Off the Grid

She sensed Thorn pull back since the talk about Alexa. The blonde was a ghost haunting Lilac despite the distance. It added to her ire. How could one woman have so much reach? Back to gathering for the winter, they fished on the bank. She enjoyed being out and experiencing the sun, but their usual banter was stilted. Silence stretched between them. Why did he tell me he wanted something serious if he was still hung up on her?

The sex was phenomenal, and they really connected … or she thought. Her stomach twisted itself into knots. They still had another two weeks to go. It was a long time to be miserable. She chose her words carefully as they cleaned their fish in the stream and strung them back up on their lines. With their bounty stored for the walk, they set out toward the forest.

“You said you weren’t mad at me, so why do I feel like something is wrong?”

“I’m not. I just find the coincidences suspicious.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“You said it yourself. You are the perfect candidate to do this. You show up here, fit right into my life like a missing puzzle piece, and the next thing I know I’m spilling my guts. I don’t do that, Lilac. I’m an extremely private man. So I have to wonder, is that what Peter sent you to do? Gather information about me?”

“I-I don’t even know how to answer that. I told you how it happened. We were fine a day ago.”

“Do you know how long he was after me for a story? I can’t help but wonder if the real topic is even about life off the grid. Maybe this is all about the ex-Marine who came home and became a hermit.”

“I never even asked you for extremely personal information. We talk like normal people do. Maybe what pours out happens because it’s time for that,” she said.

“No, you don’t ask, because you’re smart. You know I’d clam up.”

“This is utter bullshit and you know it.” She pointed at him.

“Do I, Lilac? You come here with those big brown eyes, that smile, wit, and I’m suckered in. We instantly connect which never happens to me. No, I don’t believe it.”

“How do you think I feel, Thorn? I’m just as invested as you are. I walked into this situation blind. I wasn’t expecting us to be attracted to one another. How could I predict that?”

“Are you kidding? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You must know how sexy you are. Add that to your personality and what man could resist you? I know who I am and how people see me. I’m the reclusive, weird ex-Marine people in town whisper about. Were you supposed to swoop in and complete me? Maybe you’ll break me out of my tower and drag me out of the wilderness?”

“I never even hinted at changing you. I like you how you are, or I did. Now that I’m seeing this side of you I’m not sure what to think. Do you really think so little of yourself you can’t imagine me being into you for no other reason than I think you’re amazing? You practically waxed poetic and managed to throw it into my face.”

“Do you know what I received this morning, Lilac? An email from Alexa.”

“Oh! Now the truth comes out. If you want to waste your time with someone who clearly doesn’t give a shit about your feelings that’s on you. Don’t expect me to stay here waiting for you to choose between us. Admit you’re not over her and stop projecting that mess onto me.”

He took a step back as if she’d struck him. A hoarse cry flew from his lips. The rustle of leaves drew her attention to a flash of a black and tan shape slithering away.

“Shit, that was a Copperhead. Did it bite you, or startle you?” she asked, shelving their argument as she went into Mama Bear mode.

“He definitely found his target,” Thorn replied with a grimace.

“Fuck. Okay. Well, the snake’s gone, so let’s go over there to the log. We need to let it bleed out for a few moments and inspect the wound. Where did it get you?”

“Above my ankle.”

She helped him hobble to the log, and knelt in front of him, untying his laces with nimble fingers. She eased his foot out of the hiking shoe and removed his sock. Copperheads were the creepers of the local snakes. They were so dangerous because their habit was to freeze if you came near them, and then strike once they felt threatened. It meant you had no time to avoid them or defuse the situation before it escalated.

“Well there are no fangs in there?” She checked her watch. The first step in snake bite 101 was to let it bleed for about a minute. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been burned. Never expected it to feel quite like this.”

“Normally I’d try to keep you still, but there’s no help coming for us quick enough out here. I’m going to make a makeshift splint and we’ll move out as fast as we can to get you back to the cabin.” Rising to her feet, she scanned the area. She spotted a few long, thick sticks four yards away. Perfect. A few moments later he had a splint and a lot less color. The area had begun to swell and turn a disturbing shade of blue. He took a shaky breath.

“Thorn?”

“Trying to calm myself down.”

A clock began to tick down in her head. It was imperative she got him to the hospital as fast as possible. The sooner he received the anti-venom the better off it would be. Symptoms usually didn’t appear until ten to fifteen minutes after the bite. They were going on about ten minutes now.

“Let’s get you standing in one, two, three.” She hefted him up and moved under his shoulder. “Rest your weight on me if you need to, okay? I’m sturdy and I can take it.”