above the fireplace.

         Candi had stepped back into the cabin when she heard a ranger’s voice through the transmitter.  “RS Tango Five to CM Alpha One.  This is Ranger Davis.  Come in, over.”

         Candi strode over to the transmitter and picked up the handset.  “This is CM Alpha One.  Come in RS Tango Five, over.”

         “Miss Martin, are you all right?  We thought we heard shots over the wind, over.”

         “Yes.  I’m all right.  I had some of those visitors I was warned about.  A pack of five coyotes.  They’re gone now.  Rascal got a few gashes from the fray, but he’ll be fine.  I cleaned him up and bandaged the wounds.”

         “Do you need any assistance?”  The voice belonged to Logan.

         “That won’t be necessary.  We’re fine.”

         “Very good.  How’s the hut holding up?”

         “Good.  I’ve checked on it several times.  It’s doing just fine in all this wind and rain.  Thank you.”

         “You shouldn’t have any more problems tonight.  The pack will wait until another day.”

         “Thank you.  CM Alpha One signing off.”  When she replaced the receiver Candi realized how tense she had been.  She had been so concerned about the meat, she hadn’t eaten anything since Logan and Sandra had been there earlier in the day.  She prepared a light supper and placed some food in Rascal’s dish along with water.

         Rascal raised his head to watch what she was doing, then lay it back down and closed his eyes.

         When she had eaten her fill, she changed into her pajamas, blew out the lamp and thanked God for the day, and for Rascal’s safety, thankful he was still alive.