"I'll pick you up at noon. Be ready."
"You got it, lover boy." She left him and went back to work, all the while thinking about their upcoming date. She couldn't stop the excitement she felt about spending more time with him and knew she was in deep trouble.
Saturday rolled around and she waited outside the Tasty Skull for Yaeger to arrive. Promptly at noon he pulled up.
"Afternoon, darlin'. Good girl, you dressed warm, like I said," he said once he got out of the truck to help her in.
Why did him calling her good girl make her warm all over? "What do you have planned?" she asked once they were both in the truck.
"You'll see," was his reply.
She was quiet as he drove them out of town. She got the feeling it wouldn't do any good to try to pry, and she'd find out soon enough, anyway.
"We're here," he said once he parked.
"Where's here?" she asked, because she hadn't been paying attention to their destination.
"Balls Lake. I figure we can walk the trail, have a picnic, go for a run. No one else is going to be out here this time of year."
"That's because it's too fucking cold," she pointed out. "But a run might be nice."
"Let's go then."
She watched him grab a cooler from the back seat and wondered what he'd brought for their lunch. They stayed close as they walked the two-mile loop trail, enjoying the view of the mountains covered in snow.
"What brought you to Alaska, Yaeger?"
"Work. When you're a lumberjack you go where the work is," he told her.
"I guess that makes sense. Where are you from?"
"Louisiana, but I left home when I was eighteen."
Something in his voice told her there was a story behind that. "Eighteen is awfully young to be leaving home."
"It's not a pretty story. Maybe I'll tell you sometime," he told her.
"I'm all ears, lover boy," she replied. "Anytime."
He snorted. "I'm stuck with that, aren't I?"
"With what?"
"Lover boy."
"Oh yes."
"Guess I'll just have to get used to it."
When they reached the picnic area he set the cooler down. First, he pulled out a thermos and two bowls. He poured steaming soup into the bowls and handed her one. Then he pulled out two foil wrapped sandwiches. "I used some of those Hot Hands things to keep them warm," he said, handing one to her.
She took the sandwich and opened it to find a grilled ham and Swiss cheese. "Chicken noodle soup and grilled ham and Swiss, perfect for a cold day." She dug into her meal.
"Glad you approve, darlin'. I've also got hot apple cider to drink," he said, pouring her some.
"You thought of everything."
"I tried. Sorry there isn't a dessert."
