The storm is out of the blue. Rain pounds against the windows and the wind howls around the cabin. I look outside; there’s no sign of the storm abating—the sky is black with ominous clouds. I fire off a text to Uncle Shawn, checking in that he’s okay. Once I get his reply, I pocket my phone and head back to the window.
The branches of the trees whip in the wind and Kit’s cabin is barely visible through the driving rain. A light glows in the distance, evidence he’s home, but I knew that already because I’d scoped out his Jeep when I’d arrived home half an hour ago.
Suddenly there’s an almighty crash as a massive branch falls from the tall pine tree nearest Kit’s cabin. The noise drowns out the rain and my throat tightens at the sight.Fuck!
I don’t stop to think. I rip my jacket from the hook by the door, grateful I’m still wearing my boots, and head out into the storm. Icy rain lashes against my face, stinging like needles on my skin. My heart pounds as I splash through pools of water. I can hardly see, but I don’t slow down. By the time I reach his cabin, I’m soaked to the bone.
My heart slows a little as I draw close. The branch hasn’t landed directly on top of the cabin as I feared, but rests against the side wall in a tangle of smaller branches. I take the porch steps two at a time and pound on his door.
“Kit!”
I hammer on the door again as I call his name, louder this time to be heard over the rain. “Kit!”
Dread knots my stomach as I decide to try the door. Before I can turn the handle, it opens and Kit’s standing there, surprise written on his face.
He steps forward and I all but fall into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”
Kit hugs me back just as fiercely. “The branch fell. The window… I was trying to…” He pulls back and searches my face. “What are you doing out in this mess?”
“Fuck, Kit. I was so damn scared when I saw the branch fall. I had to make sure you were safe.”
Kit pulls me into another bone-crushing hug as the storm rages around us. I soak up his warmth for a minute, relieved that he’s okay, before pulling away. “I should check the damage.”
Kit nods. “The window in the bedroom is broken. The branch is coming through the opening.”
“Okay, let me check it out.”
Kit grabs his coat from the hook by the door and steps onto the porch.
“Wait here,” I say. “No point both of us getting soaked. I’ll let you know what I find.”
I pull my collar up and step back into the downpour. Rounding the cabin, I look up at the tree.Damn, it could have been a hell of a lot worse.As it is, a huge branch has broken through the window. I manage to pull it enough to free it from the opening, although it still rests against the cabin. The rain continues, a little softer now, but it’s freezing out here.
I return to the porch where Kit waits, concern on his face.
“I’ve cleared it from the window.”
“Thank God,” he says. “We should board up the window, though.”
“Yeah. We can nail a tarpaulin over the frame. I’ve got one I use for camping. I’ll go grab it and some tools from the cabin.” I leave Kit huddled under the porch roof and dash back out into the rain, but it only takes me a few minutes to return with supplies.
“You get everything you need?” Kit asks, taking the toolbox from me.
I nod before realizing I won’t be able to reach the top of the window from the ground. “Fuck! I don’t have a ladder.”
“It’s okay, we can cover it up from the inside,” Kit says, already entering the cabin. “Follow me.”
“Coming.” I toe off my boots on the porch and shrug off my coat before entering the cabin. My socked feet squelch on the boards as I follow Kit to the bedroom. It’s freezing as the wind howls through the broken window, driving rain into the room.
“Shit!” Kit holds out an arm to halt my progress. “Stop.”
“What is it?”
“There’s glass all over the floor. Give me a sec and I’ll grab the broom.”
He sweeps the floor while I sort through the toolbox, grabbing a hammer and some nails. Once the glass is clear, we work together to cover the opening. Kit holds the tarpaulin in place while I hammer nails to secure it. The wind makes it an awkward task and my frozen fingers mean the job takes double the time, but eventually the window’s covered. I sag in relief.
“It’s not going to do much to keep out the cold, and I’m sure some water will still get in, but at least it will minimize damage to the bedroom,” Kit says.
