“We’d have power if we start the generator.”
Rose scanned the cabin. “Other than the light, I don’t see anything that runs on electricity. Don’t go out there. There’s no need. Please, don’t risk yourself. We have the fire. It can’t get much worse than it already?—”
“Shh.” His hand covered her mouth, cutting off the rest of the sentence. “Don’t tempt fate.”
He’s superstitious.
Um, I didn’t see that coming.
It was wild to her that this man was in any way superstitious. He didn’t strike her as the type at all. “Do you avoid walking under ladders too?”
“Damn straight I do.” Caleb shrugged. “With the things we see and the jobs we do, the last thing any of us ever want to do is to tempt fate, just in case.”
She wasn’t sure if fate existed or not, but she figured him believing in it didn’t hurt anyone. She was, however, curious. As she lowered herself into one of the chairs, she asked, “Have you got a lucky coin or something, too?”
“I don’t have a coin.” He fished inside the neck of his sweater and pulled out a chain. “I do have this.” He moved and turned over his dog tags, showing her the medallion hidden behind them.
She reached for the medallion, turned it over, and peered at the inscription. “Easy Day.” She lifted her gaze and realized her hold on the chain had brought them almost nose to nose. Nervously, she licked at her lips when her gaze locked with his and she shuddered as awareness slid through her veins.
“You’re cold.” His hand wrapped around hers. “We should get under the covers and keep warm.”
Under the covers with Caleb was the last place she should be, but yet it was exactly where she wanted to be. She was supposed to be leaving tomorrow, not falling for a man of honor who made her pulse race and dreams she’d long buried rise from the grave. “I’m okay.” Her chattering teeth called her out as the liar she was.
Caleb gently tugged his chain free of her hands and urged her to her feet. “It’s been long, cold day.” His hand on her lower back guided her toward the bunks. “A nap will help pass the time.” She sank onto the bed. “I’ll see to the fire.”
She watched as he squatted in front of the stove, adding logs from the box next to it to the flames. If she was going to nap, then there was something she had to do first, or she’d need to get back up again in half an hour. Sometimes having a bladder the size of a pea was a pain in the butt. “Um…?”
Caleb stopped poking at the fire and glanced over his shoulder. “Tell me.”
“Is there a bathroom?”
“Crap.”
Embarrassment flooded through her, heating her cheeks. She ducked her head. “Um, no, the other.”
His eyes widened and he sucked in an audible breath before he laughed—a deep, rich sound which seemed to come from deep inside him. He shook his head. “I meant, crap, because there’s an outhouse, but it’s outside. Give me five minutes and I’ll figure something out, ‘kay?”
She nodded, and as soon as he turned back to the fire, she dropped her head into her hands.
How mortifying.
Jeez.
Rustling in the corner of the room drew her attention and she lowered her hands to see Caleb stringing a blanket on a rope.
What on earth is he doing?
Once the blanket was up, Caleb grabbed a bucket and put it behind the blanket. “Think it will work?”
“Umm.”
He shrugged at her confusion. “Unless you want to pee on the stoop with your butt bared to the blizzard, it’s the best I can do.”
It’s a toilet.
“I—um—thank you.”
He stood aside so she could get around him. “Want me to hum or something while you go?”
