her
teeth as Renie lighted yet another cigarette. “Coz—must you?
This is a small room, and it’s too cold to open a window.”
Renie waved the cigarette. “It’s either this or we raid the
buffet.”
Judith sniffed at the trail of smoke. “That’s not a bad idea.
It just dawned on me that I’m starved. I haven’t eaten since
breakfast.”
“Then let’s forage after they’ve finished. Meanwhile, we
can check out the honor bar.” She nodded at the compartment built between the room’s two small windows.
The little refrigerator contained soda pop, sample-sized
bottles of liquor, and water, both plain and flavored. There
were also packets of various snack foods. The cousins
opened a bag of chips and a bag of pretzels before making
themselves a drink.
Sitting in a wooden chair with a comfortable padded back
and seat, Judith gazed around the room. “There’s no TV. Or
radio. How are we going to hear about what’s happening
with the weather?”
Renie also studied their surroundings. “No phone, either.
I guess this is one of those places where you’re supposed to
get back to nature or in touch with yourself or some damned
thing. Bill and I stayed at a lodge like this in Oregon a few
years ago. After an hour and a half, we were ready to kill
each other.”
Judith got up and went to one of the windows. “All we
can do is watch what’s happening outside. Once the storm
dies down, I suppose we could use the phone in the kitchen
to check on highway conditions.”
Renie uttered a terse laugh. “Assuming we can reach the
right part of the state and don’t end up with a report on the
ocean beaches.”
“I’ve got a feeling that this blizzard is going to last well
into the night,” Judith said, still peering through one of the
window’s six small panes that were trimmed in bright red.
“I vaguely recall hearing a weather report at home yesterday
that said we might get some snow in the city by Sunday, but
of course I didn’t worry about it because…” She stopped,
cupping her hands around her eyes. “What in…? I just saw
a light.”
Renie, who had been reclining on one of the twin beds,
went to the other window. “Where? I don’t see anything.”
“It’s gone. Which way are we facing?”
Renie considered. “We’re at the end of the hall, which
runs the width of the lodge. I’d guess that we’re looking out
from the east, opposite from the parking lot and the creek.”
“That makes sense. The wind is from the north, and it’s
blowing the snow right by us.” Judith remained at the win-
