“Not usually. Hey, don’t act as if you’re the first person ever clawed by one. Their claws are cleaner than a cat’s. You should be fine with the poultice I used. If you start to show inflammation, then I’ll administer antibiotics.”
“Okay then, let’s grab lunch and then head back to Earl’s. I know it’s May, but the sun isn’t going to stay up forever.”
Gail glanced at the sun, which was already past the zenith.
Chapter 7 – Cabin in the Woods
The road to my Dad’s hunting cabin turned south off of Alabama Highway 165 and wound its way into the hills above the Tennessee River. We sped along the gravel road, racing sunset and the rising of the full moon. A few miles later I directed Gail to turn off the main road and onto an unimproved private drive. Years ago it had been a logging road but now served as the private drive to the cabin Dad had built when I was a kid. Two miles later, Gail braked to a stop in front of the small log cabin.
She shut off the engine and examined the building and its surroundings. The Swedish-cope log cabin’s exterior was tidy and free of moss and decay. A stone fireplace rose from the back, the asphalt shingles weren’t too warped, and the front porch was sound. Trees came close to the cabin on all sides, although the undergrowth and lower branches were cut back in the front to allow room for parking.
Gail nodded. “Not bad. I thought it would have deteriorated by now, but I don’t remember bars on the windows.”
“Yeah, I added the bars over the shutters. When I mustered out last year, Dad asked me to maintain the place.”
Gail gave me a half smile. “We had a few good nights up here.”
I nodded and returned her smile. “I haven’t forgotten one of them.”
“Seems a stupid thing to be nostalgic about.”
“I wasn't nostalgic about the cabin,” I said. “But rather who shared the experiences.”
Gail popped her seatbelt catch and stretched, turning lazily sideways, and leaned her left arm on the steering wheel. The movement tightened her blouses’ fabric against her breasts and I couldn’t avoid glancing down if only for a second. She was smiling when I got my eyes back where they belong. “Yeah, I missed you too, Jesse. Now haul your ass out and start carrying your toys inside.”
“Yes, ma’am, I be hauling.”
I carried several of the packages to the front porch and then took a small remote from my pocket and pressed the button. Inside the cabin, an electric motor came to life and whined.
“What’s that?” Gail asked as she joined me on the porch, carrying her own load of supplies.
“Safety feature. Someone tried to break in a couple years ago after I had installed the bars, so I added a little extra.”
I unlocked the door, pushed it open, and hit the light switch. The main room held the small kitchen, living room, and a double bed. It looked as though a maid service had come by earlier that day. The hickory hardwood floors were blonde and matched the kitchen cabinets. I motioned for Gail to look up and she followed my direction to see a winch with a massive four by four timber hanging over the doorway.
“That your little something extra?” Gail asked.
“Yep, I replaced the original door with a steel core, fire rated door.” I put a hand on one of the massive steel brackets designed to cradle the timber. Four three-eighths inch lag screws were sunk five inches into the eight-inch timbers of the wall.
“Damn, you don’t fool around when you want to keep someone out,” Gail said appreciatively.
“Thank you. I think it’ll serve nicely while we get you past the next two nights.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll hold off on my assessment until we get past tonight. You know, if you mounted those brackets on the outside, you could just lock me in here tonight and be safe outside.”
I looked askance. “After I went to all this trouble to find the perfect bondage gear? No ma’am, I am going to enjoy tying you up.”
I skated back and her swing missed my shoulder.
“Miscreant,” Gail said. She set her load on the small dinette table and went toward the rear door. “I’m going to freshen up while you finish unloading everything by yourself, serves you right for being a smart ass.”
When she closed the bathroom door, I went out front, whistling as I went.
Coming out of the bathroom, Gail found me sitting on the couch, checking my tablet. “What the hell, Hoss? You’ve got Wi-Fi out here now?”
I shook my head. “Hotspot off my cell.”
“What are you looking up?”
“Verifying moonrise, it’s at seven twenty-five, which gives us just about two hours.”
Gail glanced at the bags on the table. “Think you’ll have time to get me ready?”
“While I’m new at tying someone up, I’m a quick learner. Would you like something to eat before we start?” I asked.
Gail eyed the bags of groceries and bit her lower lip. “I’m too nervous to eat. Jesse, what if this doesn’t work? I don’t want to hurt you.”
I looked at her for a moment before I realized how much stress she was under. I stood and opened my arms. Gail moved into them and we embraced. After a minute, I pulled back and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I’m going to do everything I can to protect you and by extension; protect myself from anything you do.”
She stared into my eyes, as though inspecting my honesty. “You can’t promise that.”
“You’re right. It’s really more of an oath.”
We separated and I moved my tablet to the table where I left it on with a large clock on the display and a countdown timer next to the clock. I began opening the jeweler’s bag. One by one, I laid out the 8 mm thick, silver chains and then the flat medallions
