Snow Kissed

Chapter 7

I didn't leave the room till early morning, when I had to empty my bladder so bad, I was about to die. To do that I had to tip-toe, hoping I wouldn't wake him or hoping he'd just ignore me if he were awake. Pushing the door aside, I cringed from my bursting bladder.

I poked my head out and saw him still asleep on the couch, the fire quiet with it's muted embers. Relief washed over me and I padded my way towards the hall with quick steps. Once inside the washroom, I sighed with relief.

A few minutes later, I decided I was good, other than my still bruised limbs, and headed for the bedroom. Only pausing from his restlessness on the couch, mumbling in his sleep.

“Claire...”

My eyes widened as I snapped around to look at him on the sofa. I was ninety-nine percent sure he'd just said a woman's name.

“Baby,” he breathed with a slight despair.

I swallowed, trying to talk myself down. It didn't matter if he had a girlfriend or wife. He was just some lowly Bushman, who was obviously very guilty!

I boiled and walked into the bedroom, closing the door till it clicked in place. I stared across the room, brushing my pin-straight red hair from my forehead.

My eyes studied the room for evidence of a female.

Dresser? Nothing.

Bed? Nothing.

Window? Of course nothing!

“Nightstand!” I flew at it and ripped open the drawer. All that was revealed was a book though and I snatched it out, looking at the nature of it before chucking it on the bed. I was no sherlock holmes as I slumped into bed in a huff and stared at the nightstand beside me. Then my eyes caught the glint of light shining in the drawer. I pulled it open and photos fell forward.

Lots of pictures.

I swallowed and reached out.

There were tons of them and I stared at her in particular. She was beautiful and perfect with her bright blue eyes and blonde waves. Even her smile was perfect. I started to flip through them; Ean with her in almost every one of them.

The lump in my throat grew, getting harder as the seconds passed by. I almost felt jealous of her, till I remembered he'd played me.

“Saving my life, my ass!” I chucked the photos back in the drawer and slammed it shut. My heated glare tore across the room and I marched to his dresser, digging through it. Where I found frames and pictures of her! A shirt. A hair clip.

“He hid her from me!” I threw the items back and slammed the thing shut in anger.

“Amy?” He was at the door suddenly.

His voice set my anger on fire. I wasn't lied to and if I was lied to, you were fired. But since I couldn't fire Ean Hunter... then I'd do the next best thing.

“Amy, are you up?”

I flew at the nightstand and grabbed the evidence. Marching my way to the door and throwing it open, “Nice try.” I held up the photographs in his face.

He stepped back, silent.

“You think I'm stupid!” I snapped, “I don't like being lied to, Ean.” I walked towards him.

He stepped away from me. “Put those back.”

I smiled at his demand. “So, what is it!” I shot, “Girlfriend? Married? Thought you'd get it done with me?”

Ean's face changed and grabbed the photos from me. “Why don't you mind your own business!”

I laughed at him for once. “My own business? I saw some frames and personal belongings in a room you're letting me sleep in! What's she going to say when she finds out what you did? What you wanted to do with me? Huh!”

Ean sulked, pushing past me into his room with his back turned.

“Oh yeah, nothing to say now. You really have that nice guy routine down.”

“Stop.”

“Why!” I exclaimed. “You don't like the truth?”

“Shut your mouth!” Ean spun around, yelling, “You don't know what you're talking about!”

My eyes widened upon his little reasoning. “I think, I know enough.”

He fixed the photos back in his nightstand and slammed the door shut. “She's none of your business.”

“You sure play the goody-good card,” I hissed. “Where is she? At her parent's for the holidays?”

“She's dead!” He left the bedroom, slamming the door.

I stared at the door as it bounced from the blow, locked in the frame. My chest did that hurting feeling again and I felt sick.

Dead?

Wait. What?

I heard him shuffling, it sounded like he was putting on his coat and boots. I charged the door. “Ean!”

He was at the front door, fully dressed like I'd suspected.

“Ean!” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Wait.”

“I'm sorry, Amy, but I can't do this. I'll find a way to get you out of here.”

He left the house and I felt like shit at that moment. I never felt like crap, ever. I made other people feel like crap and I realized now, it didn't feel that great.

I put my hands to my forehead, turning back to the log home, overwhelmed with some sort of emotion.

My feet moved towards the couch and I sunk down into it, pulling the blankets he'd been sleeping in over my legs.

“Damn.”

Two days ago, I would have figured this weakness in myself, but remorse started to seep through me and I felt genuinely sorry for him.

The clock ticked as the fire burned the last of the embers. I noticed the stacked wood off to the side and figured I should put some on like Ean did.

Picking up a piece of pine, I went to drop it in the fireplace. But me being me, it slipped my pretty manicured hands as I got it over the embers, leaving me with a large splinter in my finger.

“Ow!” I cursed as some blood sprouted. Placing the cut finger in my mouth, I tried to dig out the tiny piece of wood that was lodged deep in my index finger.

I needed tweezers.

I got a shiver the closer I got to the washroom; my feet stopping at the door. Flipping on the lights, I was quick to search his cabinets and find what I needed.

I worked the wood from my finger, cringing. “Ow.”

The splinter gave way and I found a band-aid before stepping back out into the hall. Glancing across from me, I saw a half open door and my curiosity spiked. I shouldn't have been snooping, not after how I had handled the situation with the photographs. But if curiosity had killed the cat, I decided Ean Hunter could kill me if he really wanted to.

I peeked inside the room, touching the door with the tips of my fingers as it creaked along the wood floors.

The dull light from a nearby window revealed a room filled with boxes. I looked past the cardboard and random work supplies, to across the room where something caught my eye.

“Oh no.”

A beautiful handcrafted mahogany crib sat in the far corner, crammed with clothing and soft plush toys.

My hand was at my mouth as I lost all conscious awareness and became wrapped in the single thought that he hadn't just lost her but his child too.