Cold Drive And A Warm Night-Chapter Two

 She hunched back into the comforter relaxing somewhat.

I backed away slowly.

“I found you on the road. You were trying to walk. Did your car break down?“

She said 'I got lost-made a lot of turns.'

He said

“Well you are safe. Here drink this you have to warm up, and maybe sit closer to the fire.”

He handed her a warm cup of tea and motioned to her feet inside the comforter.

“May I?” he said evenly.

She hesitated for a time talking a good look at him. He was no mountain man that was for sure, but neither was she. He had a face that was there, very there, right in front of you sorta. He looked just like his photo on the book jacket.

 He continued:

“I need to test for numbness in those toes, then the hands. They should be warm enough by now to have feeling return.”

 He reached down and very gently started to knead her foot, a toe at a time.
 
“Feel that?”

 She did.

“Good.” he said.

 He took each toe and carefully felt it, gentle pressure and release.

“That one.” she said “is still a bit numb.”

 “This one?” he said gently pulling her big toe.

“Yep that one.” she said.

 “Humm,” he murmured, let’s give it a bit more time. Lets test the hands and fingers now. Hate to lose those.”

 “Huh?” she said bluntly.

“Frost bite is frost bite. Gotta to be careful.” He said

She put down the tea beside her as her took her right hand which she extended to him and he looked at it intently and then took both of his hands and gently thumped each finger.

“Feel that? He asked.

“Yes.” she said.

”Good”

Her arm got tired and she slowly lowered it into her lap covered by the comforter.

He followed the hand down to it’s resting place and continued his inspection.

His head was lowered and very close. She could smell him.

He smelled like smoke and outdoors and a faint cologne.

“Wow she thought. Just wow.”

He took the other hand which she offered at his gesture and both hands were now side by side in her lap.

He kneaded gently, probing, caressing.

He looked up to stare into her eyes close, noses almost touching.

She laughed nervously.

He ignored the laugh, taking a deep breath.

“Good.  But I notice you feel a bit warm. “Be back.”

With that he rose and went into the small bathroom she could see off to the right from where she was sitting.
 

She did feel warm.

End Chapter Two of Eleven